Is Today’s Hip-Hop Stupid?
“You must learn!”—KRS One
If you turn on MTV and BET and watch what’s left of today’s music videos, you’ll see a bunch of songs dedicated to a whole lot of nothing. Not to say it’s all bad, but there’s not much music that’s saying anything at all. You have Soulja Boy talking about his “Pretty Boy Swag,” Dorrough saying to “Get Big” and Waka Flocka Flame talking about…well I’m not too sure. (“Bow Bow Bow Bow?”) Even the so-called “deep” rappers aren’t saying much. Although Kanye West‘s “Power” is a dope lyrical exercise and artistic expression, it lacks the informational impact of Public Enemy and KRS One.
So what exactly has happened to “Edutainment?”
Maybe we just got to smart and didn’t need anymore education. I sincerely doubt it, but what other explanation can you have for the tremendous void in mainstream hip-hop with regards to anything that provides food for thought? Although emcees like Immortal Technique and dead prez are always providing endless supplies of knowledge over beats, they aren’t in the mainstream. It’s not like it was back in the late 80′s and early 90′s.
As a young man, what I didn’t get in school I got in hip-hop. If it wasn’t for BDP and Public Enemy, I wouldn’t have been tipped off to Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X before I was a teenager. The fact that those artists were rapping about the Black Panthers and Mumia Abu-Jamal is the very reason why I picked up books at a young age and spearheaded numerous youth groups. I still look at Ras Kass‘ “Nature of the Threat” as the pinnacle of traveling down the information highway with a soundtrack. Today, you cannot sniff a reference to Nat Turner in today’s music.
But who is to blame for this? Could it be the “powers that be” deciding that we should dumb down our music to double their dollars? Could it be this generation of hip-hop kids are simply not motivated to learn the history of the culture? It’s truly tough to figure out the reasoning behind this. There was a smattering of artists who sprinkled tidbits of knowledge throughout their music a decade ago. Cee Lo Green would talk about liberation, Mos Def discussed the world water crisis and Common made a song for Assata Shakur. But today they’ve moved their artistic expression to new levels. Mos Def and Common are busy with Hollywood and Cee Lo has become more than just an emcee with a big belly.
It appears the new generation of rappers were raised on more Diddy than Chuck D. To me, it’s the best possible explanation for the lack of emcees dropping jewels and opting, instead, for rhymes about fresh clothes and chicks.
I don’t have the answers, but I do have the question that could certainly use some feedback.
Is today’s hip-hop “stupid?”
What do you think?
Yes…VERY stupid
Very poignant discussion and question as always. Yes, hip hop is a reflection of our wiser and weaker generation, as the saying goes. Wiser, in a sense, due to the higher levels of information available to us. Weaker because we are very limited in our decisions as to what to do with that information and do not yet understand how to respect and value ourselves. I’d hate to get my Huey Freeman on (any more than usual) but it’s difficult not to get depressingly pessimistic about Gen Y sometimes. Nevertheless, I believe that we will make a change for the better before it’s too late.
Well, It’s stupid, in a sense that they keep playing the same old lame stuff all over again- like Souljah Boy, man, I can’t believe that people are still enjoying his music. Although there are new upcoming songs (like Jay Rock) and some veterans (like Method Man and Redman) that makes great, fresh yet hardcore (it makes you chill out and relax) music, they’re getting pushed aside for they (record companies) wanted to fatten up their wallets. that’s why I listened to the old stuff on YouTube than the new sound that BET or MTV plays, with some few exceptions of artists (like Jay Rock) of course.
In my opinion, hip hop is stupid because much of the generation is in fact, stupid. For years sitting in class, I’ve noticed my peers shun reading completely and neglect lessons as they’re being taught.
Most people my age(I’m 16) can’t write a proper essay, spell words, or identify words by roots, prefixes and suffixes, no matter how rudimentary.
Whatever it is that seems to pull my generation away from the will to learn is rearing it’s head among our music.
Our choices are great in what music we listen to. If your complaining about the watered down hiphop talent in the charts it time to turn outward and onward to higher levels of entertainment. As an Australian i’m drenched in Oz hiphop of a high standard and of local nature. Feeling quite lucky that i am able to catch a show at a low price, in my city showcasing lyrical masters, that would burn many of the artists i’m hearing in the charts. What happened in the 80′s and 90′s just got better here as it evolved in its own pocket of evolution.Expand to a greater listening experience Support Oz HipHop.
It is but by now we know how “the game” goes. Can’t really put it on the artists for kids and grownups acting ignant. And by watching diddy’s shows & vids (not so much music lol) I actually have a broader understanding on business, clothes etc.
You can have 99 smart things and 1 stupid. If someone want’s to act stupid or look for something stupid as an excuse their going to find it. Hip Hop of the past had different messages but most of us knew what to do and what not to because we lived that ish. Now this generation doesn’t have it as hard. I’m sorry I have yet to know a real thug or goon who was real on the net.
You can try and blame it on the music, but have you heard the shit white people listen to? No excuses. This generation and other generations of blacks who leech need to come with the action instead of backpacking on what others have done, it’s played… justsayin.com
It’s all perspective. The same music you embraced as life changing is the same music my elders disregarded as fluffy and unecessary. They had lived the history and their experience as well as their elders were their teachers. It means different things to different people.
Couldnt say it any better myself.
If skills sold
Truth be told
I’d probably be
Lyrically
Talib Kweli
Truthfully
I wanna rhyme like Common Sense
(But I did five Mil)
I ain’t been rhyming like Common since
When your sense got that much in common
And you been husteling since
Your inception
Fuck perception
Go with what makes cents.
Moment of Clarity – Jay Z
I’d be inclined to admit with you here. Which is not something I typically do! I love reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to speak my mind!
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