commentaries

Amen, sister. I'm really sick of being accused of being thin skinned when I call people out for saying hateful things. The fear of being thought of as "uncool" is what keeps us from defending ourselves and other people from bullying.

Nice work Dessa.

I've watched Dessa's career develop and she continues to impress me. I listen widely to the whole spectrum of music (including rap) and I often find that when I'm initially impressed by the energy and musicality of a rap performance I find myself disappointed when I actually figure out what they're saying. Yellowman comes to mind. Electrifying performer but chock full of misogyny and homophobia. The best solution I can think of to this is to vote with your pocket book. I have long ago decided for myself that my discretionary funds were better invested with Dessa's output than with Too Short's.

This is a great piece that so clearly identifies the rights and responsibilities of free speech. And our (the buying public's) right to openly disagree, both in words and with our wallets.

Too Short > Dessa . Sorry player

First, ever consider a melody and then adding harmony? or maybe even go so far that the listener can understand the words? And this type of music is pleasant to the ear drum? I must be missing something...

Lancair, I was never a hip-hop fan until I met my partner, and now I listen primarily to local stuff. It takes a few listens to a song to get the lyrics. Hip-hop requires a different type of listening & different expectations. What makes hip-hop fun to listen to is to listen to how the words are delivered; the rhythm takes the place of melody in a traditional song. Also, have you listened to Dessa's music? A song off one of her recent albums, "The Chaconne", incorporates melody quite nicely. If you're interested in giving hip-hop a fair shake, seriously investigate the independent hip-hop world.

Dessa, that is one fine piece of writing, for a non-scholar!

"Nonetheless, some rap music does trespass upon basic standards of human decency. The problem is bigger than sexual objectification -- it's real misogyny." Similar to the GOP when they discuss contraception. Where are the women?

Is this rap music for people who don't like rap music? If this type of music exists as the only exception for people who don't like rap and the rest is disregarded as the work of "simple minded morons" --isn't that problematic?? Not to be that guy, but isn't that kind of racist?