Rap Retort

I am a classically trained musician. I am not a huge fan of rap music. However, I am offended by the narrow-minded comments of David Weisbart and Roc Hilman (Letters, April 16).

For Mr. Weisbart to make a comment as callous as “this stuff is tribal chanting” shows he has not studied music as thoroughly as he may believe. Many musical styles have root in or are influenced by tribal music.

I believe we could find a number of percussionists who would be equally offended by the insinuation that music is music only when it contains melody.

Let’s give some credit where credit is due. The rappers work hard perfecting rhymes. They view what they do as musical art, and that makes it musical art. You don’t have to like all of it. You don’t have to like any of it. But to condemn the genre as a whole is an injustice. And to categorize all rappers as “street thugs” does not deserve comment.

MIKE REYNOLDS

Fullerton