RnB Music is not a Crime!

OK so what’s the deal with everyone hating on RnB music? Why is it that so many people will gloat about how diverse their tastes in music are, but then go on about how much they hate RnB. And it’s never “Oh I don’t really care for RnB very much”, it’s always “Oh man I fucking hate that rap and RnB crap!” with such vehemence and loathing! It always shocks me, because I am unashamedly a HUGE fan of RnB, hip hop and rap. This often comes as a massive shock to people because I apparently don’t look like the type of girl to like that type of music (but they’re also the people who assume I only listen to heavy metal and punk, so nuts to them). It puzzles me how people who boast about their fantastic tastes in music, but then disregard, or in most cases hatefully oppose, an entire genre of music.

So what is it about RnB, hip hop and rap that gets peoples goats? I guess the most obvious factor is the “scene”. The RnB/hip hop/rap scene is notorious for attracting thugs and wannabe gansta’s who like to dabble in drunken fist fighting or in the case of clubs in the USA – gun violence. But hang on! That’s an unfair generalisation, isn’t it? Maybe so, but in my experience it’s unfortunately justified. Mind you I have only been to RnB clubs in Brisbane and London, but they have all had the same vibe about them. All is fun while you’re dancing to Rihanna but then someone bumps into some angry dude and a fist-fight will break out in the middle of the dance floor. Not all RnB clubs are necessarily like this, I have been to some very sedate ones where there wasn’t any violence at all, but it does seem to be how it generally goes.

But is this a good enough reason to hate the whole genre? Hell no! Come on people! Every scene has something negative about it, but no one seems to notice them as readily as with the RnB/hip hop/rap scene. Every time I go out these days, there’s a fight breaking out on the dancefloor, at the bar or just outside the main entry. This ain’t RnB’s fault! It’s going on at all the clubs, bars and pubs! The fact is, people seem so scared of enjoying RnB music and going to the clubs that are frequented by homies, wiggers and wannabe gangsters! I am of the opinion that we need to start mixing things up by going to these venues and proving to people that “Hey, regular people like me can listen to this music, have a dance and not end up punching someone in the face at the end of the night”. And lets not forget you don’t have to wear excessively baggy clothes to enjoy the music (god I wish someone would tell these guys XXXXL shirts do NOT look good on anyone). If all we have left going to RnB venues are the dregs, let’s start drowning them out by having fun with what is an excellent genre of music!

Dissing a whole genre of music because of the scene and a few shitty examples circulating the in the music charts is uncool. The amount of people I know who claimed they hated RnB but then completely had an about-face turn after spending time with me and experiencing the many joys of Urban music. Sure it has some rubbish in there, but so do all other genre’s of music! Try to tell me you don’t secretly love a bit of MC Hammer, Usher, Bobby Brown, TLC, LL Cool J or Janet Jackson now and then! And let’s not forget all the obscure artists out there who fly the “Urban music” flag. It’s not all the stuff you hear on commercial radio, there’s plenty of amazing underground stuff around that would blow your mind if only you’d open it up a little!

Please note: This can also apply to other hated genres of music like country, heavy metal, ska etc. All of which are also excellent in their own ways. Be a music lover, not a hater!

(If you actually do dislike RnB, hip hop and rap because it is not a style of music you enjoy, then you should probably disregard this entire post)