my 2 cents:

i decided to revise my "State of Hip-Hop" post, kinda like an essay.

and sorry for the lack of posts, spent the weekend in Atlanta.

Right now, hip hop is in hiding. Unless you’re familiar with the underground, you’re not really going to hear real hip hop anymore. People like Wu-Tang, De La Soul, J-Della, etc. remain unknown to this new generation of the DatPiff mixtape generation. This new generation fails to realize that the Rap artists out now were somewhat inspired by the past generations of hip hop and other genre’s.

In an interview I remember on Hot97 a few years back, Jay-Z once said that he doesn’t even listen to the hip-hop/rap genre, but states that music from the Motown Era, as well as other non-hip hop type genres. Charles Hamilton, one of the pioneers of this new mixtape generation of rap listens to artists like Placebo and Modest Mouse. My generation doesn’t seem to realize that other genre’s, as well as music from decades past are the reason that hip-hop/rap are around today. The roots of Hip-Hop goes back as far as the late 70’s, when New York artist began rhyming over heavy drum infused beats, thus beginning the new wave of music. Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc and The Cold Crush Brothers are some of just many of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop. Even the generation after that, The Native Tongues Movement, which consisted of artists like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Dilated Peoples. Hip Hop continued to stay strong, even with west coast gangster rap, as well as the east coast version coming into play. Wu-Tang, is just one of many hip hop groups that thought outside of the box, and incorporated kung-fu themes into their music. Once the century turned over to the 2K’s, things began to turn downhill.

Labels began to become more commercial in signing artists that appealed more to gimmics and sales then the actual production of the music. People like Lil Wayne, Ja Rule and many many others busted onto the scene, moving away from meaningfull or truthful rapping, into a more fantasy or unrealistic version of rap. Music in general at this point took a turn for the worse. CD’s were beginning to become pretty much extinct due to the creation of sites like Napster and LimeWire. All labels cared about was having a face for their own benefit, and a sound completely different from anyone else. In my opinion, music became garbage at this point. But on a good note, more independent labels came about, which began the 2K’s version of the Underground/Indie hip hop movement.

Stones Throw, Definitive Jux, and many more independently run record labels were starting to become a lot more popular. These labels were a way for artists who wanted to keep the original purpose of hip hop alive in their music, and released music based on content and not the gimmics. Personally, I’m a big fan of underground music and I’m loving the direction it’s going in. Even when it’s artists seem to move away from the underground, they still keep their original purpose alive. Murs for example is the perfect poster child for staying true to their craft. He signed with Warner Brother Records in 2006 and began working on his Mur’s For President LP soon after; the theme of the album was all about keeping bullshit off the radio and keeping hip hop pure, and he wanted to be at the forefront of this movement. I’m a huge fan of his obviously for this reason, it may not have been his best work but the whole idea of the album was pretty genius.

But no-a-days, ( C )rap music all sounds the same. Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Waka Flocka Flames.. They’re all so similar in sound it’s ridiculous. They take mediocre instrumentals, and say just about anything as long as it comes close to rhyming. Now, that sentence may have sounded very biased, but I actually took the time out and listened to each of these artists most popular mixtapes thoroughly. I wasn’t impressed with Lil Wayne, but his music had more substance than the others. Southern rap is making it’s way into the mainstream, and to me it’s killing the music industry. It hurts to see the most deserving artist not able to get deals because they don’t look/sound a certain way. I wish this was just all a dream honestly, and that ATCQ and De La Soul will just get back together, and bring back true hip hop.. The single reason I began my music obsession. I’d like to thank artists of the previous generations for providing my ears with some of the greatest music I have ever heard. I can only hope that my generation will open their eyes and see the light, as my man Bobby Caldwell said.

MUCHlove,
edison