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The State of Hip-Hop:
Old School vs. The Present. An In Depth Look
Written By Infinite on 12/9/01
What's the State of Hip-Hop?
Mos Def-
"What's going to happen to hip-hop. Whatever is
happening to us. People talk about hip-hop like
it's some giant on the hillside coming down to visit
the people. Hip-hop is the people." The
aformentioned quote by hip-hop revolutionary Mos Def
offers a sound explanation for why hip-hop is what it
is today.
The editor of XXL says in response to angry viewers,
"Once hip-hop artists decide to stop putting video hoes
half naked in their video's, we'll take out our eye
candy section of the magazine."
Today, Eminem is outselling all other rap artists, which
is a direct reflection of the increased caucasion participation
in the culture. And as Krs-One describes it,
"Bill Clinton was putting black people in the white
house. And all the sudden it was the white people
that became angry, and Eminem is a product of that."
Club video's such as Lil John and the Eastside Boyz,
"Bia Bia", or Mystikal's "Shake It Fast" are a direct
reflection of the increased popularity of young kids
hitting up the club scene. And if alot of hip-hop
is ignorant, that's because alot of the people are ignorant.
Let's take a look at what was going on with the 'people'
in the early 80's. And you will see a direct corralation
in the music at the time. In the 80's there was
a strong movement in the ghetto's and in the prisons
to raise the consciousness of black people. There
was the 5 Percent Nation that started in the prison
system and as Russel Simmons describes influenced alot
of the language in hip-hop, "I feel a smaller but more
important influence has been overlooked. And that
is the 5 percenters, the Nation of Gods and Earths.
(I will discuss the religion and artists that make up
the religion in detail in my next article)Artists from
Eric B. to Rakim, Divine Intelligence to Poor Righteous
Teachers, Grand Puba to Leaders of the New School, 5
percent language influenced and raised the awareness
of black people in the ghetto, and ultimate lead to
'positive' rap lyrics in the late 80's.
Another
element that is directly responsible for the positivity
of 80's rap music was the economic climate at that time.
80's rapper and current Bad Boy Records Vice President
Andre Harrel describes the economic climate of the 80's,
"My group Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hide put out a record called,
'Everything's Funny When Your Getting Money", we felt
that they're was an oppurtunity at that time for us
to get money. I was born in the 1960's and I think
I represent the last generation of affirmative action
rappers. But Regeanomics gave way to the mentality
of rap in the 90's. It was Regeanomics that cut
off well fair, cut off summer jobs, student loans, and
afterschool programs. And now see the rise of
artists of generation X rappers, who have grown up with
no hope, and that's why your hearing 'Bring the Pain'.
(referencing the Method Man hit)
There is no question that rap in the early 90's became
more angry. Through the explosion of the West
Coast rap scene. And the rise of Crip culture,
and gang culture. Violence in rap lyrics was brought
to the mainstreem and selling millions of records.
It went from selling 1 to 2 X platinum with NWA to selling
5-6 X platinum with Snoop Doggy Dogg and 2pac Shakur.
In 1996 however, violence in rap would see it's climax
and then ultimate demise. 2pac's "All Eyez On
Me" would sell 6 million records, and then later that
year he was murdered. Death Row CEO Suge Knight was
sentenced to 9 years in jail, and Death Row records
(the epitome of gangsta rap in the 90's) was forced
into a recession.
Since that time, rap has been increasingly soft and
materialistic. With commercialized and well-marketed
Def Jam artists such as Jay-Z and Ja-Rule dominating
the charts. Along with pop-rap acts such as Nelly
and Shaggy. Cash Money Records has made millions
off of their "Bling Bling" images. This excessive
and gratuitous commercialism has however, been
heavily opposed by conscious rappers who have
themselves garnered gold plaque's. Artists such
as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Common. These "conscious"
artists describe their music as "a way to provide balance
to all the fakeness and commercialism in rap music."
In conclusion Gangsta Rap is still around. Because
gang violence is still prominent in the ghetto's.
(but not what it once was). Materialistic rap
is still around because communities are still 'materialistic.'
And 'conscious' rap is still around, because there are
still those revolutionaries who strive to obtain knowledge,
spread that knowledge to the people, and raise the consciousness
and awareness of the people.
I guess Del the Funky Homosepian said it best, "Everything
is everything just given a different name."
Peace ya'll, keep the faith, one.
Copyrite Infinite publishing........
feedback? E-Mail me at infinite9559@aol.com
Up Next: An indepth
look into the 5 percent Nation... What is the religion
about? What is it's influence in hip-hop?
Know the facts.
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