Quote:
And why would someone try to block posts, anyway? Can't handle an opinion that differs from yours? Stop being an infant. I've never blocked anyone - I actually value disagreement. I'll read what anyone has to say and am not afraid of anyone who disagrees. Argument is a good thing.
Well said that.
Erik has his opinion and that's fine.
But
vocal talent I have to say is more than present in hip hop. My most favourite part.
2pac had an english degree. Others read dictionaries in their spare time. If you tell eminem to rap about the objects in your room, he can in an instant. It's a life for these guy's, like 'The game,' and not just a way of making money. They don't rap about the same things. They don't recycle lyrics. That is talent and dedication. Becoming a rapper does not require one to be from a upper class family and being sent to a 20k a year boarding school. Then the royal college of music in kensington london. I mean people slagg off footballers (soccer players) as being under-talented and overpaid. And for me the single fact that crushes this argument is the amount of competition there exists that you have to overcome to become the best. Far far more than any other genre- and if you can proove to me otherwise, go for it. That's where the talent lies- beating this competition.
Some of the artists mentioned here are of the exotic breed. Some prefer them, but in hip hop I don't.
I think the talent lies in the tried and tested- yes the mainstream. Usher/ne yo have great voices (not my favourite- soprano's in classical or reformulated rock/celtic/....genres take my vote). These guys have true technique. So too does chris brown, however hateable he is. They may have learnt their style from jako- but he's the best there has been.
Again I think its sieving the gold from the crap that is the issue, with justin bieber/ rick ross and hundreds of others polluting the environment. And these 'pollutants' don't last long. The one hit wonders as they say. Another issue is in my view, the general lagging of female vocie quality. That exists in bounds in pop music, but also in hip hop for females the emphasis isn't on musical talent. There of course exists some though-
Hear jlo's spanish album 'como ama una mujer.' Again, leaving from a purely musical point of view- you cannot say that is not something. And I don't know how badly you hate the x-factor simon cowell franchise. Probably not as much as me. But I have to hold my hands up and admit to the only thing good i've come across- leona lewis has a stunning voice.
Take the much loved on headfi diana krall. Some of her music I like, some stinks. IMO she is talented with her voice, but not greatly by any means.
I like to comment on things on headfi that are understated. It's no point for me to talk on how the IE8 has a large soundstage/ which classical pieces move me. Plenty of others have done that.
