I often wonder what people mean when they say that hip hop is dead. Are they speaking of certain elements (e.g. the dj, the emcee, etc.), the music, or the culture as a whole? I can’t speak for every one, but I don’t think that hip hop, as a whole, is dead; however I do believe that certain parts of the overall culture are either gone or fading away. I mean, seriously, what happened to the voice that poetically expressed the social issues and harsh realities of inner-city living; the intense lyricism that not only highlighted inner-city violence but challenged us to rise above it. Or what about the block parties that reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing it with artistic battles… What happened to the movement?
This is where hip hop went wrong for me. It began as an artistic culture that promoted positive change in the inner-city, a movement that sparked innovative ways for young African American men and women to earn an income, and it still is. However, when hip hop grew to become an international movement, with it came commercialization, materialism, and greed. Village Voice writer, Greg Tate, made a statement that caught my attention. He said, “Hip hop is slowly losing its edge due to its involvement in the mainstream, hyper-capitalist world.” I’m with Greg. Hip hop is losing its original flavor and being replaced by another form that is driven by messages of violence, misogyny, and materialism. Although emcees like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, the Roots, and many more continue to emphasize original elements of the culture (e.g. verbal skill, unity, or activism), their fan base and radio air play is almost nonexistent in comparison to other mainstream artists.
In another blog, I mentioned before that hip hop was the voice that provided other cultures and social classes with an understanding, to some extent, of what inner-city living was like, and the artists earned their respect and praise for sharing their lives and experiences. In short, other cultures and social classes respected the urban, inner city culture because of what they’ve survived and what they have accomplished—this was shared via hip hop music. With that being said, is it too farfetched to blame today’s hip hop for the image society has placed on the urban man? Is it too unrealistic to say that hip hop is responsible for the way urban women are treated—shall we say mistreated? Think about it; when the most successful hip hop artist, who is idolized by all, says “I’m living proof that crime does pay,” is it nonsense to credit hip hop for the crimes committed by inner city youth?
In 1995, movie critic, Roger Ebert, defended hip hop saying:
| “ | Rap has a bad reputation in white circles, where many people believe it consists of obscene and violent anti-white and anti-female guttural. Some of it does. Most does not. Most white listeners don’t care; they hear black voices in a litany of discontent, and tune out. Yet rap plays the same role today as Bob Dylan did in 1960, giving voice to the hopes and angers of a generation, and a lot of rap is powerful writing. | ” |
So, where did we go wrong? Some argue that the authenticity was lost when both the artists and the followers traded the original theme and mission of the music for a version full of sex, violence, and materialism. Not only that, but we excuse mainstream music’s misrepresentation of hip hop because it has taken so many men and women from the ghetto and made them millionaires making it seem as if its providing opportunities to those who otherwise would be in jail or dead, which does but at what expense.
Mind you, I’m not blaming hip hop for the issues that plague the urban communities; however one must wonder why other cultures and social classes see the urban man (and woman) in such a stereotypical way. Is it racism or could it be that the only representations of urban people other cultures and social classes know are the voices heard via hip hop radio stations or the images seen in hip hop videos and movies. Is it possible that this is the reason they blame hip hop for everything from promoting drug and gang activity to being demonic. This is the urban man that they see…
Greg Tate believes that hip hop should be primarily utilized as a voice for social justice. I believe hip hop has already served that purpose, so why not use hip hop to project an image that could forever change society’s view of the urban man. Let’s change the hip hop they see…
“Hip Hop Music” by Phanatik (from the Cross Movement)
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Hip Hop is not dead but it's like a person with a disease. The whole body isn't infected but the body as a whole is affected from the infection in certain areas.
@Conscious… First off my system is picking you up as a spammer. If you continue to do back to back post it will ban your IP, so please refrain from doing so…
In response to you comment… I guess my only beef with your comment (although I agree some what) is the face that all of the artist you mention made more than just gansta, violent, materialistic music… I don’t think its the artists; I think its the media conglomerates (radio, tv, etc.) and what they choose to promote. Think about it Neo-Soul made a good push into the industry a couple years back, and it place a positive image on the urban culture. So positive that the industry ran them out years later… why do you think that is… (discussed in my next blog, LOL!!!)…
But, really you’re making the same valid points that every other “true” hip hop fan is making. The problem is that no one is taking any action against it… Why is that???
@LC good question, to find an answer 4 that we have to go back to the beginning, most people say that the Sugar Hill Gang put out the first know hip hop song,which was a party track, but if you dig deeper you will find out that the politically oriented Last Poets were the true pioneers of rap no matter which genre, conscious music was always dangerous for the elite, they realised it, tried to put poison into it, it worked as you see now, so youre right hip hop was founded on the right fundament but people were too dumb to recognize all this stuff to save it, even the so called golden era was mostly poison (except for Rakim and few more), people like dr. dre, ice cube, 2pac, snoop dogg who are considered all as legends were all frauds who promoted violence, materialism, drug dealing etc. (i can prove it), so something must be wrong right?
The answer is MUSIC, these people created listenable music, people consumed it, the main fault of most of the past conscious rappers was their ignorance when it came to making good rhymes AND good music, but that alone is no excuse for the helpless situation right now, no leaders only folowers
This article again encouraged me to think about what could be achieved through
Hip Hop! It is powerful gift and an effective form of communication and expression.
It could be used to liberate nations if my generation finally
“wakes up” spiritually to the greatness that is already inside of us!
Also, truly exceptional verses by Phanatik!
Hip Hop is a tool to control the uneducated mass by the government, and unfortunately almost everybody falls into this “trap” (pun intended).
Hip Hop has many definitions nowadays.
The reason why Hip Hop is the most ignorant genre nowadays are the sellouts (which are 99 percent of all known rappers, who are coldhearted slaves controlled by money), most of the fans (who are full of ignorance and have no moral principles, they talk about realness when they should know its fake), most of the bloggers (cynical subjectivity, stannery & unable to critize hip hop in a honest and constructive way) AND so called “conscious” rappers like Nas, Talib Kweli, Krs-One etc… who never back up their claimed love for hip hop when its needed.
They always talk about “fake mcs destroyin the game”, but never namin names, collaboratin with the most cliche gangsta rappers, actin always passive when action is needed (Talib, Krs-One), hypin up contradictory & mistitled albums with no real content (Nas) (couldnt post 1 text)
@ Conscious – I put all of your post it to one because there’s no need for 4 shorts posts… Also, It’s seem as if you have the same issues I have with hip hop (and its activists… all talk no action)… My question to you and the rest is was hip hop created or converted into this controling genre that you mentioned… I say it was converted and we allowed it because it made some (very few) of us rich…
@J-Elijah… thanks for your compliments to the blogs… I agree with your preception on hip hop’s powere, but how do you propose we initializ this movement to use hip hop to empower versus its current use… to control, sell, and degrade… Also, there will be more songs with empowering lyric to come so stay tuned, please…
There was already drugs violence and pimping and whatnot but it’s like you can put water on a fire or gasoline. What is your favorite rapper doing?
Hip Hop is not dead but it’s like a person with a disease. The whole body isn’t infected but the body as a whole is affected from the infection in certain areas.
@ Will Good use of the simile… That’s all I’m saying… Truth be told I can’t get mad at certain artist for doing their thing because it took them from hardship. My beef is with what the media outlets portrays the violence and the sexism as if that is all we’re good for…
@LC… Wow!!! See this is what I’m talking about, but honestly, do you really think hip hop fans would go far blaming hip hop for the madness???
@ Morine… I agree but what’s real sad is that the biggest pushers of the music is a corporation that’s black owed–Radio One…
Let me first say…”The ways of this world is not the ways of God” the enemy will work hard to bring anything with purpose to ruin
“What happened to the movement?” As you mentioned..too many hands involved the desire to take away the motivation that drove hip hop in the first place which was in my opinion..Conviction..Vindication and purpose to educate and give hope and enlightment to the masses
“Is it too farfetched to blame today’s hip hop for the image society has placed on the urban man?” Not Hip Hop in it’s term..but the people involved yes..the artist, media, music industry, radio stations etc all have their hands dirty for not reflecting integrity and responsibility for the music listeners are listening to.
@ Morine… I see your point. I don’t know, for me, I think when the movement became “all about the benjamins” it seems as if the hip hop mission no longer cared about the communities.
And I agree, it is the powers that control the TV stations, and radio station that are responsible for the stereotypical images place on the urban community but don’t you think the fan support of mainstream hiphop is partially to blame as well…
I mean it won’t sell if we do support it…