Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards expressed his distaste for “cheap” pop music and rap, explaining, “I don’t really like to hear people yelling at me.”

“I don’t really like to hear people yelling at me and telling me it’s music, aka rap. I can get enough of that without ­leaving my house,” Richards said of rap music to the Telegraph in a recent interview.

The guitarist was discussing different music genres ahead of the release of his band’s next album, Hackney Diamonds — its first studio record in 18 years. Richards noted that he listens to a wide variety of music, including blues, jazz, and classical — but that there are two genres in particular that he is not fond of.



In addition to rap, Richards also doesn’t enjoy pop music, which he said has “always been rubbish,” because it is made “as cheap and as easy as possible,” and he would rather hear music that actually involves “people playing instruments.”

“I don’t want to start complaining about pop music,” Richards said. “It’s always been rubbish. I mean, that’s the point of it. They make it as cheap and as easy as possible and therefore it always sounds the same; there’s very little feel in it.”

“I like to hear music by people playing instruments,” the guitarist added. “That is, I don’t like to hear plastic synthesized muzak, as it used to be known, what you hear in ­elevators, which is now the par for the course.”

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

With very few exceptions, I just don't like rap. Although some of it is music, much of rap is like -- I don't know what to call it -- performance poetry? For the latter type of rap its best to not try to think of it as music bc its not.

But most popular music today that is endlessly pushed on the radio is simplistic angsty rubbish. Forgettable rock and pop songs from the 60s and 70s is like g.d. Mozart compared to what is played on repeat on top 40 now. There are exceptions, but not many.

Busbum Loc: 85367

I agree; 'If RAP is music, then falling off a building is transportation'!!!

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I agree with Keith

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I will not argue with his assessment In fact I agree 100%.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

HRPufnstuf

“I don’t really like to hear people yelling at me and telling me it’s music, aka rap. I can get enough of that without ­leaving my house,” Richards said of rap music to the Telegraph in a recent interview.


Hum or whistle that tune. If you can't, then it's not music.

Ollieboy

Rap at best is bad poetry but never music. It's all the same noise.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When I complain about rap, I feel like the adults in the 1950s complaining about Rock and Roll. Rap is different, though. I mostly listen to 50s and 60s music now.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

He is correct. Rap is not music. At best it is infantile poetry.

Harry02 Loc: Gardena, CA

Do we not remember "Punk" music? So ugly tone deaf kids could get laid.
Not good enough for Punk? Try Rap! Dr Seuss, some chemicals and you're good!
Pop? Never over estimate the influence and buying power of young girls-
Happy happy Country and Western without the dog or the truck.
Mozart and Jazz. If there's a G*d He giveth also.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

The best response yet.




Great way to make the determination.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Exactly! I do a lot of whistling, but never rap. Will there be a rap oldies station in the future?

gpc

I don't know.

Rap is very economical. Whole songs with only one note (at most).

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Keef's retired that guitar ... way too valuable now to take on tour as a working instrument.