Tone Loc Collapses Onstage at Florida Concert

Hate to break it to some of you but the top 40 radio industry isn't about talent but about marketing. So, the whole logic of rap being music because some people make a lot of money doing it really isn't valid. Still, I do believe it is a valid form of music. The Roots are a pretty fine example of that. Also, music does not require all certain elements (rhythm harmony etc.) evidence of that would be a solo instrument or voice. A single person or bird singing a song is music but has no harmony since harmony refers to two notes being played simultaneously. Yes, that is a smart ass remark but if you're going to claim to be educated in music then you should should know the difference between harmony and melody. Education is my point. Indeed a lot of 'rap' today is extremely juvenile (the artist by that name included) and doesn't really require an extreme amount of talent especially when you consider the editing process in recorded music. Of course, a lot of music on the radio doesn't require a lot of true talent anymore. Maybe if record labels required their artists to get a bachelor degree in music then things would be better. I mean, if you really love music then study it; no matter what genre you want to perform or compose. I would endorse rap being used as an example in music education, it is certainly important in terms of musicology. Of course, it is our fault as a society for letting music get so crappy. If we would refuse to buy the crap we're fed on top 40 radio then maybe top 40 radio would start trying different crap. We have lowered our expectations of music and it is indicative of a lack of education in this country.
Just my two cents.

HE MUSTA BEEN CRACKIN UP !

I thought you said musician, but again it's a rapper. I'll allow you can call them recording artists, even poets, but musician implies the ability to pick up a musical instrument of some kind and express yourself using some degree of music theory knowledge and technique. not talking over tracks sampled and stolen from other artists

big tone need takes some time off and get in shape this ain't the 80"s early nintey's. common Tone 25 years later man get in shape have some gatorade for potassium electolytes dude best thing to boots you enery have some green tea or regular tea and sugar few bannas fruit and get that boomb that ran up and down the the tonight show something like her bring it back my man go back to cali and start it up again hope ya feel better see snoop lean but skinny Dog Raping machine h smokes his wheeties man never mind the gunge later

"Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the performer speaks rhythmically and in rhyme, generally to a beat."
SPEAKING is NOT SINGING, therefore not qualifying rappers under the musicians category. (This is not just my opinion, this is strictly facts that have been proven over and over, my opinions are based off of facts)

You must be pulling your info from the Joes spin on life booklet because the true definition says one who conducts and composes. Rappers conduct and compose music. Kanye West, Dr Dre, David Banner, The Neptunes, etc. All are proficient with keyboards and pianos. Eminem even has production credits under his belt.

Sample beats ARE NOT instruments, to even be considered as a musician, you must be able to 1) play an instrument or 2)sing, OR 3) do both.
Do any rappers do any of those?
NO!

What rock have you been under? Ja Rule Rap/Sing his way to the charts before 50 Cent came in and jacked his swag. Andre 3000 and Lauryn Hill who use live instruments and bands in their music by the way are both singers and talented thespians. Queen Latifah released a jazz CD titled Dana Owens under her real name that went on to win awards and The Roots are the house band for Jimmy Fallon. I could have sworn Will Smith was a musician before he started earning 20mil a movie.

There is absolutely no chord structure, harmony, or even REAL instruments, theres nothing but a rapper who TALKS into a microphone, and a producer playing back a simple 4/4 sample beat with little variation.

You know thats balogna Joe. Thanks to the theory of evolution Turntables and computers are now instruments. Sampling and computer generated sounds are nothing new. DJ's proficient in mixing and scratching can make a old song sound like something totally new. Check out Portishead. Welcome to the future Joe.

In order to cerate music, you need harmony, rhythm, and structure.
In order to create harmony, you need to play notes that make up a Harmony. For example, G, B, D, G, B, and G are the notes that make up the harmony to a G chord.
In order to create rythm, you need either a chord progression, vocals or drums. There is no vocals in rap, there is no chord progression in rap (talking is not considered "vocals")

Talking is not vocals? Why do you think they call your larnyx a voicebox? I could give you a list of rappers who sing or play a instrument. Mos Def, Lil Wayne, Queen Latifah, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Estelle, Eminem, Snoop, 50 Cent, Drake, T-Pain, David Banner, Mannie Fresh, Jazze pha, Ja Rule yadayadayada.

Rap TECHNICALLY has drums, but it's all computerized and EQ'd.
All a producer has to do is record someone hitting each piece of a drum set ONCE, put the drums in a certain arrangement and LOOP IT.
It's so easy, a caveman can do it...

Did I mention The Roots earlier? The Executioners, Fort Minor, and all the other hip hop bands who get a bad rap because of mainstream artists. I can understand if you don't like Rap or Hip Hop but your debate about whether rap or hip hop is music is basically futile. Trying to spin your opinion into fact is childish. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder then the same reasoning can be applied to music. Since its so easy a caveman can do it. Why don't you come out with your own Hip Hop CD. You could even go by your own name "Joe." Your CD could be called "Joe Blows." Your first single could be titled "Can't beat em, Hate em." We could have you on your CD cover with a couple of Omish chicks standing around your pimped out horse drawn wagon while you're holding a accordian. I'll buy it Joe. I swear.

what happens when ur huge and try to perform..omg! lol !

where's the musician??!!!
a rapper!! this boy isn't a musician -
who gives a rats ass about this fool

It's funny that you guys have such ignorant perceptions of rap. It is true that not every song is about something positive. It is true that they aren't playing piano, bass, or drums which I happen to play all three of but rapping isn't a no talent skill. Not just anyone can do it. There's such a thing as rhyme schemes, structure, and just general flow and if you lack those, you suck. I know because I used to rap. For those of you that say you need an instrument to make music, what do you think your voice box is? an instrument! realize how ignorant you sound. and Joe, about all of it being the same, all of it is not the same. There are some beats that are highly original and others are just sampled from other songs, but don't discriminate against rap because it is not the only genre that copy cats. Rock and roll started off using church music and just changing the lyrics. and for the record, rap is actually considered a form of poetry. It may not be Poe, or Hughes or anyone else but it is still a form of art and unless it's stolen work, the craft and artistry still need to be respected.

I really think people is entitled to their own oppinion, just because some people a Dj does not mean everyone has to like rap music or rappers, I am a sister and don't like all rap songs or what it stand for old school or not I like some and some I just listen too cause my son does. but I don't like it.even though on BET it has become tone down from the curseing and showing off women body.Some rap music was very vulgar and disrespectful, Then some rap artis was for everybody young or old.

omg he is still alive? i thought he was in a nursing home with vanilla ice.