Why Mainstream Hip-Hop Is Dead
Although many people argue that there is no type of sophistication or soul in today’s hip-hop is actually not true. In fact, there are many hip-hop artists with positive musical genius that is not entirely looked upon or known. In my opinion, the thing that is wrong with today’s hip-hop music is actually coming from the mainstream. Many have forgotten, but once upon a time we did have mainstream hip-hop that had a message, not to mention artists with true over average talent. Unfortunately, it seems to me the true Hip-Hop artists have been buried, and their talent along side with it.
I do believe that we have a lot of true emcees out there, but what I don’t understand is, why is it that a lot of other talented rappers that do sound better than some of the mainstream rappers are not in the mainstream status? While everybody knows that mainstream artists such as Gucci Mane, Plies, Niki Manaj, Drake, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Lil Wayne and others, are very great rap artists, many people wonder “where is their message?!”
I myself wonder where is the soul of our rap today. Now all I hear is – what rims to get for your car, someone getting robbed , drinking 40 oz beers, exploiting women, sex, drugs, and violence. I’m not saying that all songs have to have a message, I just find it completely ignorant when that’s all I see!
What I find very irritating is why rappers like this get paid millions of dollars for average, typical lyrics, that especially make African American people look ignorant and ghetto. We have so many other artists who write ingenious rhymes that are very much as truthful and explicit as any other mainstream rap song, but sadly for some reason it’s not that appreciated. I truly admit that Lil Wayne is one of the best rappers that has been in the rap game and recently in rock, but I honestly feel that he is not sincerely the “best rapper alive”, as he is claimed to be known as. Yes, Lil Wayne can rap about anything, plus everyone knows that he has a unique swag to go with it, but most of the time when I hear a song from him it just seems to me that he wastes his talents on stuff that doesn’t even really matter. Every one says that Lil Wayne is so “this” and “that“, but instead of just saying that he’s the best rapper, why don’t people try and find out where he get’s it from, and what his inspirations are?
According to statistics from the latest book of African American nonfiction author, Journalist, and activist Bakari Kitwana shows that in one of his chapters from his latest book Why White Kids Love Hip Hop: Wangstas, Wiggers, Wannabes, and the New Reality of Race in America disputes that the majority of rap consumers are mostly 70% White, while the other 10-15% are Blacks, Latinos and Asians. Apparently Hip-Hop and Rap music is obviously no longer “just a black thing”, which is good and has become a fraction of multiracial American life. Since White people are the officious consumer base, record companies do not take into mind Black community interests or aspirations.
Now if a 12 year old white male makes a decision between Talib Kweli and Gucci Mane, which album do you do you think that white male is going to buy? An album about having knowledge and being down with Black liberation? Or an album about getting high, getting “bitches”, being a hustler, and what ridiculous rims to put on your car?
So as long as Hip-Hop keeps going to hell without a testimony, then Black youth especially, will continue to embrace sex, drugs, violence, and any type of personal nihilism as long as that’s what the morbid taste of White people mostly like, (and to be honest I find it to be some conspiracy behind it but I won‘t get into too much detail about that). Unfortunately being a pimp, player, or hustler has become “the new thing”.
One thing is for sure, is that if true Rap artists such as Tupac Shakur & Biggie Smalls were still alive today, mainstream hip-hop would honestly be in a whole better state than what it is now. But for those who do want to listen to something with a meaning or just some different Hip-Hop artists in general that are just as good or maybe even better than the current mainstream artists now, then my recommendations are:
Mos Def, Brother Ali, Tech N9ne, Esham, ICP, Twiztid, Boondox, ABK, AMB, DJ Clay, Jedi Mind Tricks, Talib Kweli, Nas, Dead Prez, Parris, The Coup, Prozak, Hollywood Undead, P.O.D., Immortal Technique, Jay Electronica, K’Naan, K-Os, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, The Roots, Royce Da 5’9, San Quinn, and OVER2!
13 Swagger Jackson’s Revenge by Muzic Molestor
Awesome article! I enjoyed reading it and your perspective. Keep up the great work!
Dope article Hassan! I’m gonna share this with all the music industry folks I know
skooled me! nice piece!!
I concur…with all of it! It’s pretty needless to say, these days anything considered “mainstream” becomes more about the dollar than about the content. It’s the man fueling the hype machine – you get white kids to buy it, black kids to sell it, and blame the cycle of ignorance on a monster they count on and continue to feed! And if everything is politics…we are going to have to sound off and signifcantly so…I mean how much are those 5 bangas on the radio really worth, if we should lose the true essence of hip hop and generations of children to the dream of false things? …Big UP to you, Hassan…you are the future I’d like to hear from.
Hey, you have your opinion and I have mine, but thanks for your honest comment and I like how you channelled positive energy for your article. I just feel different about this subject because all I really hear other people listening to is the other mainstream rap that is not that good. Espeacially in Oakland so yea…
i like how you said what you felt about things
Thanks man. That really means alot. =) Especially since this is my 1st article I’ve ever published and having already the most comments out of my other co-workers. Lol
Here is so more options for those looking to hear something different:
-K-OS
-Pharoah Monch
-Nicolay
-BRWN BFLO
-Native Gunz
-Bambu
-PLG
-Kiwi
-Duece Ecplise
-DO DAT
-Melina Jones
-Little Brother
-Visionaries
-Heiro
-Tanya Morgan
-GIANT
-Power Struggle
-Big Quarters
-Rebels Against The Grain
-Mountain Brothers
forgot a bunch….but cant forget:
-Jean Grey
-2Mex
-LA Symphony
-Cihuatce
-Planet Asia
-Strong Arm Steady
-J Dilla
-HairDOO
-Fyre Water
-League 510
-The Mexicanz
-Psycho Realm
-Sicc Jacken
-Sicc Symphonies
I agree hassan your write and do think that is affecting all races today and I think that music should have more messages
I agree with some of your points, but I think the question that needs to be asked is, why and how did mainstream hip hop become so focused on materialism and nihilism? Was it a deliberate choice on the part of the artists? Was it the industry? Was it the consumers? I think some music consumers are more casual listeners – they just want something with a good beat that’s entertaining. Others of us want more from media- books, movies and music. What causes us to be more critical and demanding of our artists? I think articles like this are a way to engage more people in thinking about music and media, so I appreciate you publishing it. Something I’d like to see in the future that would be another step, would be a list of artists’ songs you recommend that are engaging both musically and mentally.
I entirely agree with this article; I was just in the midst of explaining this epidemic spreading worldwide, and creating an atmosphere where everyone becomes insecure. Just knowing that teens out there are ready to commit a crime because of a song that could sound ,”cool” to them, is a frightening thought. It’s not an impossible idea, because I’ve known more than a handful of kids would resolve to that situation due to their situation at the time. For example, Justin Bieber could be the one with senseless words that begins to make teens think it’s okay to have a girlfriend/boyfriend and make their entire world revolve around them, and neglect everything else around them. Lil’ Wayne says that a gun can be put to someone’s head and make it sound so simple that one could get away with it, especially it could seem you would , without a consequence. Words can be powerful, so we should be able to use it positively in the right way where it helps beat the negativity thrown at this age now. Hip Hop shouldn’t be dead, it should be kept alive and productive!
I agree with your article. I believe that music in the mainstream is losing it’s touch. You hear the same typical lyrics all the time, and I ask the question: Where is the part where it’s really meaningful? I think that your article really speaks out.
Nice article!!! Keep it up
I agree with this article because the lyrics in hip hop now today aren’t helping the community be a better place, or helping people try to achieve there goals. People listen to the music cause the beats are good, but when they pay attention to the lyrics, its not good.The lyrics in the songs have made people think that doing these things that they say in songs make them look cool just because songs say so, but actually listening to these songs can probably put them in jail. Songs now a days are bad influences. Little kids that hear these types of songs could grow up to be violent or making wrong decisions. The hip hop writers should be writing song about helping people and doing what they really want to do in there lives. They should try to make people be proud of what they do and be success.
i agree with you it just that u need more evidence or support to back up what you are saying. all in all i did like the article and i most of the bands/artist you put up for recommendation. a other band u could put up there is brokencyde
i agree with you because in my opinion i think that mainstream hip hop doesn’t really have any message. I definitely think that the best artists are not mainstream but they are underground. I think that its possible that some mainstream artists had better opportunities to become well known then some underground artists. I personally think that underground artists are the ones keeping hip hop alive.
I strongly agree with Hassan because Mainstream rappers and what we’re hearing in the radio these kind of days is what’s killing Hip hop. You should told us about how other underground rappers are better and how they became that way. When you were talking about Lil Wayne u didn’t tell us how he became famous or why he’s the best rapper alive.
i agree with hassan. cuhz nowadays, people dont seem to care about what matters or whats important around them. all they care about is sex, drugs, and stupid things. hiphop music ONCE had important messages stored in them. now it’s all about pointless things. who cares about what kind of car you drive. who cares if you got all the brand name accessories. NOBODY. if you got the money, the cars and the clothes, good for you. but a lot of people dont have the spare money to do all that. we may all want to. but we just dont have the time or money. who doesnt want to drive a nice car, wear nice clothes and live in a mansion? everybody does. things dont come easy in life. you have to work to get what you want. money dont fall from the sky or grow on trees. but songs make it seem like it. which throws a lot of young kids off track thinking school is a waste of time and education cant help you in life, and all that matters is getting whatever you like without working hard for it.
Ok well, I agree with you in some points of your article, but mainstream rappers make money and money is what people want. Also, the part i dislike about the article is, that you didn’t include some of the mainstream hip hop that has a meaning to it; such as Beyonce, rihanna, keisha cole, and many others. rappers like lil wayne, t.i., and so on have no lyrical content they just rap about how good their lives are. You had a good point to that. Over all i’m half and half on your statement, but good work!
I do agree with this article, I believe that in the past couple of years all the hip-hop coming from mainstream is becoming more and more ignorant. There are so many songs on the radio, and most of them are all about having incredible sex, popping pills, getting drunk, and spending large amounts of money etc.. I think most people like the music on mainstream because it’s upbeat and entertaining but also influences young listeners such as middle school and high schoolers to have sex, to smoke, to get drunk, and to think it’s okay or “cool”. I don’t think this is the type of message that should be sent out to young listeners. I feel that underground music artists’ deliver a much better, more positive message.
I agree with this article 100%, in the past couple of years I believe that hip hop is becoming more and more ignorant. I also ask myself the question, “Where is their message?!”. Most of the music coming from mainstream discusses people having incredible sex, popping pills, getting girls, partying, and getting wasted which I think is a horrible message to be sending out to young listeners such as middle schoolers and high schoolers. I think that most of the underground artist deliver a more positive message, and are a much better influence, because so many kids look up to these mainstream artist as role models and think that whatever they sing/rap about is okay or “cool”.
Hassan, this is a very good article about how hip-hop is becoming dead. I’m a big fan of hip-hop and I love hearing new artists. As I was growing up I listened to Nas, KRS-One, tupac, biggie, and a lot of others that my family introduced me to. They had messages in there music and good beats that came along with it, even if there wasn’t a good beat the lyricist can support it by his or her lyrics. Hip hop now has good beats and sexual lyrics or Materialistic things, and my mom (who is a HUGE fan of hip hop) doesn’t listen to it as much as she used to then I know there’s a problem. I do have to admit I listen to lil Wayne a lot, more than I listen to any other artist and he is a great artist. He has some meaningful lyrics SOMETIMES, but most of it is about robbing, guns, sex, Exploiting women and other things, but I have a lot of love for women and I hate that they put women out there like they do, and women shouldn’t act the way they do just because they call them b*tches, and h*es. Any ways back on the note about the article, well explained, great data, and I think we should look inside the box and figure out why it is the way it is and change it, because I would hate for hip-hop to die, I’d want to keep it alive.
I agree cause if you just listen to to mainstream and some artists today mostly sings about drugs,money,and other stuff like that you sometimes get mad at those messages and you can even hear it on the radio. most of the artists just like sing what people might do or say something what they don’t mean,and some just do what they say or do. like some artist might sing about like having alot of money, or drugs or like alcohol and using profanity. thats what most singers will sing about and have like a music video. Mostly when you watch a music video an artist will show money, cars and women or man. But some of a good artist have good message like Michael Jackson
cause some of his song have meaning about to change the world, helping children, and making the world a better place we should other artists having good messages like that and let music stay alive and realize that we have good music with good meaning.
everybody think that she’s talkin about sombody’s dick when she sings this song,, but she’s not. She’s talkin about a guys ego ppl. Which is another word for his confidence or watever yu call it. GET ON YOUTUBE AND TYPE IN DEFINITION OF THE SONG? EGO AND YOU WILL SEE BEYONCE IN A WHITE SHIRT EXPLAININ IT!
Great site!
I like to authentication out of the closet your blog a couple times a week looking for restored readings. I was wondering if you have any other topics you make up about?
Just wanna thank you for this news. This is what I was looking for (Thanks MSN
I love freshthemagazine.com , i see a lot of interestig posts here
Free tattoo designs
Not very often people can find such fascinating blog. Great job dude. Wish you good luck with this website
Just want to thank you for this great information. This is kind of a thing I was searching for (Thanks Bing
Simple critical dispatch to conditional on be ashamed on.. I am really impressed with this article. Looking an eye to later posts.
I love freshthemagazine.com , bookmarked for future reference
prohormones for sale
I got what you mean , appreciate it for posting .
I am least sure they at one’s desire read a reams of supplemental accessories here than anybody else!
This is the right blog for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You notice a lot its virtually arduous to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!
Have you noticed the news has changed its approach recently? What once seemed like a never discussed issue has become more prevelant. Its that time to chagnge our stance on this though.
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this website, since I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Make sure you update this again soon..
Helped me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.
Time is cash as the outdated saying goes, and by studying this put up, I noticed that I saved myself loads of precious time, which might have been otherwise spent on studying low consistency data throughout the almighty web. Thanks for the straight to the purpose, helpful input!
Fantastic, I enjoyed Why Mainstream Hip-Hop Is Dead : FRESH The Magazine. It was good. View my blog sometime, it all about Winter Springs, FL Real Estate.
freshthemagazine.com is cool, bookmarked!
unlock samsung
Pleasantly, the posting is actually the recent area of interest for this registry associated issue. I harmonize together with your conclusions and can eagerly stay up for your incoming updates. Just say provides thanks is not going to sufficient, on your lucidity in your posting. I’ll instantly grab your rss feed to maintain abreast of all updates.
I’d must verify with you here. Which isn’t one thing I usually do! I enjoy reading a publish that can make individuals think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!
I discovered your weblog web site on google and verify a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I simply additional up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for forward to reading more from you later on!…
I’m impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the difficulty is something that not enough individuals are speaking intelligently about. I am very completely happy that I stumbled across this in my seek for something relating to this.
I got what you intend, saved to fav, very decent website .
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really recognize what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Please also visit my website =). We may have a link exchange arrangement between us!
There are actually lots of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a great point to carry up. I supply the ideas above as basic inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you convey up where crucial thing shall be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round issues like that, however I am positive that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls really feel the influence of just a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
I like your site plain and simple. Keep up the good work and I will keep coming back.