Mono-Genre Watch: Mumford & Sons ‘Really Want To Rap’?
I’m calling bullshit.
The comments by Marcus Mumford were made to Rolling Stone in a feature posted today that includes comments from all four members of the UK-based roots rock band.
A recurring criticism of Mumford has been that many of the songs on their two albums Sigh No More and Babel sound very similar. The band acknowledges this in a few succinct quotes to Rolling Stone, with keyboardist Ben Lovett saying specifically, “I do feel like we’re ready to make the departure. There’s definitely cohesion between the two albums. Now that we’ve done that, we’re not desperate to walk away from that sound, but we’re willing to explore what else we could do. These two albums are like brothers. Do something that’s a cousin.”
So what could that ‘cousin’ be? According to front man and main songwriter Marcus Mumford, it could involve hip-hop and rapping, telling the Rolling Stone:
“Like, hip-hop,” Mumford says with a grin. “We really want to rap. We’ve just got so much to say saying it through a melody doesn’t really work for me. We’ve been talking with Jay-Z about it, you know. It’s gonna be a fresh experience for our band.” Does the band rap in the practice room? “Yeah,” Mumford says. “We’re like, ‘Motherfucker!'”
Since the comments were posted this morning, and since they were served up in a fairly ambiguous frame of reference, the internet has been agog at the idea of MC Mumford making an appearance in the coming years. But taking into consideration the Rolling Stone’s propensity to sensationalize things by giving them little context, and the very unlikely scenario that Marcus Mumford truly believes that saying things through melody “doesn’t really work” for him, this seems more a ploy to get folks talking, and to keep Mumford’s name on the tip of pop culture’s tongue. Who really believes Marcus Mumford would try to spread his wings by figuring out how to work “motherfucker” into their music?
I may have to eat these words when a Mumford/Jay-Z collaboration gets released exclusively to iTunes in six months, and if that scenario plays out, that will take the theory that all popular music is collapsing into one big mono-genre to a whole other level. But until then, let’s not let a joke be perpetuated on us.
February 25, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
This is why we cannot have nice things. This.
February 25, 2013 @ 3:14 pm
Apparently, the world’s musicians are too dumb to go their own way…or too scared.
February 25, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
They’re one of the most overrated bands over these past two years anyway, in my opinion. I’ve simply never seen the appeal in them, so by all means they can get their rapping rocks off for all I care.
February 25, 2013 @ 5:44 pm
Couldn’t see the s#*t eatin grin!
February 25, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
I sense sarcasm in his… “We’re like, ‘Motherfucker!'”…. 😐
February 25, 2013 @ 6:25 pm
It wouldn’t bother me if they did collaborate with Jay-Z, but it seems like Mumford was joking.
February 25, 2013 @ 6:49 pm
Um, maybe they should try for some Dylanesque talking-blues first. :p
Seriously, though, even if they really are considering changing up their style, it sounds like the fellas were just trying to get a reaction by suggesting such an extreme, drastic change.
February 26, 2013 @ 3:06 pm
Yet, he just DID it! He WENT electric. He Just DID his country inspired stuff. Much to the chagrin of fans and critics alike, he progressed in a way that was natural to him.
To be honest though I have no love for Mumford and Sons. Their music just doesn’t have the balls and soul Dylan had in his or many of today’s roots(?) more independent and lesser known artists’ have in theirs.
It’s becoming increasingly cool to talk shit about Dylan but to me he will always be a badass.
February 26, 2013 @ 5:12 pm
My sentiments exactly on Dylan. 🙂 I remember reading a review of the film ‘I’m Not There’ — the critic said that, for all of the different phases his career has had, they’ve come from within and honestly reflected how he himself has changed as a person over time. I thought that was very well-put.
As for the Mumfords, while I like a few of their songs, I can’t imagine them actually daring to overhaul what has been so successful so far…
February 26, 2013 @ 4:15 pm
They should try out Colt Ford or Jason Aldean instead of Jay Z. I mean… motherfucker!
February 27, 2013 @ 10:08 am
Trigger,
Do you hate hip-hop in general, or is it crossover stuff you hate, or are you objecting to a future where there’s only one genre of music? If it’s the latter, I agree – if all music turns into one muddy genre of dudes on pickup truck tailgates rapping about having a beer with jesus and freedom then that will indeed suck.
On the other hand, well-done crossover music can be outstanding. I like Rebel Meets Rebel a lot, and one of my favorite bands is a crossover band called Gangstagrass,which features MC’s rapping over a live bluegrass band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKNDbTVvcbI
Anyhow, tastes are all different. I just like crossover stuff.
February 27, 2013 @ 10:45 am
I’m not opposed to hip-hop as a point of principle, I’m just mostly unaware of it. My guess is that similar to country, all of the great stuff in hip-hop is happening in the underground, and you’d never hear it unless you were in the know. If you judge it off of what the asshole with booming bass is playing at the red light in traffic, you’d probably hate it. Same goes for “crossover” music or collaboration. I love collaboration, but there still needs to be honesty in the music.
I’ve given positive examples of blending country and hip-hop influences over the years, including Beck, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and The Beastie Boys. Gangstagrass in my opinion is just a dance mashup. Not saying it isn’t cool or honest, but it’s always comes across to me as just a cool dance club bit.
February 27, 2013 @ 11:53 am
What you said is totally true. Pop Hip-Hop is fucking awful; the good stuff gets no airplay or respect.
Gangstagrass isn’t just just a dance mashup though, it’s an MC over a live band. The very first self-titled Gangstagrass album was a mixtape of rappers over sampled bluegrass, but there are two subsequent CD’s that are MCs with a band. ( The first album is not available anymore except via torrents or whatnot because of the uncleared (and unclearable) samples, btw).
March 2, 2013 @ 5:11 am
To me, the Mumford-genre IS already a big mono-genre.