Passion.

"Passion" is the biggest concept to me. When I feel passionate about my work, I do my best. Just last month I had a project to do in my English class and I finished it 2 weeks earlier and I did a lot extra! Because it was easy for me to do it because I was able to feel passionate about it. And since passion is such a huge concept to me, it can also determine whether or not I respect something.

There are various sub genres or styles of practically everything that is unanimously disrespected by most people. A prime example would be mumble rap. More than the majority of hip-hop fans have a very strong opinion on mumbling your lyrics. And I'm kind of in the middle. There are definitely songs that would be considered mumble rap that I enjoy but most mumble rap songs are pretty garbage, in my opinion.

The problem with the conversation of mumble rap is that it can be difficult to determine what counts as mumbling. XXXTENTACION's song "Moonlight" is often called mumble rap but I can completely understand what he's saying. XXXTENTACION has a very unique voice and he was definitely very chill in that specific song but I really can't see this as mumble rap. When I'm listening to it, I hear every lyric fairly smoothly. So, once again, the problem is determining what counts as mumbling because some people can simply make out what the artist is saying better than others. But there are examples of "mumble rappers" that we simply have to agree are mumble rappers. Lil Pump and Lil Xan simply don't speak clearly, don't have complex lyrics and don't have any technical skill to showcase. If you listen to Lil Pump's "ESSKEETIT", you might hear some of the words but you will hear constant slurs and constant mumbles.

You're probably wondering why I spent so much time establishing what one specific subgenre of rap music is. Because, although, you may hate a style of music or even strongly disrespect or resent it, but that doesn't change the concept of passion. Although I hate Lil Xan's music a lot, if he feels passionate about what he makes then I feel like I shouldn't disrespect his art. There is an obvious difference between technical rap and mumble rap but I truly believe that the artist's passion makes a massive difference most of the time.

Lyrical rap, is absolutely phenomenal when all the technical sides are well crafted but if someone doesn't find passion in the sub genre, it won't be good enough to be phenomenal like it could be. For example, if Lil Uzi Vert tried to be very technical and lyrical just for the sake of being so, it probably wouldn't be good. You wouldn't feel the passion. And if Eminem tried to do Uzi's style, despite being arguably the greatest lyricist ever, he would be terrible. Because that's not where his passion lies. If either of the artists that I just mentioned did either of the things that I just mentioned, you definitely wouldn't feel like they put their heart in it. And I believe that deteriorates the material regardless of the technical side because you can tell what is forced and what is coming from their soul.

But once again, that doesn't change the technical side. It's like playing a Smash Bros character. In Brawl, for example, Meta Knight was beyond more powerful than everyone else. But if I'm playing as Link or Kirby, I can destroy anyone playing as Meta Knight. Because it's not really about who's best, it entirely depends on you. Eminem is the greatest because he is Eminem. And Eminem is passionate about complex hip-hop.

And the reason I was talking mumble rap before is that although it's not that technical, the artist is (hopefully) speaking from the heart. Back to XXXTENTACION, when he does mumble, it's coming from his soul. He is passionate about his artwork and since I can tell that he is, I can enjoy the style of rap he is doing even though it's not really complex.

Art is passion. Art can be created without passion but I truly believe that immediately takes credibility away from the artpiece. I feel passionate about every personal project I work on. And that's why passion is such a huge concept to me.

Passion causes art and makes the art genuine and THAT makes it respectable. And even if you don't enjoy the art, you can respect it. And that's something.

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