Hip-Hop is dead. Long live Hip-Hop!

Posted Wednesday, July 4th 2007

I just finished reading an article in the Sunday Telegraph, and I honestly feel good about what I read.

Those that know me, will know that I’m a huge fan of Hip-Hop - the lifestyle, the messages, the music. I, however, despise what “Gangsta Rap” is - it turns what is an important cultural and political, not to mention social movement into a parade of sheer meaninglessness, kitsch and overblown hilarity.
I despise poster-children, that are there just for the shock value, playing on the fact that children are easily influenced, and selling what is obviously a fake image to a crowd hungry for recognition. I hate Eminem. I hate 50 “I got shot 9 times!” Cent. They are the epitome of what is wrong with hip-hop nowadays. I hate Dr Dre, and all of his henchmen. Pathetic.

Hip-Hop is not about bling. It’s not about 24 inch rims on your Escalade. It’s not about Cristal. It’s about conveying the everyday reality of our social existence, interaction and growth. Hip-hop is intelligent, it should reach out to people on an intellectual level, with a strong social background. What’s intellectual about “I’ll take you to the candy shop..”?

And although Hip-Hop does originate from the states, from black culture, it has now evolved. It is no longer solely black music. Yes, the most popular and most prominent artists are predominately black - and don’t you dare mention Eminem, he’s a squeaky toy - but Hip-Hop has evolved into a global, multiracial and multiethnic phenomenon, and it will not go away. People will simply recognize what it’s really about, and embrace what is really meaningful, good and needed, and what’s just fluff.

Hip-hop is a movement, a philosophy, a tool and a way to make a point. The vocabulary might sometimes be simple, but the message of real hip-hop is always strong.

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