KillahBee wrote:I agree with a couple of points mentioned here, (especially the internet) I'd also add sample clearance issues, could you imagine hip hop in the '90s if samples like CREAM, Nuthin' But G Thing, and Shook Ones weren't able to be cleared?
The biggest thing for me though, is most of bigger names and talents not putting out material, people bitch about mainstream and wack rappers flooding the airwaves, but where the hell are Outkast, Andre 3k's solo, a Joe Budden solo (not a mixtape) Jay Elec, Vintage Wu, Detox, Ludacris, T.I and Lupe (though this seems to be happening to the latter) dropping the bullshit, Eminem rapping unhinged again, all these collab albums, (Nas and Primo to name a recent one) etc?? I'm talking about well known, proven artists that could bring some positive attention back to mainstream hip hop, that aren't putting out decent material, and for the most part, aren't putting out ANY material. Killer Mike said it best; it's not what present that's destructive, it's what absent.
Honestly, how many of you're top ten rappers have put out an album in the last 3-4 years that REALLY lives up to their potential ? Because, if I look at my own, the answer is not fucking many, if any
I hate to be a negative nancy but many of the vets aren't gonna drop albums that are near their heyday anymore sure you might get some spark of creativity or some good albums like OB4CL2 but expecting liquid swords 2 to live up to the original just isn't possible. Though this mostly applies to Eminem, Jay z, Wu as a whole, and arguably Nas. I can't speak for Ludacris or T.I. because I wasn't big fans of them to begin with and I still think Lupe's dope, either way we shouldn't be relying on past veterans to carry hip hop as it's just not possible, new faces have to live up to the old otherwise we stagnate and don't grow as a culture.
Also lol at the OP mentioning the death of Proof and as tragic as OBD's death is it isn't too the level of rappers like Pac/Big or even Big Pun. Same with mentioning Nate Dogg might as well mention Adam Yauch.
