Stones' Keith Slams Rap Music

Legendary guitarist [Keith Richards](https://contactmusic.6lgx.com/keith-richards) despises gangsta rap, and hopes it passes like another silly trend.

The veteran performer, known for his wild ways and legendary tolerance for substances, is convinced rap's roots lie with [Bo Diddley](https://contactmusic.6lgx.com/bo-diddley) and older Jamaican styles.

Richards, currently touring on the ROLLING STONES' FORTY LICKS bus, explains, "I think of (gangsta rap) like the hula hoop, as a fad. With the baseball caps and the baggy pants - I just got bored with what they were saying.

"And all those fingers pointing at you all the time! If I think about rap, which is basically talking over a beat, right, I think of Bo Diddley, to begin with, and then, where I really thought it reached masterpieces was in Jamaica with BIG YOUTH and I-ROY, when they were saying something and had some really incredible sounds.

"American rap has never really got on my radar screen, man. I mean, I know my brothers, right, and this is really not the best angle on them. They're all talking about the same thing and it's a wasted opportunity."

However, the MAIN OFFENDER album-maker concedes there are some interesting points in the gangsta culture.

He adds, "I don't really like to put a record on and listen to somebody talking to me, unless it's [Lenny Bruce](https://contactmusic.6lgx.com/lenny-bruce) or TONY HANCOCK.

"But I did get interested when they started shooting each other. That's more like it, y'know? Wipe each other out!"

06/08/2003 17:14