Emo rap

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Emo rap is a term used to describe hip hop music with raw, emotional lyrical content similar to that of emo music, as opposed to hip hop music's typical urban themes. Emo rap is more of a term than an actual hip hop subgenre, and is not a direct offshoot of emo culture or music; according to Sage Francis, the term is derived from the press release of his album Personal Journals (anticon.), written by Sole, another allegedly emo rap artist.^[1] They, along with Atmosphere frontman Slug, are most identified with originating the style of music.^[2] Francis, however, rejects the term, like most alleged "emo rappers."

While commonly used, the term "emo rap" is controversial, and its legitimacy is highly debated.^[3] Other than penning particularly emotional lyrics, or abstaining from typical hip hop boasting, artists can be labeled "emo rap" for similarity to emo music in lyrics (Sage Francis, Pigeon John^[4]), music (Hollywood Undead), and audience (Gym Class Heroes), or in some cases, direct references to the genre (MC Lars, as well as Closed Heart Surgery, who own the domain name www.emorap.com).

1 Criticism
2 Emo rap groups and record labels
- 2.1 Related songs
3 See also
4 References
5 Footnotes

[edit] Criticism

Music critics and listeners often criticize emo rap artists, and use of the term itself, claiming that emo rap is an abomination or bastardization of hip hop music, or merely attempts to make profit from the commercial popularity of emo and indie music. However, the term is mostly seen as illegitimate by artists and critics alike.

The cultural term emo has generated significant backlash, and many fans of alleged emo rap artists disapprove of such use of the term "emo."

Emo rap is also seen as an inherently racist or biased label, because most emo rappers are white, suggesting that other (mostly African American) rap artists are unemotional or shallow.^[5]

Some critics point out that emotion is nothing new to the hip hop scene, as hip hop artists (including The Notorious B.I.G., Pharcyde, LL Cool J, Tupac Shakur, and Ghostface Killah) have previously written emotionally charged and/or romantic lyrics. Mac Lethal, another artist pegged "emo rap," also acknowledges this,^[6] true to a similar statement by Guy Picciotto, the supposed creator of emo music (from Fugazi and Rites of Spring).^[7]

[edit] Emo rap groups and record labels

The following artists and record labels have been described as emo rap or exhibit elements of emo music. Very few of these artists belong solely to the emo rap genre, or even agree with the label, Closed Heart Surgery and Sensitivity Boosters being some of the few who do. Artists may be better classified under a different genre such as abstract hip hop, alternative hip hop, underground or indie hip hop. Compiling a list of artists suffers from all of the criticisms of the genre at large.

[edit] Related songs

Song	Artists	Album	Year	Special Notes
"Signing Emo"	MC Lars	The Graduate	2006	A hip hop song satirizing the emo genre, right down to an intentionally over-the-top emo chorus. MC Lars namedrops emo and screamo on various occasions, but cannot be considered an official emo rap artist due to his dislike of the genre.
"Are You Real? (Oregon Trail Remix)"	KJ-52	KJ-52 Remixed	2006	Features guest vocals by Jessy Ribordy, frontman of the oft-considered emo^[18]^[19] band Falling Up. The band themselves use rapping in many of their songs.
"Thriller"	Fall Out Boy	Infinity on High	2006	Features guest vocals by rapper Jay-Z; Fall Out Boy is sometimes considered emo.^[20]
"Wake Up"	KJ-52	The Yearbook	2007	Features guest vocals by Toby Morell of screamo^[21] band Emery.