A few months ago I was reading an article in the newspaper titled “Hip Hop is dead.” My first thought was what the heck could this author be talking about; I hear it on the radio all the time. As I continued, I began to realize what point the author was trying to make. You see, to answer this question you will have to understand that hip hop and rap music are two sides of the same coin. They are the same in the way that they both have bass-filled rhythm instruments, but they are quite different. See, I always thought rap and hip hop were the same thing until I read that article, let me explain. Rap music is what you hear on the radio and what you see in music videos, you know the guys with the truck full of jewelry, the half-dressed women and the flashy cars. Hip Hop music is the type of music that has meaning and really uplifts the spirit and mind, motivational music. Not just going to clubs and exotic drugs.
Most of the time, when you turn on the radio or TV, you will hear rap music, but there is no hip hop music. It’s hard to believe that the likes of KRS One, Wu Tang clan, Mos-Def, Talib kweli and Common could put out an album and none of their songs would be on regular rotation. Who would believe that trend setters could fall victim to trend followers? People who think to go against the current and say what is not said; I guess that kind of music isn’t mainstream or commercial enough. Sorry to say, but most of the Rap music I listen to today sounds exactly the same, same recycled rap, same I’m a gangster, same I’m a hustler, same old bull.
What happened to intelligence in Hip Hop/Rap Music? Why is all you need is a drum track with bass, a repeating chorus, and some really simple nursery rhymes and you’re the best thing since groovy bread? Man, I miss the days of Biggie and Pac, the days when I could listen to an album and tell myself. “Did you hear what he just said?” Now when I listen it’s like you already know the next word to say. What’s missing is creativity, instead of looking for the next trend, everyone seems to be looking for the next him (the next that guy) “The one who instead of an “Iced Out” Jesus pendant, should have a portable toilet attached to his chain gold” don’t get me wrong, there are some artists who are saying something significant (Kanye West for example) but not many of them.
So, to answer the question of is hip hop really dead, I say no, it’s just been hiding, waiting for a chance to show what it’s capable of. So until that day, I will hang up my MIC and communicate through the spoken word.