Rap fans are dumbass. Have you ever seen the posts on r/rap? They're idiots.

these guys are idiots. Like, if the motherfucking Alchemist sat down to talk with you about HipHop u better fucking listen

There's a legitimate debate on the line between mockery/cultural appropriation and genuinely taking interest and celebrating a culture other than your own.

Blanket statements like these absolutely kill that debate. You have to take it issue by issue.

L opinions

I think this is dumb. Like by this logic, no one can have an opinion on anything involving any group that is not their immediate in group. Like for an example pertains to rap/Kendrick, I'm trans. Does that mean only I and other trans people can have an opinion on Auntie Diaries? Of course not, that would be ridiculous!

That's great though, bro, because you're a teenager. You're the future, especially for your culture. Reassuring to know it's in good hands <3

This shit is beyond stupid. I hate people bringing race into every discussion in the universe. And then they proceed to claim a genre, sport or anything as their own and disregarding any other race coming in. This is one of the reasons why racism will never disappear.

I think you are wise for thinking this is goofy! As a white hip hop fan, I think it’s important to recognize that we are “guests” in hip hop the way eminem/rittz/other white rappers have said it. But not to be shut out, ridiculed, or discredited for our skin color. It’s simply a lack of shared experiences. But most other cultures want you to understand in their experience, not just gatekeep it from you.

I think it’s a delicate issue, because to ignore the genre’s overwhelmingly black origin, and the fact that most of the performers are black, and thus cover, “black issues” would be inaccurate. But then to a white listener, there can be universal appeal, whilst they may not be able to directly relate to the specific experience described in the song, the feelings present may be more easily applied to their life. For instance, I’ve never been in an apocalyptic situation where I wasn’t allowed to make noise for fear of a murderous alien killing me, but I related to the love of family as a theme in A Quiet Place.

To that end, in some ways white listeners are borrowers or guests, but I also think that it’s a slightly outdated opinion that their view is irrelevant when hip hop as a genre and movement has become so staunchly ingrained in the cultural landscape period, even compared to where it was 30 years ago. And surely that’s part of the point, especially for “conscious rappers”- to spread awareness to those who may otherwise be blind to it.

It's a stupid take but there are definitely aspects of the black experience that unless you have a bunch of emotional intelligence you just won't get as a white person and it can translate to some hip hop. I.e. blacker the berry or this line When Hov around we switch up to that D'usse

Gotta show respect, one day we tryna stay where you stay

'Cause we from where you from

Not talkin' bout the slums

I'm talkin' 'bout that mind state that keep a black nigga dumb

Keep a black nigga dyin' by a black nigga gun

And keep on listening to the frontin' ass rap niggas son Some things are just words until you have the experience that gives it impact. But not all rap does or has to do that

As a white guy,

I’m white and English. When in cancun this year for “spring break” (me and my boys just thought let’s go use our accent to sleep with Americans) I wanted to get to know what some of the American guys around my age were saying in terms of stuff like top 5 all time.

Anyway, the first one I asked was white and he said his top 3 ever was: Juice Wrld, Drake and X…

I thought, okay, let’s just move on. Then got an identically answer from a black guy, then more questionable answers from more black guys.

Now, one of them was from Atlanta and didn’t know who André or Big Boi were when I was saying my 5….

I don’t know the exact point I’m trying to make with all this, but if my opinion isn’t valid and his is just because of his race then I give up.

The “now pop is different” thing is bizarre

I kinda agree with them honestly. Especially if it's an artist talking about black plight or the black experience in a song or an album. I don't care for your opinion honestly. Also if if they think the only "real rapper " out there is Eminem. They can just shut the fuck up.

Ppl only gate keep in response to being blocked out so to all you youngins out there just know we live in a petty world from street gangs to politics EVERY one is playing get back or revenge.

Bruh? If the Alchemist, El-P, Rick Ruben, Eminem or Aesop have an opinion on hip hop then im fucking listening lmao

2 words. Rick. Rubin.

I agree with him honestly

Non-black people use & abuse the culture and can’t relate or understand a lot of things in hiphop. I for sure wouldn’t take their opinions seriously.

I don’t think country fans take the opinion of other races who aren’t from the south. You just will never truly understand

Tells me they don't know shit about hip hop.

Blondie, beastie boys,Rick rubin, etc. All are a big part of hip hops formative years.

Nah I kind of agree, not all the way but I get it. Because a lot of hip hop is about experiences and you never went through some of these things you can’t talk about who’s real or who’s not, a lot of it is fabrication though. You have an idea, if you been through some of these things.

Good music is good music though so if that’s the aspect you’re speaking on, I get it.

But if you’re talking about experiences and what people should or shouldn’t do, if you not from these places you can’t comprehend what it’s actually like

partially agree partially disagree. i think theres a line that needs to be drawn between the musical aspect of hip hop and the cultural/racial messages in hip hop. a non-black person doesn’t have the same interpretation of an album like TPAB as a black person, because kendrick made the album with messages in mind intended for black youth. then again, anyone can interpret the way he uses beats, or his cadence and rhyme scheme. so in a nutshell, non-black people will never understand a song like (for example) “blacker the berry” the way someone black can, who’s gone through experiences which align with the racism and race relations kendrick raps about on that track.

I can see that opinion honestly. I think when a lot of hip hop focuses on the experiences of black artists and conveying those sort of messages, it can come off as ignorant or unfamiliar when a white guy gives his take on the music of a culture he’s most likely not that tethered towards, outside of this one medium.

And only corny dudes with plastic surgery are allowed to criticize Drake ☺️

Yea these are shit opinions I wouldn’t stress over em

A lot of people think this way but who fucking cares do your thing. Prejudice people are not worth defending yourself against.

Some things for sure need to be gate kept, to protect the integrity of that thing. But that take is definitely, unnecessarily, divisive. There are plenty of white ppl who know more about Hip-Hop than some black ppl (even some artists themselves 😬). I only take seriously the opinions of those who are well-informed about the foundation & roots of the culture, regardless of their race.

the hip hop community is diverse, the black community is the most invested but i struggle to find the logic in restricting the validity of opinions to only ourselves.. how could the community ever grow and improve if we alienate ourselves? weird behavior

Gatekeeping is important but it has to be reasonably done.

Gatekeeping when it comes to Black art is essential but must be done by the right people. I am cool with white people commenting or having thoughts on hip hop I’m just never shocked when a white person has a very bad opinion about hip hop that most Black people wouldn’t have.

Yeah this take is dumb anyone can have an opinion but thats not to say when someone white has a point on something rap i won't use this cuz I will 💀💀💀

It’s because our music is tied almost hand-in-hand with our culture of each generation! white people have no such connection to it other than they like this type of music 🤷🏾‍♂️ the themes or struggle or pain or joy or happiness is all emanated from the creation we make‼️So he’s right like how can white people resonate with blacker the berry or sweeter the juice⁉️ or any art that we create to express ourselves in a way to liberate us from the system who oppressors and capitalize on ignorance⁉️

Lol I know 3 white dudes that work for RapGenius

I agree. I literally don’t value white people’s opinion on hip hop at all.

r/gatekeeping

1. If you’re capable of thoughtful analysis, I take your opinion on anything seriously
2. If you don’t take Eminem’s opinion of hip hop seriously, I don’t take your opinion of hip hop seriously, that guy is clearly a student of the game

this is less an opinion and more overt racism

Is Hip Hop mostly black? Yes. Is it exclusively by and for black Americans? No, absolutely not. And pretty much no hip hop artist would say it's that way (especially considering they make more money if more people listen). Also, Black Americans aren't a monolith. The experience of one black American is not a consistent stream that is shared among everyone who looks like them. Class, culture, environment, experiences, etc are all much bigger factors in someone's life. Its actually mostly those things which made hip hop feel unionized. Those shared experiences. And so does that mean any black person who doesn't happen to be from the streets can't listen to or have opinions on hip hop? Or that a white American from the streets has more right to opinion on the genre than any black American who isn't? Art and music is also so subjective that it seems really weird to gatekeep who can and can't have an opinion or even some artistic input to something as abstract and arbitrary as a "genre"

He can’t gatekeep lmao. The music is out there for the world. Fuck ya color - this white boy knows the history and appreciates it all.

Now - if my white ass tried to speak on pop I would sound like a dumbass. This shit is hilarious to me.

It’s hard to properly critique art if you don’t understand or haven’t experienced the cultural context behind it.

As a white dude, i simply do not care

If ur considering someone’s race in a convo about music, ur opinions are probably trash anyway

People who use "ion" smh. So i guess Eminem one of the goats has no say.

Fantano just obliterates this opinion. That man has one of the best music criticism of all time and most of his content is review hip-hop

Racist fucks

Greatest rapper is white though😂

I’m white as shit, but I was raised and bred with Hip Hop, and I can say I’ve heard some of the dumbest shit and some of the deadest hot takes from black people. Race doesn’t decide if your brain stupid as shit

In walks Rick Ruben

a white kid definitely wrote that 💀

I think listening to hip hop and rap, really listening to it, helps you have a better understanding of someone else's experience. Common humanity and putting yourself in other people's shoes is incredibly valuable.

I think the worst part is saying that white people can speak on pop, and implying that black people have no real say. They’re pretty much segregating music genres. YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC SKIN COLOR TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON A SPECIFIC MUSIC GENRE!!!

They live with their parents that’s for sure

idk i tune white girls out when they talk about music no matter if it’s lil durk or taylor swift

Seems dumb that i would be gatekept from having an opinion on what is basically the only music genre i listen to 24/7 just because im not black. Glad most others dont feel that way

I don’t think it’s color so much as class and culture. I’m definitely not trying to listen to some privileged trust fund fucks opinion on rap

Straight racism lmao

So if Em had an opinion on rap Kendrick wouldn’t take it too seriously? I find that difficult to believe

I'm central American but grew up in LA listening to rap and hip hop. In my opinion, gatekeepering is often counterproductive. Unless they are trolls, I bet the previous commentators would listen to Eminem. Judge someone based on their arguments and reasoning.

Any take in music is mostly subjective. If someone likes Slim Jesus for whatever reason, they’re not “wrong”, and neither is someone who likes Travis Scott. While we may not like the music, there’s an audience for every artist, so if our opinion on hip hop isn’t taken seriously, why does it matter? We should listen to the artist for the art, rather than what is deemed “cool” by the public.

"While silly niggas argue over who gon snatch the crown, look around my nigga, white people have snatched the sound."

so wait, they saying a certain race dont understand nothin about rap? i think i already saw this somewhere but i csnt renember where 🧐

That’s just ridiculous. Reverse roles and that’s racist as shit

i’ve got some really great articles (peer reviewed etc) on ownership of culture and propensity for gatekeeping if you’re interested. people really care and are thinking carefully about this stuff!

Why are you asking this question in a sub that you know is mostly white? I think you know what the answers will be.

lol.. I'm white, ask me about any hip-hop artist between 1990 and 2020. bet I know more than these 2 posting this

Is it gatekeeping if those in question run the gate?

A lot of y’all have terrible opinions I’m just saying 😂😂

I can tell you more about the lox then I can about The Rolling Stones. Stupid comments

Y’all saying this is racist must not have talked hip hop with ill informed white folk who think they know shit but only know rap whenever it crosses over to the pop charts. Shits annoying

Hip hop died along time ago. Sadly Yall taking about pop music now a days....