Well, that question is pretty general. Being that there are countless forms of music, I could write a dissertation and I don't think anyone is up for that, so I'll narrow it down to Hip-Hop. To me, this form of noise is just the same old yell over the same old beat over and over again. There's hardly any variation, in the unlikely event that there is any melody to be had, its usually sampled/stolen from something else. Its boring, predictable, and, in my opinion, not music. I think its hardly fair to compare hip-hop artists to groundbreaking, innovative musicians like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, et al. Its comparing apples and chainsaws. Those were different times, blacks had a hell of a time getting airtime, rock and roll was in its infancy, etc., its not the same these days. Their riffs and contribution to rock and roll and the forms it would take are indescribable. You could look back 15 years after Johnny B. Goode came out and see where it led. Rap and Hip Hop have been around for over 15 years and its still the same crap, it has led nowhere, at least as far as I can tell. I know its all about social justice and order and all that, but it ain't music.
Sorry Junior but thats a pretty general comment you made yourself. Some music lovers are more purist and that's fine. There will always be the debate about rap as music, but some great musicians/artists are involved with hip-hop.
It's lasted much longer than the critics predicted. As a younger person looking at the beginnings of rap to where it has led today, they could say that it has led somewhere, influencing todays take on rnb, mainstream pop, DAnce music and even Jazz. I sure ain't sayin I love All hip-hop but I still believe it is music that can reach the hearts and minds of people just as The Beatles did. (Not to be twisted) Not as great as the Beatles of course. lol
I think the gist of Kevin B's comment was'nt to directly compare more like to think how the parents of rock n roll fans must have thought about the 'so called garbage' derived from black music and to what the older generation think about rap today. Rap maybe noise to you, but to some people (not me), so is classical. Depends what rap your hearing maybe? I agree that Lots and lots of it says or achieves nothing interesting.
Theres also the crazy debate about whether turntablists are musicians..I can guess your view on that one. lol