what has caused rap to become less socially motivated and more money motivated?

Question

why has rap changed its message?

when it started out, people rapped about their problems in order to change society, or inform others about the problems they faced growing up in a bad neighborhood..

Now rap is all about "pimping" "hos" and $$$$$..??

Do you think this diminishes its effectiveness or the effectiveness of those using rap as a medium for social change?

Answer 1

MTV and other mainstream sources perverted rap music and promoted the meaningless and mindless.

Answer 2

i would say the values of the people involved

the socially conscious rappers live socially concious lives

the player/pimp rappers live player/pimp lives

the outside product (the BS music) reflects the inner artist (a BS person)

hip hop is a subculture of urban America and there has been a major value shift in urban America toward money and getting any way

when hip hop was cool dance music urban America was still "chill" like in the late 70s and early 80s

then urban America became violent and people questioned things and searched for cultural meaning and hip hop of that age (mid 80s through mid 90s) was about that

as urban America has now become about "money, ho's, and clothes" to quote Biggie, so has the music of urban America

and it is just not hip hop but also modern R&B...it is not really as soulful and rich as in the past (unless you count sub soul and neosoul)

another factor is the wonderful recording industry (i am being sarcastic)

you see, i found out that conscious hip hop was drawing people to it but it kept more people away

the violent, hypersexual, and ridiculous MCs and DJs were the ones that got the widest audience say late 90s and it was those groups that record companies pushed

other people were marginalized by them

so yes, it diminished getting a social message across

but the good news is hip hop sales are down and what you hear all over the world is that actually people are bored by the pimp message

(i agree, and even the violent and oversexed folks were actually better than these talking about all they have all the time)

so maybe the good folk will "come up" now

good luck

Answer 3

not only is the media to blame you gotta face the facts times are changing things cost more and it is hard to find a companion or even get people to notice you if you don't have some flash so rappers are starting to brag alot more to get respect if a child see's you in a old car he isn't gona want to be like you but if you have the newest car with the biggest rims and a sexy woman and cash the will die trying to be like you and support you through all do in hopes you will accept them.

Answer 4

Socially driven hip hop is still there but more so underground, The head (record execs.) has alot to do with the pick and play effect of artist.

Answer 5

Wow what a great question. I wish I had a great answer for it. I guess when you boil it all down its about makeing money and its easier to shake you thang to " c'mon baby let spank that" then " hey we have a lot of problems we need to face"

It's sad really. I blame Jay Z.

Answer 6

A lot of times it is just a matter of feeling good about one's self and feeling as though you have a purpose.

Answer 7

More people listen to Hip Hop now, so theirs more money in it. Like Biggie said " Mo Money, Mo Problem".

Answer 8

Corporate America....simply put

Answer 9

Modern day 1900s Black minstrels.

Answer 10

I think some dumbasses thought it was a good way to make money !!!!!!!!!!!!