Is Hip Hop Dead?

Question

Isn't it weird that the verbally exceptional artist are not chart toppers / top sellers and have been labeled "underground" artist.
Artist / groups like talib kweli, mos def, dead prez, jean grae, mad skillz, wordsworth, canibus, immortal technique, etc. are creating some of the most dramatic, unique & prolific music to date.
It seems to me that the more intelligent your lyrics are, the less attention you will get.
In contrast, in the past (80's through early 90's) groups that were lyrically superior like eric b & rakim, public enemy, krs-one, stetsasonic, tribe called quest, queen latifah, mc lyte, etc. were widely known as the best artist and there record sales relected just that.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts?

Answer 1

hip hop is not dead. she is evolving. all the mainstream garbage that is being debated in this forum has nothing to do with hip hop. that's like saying rock is dead because n'sync released a couple albums. pop music is big business. hip hop is a culture. would you really prefer it if dead prez sold as many records as puff daddy? they would probably have to tone down their message a little bit to appeal to a wider audience. public enemy and krs-one were never as big as today's pop artists. they are respected as legends in our world, but hip hop was young then. she grows as we grow. the mtv machine has taken some artists that were inspired by our music and turned them into teen pop stars. that doesn't have anything to do with hip hop music. our music is moving in the best direction possible. i love what i hear coming from hip hop artists. from the organic movement in new york, detroit, and chicago to the experimental indie scene in san francisco to the producer based hip hop coming out of los angeles. hip hop is going places i never dreamed of when i was younger, but i am constantly amazed. i assure you she is stronger than ever. let pop be pop. leave it alone.

Answer 2

The problem is that older MC's are kinda jealous of the fame that the newer MC's are getting. And to top it off they are having to do less work to become really rich. Times change. No body's yelling out the roof's on fire anymore the games changed. Today if you get one hit song you are probably set. Back in the day a rapper had to hussle to make it to the top. No rap is not dead it has just changed with the time. Old MC's really think that the new MC's owe them something. They don't owe them jack. Can you name one person that sits around and listens to Big Daddy Kane that is under 21.

Answer 3

It's been churned up and molded into unit sales friendly goo that pours easily and is palatable to the taste. What do you expect after 27 or so years? Innovation has been replaced with the tired old formula and Hip-Hop has been filed next to Be-Bop in the dusty remaindered bins of back street record shops only known to the fidgety and awkward kids who can't look you straight in the eyes. They shuffle from shop to turntable, 'Giant Steps' and '3 ft High and Rising' in a raggedy plastic bag...

Answer 4

I totally agree with you. For some reason it seems that conscious rap is dead. It really went to crap in the late 90s with the Bad Boy Family. And as much as I like Missy and Timbaland's beats, she talks about nothing.

Answer 5

With any genre of music it will only ever be a fad. Hip Hops reign is currently over for now. But with pop culture, history has a way of repeating itself, it will be back

Answer 6

Its been dead for about ten years now, the exact time that my little girl named {KAMILYA} was brought into this vampire world of freaks and monsters. However, the lord has recreated a new sound to replace the old noun. Its called....{SMASHINGPUMPKINS} are you in or are you out???

Answer 7

When it comes to mainstream/commercial music, it's all about appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Answer 8

I say no!! It's alive and well in the underground!! WORD!!

Answer 9

you nailed it right on the head.

Answer 10

I sincerely hope so.