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I’m sure you’ve heard the term before; Alternative Hip Hop. What a funny name. I thought Hip Hop music had no bounderies or guidelines. I thought Hip Hop music was composed of a conglomerate of influences blended to create a unique sound.
Lil Wayne needs rehab. Badly! I guess calling himself “The Best Rapper Alive” wasn’t enough. During his interview with Foundation Magazine, He went off on a megalomaniacal, and possibly drug induced rant, dissing all mixtape DJ’s and even goes as far as to say he originated the mixtape game.
It seems that I have a little more to get off my chest about Nelly’s comments on the BET Blog concerning Hip Hop vs. America, especially how He ended it. Here is the direct quote:
“Now, Hip Hop is making money, we’re making strides, we’re the biggest music on the planet, and we’re also the largest black employers on the planet, so its allowing more brother and sisters to do other positive things, and send my kids to some of the best schools in the country. And to solidify trust funds, leave trust funds, have health care. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
I ran across something by Nelly the other day on the BET Blog that I found quite interesting, and it falls in line with my article Who’s really in charge? He was making reference to Hip Hop vs. America in which he took part last fall, and He goes on a tirade about how America wants to ban Hip Hop, gangsta rap especially, because they can’t control it.
As I was driving home from work the other day, I pulled up to a stop sign. Standing on the sidewalk was a boy no older than 8 or 9. He looks right at me and starts reciting the lyrics to Lil’ Wayne’s “Ride for my Ni¢¢az”. My first thought (aside from, “where are his parents?”) was, “This kid thinks he’s impressing me with his ability to quote Lil’ Wayne, profanities and all.” I’ll bet he couldn’t even remember what he learned in school that day, but he sure knew those lyrics.
How many times have you heard the question “Who’s in charge here?” I ask that very question when pondering the nonsense that passes for rap music today. Back in the day, you could really tell who was in charge. Each act had its own unique style, look, sound, etc. Run-DMC didn’t look like Whodini who didn’t sound like UTFO who were nothing like Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew. Each crew, MC, and DJ put a lot of thought and care into crafting their own signature sound and persona that set them apart. Which leads me to ask the question concerning (c)rap music now, “Who’s in charge here?”
For those not familiar, minstrel shows were theatrical skits that portrayed African Americans as cartoonish stereotypes. You know; lazy, uneducated, inarticulate, watermelon, fried chicken, yada yada yada. The characters were either played by Caucasian or Black actors in black face. White audiences in the 1800’s to early 1900’s were greatly entertained by them. Mainstream America [...]
Who stole the DJ? The Fresh Prince asked this question on the cut of the same name from his 1991 album “Homebase”. Whether or not he was subliminally alluding to what I’m about to write about is open for debate. I have yet to understand how the top (c)rap artists of today can claim to be representing Hip Hop without such a vital element as the DJ.
What is Hip Hop? There are a lot of different answers, depending on who you ask. Before I give my definition, let me start with what isn’t Hip Hop: Gangstas, Pimps, Hustlers, Drug Dealers. Basically, all the negative stigmas of urban life glorified in today’s rap music. It’s downright insulting to call the rap (or crap) music of the last few years Hip Hop. The early foundations of Hip Hop culture were built on the desire to escape the dreary existence of street life.
