WTF Happend to Hip-Hop?!?

WTF Happend to Hip-Hop?!?

The title of this blog is a great f*cking question but not that hard to answer. Hip-Hop is not the same anymore and we all know it. If you don’t know it you’re probably an ignorant groupie, in a mental asylum, or have something worse than HIV called swagayoloitis. I can’t speak for all the OG’s out there I’m not 40, not 30, not even 21 but still 20. Look I’ve been saying for the past couple years to everyone that asks me about the state of hip-hop; “I grew up on Eminem, Jay-Z and Nas where the f*ck has hip-hop gone?”  Back then the music actually used to have some integrity. People who had label deals for the most part had this thing called talent. Rappers delivered raw lyrics, smooth flows, the beats didn’t make the whole song and some of them could actually freestyle their ass off and not read off a Blackberry on Hot 97. Beefs were made up of brutal back and forth diss songs with crazy punchlines and facts not Twitter gangsters and bottle throwing. The whole culture has changed or more accurately been lost. It’s taken a thousand steps backwards and continuing at a Usain Bolt pace. Simply put, being a Hip-Hop fan today comes with the stereotype from corporate America that you are an unintelligent stupid motherf*cker.

So how in the world did we go from the 90’s, early 2000’s, mid 2000’s into this mess Hip-Hop is in 2012? Easy. Most of the youth was thrown bullsh*t and gradually kept buying it, supporting it, showing up to their shows and then gradually turned into quickly and soon enough the majority was all brainwashed into thinking this was the norm and acceptable. We went from Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Life After Death, The Eminem Show even Get Rich or Die Tryin’ to Soulja Boy, Cash Out, Future, Chief Keef, Lil B, T-Pain and 50 Cent not trying. That’s the equivalent of going from knocking down Megan Fox and waking up with Snooki. Downgrade, fail, and the worst is that most of you are not even embarrassed or been around long enough to acknowledge what the f*ck just happened.

Hip-Hop is pretty much in it’s own Great Depression right now. It’s fixable but we all need to take drastic measures to restore the culture. The first thing we need to come to terms with is an artist so-called “selling out.” I’m all for artists going and making a living but don’t keep calling that sh*t Hip-Hop. Let it be known from this point on there are three different genres. Hip-Hop, Hip-Pop, and TRASH. Hey Nicki Nicki Nicki your music isn’t Hip-Hop it’s Hip-Pop there’s nothing wrong with that I’m not dissing you it just belongs in another category. Even though the originator Grandmaster Flash says any rhyme over a song is Hip-Hop it shouldn’t be. Starships is not Hip-Hop, can you go toe to toe with Eminem? I don’t think so. Just because you make rhymes over a Katy Perry type beat doesn’t make it Hip-Hop. In fact let’s get this f*cking straight right now just because you make rhymes in any type of sound recording doesn’t make it Hip-Hop. Ok? Cool. The barbz still love you don’t worry. Their just all Hip-Pop fans. Next category to address is TRASH, yes TRASH and what do you need to do with TRASH? You take it out to the curb, kiss it goodbye and it then gets buried deep in a smelly disgusting dump. Prime examples of TRASH today are Soulja Boy, Chief Keef, Lil B, Kreyshawn, Cash Out, Future, Lil Twist, Shawty Lo, Kidd Kidd, etc, etc, etc. Look I’m not a hater get your money, do good for the community if you do, but point blank is your music sucks. Watered down lyrics, sh*t that makes no sense, and a one-hit single where the beat carries you is technically hip-hop because it’s a rhyme over a beat but from this point on it shall and should be referred to as TRASH. What we need to do is in all ways possible stop supporting these TRASH artists and ones that are falling off and on the verge of becoming TRASH artists. We all have to stop buying into the bullsh*t and that’s when we’ll get change. For example if Mcdonalds’ comes out with a brand new sandwich that tastes like sh*t and no one orders it anymore after they find out it tastes awful what happens? They get rid of it off the menu and try to replace it with something new and better that will keep the customers happy. That analogy can go for everything. Right now the majority is still demanding TRASH so the labels are gonna keep serving it right up to you.

So what do I myself define as real Hip-Hop? I’m not looking for a lyrical mastermind, somebody with a perfect flow, the reincarnation of Pac and Biggie. I just want real effort, substance, meaning, emotion, and less of the absurdly fake unreal stuff. You don’t gotta be a Top 10 MC of all time to be defined as Hip-Hop you just gotta be original and grow especially if you’re a new artist. If you’re a veteran and in a slump, prove you can make you’re way out of it by stepping up and making some better music. (Wayne, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, etc) The past is the past, today is today. Also originality apparently isn’t even a criteria anymore but sometimes it’s way too blatantly obvious to take.  For example when 2 Chainz came out with “Spend It” How many other artists immediately bit his line “I’m riding around and…” and then incorporated that into their own songs right after? Countless rappers. In the 90’s you’re career would of been on the line and scrutinized for that but as hip-hop evolves and grows and more people get into it there’s some things were gonna have to accept we don’t like as well.  I hate Swag, Yolo and some of Hip-Hop’s latest trends but that’s a whole different discussion. The point is if you’re disgusted with the quality of music that’s being put out in Hip-Hop stop supporting it. Fans and the buyers of music and ticket sales have the most power. Just don’t be afraid to use it.

P.S. When it’s trash day, don’t forget to take out the trash or it begins to stink up the whole crib.

Leave you’re comments below. I want you’re opinions.

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-TATE