Do you ever people-watch around campus and look at the students with earbuds in and wonder what they're listening to? Whether it’s music, podcasts or lo-fi whale noises, it seems like almost everyone is plugged into something. There’s no question that jamming out while you walk to class is lovely, but I do wonder: is there a best genre of music to listen to while on campus? Of course, everyone’s got their own preference, but there are certainly a few that reign supreme. In order to decide which genre of music is best to listen to while walking on campus, I took on the Exponent’s opinion editor, Marquart Doty, in the ultimate music fan battle. Welcome to this week’s Head to Head, rap versus indie music edition.
INDIE
By Cian Connor
Let me start by acknowledging that indie can refer to many different types of music. When I say indie, I’m referring to an assorted collection of artists such as Tame Impala, Maggie Rogers, The Lumineers, Caamp, Goth Babe and Sylvan Esso… you get the idea. Now I’d like to say that I have no problem with rap. Rap’s fine, but just take one look around while you’re on the MSU campus and there’s no question that indie is the genre to listen to. You can’t look up at the snow-capped Bridgers on a sunny day and tell me that you’d rather be listening to Young Thug than Maggie Rogers.
Listening to music is all about creating a vibe for yourself. In a place with such incredible natural surroundings, the best genre of music is one that can best match that. Rap simply can’t capture the natural beauty and Western spirit of Montana in the way that indie can. This is obvious in the kind of artists that come out of the area. The Kitchen Dwellers is a popular indie group that got their start in Bozeman, but I think we all know you’re gonna struggle to find a rapper whose success was started in Montana. Later on, you’ll hear Marquart make references to rap music — references that simply can’t connect you to this area in the same way that indie music can. Montana inherently creates a certain genre of music and artist, and I hate to break it to y'all, but it ain’t rap.
Rap is great for when you're getting the adrenaline going before a night out or if you’re dancing at The Zebra, but when you’re on campus, nothing can beat indie to get into that hyped-up Zen state that’s perfect for sitting through a boring three-hour lecture. That being said, don’t sleep on the indie music variety. Indie can get you pumped up as well as anything else. You put on some Goth Babe, The Black Keys or Empire of the Sun and you’ll be ready to deal with any test, lecture or lazy group member who can’t pull their weight.
Indie music varies so much that you can find songs to fit the vibe of any day. As our semester closes out and life slowly starts to creep back on these beautiful spring days, there’s no question that indie is the perfect soundtrack to send you out into summer.
RAP
By Marquart Doty
Catching a Zen vibe is great, but I can do that with rap. Just like indie, rap is comprised of many subgenres and an endless range of moods. I absolutely can look out at the snow-capped Bridgers and listen to Isaiah Rashad, the Freddie Gibbs and Madlib collabs, J Dilla or any other jazzy, meditative rap.
Speaking of which, many rap producers root their style far more in jazz, soul and the blues than almost any indie artist I can think of. If I’m going to study or hike, I’d much rather listen to MF Doom sample some vintage jazz and samurai movie sound clips than listen to Florence and the Machine sing about how the dog days are over.
But if you’ve ever seen me on campus, you know I’m almost never in a chill, meditative mood. I’m always on go-mode. And to me, feeling confident and ready for anything at any time — whether it be banging out some homework, sitting through a three-hour lecture or acting like the confrontational Baltimore-born baddie I am — is far better than feeling calm all time or fitting in on campus. Indubitably, if you want to feel energized and self-assured, no genre is there for you more than rap. Wait until you have a test coming up that you’re super anxious and need to hype yourself up for, and then tell me you’d prefer Maggie Rogers over Young Thug.
Besides, as a genre that generally employs strong bass, snare and catchy rhythms, rap is overall easier to dance to than indie music. Dancing is a powerful tool that has myriad mental and physical benefits, especially when practiced every day, according to the National Institute of Health. It’s a therapeutic practice that puts one’s mind in arguably a far more meditative state than sitting around in a hammock listening to indie music ever could.
Indie is great for when you want to hear someone sing. But to keep the optimal vibe while I’m swaggering around campus, I’ll stick to strong 808s and grimy southern trap beats. You stay chill and play hacky-sack barefoot. I’ll keep all the steez for myself.
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To finish, we’d like to provide you with two short playlists filled with our best takes. Give both of our playlists a listen while you’re walking around campus and decide for yourself which is better. You’re welcome, loyal readers.
Indie:
I Wanna Help Your Mind- Goth Babe
Alaska- Maggie Rogers
Texas Sun- Khruangbin, Leon Bridges
Wish I Knew You- The Revivalists
Iffy- Caamp
Dog Days Are Over- Florence and the Machine
My Body- Young the Giant
Rap:
Crime Pays - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Glass Flows (feat. Ravyn Lenae) - Smino
Saviers Road - Anderson .Paak
Wat’s Wrong (feat Zacari & Kendrick Lamar) - Isaiah Rashad
Yeah Right - Vince Staples
Mink Flow - Future & Young Thug
Pac-Man (feat. ScHoolboy Q) - Gorillaz