Music and Poetry

Rap: Neither Music, Nor Poetry.

My friend "J" was struggling to make his point about Rap, trying to convince me that Rap is a very poetic way of expressing true feelings through music(...) This could have been true twenty years ago, but what we have right now on the table is neither poetry, nor music? Unfortunately, rap seems to be here to stay. I'm so glad it was not there when I was growing up.

Listen to the lyrics of any Rap song playing on the radio today; any song in the "top 40" these days (if you can understand their words through the annoying constant yelling of profanity). They're just a gooey, pathetic and cheap glorification of assaulting, beating up, humiliating, violating and even shooting other people. These songs will make you consider that "doin' time" in jail is a requirement in the life of any young man nowadays; these songs dictate the tackiest fad ever: wearing pants off of your butt; these songs want you to believe that being a school drop-out and looking sloppy is cool.
Poetry? Yeah, right. First you have to learn to speak, then to write...(sighs). Sorry, guys.

Well, in a society where academic standards have reached the lowest levels, and instant gratification is the main course, I understand that my friend "J" (who happens to be another high school drop-out), thinks Rap is poetry. And Rap may be poetry for him, don't get me wrong,I know that one can't miss what one has never had or known.
I might be wrong, but I highly doubt it. This "soundtrack of the gang life" will never be my cup of Tea.