Do You Really Hate UK Rap THAT Much?
Posted by Tchexxum@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 245 comments
Everywhere I look online I see Americans hating on UK rap so hard and just don’t seem to give it a chance without dogpiling onto it, almost acting like it’s in direct competition with American rap. Is this really how most Americans think of UK rap (I’m assuming it’s just the ultra online ones)?
therealjerseytom@reddit
Most Americans don't think about UK rap whatsoever, or probably don't even know it exists 😅
captainstormy@reddit
I never thought about it. I can't imagine how it would be with a British accent and all lol.
OldKingHamlet@reddit
The music video is a bit goofy, but Roots Manuva handles it well IMHO Roots Manuva - Crying
captainstormy@reddit
Huh, that was something alright.
OldKingHamlet@reddit
Yeah. Roots Manuva is one of the first good UK rappers. Apparently his dad was a pentacostal preacher, so every once in a while he'll channel some of those tonalities in and it's just solid.
The UK "Party Scene" style rap, which is I guess makes it over here and is what people stereotype as UK rap, is hot unmitigated garbage. But the UK stuff that has DnB/Dub/Grime roots can be compelling:
Noisia - Shellshock (feat. Foreign Beggars) (Official Video) (youtube.com)
The Bug - Poison Dart feat. Warrior Queen (youtube.com)
Magnetic Man ft Ms Dynamite - Fire (Maida Vale) (youtube.com)
Appropriate_Iron5090@reddit
Once of the first good ones?? I'm so sorry for the limited range. Give it a few more generations, the content of the rap should evolve into something worth listening to...
Meattyloaf@reddit
Accent does really well with horrorcore and some other subgenres but it's limited.
Morlock19@reddit
yeah unless a track is playing in the background because its literally set in the UK, i forget it exists.
Jump808@reddit
Yes that stuff is horrible it shouldn’t even exist it’s sucks 😭😭💀
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VLA_58@reddit
I don't particularly like rap -- but Ren Gill is so articulate and expressive that I can't help but like his stuff. And I have liked Akela ever since 'Like Shakespeare with a little twist'. Not sure why -- it's the message and the urgency of the beats that get me, I think.
7evenCircles@reddit
Rap is so inextricably American that listening to foreigners do it sounds very, inauthentic. That's not a deeply held belief or a closely examined opinion I have, it's just how I find myself feeling when I listen to it.
cherrywavesss57@reddit
Latin American rap goes crazy I think many US Americans can agree on that
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Tbh that’s also kinda how I feel when non Americans start doing country. I don’t even like our country music so I don’t have a dog in this fight really, it just feels weird coming from them lol
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
Australians are kind of the exception, but otherwise, yeah.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Would you really put Hip Hop and country on the same level of Americanness and only belonging to America
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Absolutely yes.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I mean I never would’ve guessed that. I guess it’s because every country has tried rapping at some point but country is very specifically USA as far as I’m aware.
azjza@reddit
To me the difference between hip hop and something like rick is that the initial wave, growth, and popularity of hip hop was almost entirely in America.
Even though rock is inarguably American music large parts of the initial development and popularity of the genre came from the UK. A large part of the “classic rock” sound that we all know and love is inarguably British. Both the USA and the UK contributed to the transition from “Rock and roll” to “Rock music”.
Hip hop and country aren’t the same IMO. Hip hop was largely developed by black Americans as well as Latino Americans. I think that is why reggaeton and other Latino rap is so popular in the USA…because Latinos have been influencing hip hop since the very beginning, so it comes across as natural to us.
Hip hop
CalmRip@reddit
The British Invasion of the 1960s certainly was a major factor in the rock revival of that era, but rock--in its original form of Rock and Roll--is purely American and mostly Southern. The evolutionary path was
Blues shuffles ==>"Race music" of the 1940s ===>Rhythm N Blues (not the modern stuff, but the original 4/4 time, 120 bpm, with emphasis on the 1 and 3). ====>Rock and Roll. Bill Halley and The Comets' "Rock Aound The Clock" is the usual benchmark for the first R'n'R song.
And then along came Elvis and Carl Perkins, and Gospel, Rhythm N Blues, and a little bit of bluegrass kicked out a mix we recognize as essential RnR.
R'n'R was largely diluted by "teen idol" music, and overshadowed by Motown Soul, by the early 60s. Then along came The Beatles and the rest of their compatriots of the British Invasion, who revived the blues element of RnR and threw in some more sophisticated lyrics (usually). The British Invasion was very much a renewal and return to the American RnB roots of RnR, which took off and evolved into all the forms of Rock we know today, with the first big wave encompassing the Pyschedlic Rock of the 60s, and moving on to Arena Rock, Metal, Hair, Prog, and all the many variations.
But at its heart, Rock was born in the American South. Oh, it went away to college, so to speak, and acquired the more complex forms and conventions of the variations already mentioned, but ultimately it comes back to Elvis, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry, and 120 BPM, 4/4, and something you can dance to. It's as American as barbecue.
baalroo@reddit
I think you'll find this a very common opinion in the US. Hip Hop culture is deeply American to us.
anneofgraygardens@reddit
There are Canadian and Australian country artists for sure. Like, Shania Twain is Canadian.
But I've heard rap and hiphop in other languages and it sounds fine....never country. Has anyone tried? Like I'd love to hear some French country or something.
AfterAllBeesYears@reddit
I don't think very many Americans would have any problem putting those on the same level. Both are distinctly American, they're just from different regions/cultures.
idredd@reddit
Gotta admit I have a soft spot for French rap just for its tendency toward revolutionary shit.
azjza@reddit
This is exactly it for me. You see it a lot with K-Pop. When I see K-Pop rappers it always seems like they watched an instructional video entitled "How To Hip Hop: Your Guide To Get An Invite To The Next BBQ" and then just went with it lol.
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
lol yeah as a long time kpop fan I spend a lot of my time rolling my eyes at how some of them act.
Like, I can handle how it sounds because there’s some genuinely good music in there, but some are trying too hard to sell the image.
Suppafly@reddit
I don't really think about it much at all, but what I've heard has been pretty bad.
Agile_Property9943@reddit
I don’t hate it I just don’t like it I’m so sorry.
mustachechap@reddit
You overestimate how much we think or care about UK rap.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I said ‘I’m assuming it’s just the ultra online ones’. I knew this coming into it
mustachechap@reddit
Do you have an example of all these Americans hating on UK rap somewhere?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Honestly, if you go to any UK rap music video and look at the newest comments you will find some straight away. The thing that sent me here was the comments on a video from Dave.
mustachechap@reddit
Mind sharing one of these UK rap music videos?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
https://youtube.com/shorts/BWgJKmfRfe0?si=ElCYcmUaOqyBFOOS Check out that, it’s not a music video or anything but you get the idea. Look at the newest comments I reckon there’ll be a few
mustachechap@reddit
I'm not really seeing these comments you speak of. If they do exist, they must be few and far between.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Alright from scrolling I found
Comment 8- uk rap sucks Comment 10- British rap fucking sucks Comment 11- Wack rap Comment 12- Ain’t no way people actually listen to mandem rap Comment 13- British rapper be like bop pop bop bop pop
I’m just saying
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
If that’s the worst thing that’s being said yall just got paper thin skin.
Current_Poster@reddit
It's also one of the few things that can't be responded to with "you have school shootings", so the go-to's not useable. 'S Tough.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
You’re missing the point, I’m not talking to the severity, I don’t even like UK rap I couldn’t care less. Im taking to the volume
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
I mean…you clearly care.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
My reason for posting is: ‘Wow it seems like Americans hate Uk rap online. There’s no way this can be that common.’ My personal opinion is that American hiphop is far better but that’s irrelevant
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Idk how many times we gotta explain we don’t care about UK “rap” enough to have an opinion on it.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I don’t know if I was being naive but I thought the people responding would be the minority who do
KoldProduct@reddit
Man have you seen the shit we say to American artists? The internet is just negative. I know people who won’t listen to rap because it’s from the wrong part of California.
OhThrowed@reddit
So, how do you know those are Americans?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
‘Wack’ and ‘sucks’ are dead giveaways, the other might not be your 100% right but I still think there’s a great likelihood they are
cdb03b@reddit
That is slang that has not been main stream in the US since the 90s.
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Overlooking the fact that our slang has gone global so no, that’s not a dead giveaway, I don’t know anyone who’s used “wack” since the 90s
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
‘Slang has gone global’ no not really
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Then why does everyone from Europe keep coming in here saying “yall”
reddit1651@reddit
where is your proof of this?
OhThrowed@reddit
Or, and this is a thought, they could be people from Portugal who picked up 'wack' and 'sucks' online. Those aren't the dead giveaways you think they are.
Aggressive_FIamingo@reddit
...none of those comments mention being American though? How do you know they were left by Americans? Is this just a case of Europeans assuming everyone on the internet except them is American?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Is that a thing
mustachechap@reddit
Yep, none of those are in the top comments we have no idea what the country of origin is of any of those users.
OldKingHamlet@reddit
Just chiming in here, but anyone who shits on Roots Manuva has things to answer for.
There's some solid UK rap, but I've found the better MCs to be bit more on the dub, dnb, and grime side of things:
P Money x Whiney - Buss The Red (Official Video) (youtube.com)
Hard Bastards (youtube.com)
Foreign Beggars - No Holds Barred ft Noisia (Excision Remix) Official Video - YouTube
(Last one is technically NSFW for nipples at :19 in for like 10 frames)
DelsinMcgrath835@reddit
Just gave him a listen. The music was okay, I listened to starlight, but it was probably the first time i listened to a song and felt like the musicians accent was a detriment to the song
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
Tbf the ones that do make it over tend to not be very popular until the last few years or so
On_The_Blindside@reddit
To be honest I think he over-estimates how much even we think or care about UK rap also.
JuniorAct7@reddit
The only thing I knew about UK rap for the longest time is that “England is My City” line which, in defense of Americans who hate on UK rap for whatever reason, was hilarious.
Confetticandi@reddit
lol what a throwback
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
For real. I didn’t know that was even a thing until like 2 months ago.
What I’ve heard of it though…it ain’t good.
Maktesh@reddit
I appreciate some of the rap artists with whom Ed Sheeran collaborated. That was my first and last exposure to "UK rap."
thisisallme@reddit
Goldie lookin chain is pretty hilarious and trashy at the same time, which is 100% what they were going for (I’m old) but I think they’re pretty funny
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
The only time I think of it is when its asked on this sub and then sometimes I make the mistake of clicking a link to a song and its just awful in every way every time.
stiletto929@reddit
Never heard of UK rap. Generally dislike most American Rap though. And country.
LUCIUS_PETROSIDIUS@reddit
I just can’t get past the fact that you guys don’t have guns. How am I supposed to take a UK rapper seriously? Like what, he’s gunna challenge me to a duel? To “fisticuffs?”
swanlongjohnson@reddit
they challenge each other to a gentleman's sword duel probably
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
So you don’t like a genre bc the artists don’t shoot each other enough for your liking
LUCIUS_PETROSIDIUS@reddit
No, I just think that any of their gangster talk is laughable
Current_Poster@reddit
I have a comparison, you're not gonna like it:
I once was in a thread where an ICP fan asked "why does everyone always bag on juggalos?". And someone gave the true response that we don't always do it, we bag on juggalos when they come to our attention and then go back to not thinking about them when they don't. It just looks like "always" if you, yourself, are one.
(Yes, in this case I'm comparing UK rap fans to juggalos. Hoody-hoo, innit? ;) )
xavyre@reddit
I hate all rap equally.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
I mean, it really does kind of suck.
Its so goofy hearing some King George sounding fool trying to rap about how 'hard' he is with slang that sounds like stuff three year olds come up with.
swanlongjohnson@reddit
100% their accents do not sound threatening at all
royaldocks@reddit
what about peaky blinders
pvtdirtpusher@reddit
I don’t think about UK rap at all. Didn’t even know that was a thing
HotButteredPoptart@reddit
You seem to think that we have an opinion on UK rap. I've never thought about it until now, but I suppose it probably does exist.
travelinmatt76@reddit
I have never heard of UK rap until just now so I don't know if I like it or not.
bearsnchairs@reddit
The notion that we don’t like UK rap on account of competition is silly. I just don’t think a lot of it is good.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I said ‘almost acting like’ I know it isn’t
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Why’s this getting downvoted, I’m literally agreeing with him. People on Reddit just can’t not be angry
leafbelly@reddit
Good ol' Reddit!
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
But that is a valid answer to the question.
Just because it is the same answer doesn't mean it isn't a correct one.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
That’s what I’m saying, like my post was obviously meant the minority that DO have an opinion.
La_Rata_de_Pizza@reddit
Yo Ney, sunny innit?
Shady2304@reddit
Interesting. I’ve honestly never heard anything about UK rap and couldn’t name a single artist.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
How about Lil Simz
Shady2304@reddit
Nope
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Honestly I thought she’d be the best shot and making it over. I’ll put out Dave Stormzy and Central Cee but I doubt you will have heard of them if you haven’t heard of Lil Simz
igetthatnow@reddit
Stormzy was in a Little Mix song, so he may have been the safer bet.
Shady2304@reddit
I’ve heard the name Central Cee before but that’s it.
Ilikefightsbecause@reddit
Like nobody even thinks of it, I sometimes listen to welcome to Brixton but that’s the only road man rap that I actually like.
Yes_2_Anal@reddit
Hate? Absolutely not. I just think it's funny and not all that great. Talking about "trapping" and other American slang, or "How can i be homophobic? My bitch is gay!". Sorry that's not a bar, lol.
The best British rapper is 21 Savage.
Mangoes123456789@reddit
But you have to admit that line was funny right?
Yes_2_Anal@reddit
Hell yeah, it's absolutely funny. Makes me laugh everytime
Arkyguy13@reddit
I like Mazbou Q but he barely counts since he left the UK when he was very young.
I listened to quite a bit and I think the thing that kind of rubbed me the wrong way was the feeling of a disconnect between the beat and the vocals. Often it felt like there was too much going on in the background and it was distracting from the lyricism.
From my perspective the main things that might make UK rap a little less palatable to Americans are:
The accent, it sounds a little jarring in rap to my American ears
The production doesn't seem to fit, It often feels to busy (I agree with the other poster though, I like songs with DnB or Garage beats and rap over them.)
The lyricism doesn't compare, the rhyme schemes are a lot simpler. Most of the rhymes are with the final word in a line, there's very few interline rhymes, there's minimal wordplay. (An American example of a simple song would be The Brakes by Kurtis Blow, compare to something like Hypnotize by Biggie)
Rap is deeply related American experiences and it's hard to extricate it from that
There's a tendency in UK rap to have a sharp ending to a phrase with almost a breath in comparison to American rap where the verses typically flow directly into the next.
Something to remember is UK rap is in its infancy. Rap has been around for over 50 years in the US. Additionally, rap is much more popular here so there's a lot more rappers in the US. Just by sheer numbers there will be a lot more good American rappers.
All in all, it's a young genre that's close enough to a long standing genre in the US to be jarring but not unique enough to feel like its own thing.
CalmRip@reddit
The British Invasion of the 1960s certainly was a major factor in the rock revival of that era, but rock--in its original form of Rock and Roll--is purely American and mostly Southern. The evolutionary path was
Blues shuffles ==>"Race music" of the 1940s ===>Rhythm N Blues (not the modern stuff, but the original 4/4 time, 120 bpm, with emphasis on the 1 and 3). ====>Rock and Roll. Bill Halley and The Comets' "Rock Aound The Clock" is the usual benchmark for the first R'n'R song.
And then along came Elvis and Carl Perkins, and Gospel, Rhythm N Blues, and a little bit of bluegrass kicked out a mix we recognize as essential RnR.
R'n'R was largely diluted by "teen idol" music, and overshadowed by Motown Soul, by the early 60s. Then along came The Beatles and the rest of their compatriots of the British Invasion, who revived the blues element of RnR and threw in some more sophisticated lyrics (usually). The British Invasion was very much a renewal and return to the American RnB roots of RnR, which took off and evolved into all the forms of Rock we know today, with the first big wave encompassing the Pyschedlic Rock of the 60s, and moving on to Arena Rock, Metal, Hair, Prog, and all the many variations.
But at its heart, Rock was born in the American South. Oh, it went away to college, so to speak, and acquired the more complex forms and conventions of the variations already mentioned, but ultimately it comes back to Elvis, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry, and 120 BPM, 4/4, and something you can dance to. It's as American as barbecue.
SpatchcockZucchini@reddit
Welsh and Scottish rap are fire! Not terribly common to listen to over here, though.
cdb03b@reddit
Most of us are not aware that it exists, and the majority of those who do know it exists do not give one iota of thought about it.
baalroo@reddit
I like hip hop and rap a lot, but I'm not crazy deep into the culture and listen to loads of other genres just as much. I don't go out of my way to "keep up" with the various subgenres but I'm always open to listening to new shit.
With that being said, I've rarely heard UK rap that I like. In fact, it almost always irritates people who are into the stuff when I tell them The Streets and Pete and Bas are pretty much the only UK rappers I actively choose to sprinkle into my rotation.
CMDR_Ray_Abbot@reddit
I was today years old in America when I learned "UK rap" is a distinct genre.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Would you disagree, I don’t get what you mean. Do you mean you couldn’t tell the difference or you didn’t know it existed
Ananvil@reddit
Definitely the latter
Ananvil@reddit
I don't even like American rap. To think that I could even muster the fucks to form an opinion on Biscuit Rap is laughable.
Rhomya@reddit
… the UK has rappers?
ShadeTreeMechanic512@reddit
I don’t discriminate. I hate all rap.
zugabdu@reddit
Most Americans don't know enough about UK rap to care about it one way or the other.
TillPsychological351@reddit
I have a feeling that only people who follow rap have an opinion on UK rap.
Many of us just don't care for rap at all, no matter where it comes from.
Superb_Item6839@reddit
Rap is one of the biggest genres in the US.
EpicAura99@reddit
That doesn’t disagree with what they said
Superb_Item6839@reddit
Well the person's comment downplays how popular rap is in the US.
taftpanda@reddit
There’s still a difference between listening to a genre of music, paying attention to a genre of music, and being really knowledgeable about a genre of music.
Most people listen to music pretty casually, so even a lot of rap fans probably don’t know much of anything about UK rap. They’d probably do what I do and just go “huh, well that does sound like a thing that would exist.”
TillPsychological351@reddit
Something can be both widely popular and unpopular at the same time.
Superb_Item6839@reddit
Your comment downplays the popularity of rap in the US
GrapeAids@reddit
lol I hear rap more than most other genres here in the US
shadowcat999@reddit
Yeah, I think this is a "I don't even know who you are" situation for most of us.
Mangoes123456789@reddit
They don’t hate it. They barely think about it at all.
UK Rappers I’ve heard of:
Central Cee
Stormzy
Little Sims (Hadn’t heard of her until I watched Top Boy)
That’s it.
leafbelly@reddit
A lot of us also hate American rap, too, so don't feel bad.
nutella_on_rye@reddit
I personally don’t hate something that I haven’t heard a lot of. Hating an entire genre isn’t my style. Now people from the UK that happen to rap? Concept of Thought is growing on me. Barney Artist is cool too.
SFWACCOUNTBETATEST@reddit
It’s pretty god awful
riarws@reddit
I have a few friends who are professional rappers. One of them said UK rap sounds like Peppa Pig trying to be gangster. It's not hatred so much as light ridicule. Like, have you ever listened to German rap? As silly as that sounds to you, that's about what UK rap sounds like to us.
Full disclosure, in 2001 I sang a guest track for a random wannabe hip-hop recording artist in London. I think his parents were Jamaican (or somewhere in the Caribbean-- this was a LONG time ago), and he put on their accent for performing so it would sound better.
Europoopin@reddit
UK rap is pretty good. It's come a very long way. The slang is so different though that I think a lot of it goes over our heads. Plus the cultural experiences artists on either side of the pond rap about don't necessarily translate to the other side, and a lot of rap's appeal is relatability. From a talent perspective though, UK rap is so much better than it was 20 years ago and just as good as most of the rap over here now.
Standard-Document-78@reddit
I have a few UK rap songs in my liked songs
Confetticandi@reddit
From the little I’ve heard, it’s just ok.
Like, the lines, production, subject matter, and flows seem to be lacking in inspiration. Don’t have real strong feelings though. I’m only a casual rap fan.
My partner is more of a hip hop head. Just asked him and here is our transcribed conversation:
“What do you think of UK rap?”
“Like Central Cee and shit?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s fine. It’s cute.”
SeethingHeathen@reddit
I don't know anything about UK rap. I did buy Public Warning when that came out, but that's been what- 20ish years now? That's a fun album. Also I think I might be old.
sighnwaves@reddit
I can't deal with the accents, most UK rappers sound juvenile and frivolous to my ears....it's not a judgement on the content, it just is how my brainears react.
SnapHackelPop@reddit
When most Americans who are big into music think rap, they probably think of people like Biggie. Pac. Kendrick. Black Thought. Run-DMC. Waka Flocka - The American accent in a variety of forms.
There’s good rap from the UK for sure, but British accent doesn’t sound cool/tough to a lot of our ears. Is that fair? No. Is that generally the case? Yes, including for me
WrongJohnSilver@reddit
I mean, the Nerdcore scene is fun. Dan Bull, Stupendium, the occasional Rustage...
D_Molish@reddit
TLDR: once again we explain in this sub that American indifference is not the same as American hate.
I only knew of Skepta when Adele started dating him. Listened to a song or two and nothing really stood out. Assumed it was representative of the genre so never went out of my way to listen again. I feel like Stormzy is also an artist whose name I've heard but I couldn't name a song he's done & nothing has ever made me seek out more.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I get what you mean by your first comment but I feel my post has reached the wrong people.
I meant it to be replied to by Americans who HAVE listened to UK rap. Not the 100th person replying ‘I’ve listened to it before’. Like I didn’t expect every American to have an opinion on English music obviously.
honey_rainbow@reddit
Today I learned that UK rap is a thing....
1Rab@reddit
Rap just goes hard in the USA.
Look at what Kendrick did to the Canadian.
"What's up with these jabroni-ass niggas tryna see Compton?"
"Thet not like us."
"Once upon a time, all of us was in chains Homie still doubled down callin' us some slaves Atlanta was the Mecca, buildin' railroads and trains Bear with me for a second, let me put y'all on game The settlers was usin' town folk to make 'em richer Fast-forward, 2024, you got the same agenda You run to Atlanta when you need a check balance."
Rap in America has the weight of the historical context of our Civil Rights and Civil War for Slavory amd the march of MLK.
Epic things.
Any outsider trying to tap into this culture has a very high mountain to climb.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
I kind of like some of it but it’s not in heavy rotation on my playlists.
taskforceslacker@reddit
I listen to “Dave”. I actually like most of the UK rap I find.
machagogo@reddit
I'd have to know UK rap to hate it, but typically listening to your accents singing about the hood just doesn't sound right.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
In what way do you mean
Evil_Weevill@reddit
To American ears, almost all British accents sound either high brow or just kinda funny/childish. And your slang sounds very whimsical to us.
I'm sure that many of the accents aren't actually very high class to you guys because that's how you talk and you hear it every day and can distinguish them more easily and have different associations with them.
But to American ears, British accents sound inherently non-threatening.
I actually had never listened to UK rap but I recently watched Supacell, British show that features a lot of UK rap and gang culture. And... It is really hard to take rap seriously with a British accent and slang.
It sounded like Harry Potter cosplaying as a gangster.
machagogo@reddit
British accents just don't sound "hard" to us, so listening to rap about the streets in that accent just sounds, not "funny" as in haha but funny as in "off" especially since rap is associated with black urban culture here which is not "posh" as most of your accents sound to us.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I know what you mean and no hate to you but to call our accents posh is insane. Sure, there’s a couple but the rest…
mustachechap@reddit
I wouldn't describe all British accents as being 'posh', but I can certainly understand why people might feel that way.
I feel like there is quite an effort from Hollywood and British movies/tv to push this notion that anything "British" is going to be more posh.
machagogo@reddit
Yeah. I get there are differences and not all are what you consider posh, but none sound particularly "hard" to us.
NoDepartment8@reddit
Most Americans only think about the UK on July 4th, if at ever. A small subset of those may also think about the UK on December 16th. Otherwise we really don’t have a reason to think about the UK at all, much less UK rap.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Why December 16th?
NoDepartment8@reddit
Boston Tea Party
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Fair enough, had never heard of it myself
BippidiBoppetyBoob@reddit
I don’t like rap, regardless of which country it originated from.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
What exactly is UK rap?
Joliet-Jake@reddit
I’ve never heard any UK rap or anything about it.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
😂
mellonians@reddit
Instead of just a laughing emoji, be an ambassador - link some examples you'd like people to listen to to showcase some talented British artists. It's not my thing so I can't.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I don’t know why I put a laughing emoji, I didn’t find this comment funny or needed at all. I just put it bc everything else was so negative so I just sort of did. Also I don’t feel I’m in a position to do so since I also do not listen to UK rap.
Evil_Weevill@reddit
I know very little UK rap, but I just watched Supacell which features a lot of UK rap and my first impression is I can't take British "gangsta rap" seriously. To my American ears, British accents sound a bit hoity toity and your slang sounds kinda whimsical. So it just ends up sounding a little silly.
I'm sure it doesn't sound as funny to people who speak British English, but to American ears it's like hearing Harry Potter cosplay as a gangster.
Yankee_chef_nen@reddit
I don’t hate UK rap. I think about anything UK so little that I didn’t know there was such a thing as UK Rap. What do you guys rap about? Tea and crumpets? How you roll hard in London hoping the Bobbys don’t know you’re carrying a butter knife?
mellonians@reddit
Only because I referenced it elsewhere today. Check out student v his teacher rap battle. Teachers 2nd round really goes for his mum at 7:45 mark https://youtu.be/tp4wEewrQdU?si=KtmP3OUJNCAoDyfx
TsundereLoliDragon@reddit
The only good song I've ever heard is Man's Not Hot and that's not even a serious song.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
What do you mean by ‘inauthentic’
cherrycokeicee@reddit
I agree with the other responses, but beyond the historical origin, there's also an inauthenticity in how it sounds to an American listener.
the best way I've seen it summed up is that it sounds like the rappers are excited to rap. it sounds silly & it makes the mood of the song feel all wrong.
azjza@reddit
A lot of foreign rap comes across as people putting on a costume of what they think a rapper should be/act like and it doesn't seem very natural. A perfect example, though not from the United Kingdom, would be Iggy Azalea. When Fancy hit the airwaves many Americans thought she was some new black chick from the southeastern USA only to see the music video and realize she is white. Then you see her in interviews and realize shes actually Australian, with a standard Australian accent, only to hear a mix of Gangsta Boo and Trina when she starts rapping. It comes across as incredibly inauthentic.
It would be like Nicki Minaj using her dumb fake British accent as her main rapping voice instead of just using it at certain times on certain tracks. Shit would be corny as hell.
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
Rap was started by black Americans. It was largely political and involved topics unique to their lived experiences in this country.
cyvaquero@reddit
Political hip hop evolved in the 80s but that is not how hip-hop started out.
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
I always find this hilarious simply because 21 is British. And yeah I know he grew up in Atlanta and has an American accent but everyone was confused as hell when he almost got deported 😂
UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit
I mean if anything will speed run the black American experience it’s growing up in Atlanta lol
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
Lmao that comment made my day thank you 😂
AfterAllBeesYears@reddit
I know UK rappers don't have posh accents, but ANY UK accent sounds incredibly inauthentic/privileged to most Americans. Rap's identity is SO closely tied to the culture of where it comes from (West Coast/east coast/dirty south/etc). And just look at the current Kendrick/Drake thing. And yeah, there's 21 Savage, but he moved to Atlanta when he was 12.
In order for UK rap to not feel inauthentic to us, artists wpuld have to move here and and join some part of the culture. Rap completely originates from the US and in a huge part of those communities' identities. You need acceptance/buy in from those communities in order for an artist/sound to not feel inauthentic.
It's like if an American moved to the UK, joined a football club, but ony ever called it a soccer club and they don't hang out at the pub because they prefer mixed drinks. They could be a great player, but they will not be accepted as a full member until they use the right terms and start hanging out with the rest of the club with a pint.
TheBimpo@reddit
I checked this out, I can't understand 80% of it.
cyvaquero@reddit
What is not to understand? The man is not hot.
(Big Shaq is a character by comedian Michael Dapaah. If people think it's real, next time they shouldn't laugh at the people being fooled by Borat and Brüno)
wwhsd@reddit
Man’s Not Hot was a banger and it used a lot of slang Americans aren’t familiar with delivered in an accent we don’t hear very often.
Until you listened to the song a few times, it seemed legit. Even once you picked up that something wasn’t quite right, it was easy to just chalk it up as Britishisms that Americans don’t quite understand.
TheBimpo@reddit
His accent is somewhat indecipherable for me. I understand the concept of the hook
ESCocoolio@reddit
love me some UK drill, grime, DnB, garage, yes please! but yeah, it is waayy more niche over here.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I can see that from replies 😂😂
btmg1428@reddit
I'm probably the only weirdo in a country of 330 million that listens and appreciates UK urban genres like garage and jungle.
But, like the alleged Americans that hate UK rap, my opinions and preferences aren't representative of an entire nation's.
LittleBeauPink@reddit
I mean, I don’t think about it that often. But a lot of the UK rap I’ve heard does sound really cringe, like an imitation.
heyitsxio@reddit
Most Americans are not really knowledgeable about UK hip hop/drill/grime, so we don’t have an opinion one way or another. Most UK rappers don’t try to “break America” the way UK rock bands or pop singers do, so we don’t know to seek them out. Also there is SO MUCH hip hop in the US that it would be really difficult for a foreign rapper to get famous here without a co-sign from a major US rapper, so I can’t see any UK rapper achieving mainstream success here.
wwhsd@reddit
Only UK rapper I know is Big Shaq and he spits fire.
2 plus 2 is 4 Minus 1 that’s 3 Quick maths.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
I don't know any so I did some googling. Up until know for some reason I though Mos Def was a UK rapper. Not sure how I got that idea.
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
He was in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, maybe that's it.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
MF DOOM is, that’s probably the confusion. Just a guess though
azjza@reddit
I respect that UK rap is its own thing that takes its influences not just from American rap, but multiple other genres. I respect that it is popular in the UK and apparently elsewhere. That said I simply cannot get over the accent. I tried getting in Dizzee Rascal and just....it isn't for me, at all. It isn't just UK hip hop either, I find that other than Latino hip hop/reggaeton/etc I rarely enjoy foreign hip hop.
This is specific to hip hop, as I enjoy plenty of foreign rock music.
Rick-burp-Sanchez@reddit
Nah, I love me some Kings of the City
Apprehensive_Sun7382@reddit
I used to listen to 1 song by The Streets like 10 years ago. Does that count as UK rap?
kissthelips@reddit
I don’t listen to UK rap.
If it’s not Dave or centch
mcjc1997@reddit
If your most dangerous city had a lower murder rate than fucking minneapolis, you don't get to be a rapper.
pusheenforchange@reddit
I for one love UK rap - Lausse the Cat, Loyle Carner, 2nd Exit, Alfa Mist, even Stormzy. However most Americans don't give a shit as it gets zero radio/algorithm play.
anneofgraygardens@reddit
Can you give a single example of Americans hating on UK rap? I'm surprised only because I don't think very many Americans spend any time at all thinking about UK rap.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
You can literally just scroll to the bottom of that thread
reddit1651@reddit
you mean after you scroll past all of the comments that are the opposite of what you think we believe? lol
anneofgraygardens@reddit
Interesting, good point. You're not fixated on Mr Dr -68 downvotes, are you?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Aight have at look at this https://youtube.com/shorts/BWgJKmfRfe0?si=ElCYcmUaOqyBFOOS
Just searched it up I bet it’ll have some, check the newest comments
anneofgraygardens@reddit
I'm at work, not watching YT videos. But I wouldn't recommend taking YT comments as representative of ANYTHING.
You know the Mad Men "I don't think about you at all" meme? This is what 99.9% of Americans feel about UK rap. I have literally never heard ANYONE talk about UK rap as a genre.
Im_Not_Nick_Fisher@reddit
Just a guess, but most Americans aren’t even thinking about Uk rap. And wouldn’t know if something was from the Uk, unless it specifically said it in the song name or someone mentioned it before it played.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Surely you would notice the difference accent?
Im_Not_Nick_Fisher@reddit
How many musicians have you heard and thought “wow, they’re from Australia, France, Colombia” anywhere else. You really wouldn’t even notice
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
I’m not saying this to be argumentative I swear I’ve got nothing against you but I hundred percent would immediately notice
Im_Not_Nick_Fisher@reddit
If someone is a musician trying to break into the U.S. market you wouldn’t notice. Think about some of the older British bands that were actually able to break into the US market. Someone like the Gorillaz, I would take a guess that most wouldn’t know that they were British. While there are some, like the clash where most people might know where they are from. But I would wager that some have no clue
mcjc1997@reddit
If your most dangerous city had a lower murder rate than fucking minneapolis, you don't get to be a rapper.
Arleare13@reddit
I doubt I've ever heard UK rap, much less have ever commented about it online.
w84primo@reddit
You’ve severely overestimated how much we’re thinking about you at all. Not just rap, but just overall.
the_real_JFK_killer@reddit
I genuenly am unsure I've I've ever heard a brutish rap in full
Endy0816@reddit
Don't really think about it honestly.
In most things you're only going to interact with a fraction of the population.
gummibearhawk@reddit
I actually really like French rap, and sometimes German or Korean.
I didn't know UK rap existed until now.
HarishyQuichey@reddit
Little Simz is pretty great, but other than that, I don’t really listen
BookLuvr7@reddit
I've never heard UK rap in my life, nor do I honestly care that much. If they like to rap, go ahead. I respect it as an art and poetry form no matter who produces it, even if it's not my favorite to listen to on a daily basis.
dangleicious13@reddit
Pretty much every UK rap that I've heard has sounded like shit.
foxy-coxy@reddit
Moat Americans have never heard UK Rap.
Salty_Dog2917@reddit
I have no idea what UK rap even is.
PseudobrilliantGuy@reddit
The only UK rapper I'm even aware of is Dan Bull.
Libertas_@reddit
No. I like 21 Savage.
GingerPinoy@reddit
I can't name a British rapper
Redbubble89@reddit
Urban lingo/slang is completely different.
The accent isn't the most fluid. Brits hear American so much on tv and media from a young age and Americans don't really hear Brits outside of posh. I think I was 30 when I finally heard Cockney, Scouse, Yorkshire, and Brummie and the differences. We hear Hugh Grant and Colin Firth and not much else. Working class accent rap is just not in reach.
The mix of these two make UK rap unrelatable to Americans.
TheBimpo@reddit
I'm nearly 47 and grew up during the popularization of rap, I was immersed in it from around 1984-2004 or so. The only UK rapper I can even name off the top of my head is The Streets and I thought he was pretty bad, I never understood the appeal.
Nothing's for everyone. I don't care about UK rap, I have enough music to listen to already. If there's someone amazing, feel free to share a name.
actuallyiamafish@reddit
I like The Streets quite a bit personally but it is definitely not for everyone lol. I just have a bit of a soft spot for exceptionally odd music. A Grand Don't Come For Free is a really cool record to me because it tells a whole story from beginning to end, but its just a kind of normal human story and not some high concept bullshit. It's a fun listen, lyrically.
Bopcd1@reddit
Pete and Bas are dope. Other than that I'm good.
sandbagger45@reddit
Are you asking because you saw a couple of videos on IG or TikTok? Most people don’t know much about it. The internet is not real life.
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
As I said ‘I’m assuming it’s just the ultra online ones’ I knew that much coming in
Lugbor@reddit
I don't even like American rap. Why would I listen to rap from another country?
Tchexxum@reddit (OP)
Fair enough I guess 😂
Meattyloaf@reddit
I've said it a few times on here. UK rap is alright. It's not the best but the best genre that the English accents really shine is horrorcore.
TruckADuck42@reddit
Idon'tthinkaboutyouatall.jpg
Pelmeni____________@reddit
I like UK rap, most people just like to call the british silly because their “gangsters” seem less “hardened”
CantSleepOnPlanes@reddit
I don't think about it at all.
thatsad_guy@reddit
I can't think of a single UK rap song.
katfromjersey@reddit
I don't care for rap, so I don't listen at all.
hatetochoose@reddit
UK has rap?
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
We let them think they do.
TheoreticalFunk@reddit
Pete & Bas keep putting out bangers.
sto_brohammed@reddit
The overwhelmingly vast majority of Americans aren't the slightest bit aware of British rap. I live less than 200 miles from England and the only British rap I'm aware of is meme stuff like Elemental and Mr. B. the Gentleman Rhymer.
bloodectomy@reddit
... there's UK rap?
The_Lumox2000@reddit
Those 2 old guys who rap are pretty entertaining, but they're kind of a novelty act.
thebrandnewbob@reddit
The only British rapper I can even name is Little Simz, and she's fantastic.
naetaejabroni@reddit
I don't listen to UK Rap.... unless it's dave or cench!🎵
wiarumas@reddit
I can't even name one UK rap song or MC. Good or bad, I have no clue. In fact, I'd argue that foreign rap in general does not fare very well over here. The market is pretty saturated with domestic artists.
AnalogNightsFM@reddit
Most Americans don’t think about UK rap at all. One of the major reasons for this is it isn’t marketed in the US. No one really knows about it. I know of some UK Grime but only because of Drum n Bass. Again, Americans don’t care about UK rap enough to hate it.
HPIndifferenceCraft@reddit
I generally don’t care about it one way or another.
I’ve heard a song or two. Seems like they’re trying to jam in a cockney accent over a beat. Like…
“I’m weh-in the pen, every letter you send…”
It wasn’t very good.
Great_Gonzales_1231@reddit
The accent sounds funny. That's the extent of it. No hard feelings or shame to the talent on display, it's just a first reaction to hearing the accent rap.
ayebrade69@reddit
I’m just now learning there is such a thing as UK rap
TheSapoti@reddit
I don’t hate it, I find it quite hilarious and endearing
OhThrowed@reddit
How can I hate something I've never heard of?
mkshane@reddit
This is complete and utter news to me
Macquarrie1999@reddit
I don't listen to UK rap
squidwardsdicksucker@reddit
No because 21 Savage was a pretty big hit at one point in the rap world and he was British, jokes aside though, I don’t think most people actually hate it more unfamiliar w any UK rap artists.
I’m sure for the people online who just flat out dismiss it and are dicks about it are probably like Italians who couldn’t imagine another country having a decent pizza.
PhilTheThrill1808@reddit
Can't say I've ever really thought about UK rap more than a couple times. I liked parts of Slowthai's debut album, but that's about as far as it goes for me. Stormzy and whoever else, I've always just kinda passed on listening to.
tsukiii@reddit
Most Americans like myself spend 0 brain space on UK rap at all.
JiggaMan2024@reddit
I like Central Cee and and. Few Dave and Stormzy songs… other then that please keep in the UK we do not like it here lol
Superb_Item6839@reddit
There are some good ones. I like some of Stormzy's music and I like Slowthai. Some of UK rap is really good, but a lot of it sounds pretty silly to most Americans.