My first thought is to say you can't compare two different genres but that is a cop out.

 

Yes, Eminem is a better lyricist than Dylan because Eminem's lyrics not only have to rhyme but they have to make sense for the content and topic of the song. I would dare to say that Eminem would have a much easier time writing a song for Dylan than Dylan would have writing a song for Eminem.

 

I am sure 98% of you will disagree with me but I am a lifelong hip hop head who knows it is much harder to write a rap song than it is to write a song. And before people think I am slamming Dylan, I am not. I just have more genuine respect for rappers and their talents than singer/songwriters.

 

You will never win an argument against someone who doesn't like Rap music. I have both Eminem and Dylan albums and I appreciate each one for what they are. But trying to compare and contrast the two is comparing Apples to Oranges.

My first thought is to say you can't compare two different genres but that is a cop out.

 

Yes, Eminem is a better lyricist than Dylan because Eminem's lyrics not only have to rhyme but they have to make sense for the content and topic of the song. I would dare to say that Eminem would have a much easier time writing a song for Dylan than Dylan would have writing a song for Eminem.

 

I am sure 98% of you will disagree with me but I am a lifelong hip hop head who knows it is much harder to write a rap song than it is to write a song. And before people think I am slamming Dylan, I am not. I just have more genuine respect for rappers and their talents than singer/songwriters.

 

I was asked to name someone better lyrically, I gave my opinion. It was not a slam on rappers, just a statement. But I don't buy that rappers are just better lyricists than people who actually put a melody and music to lyrics. Writing lyrics that 'make sense for the content and topic of the song' is the same whether it is a regular songwriter or a rapper. So if I understand you correctly, only rappers lyrics meet those qualifications? That makes no sense at all. Lyrics are lyrics. They either make sense or they don't. They either tell a story or emotion or they don't. Whether you sing or rap, you still hope for a song that is saying something.

 

To me the differences are:

Rhythm = Rap. Both are required to make sure the lyrics work with the beat or rhythm of the song although I think that many rappers have superb timing and would give them an edge here.

Amount of lyrics = Rap normally has more lyrics

Subject matter = Both need to say something

Melody = Non rap

Music = Non rap (normally it is not sampled but actual instruments being played although some rap does use original compositions)

Singing Voice = Non rap (although I do admire the rhythm and timing of good rappers, it is an art)

 

I have heard numerous people who can copy a rapper and hit every word on ever beat. I also know that many of those same people can copy the beat and rhythm of a singers song, but cannot actually hit the notes they need to hit. Rappers hit very few actual 'notes' as a singer must hit.

I was asked to name someone better lyrically, I gave my opinion. It was not a slam on rappers, just a statement. But I don't buy that rappers are just better lyricists than people who actually put a melody and music to lyrics. Writing lyrics that 'make sense for the content and topic of the song' is the same whether it is a regular songwriter or a rapper. So if I understand you correctly, only rappers lyrics meet those qualifications? That makes no sense at all. Lyrics are lyrics. They either make sense or they don't. They either tell a story or emotion or they don't. Whether you sing or rap, you still hope for a song that is saying something.

 

To me the differences are:

Rhythm = Rap. Both are required to make sure the lyrics work with the beat or rhythm of the song although I think that many rappers have superb timing and would give them an edge here.

Amount of lyrics = Rap normally has more lyrics

Subject matter = Both need to say something

Melody = Non rap

Music = Non rap (normally it is not sampled but actual instruments being played although some rap does use original compositions)

Singing Voice = Non rap (although I do admire the rhythm and timing of good rappers, it is an art)

 

I have heard numerous people who can copy a rapper and hit every word on ever beat. I also know that many of those same people can copy the beat and rhythm of a singers song, but cannot actually hit the notes they need to hit. Rappers hit very few actual 'notes' as a singer must hit.

 

I thought the context of the argument was only about lyrics. Now you are talking about hitting notes in a song. That's two different arguments and in that respect I have to go with the singer. However we aren't talking about the act of singing.

 

When you bolded the line my post, you didn't bold the most important part when it comes to writing a rap song compared to a regular song and that is to make it rhyme. Songwriters don't have the limitation of making the song rhyme. IMO, that makes the songs that rappers write stronger lyrically. Dylan's song doesn't have to rhyme for it to sell. Eminem's has to rhyme or it won't even be recorded.