Why do Rockers down hip-hop for not using “”real”” instruments?

Hey man I'm with you,

My favorite band is Nofx but I like hip-hop, I suggest Sage Francis, the Grouch etc. to people in RnP all the time hoping to expand their horizons a little bit. I know it's not everyone on here, but most could care less, they are under the impression that they are so enlightened because they listen to metal or classic rock when they are only fourteen, but really they are afraid of anything different, whether its MCR or the Jonas Bros or rap

Some people don't even have music they like, just music they like to hate on.

I think that more creative thinking went into an Atmosphere song than into a Ramones song, you can't argue that

All of this combined with the lowest common denominator rap they are exposed to (you can't expect a hardcore kid to like Soulja Boy) and you have a climate of judgment and sense of superiority.

I respect hip-hop, it IS real music and most people who say different are either too old and jaded to ever care or too isolated from the best hip-hop to know any better, that or they are Green Day fanboys/girls from the UK, they just don't care for black music for some reason

Guy above said something I like that ties into my point, how people were mad that Buddy Holly used electric guitars instead of acoustic (not that I believe that specific example) but the idea of change anxiety, Like I said people are so wrapped up in appreciating the "classics" that they won't try anything new, mid-western kids are like "listen to Zeppelin man, it will change your life" And I'm thinking, it already changed my dads life you knucklehead, If people never tried new music there would be no Led Zeppilin! We would still be listening to f*cking Bach and Grieg and sh*t, it is just so ironic

Guy below me, wow you totally proved my point, VOILA not walla you dork

To bumface, you're saying that black people are denying that drum machines are music, do you live next door to Bill Cosby or something? Guess what it IS a race thing, demographically speaking at least, more white people listen to metal and more black people listen to hip-hop, that's statistics

Great question but the truth is lost on most. First hip-hop is to rap as gloves are to hands (I hope this analogy works for you now). As far as the use of “real” instruments is concerned, I feel these so-called rockers know little of the hip-hop history, as it wasn’t born out of the suburbs amid the middle class teens; it was born out of the ghettos of America…That right, the poor. The under privileged, under paid, concrete jungle living, poor. I know what these so-called rockers you speak of are thinking; the parents surly had money for instruments and lessons? Not a fat chance…Bottom line most of the hip-hop music is redundant, but nevertheless, it music and a artistic expression and therefore must be viewed as just that, a glimpse of someone’s soul through sound…BTW Mofohofo you are right anyone can rap but few can emcee, either know your history or become it…

lol that guy said "walla"......must be the meth.

Look, I could give you a huge answer like many people did. This is a big topic to tackle....All I'm going to say is I'm white, love HIP-HOP, and respect the talent that goes into Hip-Hop and Rock music. Nothing you have said is offensive or biased. I love The Roots (Saw them with 311, amazing) and those guys can play. Alot of people can make a beat, but nobody can sample like Premier can. A short list of my favorite Hip-Hop artists:

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Wu-Tang Clan (and their solo records), Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, N.W.A., AZ, Nas, Big L, Erick Sermon, Hi-Tek, Joe Budden, Redman, Jadakiss, & Styles P....of course there's more not to mention all the originators I left out.

lol, ok longer than expected, but I would like to add: This is my opinion and my theory, but many credit Blues for the creation of Rock music. While we all know that if you were playing the Blues, you were black.....but, without traditional, folk music being played by Whites, where would Rock music be? Point being, the combination of these two cultures/races under the same flag changed music history. End of story.

Edit: I forgot, Rockers down Hip-Hop over sampling and drum machines because they don't feel it's as complex or requires as much skill, therefore inferior.....speaking generally, not personally.

Hip Hop Is Not Music

The Roots use real instruments on all of their stuff as far as I know. Questlove is a killer drummer. But in general hip hop has always been more about the producer than the musician which is why you see so much drum machine and sequencing in that type of music.

I agree with your definition of a musical instrument. It took a completely out there sound art class I took my freshman year of college, but I think you are right.

There are always going to be critics of any art (music, sculpture, painting, writing, poetry) because everyone thinks they're point of view is the most valid. As an artist myself, I think negative criticism is great.

I will listen to anything put before me and not judge it by it's genre or the person performing but by the message, the intelligence, the wit and the thought of the lyrics (if there are any); the sound, the notes, the harmonies, chords (a good song does something to your soul); the creativity (whether they're remixing (Andy Warhol painted a soup can that was everywhere and people think its genius) or creating a whole new sound); the beat (or lack of)...

A good song is a good song, but the world is filled with uncultured idiots. You do have to admit that in our world of easy access to recording devices a lot of bad music gets out there for the sake of trying to make money. That bad music is in every genre and coming from different types of people. But also every genre has its geniuses and great songwriters/performers even if that isn't the music you like.

Your best bet is to ignore what you don't want to hear from other people and keep creating or just enjoying the art that defines you.

It takes years of practice and plenty of skill to play real instruments. When artists program or sample beats from real playing musicians, it takes away the artistic credibility of that artist. I equate drum machines and sampling to lip syncing as opposed to really singing. Anyone can program drums with a drum machine or keyboard, but there is nothing like someone who could sit behind a drum kit and play triplets or double bass drums. That takes talent and years of practice.

In the early 80's, many rap artists were sued for illegally sampling original Rock tracks. 2 Live Crew were sued for millions by Van Halen for using Eddie's guitar tracks for instance.

I agree that Rap and Hip Hop are often misunderstood, but there is no way any true musician can equate a drum machine or two turntables to any true playing musician. Now a human beat box is something entirely different . . .;)

This is just plain arrogance, if you ask me.

Percussion instruments have been the cornerstone of music for 10,000 years. From the first day a man beat a rock with a stick, to the present array of electronically generated sounds, the process of creating music has has been constantly evolving.

Rhythm is what gives music its juice. Don't you think Mozart knew that? Paganini? Beethoven? How about Jimmy van Heusen (sp?)? Ray Charles?

When the acoustic guitar came along, how do you think all those violin players felt about it?

Not real instruments? Because you don't necessarilly use the same methodology to create the sound? Hogwash! Is it better music? That's a subjective question, and all of us have our opinions. Is it music? It most certainly is. And it has been since the first day a primitive tribe danced around a fire to the beat of a drum.

Anyone who says otherwise knows nothing about music. That's the opinion of a middle aged fat old white man!

Go for it, dude!

Instruments take time to learn, not saying that vocals do not, but in my eyes (ears) music itself in the Rock/Metal genre are more unique. There are so many different things you can do with musical instruments that you can never get bored of listening to the sound. I personally do not listen to hip-hop, rap, or R&B because the beats to each song sound very similar. When you rap, it is just saying words that rhyme, not actually showing much talent other then their skill with words. To me Hip-hop and rap is a music genre that is mostly used for dancing, but rock/metal is a art.

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Singing teachers will cost money and can be expensive so they're not for everyone. Singing can be learned so it's not an "either you have it or you don't" kind of thing.

Whether you sound like crap or you're decent, I recommend this singing course. It's one of the best methods to learn to sing well in a short amount of time. It's all about using efficient techniques that work.

Okay, so I have been a hip hop producer for over 10 years and I play guitar and keyboards. I have listened to and played lots of rock styles including metal and I can tell u from experience that it takes a whole other class of musician to play any live music like rock, funk, jazz etc. Hip Hop doesnt take the musicianship of any live style of music but with that said there are other skills a hip hop producer needs that u cant find anywhere else. u have to be a very good drum programmer, sound designer, composer, sampler, dj skills for finding loops and audio engineering or music producer experience will really make u a great hip hop producer in general.