Hip-Hop on Repeat

Do you know why Hip-Hop is the way it is? Why it seems to just be a marketable gimmick that lacks the talent and art it had in the previous generation 20-36 years ago? Most people will say that it's due in part to the corporate world taking hold of it and ruling it with an iron fist starting with the tempting of the artist with the riches they always longed for. Then, hooking the listener to want to follow in their footsteps, thus creating watered down carbon copies that further distorts an already bland message until all that's left is a hook and 2-3 verses that literally had no meaning to it beyond recycled braggadocio rights. Lastly there's the broadcasting of all these elements to an almost religious level by almost all major mainstream hip-hop entertainment outlets so as to give the illusion that no brand of hip-hop is greater than it, even in past generations. Also, it's a given that a heightened level of ignorance is encouraged so that you can have just as fun as those kids wearing shades and pants that look like tights who literally became famous because they made up some weird cheerleading dance. It's like elementary hypemen going around the school to prove who's the greatest class clown with the greatest sex appeal with a given that they have the greatest phallus of maximum pleasure to every female that catches their eye for the night. And the lady's role is supposedly the quiet concubine that dances 'round in the videos like a good/bad girl.

That's a summation of what I consider the main points that everyone talks about when they bring up the question "Do you know why Hip-Hop is the way it is?". But I'm not here to comment on that specifically.Instead I'm asking another question that I think should now be more important.

Do you know why Hip-Hop is STILL the way it is? It is now the year 2010. As Early as 2001, I heard a song that MC Pigeon John did called "The Heartbeat" on his album "Pigeon John is Clueless" where he talked about the state of Hip-Hop and its unbalanced commercialization with a line that said "...I wish Hip-Hop would die, like disco and supply a seed for something new to multiply." In 2006 Nas made a declaration with the album "Hip-Hop is Dead" that Hip-Hop has died for that same reason that Pigeon John mentioned. The following year, KRS-One and Marley Marl dropped the album "Hip-Hop Lives" to state its resurrection had begun. Also around this time, The debate known as "Hip-Hop vs. America" was broadcast on B.E.T. that showcased Rappers, Black Scholars, parents who's children listen to hip-Hop music regularly. In late 2008, Author Tricia Rose released her book "The Hip-Hop Wars" and it discussed what we talk about when we talk about Hip-Hop and why it matters.

The reason I bring up all these references is to say, we all knowe what the problem is in Hip-Hop. We all know why so much garbage is continually being spoonfed to us like it were the only source of music and existance. I'm sure this argument probably began when artists in the late 80s decided to establish themselves against the fast growing market of gangsta rap, but judging by the topics and debates from just the last 10 years, it's apparant that something is wrong with Hip-Hop and something needs to be done.

So I once again ask, Do you know why Hip-Hop is STILL the way it is? My answer: because, we continue to talk about it's a brand new discovery.

If I gave the average Hip-Hop listener that I know my iPod, they would most likely not come across any artist they recognize (with the acception of JJFP) and that being simply because I like to search for music not so widely advertised because, I enjoy it more. But one major petpeeve that I'm coming to find is the way people comment on my music. This goes for people who enjoy it or people who don't enjoy it. People who don't enjoy my taste in music will stereotype me and say something like "You're not from around here are you?" or something like that. But I can handle that because usually they'll just say that only with the first listen, any other time they'll either be evasive, cautious, or open-minded. The people who do enjoy my music selection however will give me the same comment every single time. It goes along the lines of "That's what I'm talking about, that real Hip-Hop music, not all that radio crap." And they can say that every single time as if it never gets old.

You don't need to constantly express your vehement hatred for commercialized Hip-Hop. Just enjoy the music that's been placed in front of you and not make it a platform for a roasting session for Lil Wayne just because he didn't write this song that you enjoy so much.

Sometimes I feel alot of these "Real Hip-Hop" lovers are almost in denial for liking the music they claim they hate so much. Out of their mouth, you'll hear them say a name of a rapper they say they don't respect more than any MC that they'd blast on their stereo. It's almost as if they always have that radio on, waiting for the latest song to drop, just so they can talk down on it. In all honesty you're adding to the hype that the song gets which inevitably makes you the hater that we thought only existed in the commercial world.

If you want to get rid of something, why make it the topic of interest? I can understand your passion to exterminate it, but don't make it immune to your extermination process. You're going to mess around and catch a conniption drowning yourself in what you want no part of. Instead let's continue to search. I have a wide selection of Hip-Hop that none of my peers have heard of. I'm not bashing they're music, only inviting them to hear with open ears at talent that wasn't picked up on the 106th and Park Hip-Hop radar. Approach them like that and who knows, perhaps they'll come to an epiphany and say "what in the world have I been listening to?" lol (wishful thinking.)

So, to sum up, I say that Hip-Hop is alive, it's been alive, but the shock value of the more popular stuff drowns it out when even the avid Hip-Hop listener doesn't acknowledge its existence.

"...if you don’t like what you see in the Hip-hop glass/ know the future is a present from the Hip-hop past/ and if you don’t like the gift it’s giving than don’t rip the ribbon and tip your glass as if this is living/ demand more/ let them know you won’t stand for it/ we gonna have to change if there’s no fans for it/"

- lyrics from "Hip-Hop Music" by The Phanatik on the album "The Incredible Walk"