Be Honest... do you let an artist's status determine whether you'll listen to them???

i dont kno ifs necessarily their "status"..i just dont be feelin alot of these underground cats

Not at All. I mix it up a little bit with my listening preference. There are a few mainstream rappers I listen to because they have lyrical talent. With that said, The mainstream rappers i listen to, I listen to their underground music a Lil bit more. For instance, 50's underground music was insane, much better than what he's doing now-a-days.(After Get rich or die trying, that album was fire). Its the same case wit Jeezy, Gucci mane, dipset, and some others. Status means absolutely nothing to me because some of artists today have a very undeserving status. Lil Wayne is a example of that (don't piss and moan, just my opinion). I listen, like, and respect talent on the mic. Lupe is one of the very few artists who I'll listen to anything he releases. He can spit to a banjo and it would be fire. And lets not forget Canibus, a major underground rapper who has a small but dedicated fan base and a status not worth mentioning, but he is undeniably one of the best artists who ever touched a mic.

I don't know about specific artists, but my daughter's 7 and I don't let her listen to lyrics that have a lot of sex and violence in them. I'm not overly keen on her listening to too much swearing either, but at least with that, she knows what swearing is and that she's not allowed to do it, regardless of what she hears. It's just with some content, I don't think a 7 year old should have to have knowledge about soem of these things. I wouldn't really let her listen to NWA, Biggie, Eminem, stuff like that. But I do encourage her to listen to artists like Lauryn Hill and I also think Will Smith is a pretty good introduction to hip hop for kids.

I also will listen to any artist that is suggested to me by someone I trust, but most people that know what I like aren't going to suggest that I listen to Plies or whomever else is getting a lot of radio play. I'm pretty confident that I listen to about 90% of the mainstream artists that I would like, and there are only a handful that I've let slip through the cracks because I assume they won't be good because of their status.

I like music son music

I give everyone a fair chance before deciding whether I like them or not. That means, yes I've listened to The Carter 3, The Real Testament, and other albums of the same caliber in full length. My IQ may have dropped a couple points in the process, but I try to be as open minded as possible.

I don't bash anyone's favorite artist anymore though. Well, I'll say they're wack, but I ain't gonna knock somebody for liking them.

All in all, everyone should just enjoy what they listen to, and probably try to go out of the box every now and then.

No. I was a backpaker. Still am at heart. I stay underground majority of the time. But I'm diggin' Ye, Jigga, The Game, Snoop and will even bump some Mobb Deep once in a while. (My friends clown on me for all this.)

I *TRY* to be open minded too. But it's difficult because I write off anything out of the south and the Bay Area hyphy...music.

And no..I won't listen to a suggestion 99% of the time if I already know what genre it is.

no it really doesnt determine if i like it or not soley based on the label they are given, i know alotta underground artists that talk bout bustin guns, women ect as well as some mainstream artists that are on that black power, nubian brothers and sisters tip (not many though) but what i do find is a relate to the majority of underground artists subject matter more so i tend to like them more than mainstream... but there are some mainstream artists that i do appriciate but like i said the lable they are given wheather mainstream or underground doesnt influence my listening much at all....

Yeah with Mainstream I find it hard to believe anyone that a bunch of 12 y.o. girls and College Jocks bump could be worth my time. 95% of these artists I'm correct in judging before listening to them but then I'm probly missing a few.

Some examples Joell Ortiz, Papoose, Fabolous, Lupe Fiasco I had to actually listen to first but Soulja Boy, Hurricane Chris,Lil Wayne etc. more than reinforce the fact it's mostly just a gimmick.

'"arise my nubian brothers and sisters" type of ish' lmao

I listen to mainstream mainly. The underground stuff I listen to isn't remotely different to mainstream stuff so I would listen to underground artists if a friend recommended them to me.

But I have to admit, when someone mentions someone like Aesop Rock or Cannibal Ox I do just say 'Hell no, I ain't getting into this sh*t'.

Somtimes. I dont wanna listen to a wack artist like Shawty Lo. Wats the point...dont buy stuff just for the beats. Backpackers are stereotyped as are Pop and Gangsta rappers. Jay-z is a rapper he dont fit solely in any of the 3 categories i just mentioned.

I'll listen to an artist before I choose my own opinion about their music. You can't say you hate someones music unless you give it a try meaning listening to the CD and/or mix tape instead of 1 or 2 songs.