Where is a good place to start liking rap music? (I know, weird question)

I would love to find a DJ who isn’t into rap music where I live. But, it makes sense that a DJ should be able to play almost any genre of music, especially what is considered a form of dance music. Probably start with the rap and hip hop that makes it into the top 20, the most popular stuff is usually what people who hire DJ’s for parties look for. If you DJ in clubs you might need a more expanded list I guess. Maybe take some field trips to clubs that play a lot of that genre and watch the crowds for what they come out to the danceflooor for. Radio and satelite radio both tell you the name of artists and songs when playing if you have the right receiver, so you can start learning names and the specific types of music.

Personally speaking, the only kind of rap I can tolerate is old school from back when it first started. Run, DMC actually had meaningful messages and attitude to proclaim.

And I just love Will Smith’s infectious energy and lack of X-Rated foul mouth crap.

“Parents Just Dont Understand” has a colorful video and is just charming. That’s a word most rap artists run from lest it rub off on them.

But it is a legitimate part of rap history. Obviously, most of todays young people would ridicule it.

But those are my choices. Make of it what you will :)

Queen Latifah and Salt N Peppa weren’t half bad either in their day.

I tend to agree with @Buttonstc , his suggestions are good, especially Queen Latifah. And if you want to try it, you might listen to TobyMac (he is a Christian rapper) & I especially like one of his rap songs, “Irene”. The intro is not anything like rap music style, but when he gets into the lyrics it is very much a rap song & quite good. You should be able to hear it on YouTube.

I love Snoop Dogg!
some Tupac.

My friend plays trumpet on their stuff.

If you want to pull a crowd, you’re gonna have to play rap music that’s popular in today’s urban market. I would research the mixtape circuit, just to see what other DJs are playing and what mixtapes sell the most. DJ Drama is pretty popular, he’s famous for playing mostly down south hip hop like Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, etc. I know for a fact that rap listeners in the club LOVE to hear Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, French Montana, anyone from DJ Khaled’s We The Best roster, Kanye, Jay Z, and the list goes on and on. Remember, you’re a DJ so your goal is to play what the people want, not necessarily what YOU like. Best of luck!

Check out www.datpiff.com they have all the hottest mixtapes currently out. It’s a good place to start if you’re looking for what’s popular.

A good non-gansta start is Das Racist’s album Shut Up Dude.

i’m addicted to it right now. aesop rock’s labor days is pretty good too.

Get Spotify if you don’t have it already (it’s free). You can download playlists from several public sources there and get different people’s ideas of what the best of Rap is.
www.spotify.com

RAP IS FOR PEOPLE WHO CANT SING!!!