I posted this on SYL boards and since there's cool peeps here that don't visit there I thought I'd launch this here too.
I was watching HBB yesterday and figured out why fans of (a certain type - I'm thinking Cannibal Corpse style - of) death metal hate (certain type - I'm thinking socially engaged - of) rap. And why they do so rightfully.
First, what connects the two styles artistically is the similarity between vocal output – in both cases it's rhythmically narrated text with little or no melody.
Now then, death metal lyrics proverbially deal with taboo, forbidden, unspoken, basically uncommon themes. The fact that the text is mediated uninteligibly is a structural necessity. The proof is the comical effect that is produced if one of the two factors is substituted with its opposite. Imagine a Celine Dion type of lyrics being performed death metal style. You'd have a laugh. And vice versa: imagine Cannibal Corpse lyrics performed lounge style. You can have a laugh again here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-V3NYckOI
The fourth variation, common themes mediated listener friendly style, is covered by rap. And what is wrong with this fourth variation that we all think is so obnoxious and unnecesary? It's the lack of distance, the naivety of the package. Rap thinks it's enough to simply tell directly where the society's problems lie and put something remotely musical underneath and the right message will come accross. Well make me love you and call me a whore, it doesn't. What rap lacks is distance, it doesn't pose questions, rap doesn't make you think, it makes you nod, symbolically (you basically agree with the said, because what is said is not in any way problematised, "yo dog 'tis da trooth fo real") and literally (the music does basically make you nod). And know this: if you nod when someone's exposing society's problems, the politics will always find a way to make you nod when they set to implement new problems into society, they know how to do it.
Death metal on the other hand works with the right formula: distance to everything. *to the politician* »You want my wellbeing? Fuck you, what's behind it, I want to know the whole story!« It's the only way to stay engaged. When someone screams or growls uninteligibly about dissembovelment of a innocent little child, that raises some relevant questions:
1. Why do they sing about what they sing? In what do they ground their choice?
2. Why do they sing the way they do? Don't they want to be understood?
3. Why is the music so aggressive? Do they understand it demands a lot from the listener to delve into it?
4. Why do I like it? What does that say about me?
And 5. Does it really say what the critics say it does? Is death metal really about what people who can't stand it say it is about?
None of this questions has an easy of the bat answer! They make you think. And that's not what the critics do:
1. because they (death metal protagonists) 're sick
2. because they're crazy
3. because they're psycho
4. because you're all off the above too
5. damn right it does.
And how does rap do on these five questions? Well, I for one don't have a problem shooting them of the bat:
1. because that's what they really strongly believe in
2. because they really focus on the lyrical message
3. because they really don't want music to take over the message (in their case it's not about the aggression of the music but the lack of its presence)
4. (if asked Why do you like it?) I really don't (if asked Why don't you like it?) because it's really not interesting at all
5. who cares really what the critics say, rap really misses the point by taking a really direct approach, period. Really.
Do you feel the difference between both of the bat sets of answers? More comparisons:
About what's life all about:
Rapper: tits and money. (Meaning: tits and money.)
Metalhead: ending it. (Meaning: you'll have to figure it out for yourself because at the end life is about what you make of it.)
About poverty and unnecesary deaths in underdeveloped countries:
Rapper: that is unbearable, that's why I donate a lot of money. (Meaning: yeah, shit happens, I'll give away a small portion of my wealth to keep my conscience clean, I alone surely can't save the whole world, but I still want my insanely bizzare share of the profits.)
Metalhead: fuck yeah, my ideal playground! (Meaning: what are you actually asking me? Is there like a myriad of different answers or what? But if I acknowledge that one right answer publicly like my rapping buddy just did, it means I come to terms with it, which means I pay my dues and can continue living my sinful life. I have a problem with that. So die, little kiddies, and you bitch fuck off.)
To be fair, this reads black and white because I'm biased, roles can indeed switch. Rap that does it right exists and metal that fails ... well no, actually metal can't fail, haha, it can get pathetic or funny, but by its form it's always an eye opener – it teaches distance. Metal:rap=1:0.
I was watching HBB yesterday and figured out why fans of (a certain type - I'm thinking Cannibal Corpse style - of) death metal hate (certain type - I'm thinking socially engaged - of) rap. And why they do so rightfully.
First, what connects the two styles artistically is the similarity between vocal output – in both cases it's rhythmically narrated text with little or no melody.
Now then, death metal lyrics proverbially deal with taboo, forbidden, unspoken, basically uncommon themes. The fact that the text is mediated uninteligibly is a structural necessity. The proof is the comical effect that is produced if one of the two factors is substituted with its opposite. Imagine a Celine Dion type of lyrics being performed death metal style. You'd have a laugh. And vice versa: imagine Cannibal Corpse lyrics performed lounge style. You can have a laugh again here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-V3NYckOI
The fourth variation, common themes mediated listener friendly style, is covered by rap. And what is wrong with this fourth variation that we all think is so obnoxious and unnecesary? It's the lack of distance, the naivety of the package. Rap thinks it's enough to simply tell directly where the society's problems lie and put something remotely musical underneath and the right message will come accross. Well make me love you and call me a whore, it doesn't. What rap lacks is distance, it doesn't pose questions, rap doesn't make you think, it makes you nod, symbolically (you basically agree with the said, because what is said is not in any way problematised, "yo dog 'tis da trooth fo real") and literally (the music does basically make you nod). And know this: if you nod when someone's exposing society's problems, the politics will always find a way to make you nod when they set to implement new problems into society, they know how to do it.
Death metal on the other hand works with the right formula: distance to everything. *to the politician* »You want my wellbeing? Fuck you, what's behind it, I want to know the whole story!« It's the only way to stay engaged. When someone screams or growls uninteligibly about dissembovelment of a innocent little child, that raises some relevant questions:
1. Why do they sing about what they sing? In what do they ground their choice?
2. Why do they sing the way they do? Don't they want to be understood?
3. Why is the music so aggressive? Do they understand it demands a lot from the listener to delve into it?
4. Why do I like it? What does that say about me?
And 5. Does it really say what the critics say it does? Is death metal really about what people who can't stand it say it is about?
None of this questions has an easy of the bat answer! They make you think. And that's not what the critics do:
1. because they (death metal protagonists) 're sick
2. because they're crazy
3. because they're psycho
4. because you're all off the above too
5. damn right it does.
And how does rap do on these five questions? Well, I for one don't have a problem shooting them of the bat:
1. because that's what they really strongly believe in
2. because they really focus on the lyrical message
3. because they really don't want music to take over the message (in their case it's not about the aggression of the music but the lack of its presence)
4. (if asked Why do you like it?) I really don't (if asked Why don't you like it?) because it's really not interesting at all
5. who cares really what the critics say, rap really misses the point by taking a really direct approach, period. Really.
Do you feel the difference between both of the bat sets of answers? More comparisons:
About what's life all about:
Rapper: tits and money. (Meaning: tits and money.)
Metalhead: ending it. (Meaning: you'll have to figure it out for yourself because at the end life is about what you make of it.)
About poverty and unnecesary deaths in underdeveloped countries:
Rapper: that is unbearable, that's why I donate a lot of money. (Meaning: yeah, shit happens, I'll give away a small portion of my wealth to keep my conscience clean, I alone surely can't save the whole world, but I still want my insanely bizzare share of the profits.)
Metalhead: fuck yeah, my ideal playground! (Meaning: what are you actually asking me? Is there like a myriad of different answers or what? But if I acknowledge that one right answer publicly like my rapping buddy just did, it means I come to terms with it, which means I pay my dues and can continue living my sinful life. I have a problem with that. So die, little kiddies, and you bitch fuck off.)
To be fair, this reads black and white because I'm biased, roles can indeed switch. Rap that does it right exists and metal that fails ... well no, actually metal can't fail, haha, it can get pathetic or funny, but by its form it's always an eye opener – it teaches distance. Metal:rap=1:0.
M-e-e-e-e-e-e-t-a-a-a-a-a-a-l
