Haha. I agree that rap diverse, and I was just having some fun comparing the genre to programming.
Setting aside jokes, I've listened to many different types of rap, but I don't like rap that's intellectual. I prefer the mainstream songs about drugs and partying (e.g. Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne) to the songs that try to start a dialogue about social issues (e.g. Common).
I'm open to hearing about intellectual issues when I read articles or listen to talk radio, but I really don't like music that tries to make a point because I associate music with entertainment. Interesting how the medium can affect the message on a person to person basis.
Doesn't have to be an issue about social issues to not be plain retarded in terms of linguistics. Point in case: Big L. Gangsta rap that had flow and cleverness. Lil Wayne and Rick Ross don't really cut that, but I do love that song 8 Ball by Rick Ross, he's just plain fun to listen to.
Sometimes when I'm stuck in traffic I'll say to myself, "Dead in the middle of little Italy little did we know that we riddled some middle man who didn't do diddly."
Amen! I'm a self proclaimed audiophile. I've dump an absurd amount of money, and even more time setting up my listening environment. I will have listening parties with other snobby audiophile types and we'll have in depth discussions about compression aggressivness, staging, balance, etc.. but even given all that, I'll still put on a Lil John album -- which is like the poster child for "dumb" music -- and rock out.
Sometimes it's OK to have a little fun while listening to music, people! Not everything needs to be deeply mindful and complex. Just pop in something that fits the moment and stirs up a little emotion.
