Before I express myself, I’d like to say this article is dedicated to the very few artists who are true to their craft and have a real love for Hip-Hop music and culture. This also goes out to folk that are sick and tired of what is being broadcasted through rap music and would like someone, ANYONE, to save it from the hole that it has been dragged into. So with that being said, I’ll go into my thesis on my thoughts about rap today.
I remember falling in love with hip-hop as soon as I heard Biggie’s “Life After Death,” and realized that there was something special about what I just heard. Years passed and I made it a point to dig in the crates and get more knowledge on this thing called “Hip-Hop” and found myself dissecting the lines of Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Treacherous Three, Kane, Eric B & Rakim, Lords of the Underground, etc… Although I have not dug into hip-hop enough to get a 100% understanding, I have come to some sort of belief that the major reason why I fell in love with it initially was because of the political messages it radiated and because of the original style that the artists had. I remember the feeling that I had when I first heard Furious Five’s “New York, New York” and the fact that I had it on repeat for almost a week (if not longer). I wondered how could a song that came out more than two decades ago still be so infectious and relevant today? How is it that I found myself playing this song more than 95% of the rap music that is out today? These thoughts, as well as many more, crossed my mind daily and it drove made me sick to my stomach to even here some of garbage that’s on the radio today.
It is safe and apparent to say that Hip-Hop music has evolved quite a bit since its inception. Its evolution has taken the form of money, drugs, and violence as topics that are not only lauded, but also expected. It almost seems like you won’t be accepted in the game unless you’ve taken a few bullets or done some kind of time in the box. If I honestly had a nickel for every rhyme that I’ve heard about some cat who ain’t have a father, was forced to hustle, got locked up, got out and now is flippin the rap game instead of the crack game, I’d honestly probably be up there with Oprah Winfrey and Kenneth Chenault as affluent, black entrepreneurs. Now, you as well as I know that there are a lot of fake ass dudes out there who are telling stories of lives that they never lived. With that being said, I have to wonder, WHY? Why is glorifying gun play and selling drugs so popular, and more importantly, so marketable?
I’ve had countless conversations with friends of mine about this rap game and the music business and it took me time to realize that it really is a game and more importantly, it is a serious business. Not a business in producing talent, but a business for making money. A business for making a billion dollar plus industry…With those kinds of figures coming in, it is somewhat expected that there will be a lot of lies, deception, and fraud that takes place. So what is Hip-Hop? Is it an industry for the manufacturing of potent and lyrical gods and goddesses or is it an industry that thrives solely for the push of album sales, by any means necessary? I would concur with the latter.
A new comer to the hip- hop world knows that drama, beef, and battle are not a new phenomena. They’ve been key towards the development of so many artists from Krs-One vs. Mc Shan to Jay-Z vs. Nas. Sometimes these kinds of battles are necessary because it shows that Hip-Hop thrives on competition and word-play. Of course we cannot forget the quotable, “Who’s the best emcees, Biggie, Jay-Z, or Nas?” Battles aren’t necessarily bad for Hip-Hop. However, when we have situations such as 50 vs. everyone or The Game vs. Jay-Z or whoever, part of me believes that it has absolutely nothing to do with skills and the love of Hip-Hop. For so much drama to erupt around the time 50’s new cd dropped shows that Hip-Hop is not real anymore. When I hear that the Lance “Un” Rivera supposed stabbing was just a publicity stunt to push Jay-Z’s “Volume 3” sales or that ODB didn’t really have issues like he said he did, it makes me sink into a great state of sadness around this genre of music that has inspired me so much. When so many rappers are trying to recreate their lives based on a popularized model, it angers me because there are so many artists out there who seem to work hard at their craft and deserve more love than what they’re receiving (Big Up Jean Grae!!!).
Am I to believe that there is nothing real about Hip-Hop anymore? Am I living a reality where it is better to speak about a false life rather than saving the community or working towards a better cause? Now let me say that I do go to the clubs and I like to enjoy myself to a nice club banger or a song with a hot ass beat. There is nothing wrong with a party song. But what about the songs with the potent messages? Where are they in the mainstream? Indeed, there is no balance whatsoever in Hip-Hop. With that being said, I charge anyone reading this to not fall victim to the deception in Hip-Hop and I ask that you seek for the truth. Support those who appear to be real and not just following a Dr. Dre formula.
On that note, I’d like to give a shout to Canibus (yo, I respect ya scripts family. You’re a phenom in my book.), Rakim (all these years and you still blessing us with lyricism), Jean Grae (haha, damn, that’s twice already), Jae Millz (I don’t know too much about you, but you tell it like it is. Please stay real and continue pushing the envelope in music), Common (As long as it’s funky alright okay!!!), Mos Def (renaissance man indeed), Jadakiss (you’ve really matured as an artist…keep with the potent bars and influential lyrics). T.I (not a big fan of yours but your verse on “Doin’ My Job” is amazing!!!)
In the words of Bob Marley, “One Love”
~Thesis
P.S: I actually wrote this piece on March 6th, 2005. I found it when i was cleaning out my emails. Thought i would share with you what I felt almost 2 years ago…Long before Nas came out with “Hip-Hop is Dead.” Interesting to note, however, that the above subject matter is still very relevant. If there were to be anything that I would amend in the above article, it would only be to add more names of emcees that are doing their thing lyrically. Shine on brothas and sistas…shine on!
Reecie
thehonorable
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