Before reading, remember to leave your facebook name so we can put your name in a draw for some never deny growth gear ( or leave your email address). thanks.Let me take you back to 1994. I was still in high school with my grey and white uniform rockin’ white and blue Ponys, with my fresh blowout fade and even fresher acne. I also had my little RCA walkman on me at all times, playin’ the latest songs from Nas or Wu-Tang. Besides CKUT, radio wasn’t playing much hip-hop back then, but when you found the station that would play it, they spun the songs you liked. But today’s hip-hop has found new homes in several radio outlets (both english and french), and has proven to a somewhat accepting society, that this genre of black music has a place among fair airplay with pop and rock music. But how did hip-hop achieve such a feat? Back in ’94, the music people “love to hate” was ripe with diverse flows, and neck snapping beats courtesy of Dj Premier and Pete Rock which might have been considered too ghetto for commercial radio. Todays hip-hop has become the music you hate to love. Why? Well it went TOO commercial. There’s a simple recipe for a hit rap song my friends and in my opinion, it goes a lil somethin’ like this. Take a very catchy beat using high synth notes, and bassy drumlines (or pillaging the motown catalog which is now the new thing), and dumbed down lyrics, with annoying hooks and rants (Mike Jones! Who? Mike Jones! Who?) and there you have it, a club and radio hit. Follow these two steps and your success might be attainable. But at what cost? Now a days these new rappers coming out all sound the same. There’s no diversity and originality which have led some disgruntled fans and a Queensbridge rapper to claim that hip hop is dead. What’s even worse is that these new cats coming out aren’t focused on longevity, and most fall victim to being labeled a one hit wonder ( ahem, Mims) or being totally forgotten (remember Jibbz? No? Thought so!) Take my man Talib Kweli. I’ve been listening to him since the first Soundbombing mixtape of ’97. Since BlackStar. He’s been here for a decade, built a very strong and loyal fanbase and continues to this day to put out good, inspirational music. Now take Soulja Boy. He has that song out and it seems to be doing well for him. But dude’s 17, so I’m hoping he’ll see the light and build what’s necessary for a strong foundation in hip hop. It appears that these new dudes, and dudettes ( I didn’t forget Lil’ Mama) are all following the same pattern to a quick hit. A get rich quick scheme if you will (despite their claim to be rapping since the age of 2). It will be a shame to see their songs on the track listing of Much Music’s One Hit Wonders Volume 10 but it seems inevitable. What’s also funny is that some of these vets, like say, Busta Rhymes, are often found piggybacking on the success of these club anthems. (I guess dignity went out the window, huh Bussa Buss.) Hip hop needs a new sound, or maybe follow the same formula they had in ’94, when everyone had a different flow and rhythm. When rappers weren’t too focused on commercial acceptance and instead built a legacy for themselves through creativity and patience.
God I miss 1994...
