25 Things Everyone Thinks About Hip-Hop-But Nobody Will Say

[RoleModel'Est96]

http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/25-things-everyone-thinks-about-hip-hop-but-nobody-will-say/#gallery

Lets see if you agree

[LEVITIKUZ]

Can for once Complex just put the whole list on one page? I'm getting fucking tired of looking at their lists and clicking through 25 pages.

[Blu]

Agree with 25, 18, 9, I sorta agree with 5, and 1.

[UofLCard]

I don't completely agree with "Rap's popularity has declined significantly in mainstream America".

[TheGentlePlayer]

6 is sooo fucking true!!!

[Blu]

What's up with Complex's racism lately tho.

[tadpole25]

Explicitly political rap music will never change the world.

Rap treats women horribly.

If you don't make a music video for your song, it doesn't exist.

Drake was the best rapper out in 2011.

Most criticism of contemporary rap is rooted in biased nostalgia.

Most "indie" rappers aren't signed to major labels for good reason.

Most conscious rap is condescending, simplistic, and corny.


Biggie and 2Pac would have fallen off, eventually.

[sbolli1]

You know Hip-Hop's gone down the drain when Drake is considered the best rapper of the year.

[Blu]

You know Hip-Hop's gone down the drain when Drake is considered the best rapper of the year.

Not at all. Drake ran the fuck outta last year.

[Cube23]

Kendrick Lamar was the best rapper in 2011.

But still a great article.

[EminemBase]

I don't completely agree with "Rap's popularity has declined significantly in mainstream America".

Well that's not true at all. It's increased. By far.

Hip-hop started out as a cult, then a fringe genre, then mainstream, then / now THEE genre. Yeah some other genres are big but no genre more completely dominates the music scene in every direction (political, silly, sexy, absurd, creative) than rap. It clobbers the charts, for better or for worse and is constantly in the public eye through its torch carriers (Em, Kanye, Jay).

It's huge, has gotten bigger and bigger since its inception, and continues to grow.

Also, Drake the best in 2011? Eh no. He wasn't the best then, and isn't the best now. Also, everybody fucking says that, that's a popular view by many. So how does 'nobody say it'.

Rap also can change the world politically. The Marshall Mathers LP for example sparked an enormous censorship debate and whilst censorship in mainstream media you may say has gotten worse in some respects (with bleeping of... ANY phrase that could be interpreted as violent... absurd!!), we've mostly become more open. Now, Eminem did cause that of course, that would happen anyway, but just think of that album offending people the way it did then, NOW, just 11 years later? wouldn't happen. Relapse was actually much more aimlessly offensive and sick, didn't cause a dent.

That album sparked a conversation which, added to the pile of things that broke down more barriers, more free-speech barriers.

Also, omg @ #9, I would fucking love a pile of cocaine like that. That's heaven.

Definitely agree with #6. I always say this too.

Don't agree with #5 either. It's only awkward for stupid, or confused white people.

[Blu]

You know Hip-Hop's gone down the drain when Drake is considered the best rapper of the year.

Not at all. Drake ran the fuck outta last year.

Popularity =/= being great

Drake's music is so bad, the production helped him a lot.

When did I bring up Drake's popularity? Take Care was probably one of the BEST albums of 2011. And Drake's music isn't bad at all, maybe you're just not used to that subject matter.

[classthe_king]

Drake sucks

[Blu]

Drake sucks

[classthe_king]

What, are you gonna argue with me or leave the thread and never come back