To counter my partner Sean Kane's interview of a rap fan's view of combination music, I interview Tyler Collins, a sophomore at Brown and fan of primarily rock.
Chris Taylor: Alright, Tyler who are your top five rock bands?
Tyler Collins: I'm more of a pop rock, or alternative guy. I like Daughtry or Goo Goo Dolls or The Fray. Those are the top three, easily.
CT: Are you a fan of any rap? Is there any rap on your iTunes?
TC: Yeah, mostly the mainstream stuff... I'm not going to say I'm a rap person. Just the mainstream stuff, maybe one or two songs from all the popular people.
CT: So now we're going to listen to two songs from Lil Wayne. [Songs played] Okay, having listened to "Hot Revolver" and "Prom Queen," what are your thoughts?
TC: He's better at rapping. I think it's also what you get used to coming from him. He's got a distinct voice. Hearing him do that is definitely different. You've gotten used to him rapping. It wasn't bad it was just different.
CT: Did you enjoy the songs?
TC: Yeah. I mean, I did to some extent. They weren't my favorite songs, but I definitely enjoyed them to some extent.
CT: How do you feel seeing a rapper venture into the rock world?
TC: If he can do it that's good. I don't feel like there are boundaries, but a lot of people have styles that they are better at. Definitely, there are better singers than Lil Wayne doing rock.
CT: Do you think that you would be any more likely to buy either of those two songs if they were by an established rock band?
TC: What do you mean an established rock band? You mean someone like a......?
CT: If those two songs were actually by Daughtry-
TC: I was thinking Daughtry actually. I think it would be different because I think Daughtry can carry a note a little bit differently than Lil Wayne can.
CT: So it is more on pure skill that you would discriminate?
TC: Yeah, definitely. It has less to do with the fact that it is Lil Wayne.
CT: Would you consider buying [Lil Wayne's] new all rock album that comes out on April 7th?
TC: I would. Yeah, I'd consider it.
CT: Does Lil Wayne starting into the rock genre hurt or help his credibility in your eyes in any way?
TC: I don't think it hurts it. I mean, it doesn't help it. Music is music. I think it just depends on what you like to listen to. Some people may say he's leaving what he's good at, but... whatever he wants to do.
CT: How about Kanye West? He's obviously gotten a little bit away from straight rap. What did you think of his latest album?
TC: I actually liked it probably about the same as all the others. To be honest it was about the same.
CT: Okay, now we're about to listen to a little bit of DJ Danger Mouse's Grey Album. [Songs played] We just listened to "Moment of Clarity," and right before that we heard "What More Can I Say." What did you think?
TC: They were different- They were fine. Jay Z is pretty distinct too. He's done so many mashups I'm used to that. Did he do that?
CT: No, that is DJ Danger Mouse that did it.
TC: I mean there has been so many with Jay Z, like doing the "Bittersweet Symphony" one, that I'm kind of getting used to it actually.
CT: Do you listen to that any differently than you would Lil Wayne, where it's his (Lil Wayne's) original song that is rock.
TC: I think I tend to enjoy, depending on the song they mash it up with, the Jay Z more because it is songs like "Bittersweet Symphony" that you know and you like and have heard a lot of times. But I would probably say good job Lil Wayne for making a new song.
CT: Lets say Jay Z is mashed up with a rock song, is that a rock song to you? Or is it something totally different?
TC: It is something different.
CT: Would you call Lil Wayne's "Hot Revolver" a rock song?
TC: I would call that a rock song, just not a rock singer as much, but it's a rock song. He's trying.
CT: So say a rock artist like Daughtry has the intention of going over to rap music. Would that change your opinion of them?
TC: No but they might not be good. [Laughs] It wouldn't change my opinion of them but I wouldn't buy their music if it wasn't good.
CT: Very fair. Do you think rap/rock combination music has a place in popular music and is a legitimate genre?
TC: I don't know if it is a legitimate genre, because a lot of them are too similar [to either rap or rock]. Even though they try to branch over, I feel like most of them really lean one way or the other. I wouldn't call it its own genre, it's more of a blend. But, you can definitely tell when you listen to a song which one's which. Like I'd call the Grey Album rap and Lil Wayne rock. Even thought they are a blend, I think there's a difference.
CT: Is the blurring or shading of inter-genre lines a good thing, or is it frustrating like seeing your food on your plate touch.
TC: I actually mix all my food together so it doesn't bother me at all. It's fine, it doesn't bother me at all. Especially for a lot of people, I know they get sick of the same thing so it works out for them too.
CT: So in general you'd say it is a good thing?
TC: Yeah, it's a good thing, if they can do it.
What is great about this interview is that both you and Tyler are trying to work out these different categories, determine which counts as a rock song as opposed to a rap song, and how can we justify making such distinctions. Focusing on specific artists as examples gives a context to your conversation- I am familiar with Lil Wayne and Daughtry, so it is easier to understand the differences Tyler refers to between the two artists. Also, it's interesting that the question of talent came up. The fact that it depends on the skill the artist has to transition from one music genre to another that determines the success of the music, instead of the name/fame of the artist, is almost a challenge to the general musical talent of the artist. I read Tyler's last line, "It's a good thing, if they can do it," as such a challenge. What I took from this interview is that it is very tricky to be successful at making both rap and rock music, and that more likely than not it becomes a blending of the two genres, which in turn refreshes both genres.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rest of your project!