Virtual Flaneurism

Something I find absolutely perplexing is many people's - including my friends - insistence that any music listened to be contemporary as possible. As someone who grew up with a tone deaf brother and parents who adored music, I've spent the majority of my life listening to oldies, and, as a consequence, have very different music taste than most people I know. I just got off fourteen hours of road trip which, while delightful, was stuffed full of meaningless rap blather.

I guess my main confusion is over rap lyrics. I don't mind rap in general, but I really find nothing impressive about an atonal rant about rape (read: Eminem) or constant blathering about sex (Kanye manages to underwhelm with startling randomness: "Have you ever had sex with a pharaoh?/Put the pussy in a sarcophagus/Now she claimed that I bruised her esophagus/Head of the class and she just wanted a swallowship." Not only are these lyrics unimaginative and bizarre, but at their best they make zero sense). Anyway, rap music has always confused me. I can do hip hop, as at least there's thoughtful wordplay, but rap blows my mind. I'd rather have some simple lyrics over some purposeful harmonies.

tl;dr: I have little respect for a song just because it is "fresh," nor do I understand most people's appreciation for the Babelfish mishmash that is most things Kanye West. Moving on.