Is Rap Poetry?

[Amsha]

Yes I consider rap poetry and an art. I don't see the difference of rap music to other genres. When I listen to music, I listened to the lyrics first. Some of these songs are actually life experiences or maybe longings of the heart. I believe that singers are authors too and rappers are no different.

[briana_nicolee_]

It can be. Rappers like Tupac & Biggie had stories behind their music, and I think that's why people generally loved their songs compared to the so-called rappers we have today.

[Kelli_F]

I see all music as poetry. As in poetry, however, you have the exceptional writers and those who need practice.

[H0LD0Nthere]

Yes, it is a linguistic art form for sure. I didn't like rap when I expected it to be "music," (tuneful, lyrical), but once I thought of it as a category of performance poetry, I really started liking it. Especially amazing is the ability some people have to rap spontaneously, to crank out rhyme after rhyme on a continuous theme.

Regarding all the stuff about sex and violence, of course, it's awful. I believe a lot of similar horror has been written in other poetic genres as well, throughout history. Some of it still gets read because it was well-expressed or because it's part of a very small collection of stuff we have from that historical period, but on the whole, the literary cream rises to the top. The poems that become popular and well-known tend to be the ones that are truly beautiful, not the misogynistic porno stuff.

[Brybear28]

I believe that poetry is a diverse subject. Rap is a type of poetry because what poetry represents is how the writer feels about the world around themselves. What they love and hate and just how they view things. I myself am not a fan of rap music, but I would not go as far as to say that it is not poetry because it fits the description of how I as a lover of poetry see how it is meant to be viewed.

[jfkwok]

Rap is definitely a form of poetry. When you look at spoken word and rap, they follow the same vein of lyrical wordplay and rhythm, and often spoken word poets will also incorporate rap styles into their performances. Rap is just poetry with a little extra beat in the background. And I agree that in a sense, all music is poetry. Then again, you could argue that anything can be construed as poetry.

[nikki_nook]

I think Eminem is an artist through and through. His cadence and staccato are unbelievably amazing and he has a great deal of talent. I don't follow rap much, so I can't speak to other rappers, but I've always at least appreciated Eminem's style.

-- 08 Jul 2014, 15:22 --

I think Eminem is an artist through and through. His cadence and staccato are unbelievably amazing and he has a great deal of talent. I don't follow rap much, so I can't speak to other rappers, but I've always at least appreciated Eminem's style.

[calonjed]

Absolutely! When I was in high school I had an English teacher who would teach poetry by reviewing rap songs. She would also ask the class to pick a topic and she would freestyle lyrics. Having said that I don't think all rappers are poets.

[RJohnReves]

I guess I am just too old to appreciate it. However I have never read poetry full of obscenities.

[Deee]

Give Drake some props every body. Eminem, Dr. Dre and definitely Nas, Talib, and Mos def.

[Liv_Rem]

Yes! Honestly, I've always thought of rap as spoken word poetry--just spoken to a beat. Of course, there are certain verses that make you go "Wow! That was great" and others that make you go "Ummmm... That was painful" just like with other types of poetry.

[mel_04]

i do feel like rap is poetry when you can really seek a positive message throughout the song.

[jlp 6]

I consider most lyrics to music a form of poetry if the writer intends for the words to themselves to have an effect on the listener. Rap is the most poetic of all music because it follows the rules of writting. It works hard to use metaphors, puns, and other literary techniques to put forth a simple message. Since it is an American created art form it's subject matter can be very limited; i.e where I'm from, who I am, what I deal with day to day, but these things make this art form much more accessable and approachable when in the hands of skilled masters.

I will put forth Rakim. The greatest MC in my book.

Since the first days you know of, till the last days is over
I was always the flow'er, I made waves for Noah
From a compound to the anatomy, to the breakdown of a atom
Some of my rap patterns still surround Saturn

From the ancient hieroglyphics to graffiti painted pictures
I study, I know the scriptures

Rakim - The 18th Letter (Always And Forever)

[MichaelMoretti]

Rap, just like any other kind of modern music, is either a compelling form of poetry or a disgusting way of making money.
There's always gonna be the artist who puts the heart in creating something deep and beautiful - ending up in poetry or musical composition - and the 'artist' who puts random words in a random beat just to sell the hit. Sad but true

[Ryan]

I completely agree with the majority of people here. Poetry is a label we give to a text which is not written specifically to accompany music, and yet in the classical period poetry was exactly this. (Usually it would have accompanied a lyre or a lute.) But there is bad rap and good rap, just like there is good poetry and bad poetry. Tupac wrote tremendous lyrics (check out Keep Ya Head Up) with insightful political commentary. Eminem is great too (Stan is wonderful) with a different level of political commitment. Nonetheless, their lyrics were brilliantly written and wouldn't look out of place on a "poetry" shelf (especially Keep Ya Head Up)!