(Just a theory) Its not all just a rap thing. People's attitude towards the entire entertainment industry has changed over the years. Everyone's a critic now with raised standards of what counts as good; while the entertainment industry has remained close to how its always been or has lessened slightly. But the divide between heightened consumer expectation and industry regression makes it look like some chasm of suckitude all of a sudden got formed...(see, anything can be mentioned as a factor even if its gibberish )
i think rap is for today's youth what heavy metal was in the 80's. it's the music your parent don't want you listening too - drugs, violence, misogynistic. and it will probably end up where heavy metal has...in your local clubs supported by hardcore fans with occassional breakout groups getting airplay. just a theory. full disclosure - i grew up on heavy metal and still love it today, i also enjoy some rap (but don't tell my friends)
Commercialism brought no talent hacks, clueless entertainment conglomerates and shallow fans to the party and they haven't left. Rock and roll was killed like this, too.
Also off track, like when disco music got big a large chunk of people hated it and went the extra lengths to stage large scale protests against it. Disco was a fad that probably didnt have that long a life anyways, but efforts were influential enough to kill it off faster.... Right, outspoken censorship and protests is old stuff from the 2 Live Crew Banned in the USA days, its nothing new. It wasnt successful but it helped bolster the "Rap is Crap" attitude thats gotten passed on.
This reminds of of Nas, "What goes around" <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b3ms70RLDsc&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b3ms70RLDsc&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I got one word for you: Outkast
Back on track, the big criticism of rap was that it was too vulgar too dirty too sexy, and way too violent and negative. Even rappers urged to "put down the gun play" and get back to the "good ol' days" when it was about partying... Well, the good ol' days was Sugar Hill Gang rapping about chicken, Kurtis Blow rapping about basketball, Fresh Prince rapping about Freddie Kreuger and Kid N Play rapping about nothing in particular. Take out the gun play and street talk and grittiness and you're left with nothing BUT rims and chains and Do The __ Dance. In effect I think rap HAS listened a little to what the fan and critics claimed they wanted. ESPECIALLY seeing what happened to BIG and Tupac as a result. It might have been their own personal stuff and nothing to do with rap, but it was enough for people to associate it to the negative rap, the whole thing they helped promote they became a casualty of. They both helped raise rap and ruin rap
Seems like we all now what's wrong with rap, but maybe we can change the direction of this thread and talk about what's right with right rap by talking about artists who personify the latter. I believe all the usual artists (Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Dead Prez etc...) who are acknowledged as rappers with substance have already been mentioned. I'm always looking for new people/music to listen to. So if anybody can make some recommendations, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'll start off by recommending Houston's own K-Rino. He's been in the game for over 20 years and has released 20 albums, but he's underground. I was surprised by how many people in Houston don't even know who he is, but he is well respected by all mainstream rappers from H-Town. I won't embed the youtube clips because I've heard that some people don't like that, but I will provide the links Some of his older stuff: http://youtube.com/watch?v=q74pNbMajNQ <-- Hakeem Olajuwon reference around the 0:55 mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM66N_KjnqU Newer stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knQv66U9vN0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dkA_jV7ULA
I disagree with your take on Draped up and dripped out, and Mike Jones actually sounded decent in his early days with Magno et al. But once they got that big time record label money then he started doing that Name x3 rubbish. I 100% wholeheartedly agree with what you wrote about ATLANTA. I've been saying this for years but that effing place and the "rappers" there have destroyed hip hop. Just garbage after garbage coming from rappers there and this is the same place that gave us OUTKAST!!!! Amazing. Atlanta rappers officially destroyed hip hop.
ONE MORE THING! I know this will be HUGELY unpopular but . . . Those 'underground' rappers those 'real rappers' well . . .at the end of the day they have to step up the need to reach their audience more better beats It is easy to say . . don't sell out but You can't sit back and keep complaining/bragging "uhm .. i'm just too deep for them . . " Yea. . it is a weak artist that blames the audience Rocket River
What's destroying rap is the little kids that go out and buy the crappy CD's. It's people with "bad taste" who support these rappers that are killing the rap scene. Same with crappy non rap bands like simple plan, AFI, etc. Rap isn't the only genre being raped.
Rap is not dead. And anyone who says that it is dead or questions it is not helping the situation. Just find songs and artists you enjoy, support the artists and listen to it. Who the hell cares what gets played on the radio? Fact is that radio stations are a business as well and they are going to play what the majority of listeners want to hear. You guys act like you don't have a CD player or an MP3 player and are only limited to hearing what gets played on 97.9. Just because you listen to Lupe does not make you a better rap fan than somebody who listens to Soulja Boy. All this categorizing music as hip hop, rap, gansta rap, backpacker music is just pointless crap. Be a fan of music and listen to what you like, as long as it appeals to you.
I'll give you Mike Jones and most new atlanta rappers, they suck. ...but don't disrespect H-town. For one Cham's albums are better than most of the stuff coming out right now. Don't listen to just his singles, he makes that stuff to get money but there is some good stuff on his albums. For two, you may like more of the hip hop stuff or newer underground stuff... ...but don't you dare EVER diss the legendary UGK. They may do the crack rap and talk about alot of the same stuff that people do now but they were ORIGINALS. Bun B has probably been doing this for as long as you've been alive. I wish i had a pocket full of stones, so i could throw them at you. Who are you gonna diss next, NWA?
