Musical Made of Rap

[YeahRight]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:52am

A friend of mine got cast in a local workshop of a new musical that is done in rap. Has anyone else heard of a rap musical? I can't really see it appealing to Broadway or want to listen to it for two hours straight.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:55am

That's an interesting idea. If the lyrics are meaningful and well constructed with catchy music (like most of Eminem's stuff) it's something I would love. But if it's all about Jesus and bling, I want nothing to do with it.

[bially082]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:01am

I don't like the idea.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:30am

Shows that have incorporated rap include Dreamgirls, Def Poetry Jam, Footloose (I hate that damn rap song), and lots of others. There hasn't been a musical with a plot to use ONLY rap on Broadway. I think it makes sense. That's what popular music is nowadays. Whether someone can do it artistically is a much different matter. Maybe if Kanye West took on the idea.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:43am

I dislike Kanye West. Immensely.

Eminem, however, would be brilliant.

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:52am

I actually remember reading something about that... and then turning the page cause I didn't want to think about it... But now that it's mentioned, Def Poetry Jam was immensly popular, and that's tapping into the same audience that a rap musical would tap into. I know there's a movement right now to attract "urban youth" to the theatre. I guess if it's opening theatre to a new audience and it's not too terrible (which by the way, I never could judge because I hate rap), then I guess it's fine. I don't know... it just seems wierd.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:23am

Actually, THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS which played off-Broadway a few seasons back, though technically not a musical, had occasional songs erupt from its rap verse adaptation of SHakespeare and it was brilliant. For my money, it WAS the best musical in its year.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:28am

IS it kind of correct to say that DRS's GReat Big Stuff is kind of rap? It's like talky sometimes, but maybe that's just being talky. I love it nonetheless.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:53am

You want Eminem - a homophobe - to put his hands in Broadway? Dear God...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:32am

New York has an annual Hip-Hop Theatre Festival which features several shows which employ rap as their storytelling vehicle -- and some are quite good. Two years ago, one, "Flow" by Will Power was terrfic, receiving outstanding notices and a two month run at New York Theatre Workshop before touring the country. Power's new show, "The Seven," which is a hip-hop musical adaptation of Aeschylus' "Seven Against Thebes" will be directed by Jo Bonney and have a two month run at NYTW in 2005-2006.

[YeahRight]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 1:06pm

I wouldn't want to sit for two hours of non stop rap in the theater.

Also, unless it's creative, it would degenerate into the usual mainstream rap about "women" and bling.
Updated On: 5/7/05 at 01:06 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 1:12pm

A rap/r&b version of Twelfth Night, called Club XII, was in development about 15 years ago, with MC Lyte. It received a full workshop production, directed and choreographed by Pat Birch. It was quite cleverly written, and I'm not sure what ever happened to it.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 1:31pm

Munkustrap once again giving input to something he knows nothing about. just shut up. you dont understand kanye west or any other rapper.or rap music for that matter. such a loser.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 1:44pm

also i would love to see a stage version of jay-z's "Streets Is Watching" it's a really interesting video he came out with music and a plot. really good.

[bwaybaby891]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:07pm

Who the hell are these rappers??? I might be a teenager but I have no clue who these people are. As for a musical of all rap, pull my fingernails out and slam my head against a wall. TWO HOURS OF RAP!!!!!!!!! Why pay $100 to listen to rapping and screaming about pimps taking their girls out back and... need I say more? Well, anyways that's my opinion.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:19pm

Well, sure it could end up being awful just as many musicals with "traditional" music end up awful. But I think it's something to be open to. Well-done, original rap with good lyrics could lend itself wonderfully to a stage musical. No, I wouldn't want to hear two hours of rap about bitc*es, guns, and bling either, but if a talented lyricist worked on the project, it might be great.

[WayWicked]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:37pm

I think anything done with creativity can be good. Even rap.

The last thing we need is a rap jukebox musical.

[WayWicked]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:39pm

And you're so right Tonya. Kanye has the creativity to make it happen.

I guess others who have no clue what they're talking about will be the first to act like they do.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:09pm

Eminem should write a rap musical lol - about Dr. Dre (jk, about the last part).

[Kris2]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 3:24pm

I'm surprised so many people are against this idea actually. I guess it's too contemporary for some. I'd be really interested in seeing it. A rap/hip-hop musical could seriously work. It's very cutting edge but it needs the same elements as any other good musical to make it work - a solid book, music, and lyrics. I didn't even know there was a Hip Hop Theatre Festival. Cool.

Rap isn't all about pimping, guns, drugs and sex. A lot of that kind of rap is just for show and partying. It's an image and it sells and that's why some do it. Eminem would be awesome but there's no way he'd do it. I don't know a thing about Kanye West. Some rap artists really have something to say and are storytellers. People should listen. Just because they use rap as their medium shouldn't automatically discredit them in people's eyes. If you just don't enjoy it, that's different than saying it'll just be bad.
Updated On: 5/7/05 at 03:24 PM

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:07pm

HERO is a rock/rap opera..... its likce JCSuperstar or Godspell... but in the ghetto of Bethlehem, PA..... i bought the CD about a month ago. Havent listened to much of it.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 6:38pm

What ever happend to the MC Lyte project? That would have been interesting.

I think it would bring in a new Broadway audience. But I hope it would be a work of some quality.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 6:41pm

"Munkustrap once again giving input to something he knows nothing about. just shut up. you dont understand kanye west or any other rapper.or rap music for that matter. such a loser."

Tonya, would you be inferring that I know nothing about rap music because I'm white? Or are you just bitter and pissed because I said that I dislike Kanye West?

Who do you think you are? You are obnoxious race obsessed bitch. Your posts make absolutely no sense and you are a complete and utter waste of life.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 6:50pm

A Rap Musical???

Dear God...

[Snoopy]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:24pm

Wow..someone pee in your Corn Flakes?

I'd love to see a rap musical!