G rated rap music??

Alice wrote: My almost-7 year old son loves rap music "not the bad words, mom, just the way they talk fast and stuff."

Needless to say, I do NOT want him listening to the stuff I've heard. (He has found a Spanish speaking station I'll let him listen to, since neither of us speaks Spanish )

Is there any child-appropriate rap music out there??

stanleygirl replied: I am a rap fan myself, and for obviuos reasons do not listen to it when DS is around.
But if you check out Will Smith's music, he prides himself on his clean rap, no swearing, and come to think of it, I don't think he really raps about the usual violent stuff. Check it out first to be sure it will appropriate for what you are looking for.

gr33n3y3z replied: yes they do
They beep out the bad words or they are just not in there.
Ask for it and they will show you

DansMom replied: My 7YO nephew just bought a Green Day CD, his first CD purchase, bought with his own saved up allowance. It's not rap, but it has the explicit lyrics label on it. My sister and brother in law decided just to talk to him about the offending word (there was only one at least, or two if you count the work "redneck") and not to use it and why. I went over there and he and his friend were listening to the CD in his room. "Come jam with us!", my nephew said when I poked my head in. Then he said "But I have to warn you, there's a bad word in this song". Then when the bad word came up, he said "See?" It was hard not to laugh. Rap and metal both seem a bit more dangerous though---not just bad language, but violence. I'd screen carefully too.

I agree with the Will Smith idea---he seems to focus on positive messages and is conscious about what he's putting out there. He also is a family man.

Jamielou replied: They have edited ones at walmart you can read the front of the CD and it will say if it is or not.. Thats what my sister gets for her 11 year old.

stanleygirl replied: Just a warning though, some of the edited ones are still full of violent and inappropriate messages. I would be very aware of that when looking.
I have been looking around on the web trying to find more artists that are kid friendly, I will let you know what I find.

Oh yeah, and I remember seeing an interview with Lil Bow Wow once and he said he had made an album that was clean, so kids his age could listen to it.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Rap is not my thing, personally, but I did a search for Christian Rap and got several hits. I doubt there would be anything of "interest" in that! I didn't get anything under children's rap, though. Weird, you'd think someone might have thought to tap that market. The beat would obviously appeal to kids.

ferocity302 replied:
That's what I was going to suggest. There is all kinds of styles of music in the Christian category.

*Please note that I am not pushing Christianity or any other style of religion on anyone before I am accused of that.

I personally do not belong to a specific religion as I believe in Unity. (didn't want anyone to get upset and assume anything)

TeagansMom609 replied: Will Smith's music is as clean as it gets I think. I would try that out. Or if there is something specific he wants just buy it at a store where they edit the curse words.

Alice replied:
No disclaimer needed. As it turns out, we're Catholic. But had you suggested something Jewish or Budhist or whatever, it would still be taken as an attempt to answer my question, certainly not an attempt at conversion.

Thank you, everyone. I'll look into your suggestions.

It's actually kind of funny. My Korean son with the Irish first name and the Italian last name, from his home in the 'burbs, listening to rap. Small world, isn't it??

Hillbilly Housewife replied: OOh. You're asking the wrong chick.... I LOVE Eminem....and he's banned from walmart!

uwishucudfly replied: just make sure that the "Parental Advisory" sticker is not on the cd, because that means there will be curse words in it.....if you find an artist like Ludacris, and there is no "Parental Advisory" sticker in the lower left corner....it is most likely edited.

Alice replied: The vocabulary isn't even the main issue. I know that he'll come across those words, even in his 1st grade world, on the bus or at the playground.

It's more the content that concerns me-- the disrespect towards women and authority that I've heard is prevalent. (And, no, I haven't actually heard all that much rap, beyond what's coming in my windows from the cars next to me at red lights. I don't want to-- I'm happy in my world of James Taylor and Chicago.) Someone told me to look at Will Smith's stuff-- any opinions before I lay down some money??

My2Beauties replied:
I love him too, but definitely not a kid friendly rapper! LOL! I agree about the Will Smith idea, he has good beats and his music is not violent or offensive in any way!

Alice replied: For anyone else who is interested, I e-mailed Tower Records with the question. The customer service rep suggested:

early Will Smith
Romeo ("You might want to check this one")
bow Wow ("You might want to check this one too")
Lil Miss Nana ("12 year old rapper, positive and clean")

How helpful!! At least now I have a direction!

Thanks to all!!