Is Rap Poetry?

[_booklover_]

I definitely think that rap has the potential to be poetry. Many song are powerful, meaningful, and the lyrics are truly poetic but some more modern "rappers" have taken away the credibility of rap in my mind. I think that good rap music is without a doubt poetry but when it comes to the gibberish and screaming of some of todays artists, it starts to get a bit questionable.

[Amber Nichole]

Absolutely! I'm not a big fan of the genre itself, but it takes genuine skill to be a rapper. Rap uses imagery and often utilizes amazing instances of plays on words. I think a lot of rap uses many of the same tools schemes that we see in poetry.

[IamShing]

yes i think it is equally as creative as poetry and rythmic too.

[Hayley2-0]

Rap has all the characteristics of a poem rythm and all it's just that it's rapped not spoken or sang. I think It's poetry.

[CharlizeGwapa]

Yes I think that it is poetry because it has the same pattern of writing. Also, it is has to be creative like poetry.

[juliusotieno02]

To me,poetry doesn't just end at creation of a rhyme scheme;it entails presenting of concreat ideas and feelings by choosing the most apropriate words which will present it in the best way possible. Rap is nothing more that creating a rhyme scheme and for that reason i don't consider it poetry.

[thebell_jar]

I wholeheartedly believe that rap is poetry.

[CharlotteArianna]

Rap is most definitely poetry because there is a cultural side to poetry. Poetry comes in all different forms and structures and shouldn't be tied to one way. Everyone is different and has different perspectives which makes poetry much more interesting.

[_bree254]

Do you think that rap is poetry? Why or why not? In your opinion, what's the relationship between rap and poetry?

Rap is 100% poetry.Why? Most of the raps carry hidden meanings in them that leaves it to the listener to make up what its all about.
Rappers use poetry in writing their verses .This is so because ,real rappers express their feelings,pain and hate all through their raps but not directly in black and white

[magnoparisi]

I don't think so. I don't like rap personally. It's just not my cup of tea. There are some good lyrics here and there but definitely not poetry.

[Waylonsmommy]

I firmly believe that Rap is poetry. Like some have stated, not all Rap is about guns, drugs, violence, and sex. There are rappers that Rap about poverty or their struggles and some that Rap about love. It’s poetry but with music added to it. My favorite rappera are Eminem and tupac!

[Courtney Cottre]

I believe rap could be poetry. I believe all things could be poetry. People speak their minds when they write poetry. They let everything out on a piece of paper or even a document. If someone were to rap, if it rhymes, I would say that is poetry.

[imSunshine]

yes because it requires creativity and rhyme to sound more apprealing

[Jennz123]

Is rap poetry?

Who can decide for the masses? It’s a personal opinion not a set rule. I believe most music is poetic.

I was previously half convinced rap is poetry, but then I watched The Get Down Brothers and noticed the spoken conversations in rhyme seemed more poetic without the background beat and when spoken slower. What really convinced me was the way the characters would speak the rhyme was then faded in and out of the actual song.

I will leave you with these lyrics:

“Everything we would say would end with a rhyme,

So we memorised them and said ten at a time,

Then we notice people started calling us poets,”

[magnoparisi]

Rap is a distinct art form, but it is more akin to Music than Poetry. Performance is an irreducible part of what makes rap work "good". Poetry still functions on the page (often better than in recitation). But rap, like all music, comes to full flower only in performance.

I don't have anything against people listening to rap but it's not "poetry". But people are afraid to tell the truth because to say that may sound "politically incorrect".