Interesting how conversations evolve. First, let me say that there are only two kinds of music, good and bad, and that is so subjective as to make any debate pointless. My wife is a talented violinist, her father is an old school jazz/classical piano player who taught music, her brother plays the flute etc..etc. I myself have played the drums for years, listened to every genre of music I could with an open mind. I think that there is some brilliant rap music being produced, the word smithing can be wonderful poetry. The musical media used to construct the compositions can be as subtle and detailed as any other genre. Jazz was once derided as an artform. Many of the finest classical compositions and composers were also accused of being pale imitations of previous works or of questionable artistic merit. Rap is no different. I myself do not like very much of it at all, however, I have heard some pieces that are absolutely in my mind full value musical works, worthy of being appreciated and acknolwedged.
I think many people equate all rap as being about "mo money, girls , how big your tool is and why they be lustin for it". Undoubtably much of it is, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, in that murky stream of mediocrity will be some wonderful art if you have an open mind. For those of you who say it is so easy and trivial, I say show us your foray into the field then. If creating anything is as easy as assembling all the parts into the whole then why do very few people on earth ever manage to create art that resonates widely? Why do we value art so highly? Because it is difficult to produce good art, damn difficult. I hate the boom boom cars that go by blasting their music that I don't get, but I won't assume it is all crap simply because the very narrow cross-section I have encountered doesn't do it for me. Once in a while I hear some rap that stops me cold, gives me those quality shivers and I know I have encountered art that is meaningful to me.
I think we should give these rap fans the benefit of the doubt. For us older folks (I'm in my mid 40s) it wasn't long ago that almost every adult we knew told us how our music of choice wasn't music at all. What that meant for me was that they couldn't hear the music because they refused to listen and hence couldn't hear. Some rap is amazing, some is not. Some jazz is amazing, some is not etc....etc. I think those who don't like rap shouldn't call it all garbage and without musical merit. They should just say that it doesn't stimulate them and as such they can't really be moved by it. Equating quality with a pre-determined checklist of what constitutes proper music is very artificial. All art changes, all art evolves. You don't have to like it all, but don't tell people their art is without merit because it has been decided based on "accepted standards of art" that their creations are unworthy. Most unfair.
It is a shame that Grado seems to be floundering in some areas, but I like what I have heard very much and I am buying my RS1i because I know what I like. I will also purchase other brands as I am able. I don't believe any one brand or model can ever be the best. It is a moving target that can never be hit on the bullseye and that is why audio is so much fun!
