I legit can’t think of a music genre that is more tied to and supportive of car culture than hip hop.

"Your boy, BJR" (jerseyshoreben) 06/17/2020 at 12:19 • Filed to: None

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Sure there have been car songs in other genres, but I feel like outside of those specific songs there is very few mention of cars/car customization. With hip hop, cars and the personalization for them is discussed in almost every single song. I’d argue that out of all musicians, far more rappers are into/know what’s going on with their cars than any other genre. Let’s discuss.

Nothing > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:23

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I assume you only mean currently released music.

Your boy, BJR > Nothing 06/17/2020 at 12:24

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I mean all genres since the invention of cars.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:25

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I would....argue otherwise?  Music isn’t my thing but “classic rock” has tons of songs about cars and customization.

Your boy, BJR > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/17/2020 at 12:26

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Gimme 5 songs and I’ll find 5 hip hop songs for each.

Not to mention the prominence/use of cars in videos.

Cash Rewards > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:27

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Would you consider zz top their own genre? If so, then zz top

Your boy, BJR > Cash Rewards 06/17/2020 at 12:28

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I would not.

Pickup_man > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:30

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If we’re staying specific to cars then I’m not sure I can argue, however, I’m pretty sure there are more pickup truck references in country music than car references in all other genres combined.

I’d also put country music right up on the list of “knows how to fix a rig” as any other genre.

Also, don’t discount rock and it’s association to hot rods and muscle cars, lots of very well known collectors and artists in that genre as well. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:30

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I’m about to head into a meeting, but I feel like the video point maybe a bit disingenuous.

Any “rapper” or whatever has easy access to both production and online distribution. “Back in the day” making any type of video was hard and expensive.

Tapas > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:32

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Yes and no.

The reason cars are involved is to further the song’s narrative about having money. They aren’t usually included for the love of cars.

There are far fewer songs that talk about cars from an enthusiast’s perspective.

But these songs outnu mber songs referencing cars in other genres, so there is some truth to what you’re saying.

I’d like to add that a close second is country because of their love of trucks.

jminer > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:32

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If we’re talking mentions of a car in a song then yes hip hop wins with the word ‘rims’ alone.

If we’re talking songs about a car or mostly about a car I’d say rock.

lone_liberal > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:33

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I might point you to the 60s surf sound with the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, etc.

wafflesnfalafel > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:33

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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:33

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60s rock with  Beach boys?  

functionoverfashion > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:37

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RTJ has your back

DipodomysDeserti > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:37

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Yeah, I’d have to say hip hop and rockabilly type stuff for sure.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:38

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Counterpoint - Car culture shifted the direction of Eurobeat to what it is/was today and became so intrinsically linked to drifting and JGTC that they made entire albums of music just for those events.

https://www.discogs.com/label/812265-Super-Eurobeat-Presents-JGTC

DipodomysDeserti > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/17/2020 at 12:38

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Classic rock mentions teens having sex in cars more than the cars themselves.

Your boy, BJR > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 12:39

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When it boils down to it all  of car enthusiasm is rooted in flexing. Even the “I’m willing to compromise comfort and practicality to daily drive a performance oriented shitbox” mentality is a boat at the user’s fortitude to put up with that in a weird form of reverse boasting.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:41

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“ When it boils down to it all of car enthusiasm is rooted in flexing”

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……...no.  If that was true, why would I have bought both a Fiesta and a Forte?

ranwhenparked > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:42

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You're probably right, even though rock and country both have a lot of songs that reference vehicles, it's still nowhere near as pervasive in those genres as it is in rap/hip hop. And in the case of country, the majority of such references have occurred within the current era of pop/bro county, which is terrible and should be cleansed from history like a statue. 

Your boy, BJR > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/17/2020 at 12:45

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The forte is a commuter. The fiesta, however, is a top trim level performance model, however.

Sovande > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 12:45

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What? Lot’s of big, unsupported generalizations in your response. I can think of 10 rap songs that have to do with car culture without even giving it much thought . Rap is a large genre with a lot of diverse viewpoints. It’s not all songs about “having money.”

cluelessk > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:47

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Country/ Rock did it way first.

“I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill”

dogisbadob > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:49

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Jay-Z is named after an engine, so I think you’re right :p

He needs to mentor a protege named Gee-R haha

Your boy, BJR > cluelessk 06/17/2020 at 12:50

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Congrats on them for being first? But they also existed 30-40 years before hip hop. No disrespect to either of those genders (I’m a big fan of Hank I) but the argument wasn’t “first” it was “most”

Nothing > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:52

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Rock and country both are pretty inclusive. Lots of 4x4, truck, tractor references in country, lots of hot rod, muscle car references in rock. Rock is a lot less current with the vehicle references. But basically, sex, drugs, money (which buys cars).  There’s music for you.

PowderHound > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:53

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Rockabilly is very car centric but there aren’t nearly as many songs overall compared to rap/hip hop.

“ far more rappers are into/know what’s going on with their cars than any other genre” I don’t exactly buy this line. Sure they talk about rims and benz’s but actually “knowing what’s going on with their cars” maybe I’m just not reading it in the right context but I would say most of them are in the huck money at it for status crowd.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 12:57

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Probably true but how can we ever over look this epic piece of work.

Your boy, BJR > Future next gen S2000 owner 06/17/2020 at 12:59

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Oh def not overlooking it. I love Kenny Chesney lmao. (I prefer his boat songs to his truck songs tho)

cluelessk > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:01

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Still rock/ country. Like others have said, every country album has references to trucks and boats. Country music is popular in places were you need to own a vehicle to get around, more people have connections with vehicles.

Hip hop the cars feel like an expression of wealth over the cars themselves. Especially in the mainstream. It’s always just big money supercars

I know there’s some exceptions like Yelawolf with his Chevy collection.

zipfuel > Cash Rewards 06/17/2020 at 13:02

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ZZ top covering hiphop is a good time

https://youtu.be/kaIZWjItReI

DipodomysDeserti > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 13:07

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“ The reason cars are involved is to further the song’s narrative about having money. They aren’t usually included for the love of cars.

There are far fewer songs that talk about cars from an enthusiast’s perspective.“

Gotta be careful with that word. My friends and I who build their  own cars have a hard time considering people who flaunt their factory built toys, enthusiasts. ; )

Jim Spanfeller > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:08

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Cars in rap are mostly about flexing. For actual love of cars for the sake of cars, I can’t think of a better genre than 60's surf rock. There were a TON of songs about cars back then. Heck, the Beach Boys’ album “Little Deuce Coupe” was devoted almost entirely to songs about cars, along with “Shut Down Volume II”.

There was a mix of both songs talking about specific cars (409, Little Deuce Coupe, etc.) and also songs with more general lyrics that you could apply to whatever car you want. Here’s just a few of them:

Seriously, there were loads of these things...

DipodomysDeserti > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/17/2020 at 13:09

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Well, you did spend a pretty penny to put rally lights on your Fiesta...

Coming from the Jeep world, 75% of enthusiasts are just flexing for their overland instagram pages.

CobraJoe > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:12

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When it boils down to it all of car enthusiasm is rooted in flexing. Even the “I’m willing to c ompromise comfort and practicality to daily drive a performance oriented shitbox” mentality is a boat at the user’s fortitude to put up with that in a weird form of reverse boasting.

Speaking personally, that’s a hard disagree from me.

I have experienced many cars in my 20 years of vehicle ownership, and never have I bought something just because of how I thought it would make me look to other people. (Besides, I know from experience that absolutely no one thinks you’re a hero by driving a performance shitbox.)

I even believe that you are not a true enthusiast if you cannot enjoy a car on it s own merits.

Mid Engine > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:15

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Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:17

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All you have to do is google list of car songs and you can find over a hundred well know rock songs from various eras and heaviness .

cluelessk > Jim Spanfeller 06/17/2020 at 13:21

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Go back farther and you have Hank Williams refrencing his Hot Rod Ford. Someone had a Hot Rod Lincoln.

You can only understand this song if you know racing terms

Future next gen S2000 owner > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:25

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Dude could slide into the next Jimmy Buffet slot and not miss a beat.

Jim Spanfeller > cluelessk 06/17/2020 at 13:39

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Fun fact: this song was written about a real hot rod, and the car in question still exists!

cluelessk > Jim Spanfeller 06/17/2020 at 13:45

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Knew the song but didn't know it was a real car. That's amazing, the modifications aged well.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:46

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I'd argue that Surf Music was pretty heavily reliant on cars as well

Tripper > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 13:52

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AGREE. Country is probably = or moreso than hip hop if you count every time a truck is mentioned, but country songs are far less specific. Also I just cannot get down with country music outside of Johnny Cash and similar. Even there I just mean I won’t turn it off . So HipHop for the win.

Jim Spanfeller > cluelessk 06/17/2020 at 13:54

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I like how it’s got a Jaguar hood ornament :)

Tapas > Sovande 06/17/2020 at 14:06

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It is a sweeping generalization, I agree.

But would it be fair to say most songs with car references in the genre are about flexing?

fintail > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 14:07

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There was a big movement in prewar pop/novelty songs to have automotive themes - pre Great War, that is. The car was creating such a societal change for many that songs were the next step :

I question how many of any modern genre really know “what’s going on” with their cars other than how it looks in a video and what kind of bedroom partner it might attract.  How many cylinders does that thing have?

Tapas > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2020 at 14:08

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The built vs bought discussion is a whole ‘nother thing.

But flexing and loving cars arent always the same thing. Thats what I meant to po int out.

DipodomysDeserti > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 14:16

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Indon’t actually judge the “bought” crowd, but I also don’t view them a whole lot dofferent than the “flex” crowd. Everyone expresses  their enthusiasm in different ways.

Sovande > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 14:22

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I don’t know. It’s a hard question for me to answer because I can think of so many examples of both situations. Redman spends a good portion of two of his early albums praising his Land Cruiser. He even goes so far as “pushing a used one with a tape deck if it’s feasible.” He sounds like an Oppo to me. Outkast talks a lot about Cadillacs - they even named their first album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik . LL Cool J wrote a song about just the back seat of a Jeep that wasn’t about flexing so much as it was about getting laid.

Your point is probably valid, however, in the grand scheme of things.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 14:27

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Nope - plenty of enthusiasts are in for the pure enjoyment of driving.

Or wrenching.

Kiltedpadre > Jim Spanfeller 06/17/2020 at 14:28

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I really want one of the Lincoln greyhound hood ornaments for my mantle but even reproductions are pricey.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com 06/17/2020 at 14:29

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A Boy and His Longtail > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 14:39

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I mean Queen has a song entitled “I’m in love with my car”. It’s kinda hard to get more enthusiast than that

Jim Spanfeller > Kiltedpadre 06/17/2020 at 14:39

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Huh... Didn’t know those were a thing. It kinda looks like a Jaaaag hood ornament from a distance, but I guess it’s not. The more you know...

Tapas > Sovande 06/17/2020 at 14:56

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Exactly, lot of examples of both.

There are a lot of genuine car enthusiasts, like Frank Ocean and Action Bronson too. Ludacris restored his first car to factory spec after he became successful - a 1993 Acura Legend.

At the same time, there’s a ton of luxury car name dropping as flex - ‘Rari, Lambos and Bentleys, going back to Escalades in the 90s.

Kanye and Jay Z cut up a Maybach just because they could in Otis. 50 Cent doesn’t drive a Hummer in his video because he likes off roading or the car. It was just a sick truck when the song came out.

Girls in bikinis dancing in, around or on (rented) exotics is the most stereotypical rap video.

I can’t count  raps that are pure flex v/s raps about artists liking the cars.

Cars in rap as pure flex is the more common and main stream.

Tapas > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2020 at 15:04

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Hope this clarification helps -

People who don’t have the skills or circumstances to build what they want, doesn’t mean they don’t work hard to pay for a well made stock car or pay a shop for mods. That’s still an enthusiast.

Pure flex is when people buy a luxury cars for the badge with no knowledge or interest in what they’re getting or why/if they like it. I don’t think that’s enthusiasm.

Similarly, rap videos don’t have girls dancing in around exotics because they love the exotics. Rappers name dropping Lambos and ‘Raris is a statement of success and money, not about the cars themselves.

gmctavish needs more space > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 15:13

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The two genders: r ock, and hip hop

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2020 at 15:17

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I spent that because I wanted them to see in the dark!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Cash Rewards 06/17/2020 at 15:24

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the first thing i thought of was them.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 15:25

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i think its already been said, but classic rock is way more into car culture. Hip hop is all about the stratus symbol of the car.

and 100 more > Your boy, BJR 06/17/2020 at 15:58

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but but but... WINGA DINGA!!

DipodomysDeserti > Tapas 06/17/2020 at 16:09

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I’m not in the game of classifying who’s and enthusiast or not.

My point was to point out that everyone’s enthusiasm presents differently.

In my book, knowing how to fix your own stuff is number one, especially when it comes to automobiles, but I couldn’t care less if someone else finds that important, just like I couldn’t care less is Ea zy-E actually liked his ‘64 Impala or if he was just flexing.

DipodomysDeserti > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/17/2020 at 16:10

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Even if they were completely superfluous, who cares, they look awesome!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2020 at 16:10

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OK, maybe 50/50 I wanted to see in the dark and brag on the ST reddit.

Tapas > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2020 at 19:46

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That’s fair. Thanks for that perspective :)