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.
