White guys doing rap has been done to death.... - Beastie Boys: Fight for Your Right Revisited (2011) Discussion

[–] billnadsley 13 years ago

I think you may be confused.

You do know this is a Beastie Boys video, right? They're involved in it - they're the cops you can see in the trailer for the thing. They're parodying themselves - it's not an insult. And the song sounds great, as is to be expected from the Boys - video looks awesome.

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

...with their ridiculous parodies.

It's not even funny anymore. It doesn't matter if the BB are involved.

White people are not that inept at hip hop.

It's just insulting to the music genre at this point.

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[–] billnadsley 13 years ago

I still think you're missing the point, if you're referring to this video at all. I don't believe anyone is trying to portray them as inept, especially themselves. This video has a good deal to do with paying some homage to their past work, as well as being something new, fun, and original.

They are using comedy in a video - that's it. That's allowed, and frankly a hell of a lot better, and more genuine, than videos where all these other rappers are trying to pose all tough and gangsta - rap is about expressing what you are in a truthful manner. You'll find the Beasties (who have been doing this VERY successfully for about 25 years) are a whole lot closer to that than many rap artists out there today. Just because their truth is that they're three white dudes who have both a sense of humor and a serious side, doesn't mean they can't use some of their humor in their music and videos. If in their videos they were crawling around some dark club, or had chicks hanging all over them on a boat in Miami, that's when they'd be humiliating themselves.

The Beasties are all about respecting hip-hop, and are some of the purest and most original rappers to this day. They are one of the last bands that I could see being insulting to rap. Check some history - it's crazy to think the Beasties are in any way showing ineptitude in rap.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, I promise - but this is really not a humiliating thing to anyone - it's actually pretty great. Just be happy that the Beasties are still taking time, and putting out great album after great album. They are a group to be respected.

It's true, white people are not automatically inept at hip-hop. And that's not what the Beasties are trying to portray here either.

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[–] savedaseals 13 years ago

"White people are not that inept at hip hop. "

first of all, saying "not that inept" is a double negative statement, since the definition of inept pertains to being "without capability."

let's try and use big words that also make sense to enhance our egotistical opinions, shall we?

secondly, what you claim here is overtly racist. other ethnic groups are also "inept at hip hop" as well, so singling out white people as one group that is "just insulting to the music genre at this point" seems obnoxiously pathetic and crude.

also, i think this film is going to be hilarious. so now are you stereotyping me as one of those "rich white yuppies"?

the glass is not half full nor half empty...but it is filled with something.

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

I don't know or care but they do tend to focus a lot on grammar vs. the argument.

Sorry for my English, I am French.

Secondly, this is not about white people actually attempting hip hop ,i.e. white rappers.

This is about white comedians at this point insulting the genre with an overdone stereotype; the inept white guy trying to be 'hood.

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[–] duelgunnz 13 years ago

This music video was written and directed by Adam Yauch, a member of the Beastie Boys. The comedians in the video did not write or conceptualize it, they are just acting. How can they be insulting the genre? They didn't do anything other than act how Adam told them to.

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

Their brand was always meant to be camp. No different than the black rapper with the fake nose and glasses, I forgot his name.

What gets me is when non-musician artists comedians or actor comedians mimic the genre in ways the seem almost insulting. Like it cannot be taken seriously.

Rap is the most lampooned genre of music to the point of totally watering down some of it's serious social messages.

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[–] billnadsley 13 years ago

You're talking about Humpty Hump - but he's a good deal different than the Beastie Boys. Though Digital Underground (the group Humpty was affiliated with) was fairly successful as well.

The Beasties aren't all about camp, though - I mean, the guys have some pretty serious tracks as well - you could actually say they're getting more serious, and less comedic, as they get older (actually what it appears that they're kind of parodying in this film/video).

Agreed, rap is the most lampooned genre, but I think it's pretty easy to separate serious from parody, when it comes to rap. I've never had a serious message in a rap song lessened for me, just because I know there are 5,000 terrible jokey rap songs out there. I think the guys you have to worry about watering down the rap game, are all these fools who run around posing on yachts, popping bottles, and driving fancy cars, rapping about who's number 1, all in a serious manner. Those are the guys that are taking some of the serious spin off of the rap game these days.

Either way, I don't really see where black, white, or anything else comes into the equation - if you're a good rapper, you're good, and you'll endure (like The Beasties - who have outlasted most of their colleagues from the '80's), if you suck, then hopefully you'll go away fast.

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

I am talking about white comedians who lampoon the genre to the point of being insulting.

It's been overdone to the point that it's almost racist, not quite but almost.

The poking fun of the crass materialism I can understand but when the poke at the seriousness of the tough street cred, that's not a joke. Most of those rappers had to endure in the worst areas of the country.

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[–] billnadsley 13 years ago

I see, though I have to be honest - I never actually noticed much. I mean, I know there are tons of comedians who lampoon rap, I guess I just really tend to not really pay attention to it, as it's not really my kind of humor anyway - tends to be pretty basic stuff. It's comedy, so I don't really even put it in the same category as rap, honestly.

I guess we just got into this discussion because it was brought up on this board... either way, don't sweat this particular film/video- trust the Beasties, they tend to have the best interests of rap in mind.

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[–] ledford_25 13 years ago

"Rap is the most lampooned genre of music to the point of totally watering down some of it's serious social messages."

So when I open up Rolling Stone magazine and see a picture of Lil Wayne skipping around like a schoolgirl, and posing like he's a dangerous thug in another, I'm supposed to be seeing serious social messages?

You shouldn't even be worried about some comedians making fun of the hip hop genre, because Lil Wayne, Drake, Rihanna and all those *beep* jokes are doing a damn good job "lampooning" themselves.

Rap died the minute it became about "Tappin' dose azzez".

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[–] ledford_25 13 years ago

Because everyone knows there's serious messages that will help you out with your life in this song called, "A Milli".

Eminem is one of the best rappers out there... Wow, if I wasn't tired I'd be on the floor laughing my ass off. Relapse was just conventional, cliche, tired bulls#%^*. Then he throws that crap featuring Rihanna on there? Jesus dude, what do you know about rap?

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[–] Sofa_King_Sleazy 13 years ago

Why you gotta be trippin??!

I believe in Steve Austin and his plan to put a casino on the moon

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[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lilej2 13 years ago

Can we all just agree on the truth?

That the OP is an idiot

i don't have a sig

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[–] amsyco13 13 years ago

Agreed.

**************************
Are you a bug Bill Murray?

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

This isn't about the Beastie Boys, they're great.

This is about white comedians lampooning hip hop.

It's just gotten to the point of being insulting now.

Granted the Beastie Boys produced this film, I just find it rather unappealing or unfunny to have another stereotype of the inept white rapper.

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

Again the point was about white comedians lampooning rap, as if white people are completely clueless about the music genre, when they've been some of the biggest contributors.

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

Because the point I made was not to dog out white rappers.

Eminem is one of the best rappers out there.

This is about the annoying stereotype of the inept white rapper portrayed by comedians.

The point is that white people are not idiots when it comes to rapping.

They can rap like the best of them and it's been proven by the Beastie Boys who produced this joke of a film.

I just think it's gotten to the point of being rather insulting to the music genre.

So again, your post was completely pointless, because I agree with you.

My point was entirely a different take than what you thought it was.

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] roycant07 13 years ago

I didn't say that they were making fun of inept white rappers but that they were making fun of white people and their attempts to rap, and it's a stupid stereotype.

The insult isn't intentional. I said that it's been done to death that it's bordering on insulting.

I doubt the filmmakers thought of this.

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Ost-of-Perdition 13 years ago

"Eminem is one of the best rappers out there. "

You just made all of your arguments about hip-hop and rap totaly useless.

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[–] robtadrian 13 years ago

Hey moron Kool and The Gang were not a hip-hop group..as for the Bestupid Boys they are a one joke novelty who refuse to go away...but the media has to keep perping the same crap..VH1 classic and ntv2 had this both on..no one cares anymore ! go away!!!

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[–] savedaseals 13 years ago

your racist remarks are really starting to annoy me. the rappers are the beastie boys. the beastie boys are continuing their "fight for your right" video by using celebrities to portray them. this short was no way intentioned to be one of those slapstick spoofs on rappers, in my opinion (which is right).

i get what you're saying, but you cannot pinpoint that to just white rappers. first of all, it's racist. second of all, there are plenty of spoofs that target rappers of other genders that are just as idiotic as the spoofs you may have seen with white rappers being the butt of the joke. THIS SHORT IS NOT THAT KIND OF SPOOF.

the glass is not half full nor half empty...but it is filled with something.

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[–] stormshadow999 13 years ago

To the OP: have you SEEN the original "Fight For Your Right" music video or heard the Licensed to Ill album? You would know there is no parody implied--that's how the Beastie Boys acted when they first debuted and became big. They were in their late teens/early twenties and rapped about drinking beer, partying, getting into fights, vandalism and girls. I followed them very closely back then, and they were always in trouble for one thing or another because they were young, rich and didn't care about anything but a good time. How do you think they chose the outfits for each of the guys in this video? THOSE WERE THE CLOTHES THEY ACTUALLY WORE IN THE ORIGINAL. That's what was trendy in the mid '80s. For the comedians to put on those clothes and stagger around spraying beer on everyone and breaking things isn't lampooing anyone; it's more of a commentary by the Beasties about their former selves. Just like any group that's been around 20-30 years, they've matured, have families and are using their celebrity and money for worthwhile causes. That's probably why they chose to direct the comedians in they way that they did; as if to say, "Man, can you believe the way we dressed and behaved back then?"

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[–] strawberrydioxide 13 years ago

This. Not for a second did I feel this video lampooned rap in any way. Inept white people.... now that's another story. Most of these comedians/actors have made a living on doing just that.

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[–] Sharpster 13 years ago

HIP HOP...

It's serious buisness.

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[–] Pennst411 13 years ago

"Sorry for my English, I am French."

Well, that explains your ignorance.

"You're close, but the sky's closer."

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[–] senditrich 13 years ago

There's no rules for Hip Hop, no one said you have to be of African descent. It's not like they're rapping about being black, so what is the problem? I guess we shouldn't let black people into Rock, huh. 2011 and we still have racism

"So this is permanence... love's shattered pride..."

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