I don’t smoke weed. I don’t drink. I'm indifferent towards partying. I am a teenage college student, born in the ghetto of Newburgh, NY, currently residing in the suburbs of the same city/town. My favorite rappers are from the late 80s and 90s, where lyricism and content were at the forefront . My interests, aside from music, include documentaries, reading, boxing, and of course, Spanish women. With that being said, let’s examine some of the “hottest” artists in the rap game today.
Let’s start with A$AP Rocky. I’ve heard about half of his mixtape, all of his singles, and I’ve heard a few of his features. Every one of the songs I have heard have to do with the inhalation of marijuana and/or the drinking of alcohol, or some form of materialism. I appreciate the atmospheric nature of his production, his all around persona, and he can definitely MC when he wants to, but his music is lost on me. I do think he is lyrically talented when he wants to be, though. The same would go for an artist like Wiz Khalifa. I respect Wiz A great deal. As I said before, I am a huge fan of the hip hop golden era, which Snoop Dogg is a part of. Snoop and Wiz recently collaborated on an entire album, which is based around a movie they are making, which is based around the smoking of weed. Wiz is one of the few new artists who pays homage to the artists before him on a regular basis. Collaborations with Cam’ron, albums with Snoop, and album titles reminiscent of Mobb Deep’s glory days, Wiz may go broke paying dues. However, that doesn’t change the fact that a majority of his current music lacks variety of content and diversity of thematic value.
This list could go on for a while, Smoke DZA, Future, 2 Chainz…you name it. Not to take anything away from these artists, but one can’t help but acknowledge the lack of diversity present within hip hop. To me, the majority of artists today sound so similar, the ones that become popular are usually picked due to their production rather than skills or anything of that nature. Don’t get me wrong, there are many new artists who are skilled and different (shouts to MGK, J Cole, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, etc). It just isn’t enough to satisfy me, and many other disgruntled rap listeners who’s YouTube comments cry out for change. Based on the interests I mentioned earlier, the only ideal fit would be Kendrick Lamar, who, while being very lyrical and intelligent, has somewhat of a bland personality.
This list could go on for a while, Smoke DZA, Future, 2 Chainz…you name it. Not to take anything away from these artists, but one can’t help but acknowledge the lack of diversity present within hip hop. To me, the majority of artists today sound so similar, the ones that become popular are usually picked due to their production rather than skills or anything of that nature. Don’t get me wrong, there are many new artists who are skilled and different (shouts to MGK, J Cole, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, etc). It just isn’t enough to satisfy me, and many other disgruntled rap listeners who’s YouTube comments cry out for change. Based on the interests I mentioned earlier, the only ideal fit would be Kendrick Lamar, who, while being very lyrical and intelligent, has somewhat of a bland personality.
Don’t get me wrong, the old school I speak of wasn’t perfect and I will be the first to acknowledge that. Some of the rappers from the Golden Era could very well belong in the Bronze Era, so to speak. Biz Markie and ODB were two rappers who were not lyrically blessed, and both of them had other artists in their camp write their rhymes for them on a regular basis. The difference between the “whack” rappers of that time and the “whack” rappers of today is that what they lacked in talent they made up for in artistry and creativity. Biz Markie was a horrible singer, but that didn’t stop him from being a singer on some of hip hops classic records , like “Just A Friend” ( from his album The Biz Never Sleeps ) or on Kool G Rap’s “Erase Racism” (Wanted: Dead or Alive). Biz Markie was also a pioneer in the lost art of Beat Boxing, which has allowed him to remain relevant today in the media with his own segment on Yo Gabba-Gabba. ODB was a complete maniac on the mic and on stage. He would often mess up his rhyme and start over while, leaving his blunders on the final track for all to hear. He had a style like no other that set the stage for the “crunk movement” that controlled hip hop for a very long time, and still is alive today in artists I respect like Waka Flocka and the aforementioned MGK. Even if these reasons aren’t enough to validate the existence of rappers ODB and Biz Markie, at the very least they were surrounded by skill and creativity within their collective groups, Wu Tang Clan & the Juice Crew. Both these groups gave birth to some of hip hops greatest participants, and they were stylistically different from all other dominating MCs at the time.
While some may find this offensive, I feel as if the overall intelligence level of hip hop has gone down quite a bit. I am not a fan of KRS-one, but I have to acknowledge the man’s early work as being influential to artists who strive to be politically conscience. Chuck D, who I am a fan of, is arguably THE most political rapper who ever touched a Mic. Both of these artists appeared on CNN during and after their peaks numerous times. These days, one of the highest honors a rapper can achieve is being on Chealsy Lately’s show. Based on the music of today, very few of the rappers dominating the scene would have anything to contribute to a NBC political discussion. This is causing us not only to lose diversity, but also the respect that we as a genre had to fight to earn during our infancy.
The problem Is, in my opinion, that we lack a balance. There is nothing wrong with rapping about weed, parties, etc.. (other than the moral issues that maybe presented by some), but there needs to be something there for people like me who don’t care for those things. When we had a liquored up Snoop, we had a politically charged Ice Cube to balance it out. When we had the drunken ramblings of ODB, we had the concise storytelling of the GZA. When we had the materialistic lyrical jams of BIG, we had the heartfelt street commentary of Tupac. For whatever reason, the game lacks these contrasts, and is suffering because of it. The solution is to demand more of the real. When you come across an artist’s video, one who is different, talented, and artistic, share it on Facebook, Tweet it, support him if he’s on iTunes (or she). With the invention of the internet, we are a lot more in control of what becomes hot and what does not. Don’t sit and focus on the old school, a mistake I have made for a while. Search for new artists who are serious about the craft, who offer something more than “shit to get faded too”. We can "save" hip hop, and make it respectable once again.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Comment below and let me know!
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Comment below and let me know!
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