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To all Hip Hop DJs, what is your definition of a hardcore Hip Hop beat? Which rap song that’s out right now demonstrates your meaning of a hardcore beat? In my opinion the term hardcore beat has, for some reason, been generalized very loosely. I believe nobody popular today knows what a true hardcore beat sounds like.
Now it’s time to build your name out there. It will take you and your DJ’s efforts to complete the rest on your own. That step would be to go live and practice in front of a small audience for your development.
You know, most up and coming rappers today believe getting their rhyme skills any type of attention is to enter a local MC battle, exhibit their presence online (i.e. YouTube or MySpace), or get on multiple mix tapes and hope a talent scout would discover them. These are all well proven buzz tactics that can get you noticed, but there is one problem to these forms of promotion. It ain’t live! It’s Memorex!
Last night I came across some video footage recorded in 1986 at the dawn of the Golden Age of Hip Hop. What you are about to view are documented interviews from a Dutch televison reporter, Marcel Vanthilt. During this era, Hip Hop culture was making leaps in bounds in Europe as it was in North America. The intrigue in these interviews is quite evident why our culture burst into an international phenomenan. To this very day, Hip Hop Culture is not just fully embraced in Europe, but also in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Where ever there is a creative soul to be liberated on this planet, there is Hip Hop.
When was the last time you saw a good Hip Hop movie? Before you answer that, let me give you my definition of what a true Hip Hop movie is. In my opinion, a Hip Hop movie is a movie that reflects the genre and respects the true essence of the Hip Hop culture. Just because a Hip Hop idol is in a movie, that doesn’t mean that it’s a Hip Hop movie.
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?”
