How can I, a dad in his 40's who wants to be able to relate to his kids, "get" rap music?

OUTKAST!!! Seriously soon-to-be cool dad, I think Outkast does a great job of retaining the roots of black music as it was passed thru different genres & times (soul, r&b, jazz, blues) and meshing that with progressive instrumentals and great lyricism.

I agree with the comments about dropping the "poetry" slant, because a lot of great rap music wouldn't read well on paper. But that's why I think Outkast is a nice gateway rap act - the lyrics are still fantastic and they cover a lot of instrumental territory across their work.

Albums like ATLiens and Aquemini are pretty great front to back. Southernplayalisticcadillacmusik is their first album and definitely the funkiest. Stankonia is my favorite of their albums, a lot of rock influence that you might appreciate (Gasoline Dreams, BOB) and some truly psychedlic arrangements and textures.

Also, if it sounds like someone's just talking to you, then listen to what they have to say! I find a lot of people that don't listen to rap have a harder time appreciating the vocalists because it isn't just singing or spoken word and they get bored - they're using their voices as half percussion half lead vocal. it's kind of a mode that you have to get used to before you "get it", it's almost meditative after that though - it rewards you for paying really close attention, but also sits nicely as background music because the voice isn't used in a flashy, out-front way like most rock or pop. sometimes i want people to sing to me, sometimes i want them to just tell it like it is. and there isn't a genre more honest or real than rap music, in my opinion.

i think before you can truly be a fan of hip hop, you've gotta be able to feel what i'd call the "knock". it's like a physically moving musical force in a lot of hip hop that is, again, sort of meditative. some of the beats might sound simplistic, but (as plenty of rock music has shown us) simplicity is not at all a bad thing. the music moves you, it's very physical and dynamic. you know the drum beat at the beginning of "when the leevee breaks"? there's a reason it showed up in so much early hip hop - it's got the knock. hip hop feels great, in much the same way i imagine people felt about early rock n roll with the creation of the backbeat. sounded like noise to a lot of people, but to the youth, it was such a true and visceral form of new music. very raw and fresh. it's kind of like that. not a lot of genres in 2015 could still be called "raw and fresh". rap music has continued to evolve and push music in new directions - i hope you do end up getting it!

/r/hiphopheads Thread