From time to time, I'm around people who either listen to or play rap and/or slap bass. Some of these people are close; so the last thing I'd want to do is start some kind of unnecessary debate with them or anyone else. The problem is that I don't like rap or slap bass. I've made an honest effort. On the Internet, I keep seeing two arguments over and over. They are as follows:
1. If you don't like rap, that is because you don't UNDERSTAND it. Rap is an art form, complex and taking many forms. So if you don't like it, it's only because you are listening to the worst kind, the generic pop rap found on the radio. If you delve into real rap, you'll find that it is great.
2. If you don't like slap bass, it's because you can't play it. It's the holy grail of bass technique. So, if you don't like it, it's because your're simply not good enough on bass to play it. I especially have a problem with this argument since it seems to me a sense of timing would be very important for slap bass, and timing is my strongest point. I'm sure I could spend some time trying to learn slapping. But since I don't like it in the first place, I'm just plain not interested. I've made an effort to try to see what it is in slap bass that is so fascinating to some people, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I don't like to have a closed mind about things. I may continue to listen to some of it and see what happens, but I'm not expecting to become a big fan anytime soon.