My Theory/Rant of Today's Hip-Hop

[J Won]

Whattup ... I got a notion. Everyone here likes real Rap right? Well, my theory is that whoever listens to Pop/Snap/Dance music, claiming it is under the genre Rap/Hip-Hop would naturally be attracted to a song like "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" or "2 Step" and would automatically have it on their ipod with ease. Well an individual that likes elaborate lyricists such as Jay-Z and Nas wouldn't be attracted to the Gangsta Rap of 2006/2007 or the Pop/Snap/Dance music of today's Hip-Hop/Rap, their effectuation would be O. Trice, Eminem, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, AZ... right?

If everyone stopped buying into Yung Berg and DJ Unk, they would eventually stop other upcoming artists like Hurricane Chris ("A Bay Bay..."), from making such records. And I know you're thinking, "Yeah right, n*gga, you crazy".

But another notion came to mind:
Old School eventually faded into New School, and 1998's type of Rap, right? Well, maybe, just maybe, Pop/Snap/Dance music would get it's own genre (and those snapping bastards can go fade out of existence).

You know, rims and big cars, and pimpin' hoes (I'm not pointing any fingers but, um.. Southern Rap really tries hard to do that) really sets a bad example for Hip-Hop in general. Like the other day, I was watchin BET, and I heard this song called, "Krispy" by Kia Shine (yeah, typical Rap name). It made me sick, I wanted to send my TV to Hell. It was so unoriginal and I thought of us (Blacks) and wondered how many people at my school would go around chanting this? AND, I look at my little brother's mp3 player, and I see Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and DJ Khaled, and I think "How fake can these n*ggas get?"

I guess what I'm trying to say is: "Is it the consumers' fault that music is like this?

FEEDBACK

[IceAxe]

Yeah, it is the consumers fault cuz they influence what labels sign and what radio/TV plays. But I also tie it in to the fact that Americans as a whole are getting steadily dumber, so people who drop complex rhymes/lyrics confuse the hell out of the average person.

[AspirinE]

I agree.

But i also believe that this happens to all music and its because of Corporate fascism, If the labels can push trash out there and sell it, its good enough for them.

I been listening to hip hop since i was about 11 and sometimes it frustrates me when i don't see props given to that what made hip hop what it is, but of course theres nothing i can do about it, no matter how many good CD's i buy (right now, i usually just stock up on albums that are old and are about to become rarity). What i as a dedicated listener can do though, is tell one or two people where its really at and hope the person im attempting to school recognizes it (usually if the person becomes a real hip hop fan, he/she will come to the conclusion himself)... since i been taught the exact same way. Some older dude i knew use to lend me ice-cube and cypress hill tapes to listen to, that got me hooked, so i kinda understand the mentality.

Anyways, i don't like to bad mouth hip hop as whole, coz what i hear on the radio or tv for example,can hardly be put in the same category, i still listen to the shit like, and i never run out of albums to find and collect.

[yoshi]

yeah, it's consumers' fault. we are the ones who actually are able to 'control' the market in some way by buying CDs mostly. but i think we cannot blame consumers only, it also depends on the artists. some of them just lower their standards, because they see that so-called 'shit' sells. they start doing that commercialised music, because MTV likes it, VIVA likes it and so does radio and obviously no one cares that much about content of the songs anymore.

and this doesn't concern rap only, i think it's the problem of the whole music industry. that's just an example, but shit like latest "hit", beloved by MTV and radio - i don't know the title, but lyrics go like that "..i lick your ice-cream and you can lick my lollipop.." - now that's what kills whole music.

[joelle]

Yeah it's the consumers' fault..but the people buying the music are rarely the ones complaining about it.

[Tash8]

RAP should not be Hip Hop in my opinion, rap for the billionth time mean rhythm and poetry right? and now we got a word called hip hop <-- to me that sounds like the shit that's being put out today, dance to this, blah and shit


rap should be covered and sealed for only people who actually are complex and poetic and the other shits get put in Hip Hop Cat.

[J Won]

Well, from my info, Hip-Hop has four elements: Graffiti, Beatboxing, MC'ing, and Dancing.

[DrRapid]

Well, from my info, Hip-Hop has four elements: Graffiti, Beatboxing, MC'ing, and Dancing.

I think it's: DJ'ing, MC'ing, Graffiti and Breakdancing.

[James R.]

I been listening to rap ever since I heard 187 on an Undercover back in like '94 and it pains me that people call anything that plays on the radio rap. And while yes it is the consumer's fault I also blame big business and artists themselves. Consumers obviously buy the shit. Businesses are funding all the bullshit because radio plays it. But if artists are the ones focusing on catchy hooks and dance moves. Nas and Jay-Z sell just fine and don't make dance songs. Hell even Jadakiss sold a mil without 2 steppin or walkin it out. If more people talked about real things instead of all this dance crap then people would buy it because it was being offered, which means business would fund it because it sold, and maybe more people would hop on the band wagon trying to get at the money. I also blame obsessively violent rappers. I get tired of hearing about who people shot and how many old ladies they robbed. I also get tired of hearing about how many cars they bought. I don't particularly care to hear about how much you sold cocaine for, how many girls you had baggin up your product, or how many guns you have hidden in your closet. I loved hip-hop in the 90's and even early 2000's because it was creative and different and you couldn't find 3 rappers with the same style. Now I hate because I can't name 10 artists who aren't terrible.

[AspirinE]

^ .

I just have to put a big full-stop after what has been said there. Very well put.

I fully agree with the "what i want to hear point". I find it rather funny how today, kids obsess about how much money rappers make, or who won a beef... My usual reply is ... "WTF DO YOU CARE!?" , coz i really don't get why people care. Nowadays people find expressions like "this motherfucker is a business man, he gets more cash" to be a good excuse for pushing that garbage music in their ears. :|. All these pseudo business men rappers should go and compete at the stock market with old white dudes that get so much money that they haven't seen money in bank notes(some have prolly forgotten what money looks like).


Edit: I also find it hilarious that after earning their first thousands of dollars, rappers brag about buying rims and diamonds istead of saying that they now afford to send their kids to college.


Edit 2: the fuck do people rappers need diamonds for anyway. Shouldn't diamonds be bought and given as gift to your woman, metaphorically implying how much the woman means to you.

Edit 3: Ohh and if some people don't know, really rich people, buy expensive art in diamonds and overpriced raririties so they can profit from avoiding certain types of taxes (saving money in hard form) or just plain earning money by selling it later.

[J Won]

Edit: I also find it hilarious that after earning their first thousands of dollars, rappers brag about buying rims and diamonds istead of saying that they now afford to send their kids to college.

I agree. Like Rich Boy. How could you name yourself that or even talk about putting dubs on your car? He's just a poser. Those people don't have money to start with, that's why they are TRYING TO MAKE MUSIC, dumb asses!

[Tornado]

but my question is how to combat it? How to get undderated ones (Obie Trice) up there and to denounce wack ones ( 50, Mims) ? I woud say downloading but for every one of us theres around 20 groupies on the dick.

PS. Except for Ludacris, I blame southern rappers

[James R.]

How the fuck can you blame southern rappers?

[Tash8]

It's not just southern rappers out there.. the thing is, whats in now, is 102421 rappers talking about how cool rich life is, so these kids listen to them and day dream about they'll be rich someday too.