Thursday, November 19, 2009

Is hip hop dying, or is it already dead?

I mean, I never listen to my local hip hop/R%26amp;B station anymore because they only play either bad whiny-voiced juvenile singers (like Lloyd, Chris Brown, TPain) or equally bad rappers (Young Joc, Young Jeezy, Mims, Lil Wayne). Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Common, and T.I. are pretty much the only new music I download. In fact, I enjoy my local talk-radio station more than today's music because it actually has a meaning and is interesting.





Hip Hop used to have a meaning but now it's all about the women, the cars, the jewelry, and how much money you have. And it stinks! My mp3 player only has old music, and I only add songs that I suddenly remember I loved or a rare hit that I hear on the radio. Other than that I don't really listen to today's hip hop.





Okay, glad I got that off my chest, does anybody else agree with me?

Is hip hop dying, or is it already dead?
I agree with you!!! And I agree with Charlotte too. Especially mims, sorriest one-hit wonder every to pick up a mic.





All that's on TV and the radio anymore is a minstrel show for midwestern high school kids - but unfortunately everyone else is buying in too! Maybe I'm wrong? No, the programming on the radio and TV are still execrable.





I didn't listen to the radio for like eight years until recently finding classical music. And I like rap plenty- 'specially ice cube %26amp; young jeezy. As in other contemporary music I do try try to enjoy, the answer is DJ mixes hosted online. Find a DJ whose taste and style you like and then ask for other DJ's like him/her.





There's still real rap out there but it's being buried under an avalanche of minstrel stereotypes and conceited, cartoonish "thug juice" figureheads manufactured by the media. Even Nas has gone soft! I used to stick up for that cat. The Game is putting out some great work these days, but I try to prefer the East Coast sound.





Looking for something sooner?





For hard #%26amp;@% of no redeeming social value, I actually like to go to either expo shows or gas stations in the 'hood and buy CD's by local DJ's and producers. That's never failed me :) though one is still stuck with uncomfortable misogynies instead of powerful, meaningful music. But at least it's loud and harsh :)
Reply:Hey thanks, I could use the street cred ;) Report It

Reply:add , Lil Brother to your list. Check out this song


http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aS... Report It

Reply:im not really a big rap fan to begin with, but i agree. i like dr dre and a few older guys, but its terrible now. its all about getting crunk and doing stupid dances like the ones you see in the videos. and the things you listed.
Reply:Duuuuude...stop asking this question.


http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_r...
Reply:YES. i agree. im tired of this ish and i think im gonna give up rap.
Reply:I believe that hip hop is not dead. You are listening in the wrong places. Radios are run by idiots who are spoonfeeding bullsh*t to the masses. Masses that don't know any better. My friend's daughter goes on my computer and presses play on some stuff and looks at me with a smile on her face, like that sh*t is banging. Do you know how many times I told her to get out??





I hate to tell you but you are just gonna have to research in other places. I had to sign up with digital-djs.com to get me started. I Listen to dj's mixes ('specially dj1derful) and, thankfully, they posted who's stuff they used. That way I know who I like and who I will buy.





(Forgot to tell you. dj1derful.com is also where I go. Go to The Flavours tab. Hit up MDoc's Euphonic mix. It's good.)
Reply:I Feel The Same Exact Way But People Who Listen To That Shi*t Disagree THe Dont Wanna Here Real Rappers They wanna here stuff that sounds like stuff written by a first grader





Laffy Taffy Chicken Noddle Soup Lip Gloss Or Buy You A Drank And All These Stupid Dance Moves Pop Lock And Drop It 2 step and walk it out








Theres Still Some Real Rappers Like Nas Canibus Talib Kweli Mos Def Pharoc Monch








most Of The Sh*t They Play On The Radio Is Complete Trash but some people dont want to admit That is not rap its watered down bubble gum pop-rap and is nothing compared to sh*t from real MC's
Reply:Hip Hop isnt dead yet, but its dying at a quick speed....I totally agree, Lupe, Kanye, T.I., and Common are some of the few that are keeping it alive....dont forget Talib, Nas, Public Enemy, and Ice Cube!

fake gold teeth

Is Hip Hop(Rap)dead,done,since 2Pac died?

I was and have been a fan of hip hop my whole life but to me since the late 90's early 2000's there has not been good music out.It is all about I got money and women.Not to mention the horrible songs hip hop is making for dance clubs(hey bay-bay).All have become unoriginal to me and got me moving to alternative music for orginality..I guess it circles around,but Hip Hop def. misses 2pac(the greatest.)A true lyricist.What do you think?

Is Hip Hop(Rap)dead,done,since 2Pac died?
yes and no because his songs were gangsta so he was hip-hop and no because the songs out today are still good but not as good or close to as 2pacs or Eazy-e's songs R.I.P homies.
Reply:unfortunately NO! Someone else will step forward soon.
Reply:Not at all there are still tons of good rappers (maybe I only like) like akon,50 cent,snoop dogg, Lil Wayne and lots more. It might just be that the best rapper (in your eyes) has died, but one person dieing is not going to make a whole style of music go with it.
Reply:NO there are tons of talented hip hop artists out there try listening to music from Kanye West, Missy Elliot, T-Pain, 50 cent, Flo Rida, Eve, Lil' Mama, these are some of the artists I like Sean Paul is also good


Are there any hip hop shows or underground places to listen hip hop music this weekend in Phoenix?

I will be in phoenix 6-29 til the first of july and want to go to a place to listen to some underground hip hop. Or check out a hip hop spot. Not a club person. I just wanna hear some hip hop. anybody know a place?

Are there any hip hop shows or underground places to listen hip hop music this weekend in Phoenix?
Hey Orland,





They tell me 'Ain't nobody's bizness' is a good place to check out.


http://www.thebiztuc.com/index.html


Gangsta versus Classic hip hip, 50 cent and Kanye West. What is your opinion on real hip hop versuse hip pop?

For those who go back far enough to remember when hip hop was more about your sound and lyrical delivery you will know Kanye West is hip hop at it's finest and 50 cent is a total gimmick. 50 is appealing to an audience who knows little to nothing about people like Nas, Dead Pres, Talib Kweli, KRS-One, Common ETC. 50 is doing exactly what he said on his SECOND album "get rich or die trying" 50 was a cold lyricist when he first hit the scene. When he realized suburban kids would rather by a gimmick rather than listen to a classic he totally let his hip hop soul die to get rich. Kanye West is nerdy and complains and would much rather put on a suit than gangsta attire but this is the essence of Hip Hop. Hip Hop has never been gangsta. Hell Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are good guys who fooled some into thinking they were gangsta. So when I hear people say 50 is real and Kanye is a nerd. I think Kanye is Hip Hop and 50 is a gimmick from the hood. So what do you think of gangsta versus hip hop?

Gangsta versus Classic hip hip, 50 cent and Kanye West. What is your opinion on real hip hop versuse hip pop?
gotta agree wit tha gurl above me hip hop is wat we live not a genre of muzik. rap music is a portion of hip hop. i grew up on tha gangsta rap, but ima hip hop head back to run dmc, kurtis blow tha whole nine ( ima dj, grafitti artist n tried breaking). sumthin we must understand is that common is stickin ta the original style a lot more than kanye, they are both great, love em both, but kanye has his guilty pleasures. n its not so much that they love hip hop anymore than weezy or flip or need i say 50 (who i dont like),but look at their roots, listen to the sound. they grew up in chi city where they were not only exposed ta run dmc but miles and coltrane. so their minds are more open, theyre entire love for muzik is expressed in their songs.


50 is as fake as he wanna be, wanksta was about him. quote me on that. kanye has meaningful muzik and other that isnt. but dont knock a rapper cause his struggle n how he expresses it is different than how nwa said f*** tha police or grandmaster flash said the message or eric b n rakim said know the ledge. every coast has different lingo and styles of rap, so it may not be how it started off but that doesnt make it trash. its sumthin new, its expanding. blame it on society.


TO END y r we sayin sumthin now in tha 2000's instead of back in the early 90's with luke cambell and the 2 live crew
Reply:Hip Hop consists of many different forms including rapping (also known as emceeing) and DJing...it wasnt until the 1990's that 'Gangsta Rap' was brought to the scene...Gangsta Rap is Hip Hop but only a slither of the whole consept...Hip Hop when broken down consists of many things...dissing Gangsta rap is in some way dissin the whole of Hip Hop
Reply:Well said. Its about time someone who knows what they are talking about breaks this down. I know Nas said "hip hop is dead" but Kanye, Common, Lupe Fiasco (Chi City Baby) are doing there part to resurrect her. 50 and all that south sh!t are keeping it on life support.
Reply:Gangsta rap is grade school, hip hop is graduate school. True hip hop is maturity, it's staying true to who you are and your purpose. Gangsta rap is a phase that youngster go through but eventually grow out of, hip hop is forever........
Reply:Well Sam, I couldn't agree more.





You summarized what happened, 50 Cent is a poor thing musically. He inherited the looks of N.W.A. and he somehow missed their musical skills.





On the other hand, Kanye West amazes me. He focused on nothing but his music. He rejected all the other ways that'd make him succeed (attire etc...) and instead of that he worked hard on his music (and you can see that when he was pissed off at the VMAs because they didn't reward his hardwork).





I praise K West for what he did. The way he chose is what makes him special and highly successful.
Reply:YOU FOOL 50 RULE
Reply:im all for supporting the real but kanye is just as pop as 50 is.


Is hip-hop more positive or more negative? How do you view hip-hop as a whole?

If anyone has real-talk and some knowledge to offer, please feel free. There is a big gap of misunderstanding in the world of hip-hop, and I will find out what it is, and it will start here! What's your views on hip-hop, be real and be honest!

Is hip-hop more positive or more negative? How do you view hip-hop as a whole?
As well as everyone else, I believe that hip hop was better back in the day and only a few artists are really accepting music as an art form. To me I feel like artists are using music as a way of fast money. Lets be really honest, half the songs we hear are about absolutely nothing. I believe anyone can sing "lean wit it, rock wit it", "I got my vans on but they look like sneakers"....they have the dumbest songs but are still considered to be "hip hop". What bothers me the most is how women are disrespected and the images children are exposed to. Women have been through way too much to gain equality to be subjected to how hip hop views them. I'm just waiting for change. I'm waiting for our children to look up to someone who is a doctor or a lawyer not a rapper and have more apspirations than to be a rapper. I do understand that most people admire rappers because they come from the same situations but if a rapper wants to impress me, rap about where you came and where you need to go. If I was a rapper that came from the gutta, I would most definitely change my ways and set my goals high instead of staying in the mindset of sex, drugs, and women.
Reply:Hip-hop has stopped talking about positive things and has put a focus on violence, partying, and putting people (women, other artist, etc.) down. It is becoming more about putting out a record for quick cash, rather than making good, real music. There is nothing wrong with making a great club song, but when it speaks about violence and degrading women, it has a huge negative impact on the young crowd that listens to it. I don't listen to it much anymore because there is always so much cursing and so many deragatory terms towards women.
Reply:I am a white male in my mid 20's. I like some hip-hop, but there is some hip-hop that I refuse to like because I feel like it's obscene. I was taught to respect women and to try not to offend people. I feel sorry for the people who can listen to music like this and don't understand why it is immoral. I have heard many black leaders recently standing up against this kind of music and I think it's great. I know it's a long shot saying we can get rid of it, but I think the more stereotypes we can eliminate between races in America, the closer we will get to ending racism.
Reply:It furthers stereotypes about blacks. Promotes black on black violence and degrades women by calling them hoes. But I appreciate the booty shaking and *** grabbing.
Reply:New school sucks, all about old school. You got a very positive vibe from oldschool, now its all about hoes and money.
Reply:To me old school rap and hip-hop was fine, but when everything started being all about gangsta rap and music about how much money one has and having women in barely there clothing and break your ankle shoes shaking their a**es.





It became more negative. It holds no appeal to me whatsoever.
Reply:I don't really understand the point of Hip-Hop, and i think it's a little stupid (you said be honest)
Reply:To me today's music is not hip hop. It is mainstream rap, Hip hop to me is Nas, The roots, Talid Kweli just to name a few. Mainstream rap today is influenced by society, this is what society wants why do you think, It is so big. I am not gonna lie I love to here that music when i am in the club and that is it other than that I love real hip hop. To me it doesn't have any affect positive or negative.

yellow teeth

What does the black rap/hip-hop scene think of white rap/hip-hop fans?

Upon hearing that a few of my friends have taken an interest in learning the "Soulja Boy" dance, I wondered what the black rap/hip-hop fan community would think of this. I have heard things like "whitey can't dance" and it appears that there is a general consideration of white rap/hip-hop fans, or whites that try to emulate the "ghetto" lifestyle as absurd and foolish. Rap music and hip-hop music are just genres, but I am specifically looking for the attitude of the scene. Would a white person be able to walk into a club with more blacks than whites without being kicked out of laughed at? Would a white person be able to dance the "Soulja Boy" dance without being disrespected? I don't know if whites are disrespected for this or not, and I am curious to hear what the followers of the hip-hop scene have to say.

What does the black rap/hip-hop scene think of white rap/hip-hop fans?
The don't think anything but $$$





"Most rappers got new albums that white kids are anticipating"


-Chamillionaire 'Evening News'





These days I think allot of people are over the whole black/white thing its just getting ridiculous... but you are entitled to your opinion.





I think its rather disgusting that people stare at me when I go out with my boyfriend cause he is black.... but oh well.





Some people are just ignorant.
Reply:I can tell when someone is a true fan of rap/hip hop, as oppose to trying to fit in or show off. If they can tell the difference between Rap and Hip Hop (and there is a difference), then I’m cool with them, whether they're African-American or not. Report It

Reply:I think this would depend on which region of the country you are in. Some areas may be more accepting of the white hip hop followers than others. Here in Chicago, from what I see, it's accepted for the most part. However I am sure there are some areas where it is not as acceptable.
Reply:last time I checked this is a free country. lol I don't care if club is full of blacks. im there for fun. clubs are for having fun. if some one causes trouble . that's why I carry my 9mm.
Reply:I wonder that too, because yea im Mexican and White and i look more White though, and im from South Central TX where thers mainly Mexicans and Blacks at my school... and well there was a poll where the class had to make a graph, bout music and the choices were Rap/HipHop, R%26amp;B, Rock, Or Country and i heard a few say ANAS GONA GET COUNTRY OR ROCK! i waslk GWD SUT THE HEAK UP, im a HipHop Luva! it annoys me when they say im a "rock country person"... gosh thats annoyin...
Reply:well no offence peeps look i'm black but spanish any who i know that the african americans as in usa and stuff are more like rude and insultung but it would also depend on the whity


lol if he thinks he's all that never ever go in to a black club it won't be pretty but that ym opinion


What is the origin of hip-hop???

im doing a reasearch on hip-hop and i was wondering if any body can answer these questions:





when did everyone begin to love hip-hop?


how did people react top hip-hop when it was first created?


what is hip-hop excatly?


where did the idea of hip-hop come from

What is the origin of hip-hop???
hip hop came directly off the streets. it evolved from culture and now they reflect each other.


Sugar Hill Gang was one of the pioneers who brought hip hop to the mainstream with "Rapper's Delight"


that should get you started, there is plenty of info out there, do some research.
Reply:f all that other nonsence, CAB CALLOWAY.. look him up, he had a slang dictionary in 1920! he is the first rapper!
Reply:Here ya go.....


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...
Reply:You could debate this topic for hours depending on what coast your from. East coast believes it started in the Bronx and other there will tell you it started in Queens. Likewise people on the Left coast will tell you that "rap" known to us old skoolers and "hip hop" to new schoolers started in Compton or Southcentral L.A. Most believe that the biggest contributers to the "hip hop" scene were The Last Poets and Africa Bambatta. Myself I started not loving but listening to Hip Hop in 86/87 the baby stages. As for a reaction I couldnt tell you I was just born when it first evolved from the disco/funk era in 1977. There are 4 elements of Hip Hop break dancing, B-boying, graffiti and EmCeeing. To conclude I believe as with all great ideas Hip Hop evolved out of people meeting in a common place to discuss thier ideas and it eventually became an art form.
Reply:all the pioneers of rap will say that james brown was one of many who set the foundation for rap...along with last poets, nikki giovanni and spoken word as a whole...kool herc, afrika bambataa, grandmaster caz and grandmaster flash further developed the art with djing and lightly rhyming over records (i.e. "to da beat yall, and ya dont stop")...coke la rock and clark kent formed the first emcee team in '75 kool herc and the herculoids...kurtis blow was the first rapper to appear on national televison in october '80 on soul train he performed "the breaks"...





james brown's influence was loius jordan who was a jazz musician so it is a continuum...





first off musical tradition was carried over to america by slaves...the music was used in celebrations and rituals...





once here the slaves began to sing spirituals which was called folk music as a whole (indians and europeans also had forms of folk music but it was all called folk music as a whole because of it spiritual base)...





out of this grew blues then gospe l(folk music actually included blues and gospel) ...then ragtime then jazz...r%26amp;b and soul...then rap...





this is an abridged version of what set the foundation for rap music because like stated above the streets influenced rap heavily esp "jive"(a form of speech)...rap has a very rich history cannot credited for having one main influence it is a form of expression that was a form of rebellion against what was going on at the time (just like rock and roll was)...the youth had their own form of music that allowed them to express themselves in a way that was fun, creative and uplifting...


What happened to hip hop?

hip hop is nowadays is all about girls,cars,money and how many times they can get laid. its garbage now. the only song in that genre that i listen to is A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. hip hop used to be my favorite genre but now i hate it. I LOVE CLASSIC ROCK NOW !!!! OH AND HIP HOP DIED IN THE MID 90'S.


OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP R.I.P

What happened to hip hop?
Its not that good Hip Hop died so much as it went into hiding. You're right in saying that Hip Hop's golden period ended in the mid 90s mostly because it was after that time that the gap between mainstream hip hop and good hip hop became obvious. Think about it, back in the 90's a tribe called quest was definately mainstream music. After their first album went GOLD (sold 500,000 + copies) their next three albums went PLATINUM, which shows that besides being real good music, a tribe called quest was on the radio and TV all the time. This situation is completely different than Hip Hop now. 99% of hip hop on the radio, MTV, and BET is complete garbage. However all hope is not lost. Good hip hop can still be found--you just have to look a little harder. Relatively mainstream artists like The Roots, Talib Kweli, and Common are still making good music. Underground Hip Hop is still alive and well too and if you listen to that, you'll see artists who care about the music more than money and bling.
Reply:White people. Just kidding. Capitalism. You can't sell the movement.
Reply:theres still some decent songs by like ne-yo and chris brown. pop, lock, and drop it and i'm a flirt are good songs too, though i agree with you. im not that much of a classical rock gal, mostly alternative and light rock i guess. i love pop music as well.
Reply:I'm with you on that. I feel bad for the generations that are coming up in the world that will be listening to that.
Reply:Can you say "undergound"?





Or even "Alternative"...





Good rap is out there.





Look for it.


The State of Hip Hop?

Alright, so I want everyone that visits this page to vote with either group one or two.


Group one: Your a group one person, you like to listen to acts like Talib Kweli, Slick Rick, Rakim, Nas, BIG, Common, %26amp; other rap acts that are often considered classic rap acts.





Group Two: You prefer acts like Ludacris, Young Jeezy, UNK, 50 Cent and other currently popular acts.





Okay, the idea of this is to see how many people really are becoming fed up with with the current state of Hip Hop.





To me, Hip Hop is a dying art form, however, many of the people I've spoken to recently seem to share my opinion that Hip Hop need a revival, and that much of the current stuff is worthless. With this poll I want to see how many people really agree with me that hip hop needs a makeover.

The State of Hip Hop?
Group 1! I cant tell you how long it's been since I listened to the radio. I wont say its all bad, but almost. I do like Mike Jones and UGK since Im from Texas. But, If I hear another song by Akon, or T-Pain, I will shoot myself in the head!
Reply:I'm in group 1.


I grew up with that music.


This music added to the best hip-hop


experiences in my life.





Then NWA came out.


then the "Chronic" album exploded


Then Bone thugs, Ice T.


Too Short, etc.





The thing is, when these people came out there was also clean rap out too like


Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with


"Summer Time"


Tribe called Quest with "Banita Applebaum"


Brand Nubian's, Outkast with "Elevators"


Yo-Yo, The Fugees, BBD was out(I know they aren't rappers)


They kind of evened it out.





Now everyone wants to be a


Pimped-out-Gangsta!


Too Short was considered one of the most vulgar rappers. Now EVERYONE raps like that!


It's sad that this is what these kids have to grow up listening to.


rap took a turn for the worst.


And some of them suck!


:~(
Reply:Group 1 fa sho, except I don't think you should group Ludacris in with all the other jokes, he's got skills.
Reply:Hip Hop is in a state of 911





Buisness-Eminem





I just thought it suited this.....
Reply:I vote for group one. Newer rappers have lost their way. They have become too commercialized. Now they make records just make sales instead of trying to actually say anything.
Reply:I LIKE GROUP 2 IM YOUNG AND I LIKE MUSIC THAT U CAN DANCE TO AND HAVE FUN WITH I DONT CARE IF THE SONG GOT A MESSAGE OR NOT
Reply:I listen to both of the "groups" mentioned. I find it sad that group two has pushed out group one. Hip Hop is alive; the consumers and the media chose to support one group, and that group is number 2.
Reply:group one is nice they seem like a nice group of young fellows,





group two is nice they seem like a nice group of young fellows too.
Reply:Hip-Hop and Rap are dying. Major record sales over the past two years have TANKED....big time. Nothing personal, but the major labels have moved on, dumping Hip-Hop and Rap pretty much altogether. Good luck to the 'independents', but I laughably doubt they'll ever attain the profits enjoyed by the major labels.





Sadder still, is the witless hype that cries Hip-Hop is booming and Rap is s*it hot. Hey: The 'bling-bling' is fake, the high-profile cars and SUVs are rentals.
Reply:I think the problem with hip hop is that the songs out now are dance songs or are about cars, chains, and girls......etc. Real hip hop makes you THINK AND FEEL NOT SHAKE YOUR BOOTY OR POP LOCK AND DROP IT HAHA
Reply:Group Two except for unk he sucks
Reply:Hip Hop is not Dead


But it is on live support.


Hip Hop has a disease called Southern Rap (snap music)


Its on medication(rappers)


The medication its on is called


The Game, Eminem,(rappers worth listening too)
Reply:If more people you put out like weezy then there wouldnt b a problem. he made the charter II in a month.
Reply:MR. WIZARD -- u need to go here:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...





cuz you are another idiot who thinks rap and hip hop are two different types of music
Reply:I vote for group 2 , their hip-hop is more enjoyable..the beat is so cool...yeah I know that the group 2 songs don't have meaning whatsoever..is about girl,sex,money,cars,etc but still like I said is more enjoyable and not boring.
Reply:group one without a doubt
Reply:i agree. It only has a few good tracks but since when did everybody care about who an artist was beefin' wit and not about the songs or the music they was makin'. C/mon
Reply:group one raps more about life and group to is more about money,dance moves, cars, getting shot and girls with the exception of ludacris' song runaway love.


i like group one because they seem less fake
Reply:I listen to both. I love Talib, Nas, Biggie, Common, Tupac, Jay-Z, etc. and also listen to others such as Run DMC, but unfortunately haven't become too familiar with Rakim or Slick Rick (although I love him on the Aaliyah track). I find that these artists have music that are just classics and that will always be played. Also, they often rap about deeper issues that a lot of modern groups don't dwell on. However, I feel like I need to, in a way, defend Group 2. Most popular acts are in it for the money, but you have to give a bit of nod at least to their production and their strategy at crossing over into the pop market. Also, Biggie definitely was a popular act in the '90's, and the other names mentioned in Group 1 had a few moments where they had some hits. Also, I love Ludacris, and just because he creates a lot of party anthems since he is known for that doesn't mean that that is all he is. He gives a thought to a lot of his lyrics as well as his past and social issues. There is still a lot of great new music out there (I love Lupe Fiasco) and while hip hop has really changed a lot, people thought it was dying 10 years ago too, and I think that the makeover will happen regardless and automatically as with everything in the world, so there should be no need to worry.
Reply:Group two... they are the ones changing the game (the rap game)
Reply:when i get to high school, theres a varsity hip-hop dance team and im joining it so any kind of hip-hop that i can dance to is good but i like group one better, they write better lyrics. also ludacris shoudl be with group 1 because he writes good music too.
Reply:hip hop is dying..ya group one is great...but this generation is all about group two..group two is not hip hop but rap and some new genre..unlike group one which represents true hip hop
Reply:The 50 cent of old had some hot tracks. Obviously now him and his amusement parks are terrible. I choose GROUP ONE even though you certainly left out some big names.

skin care

Rap/Hip Hop Culture - does it exist?

Several years ago a Grade 10 history student of mine wanted to do a research project on the history of Rap/Hip Hop (a good choice for a topic, as it happens). He told me that rap was 'his culture' (He was from Sierra Leone). I said that while Rap/Hip Hop did have a distinct and interesting history, I didn't think it could be called a 'culture' - it can't be compared with Chinese Culture, Muslim Culture, Ashante Culture etc... So my question(s) to you is (are): what IS a culture? Is Rap/Hip Hop a culture and if so, what makes it a culture? Or is it part of a larger culture - and if so, what are that culture's traditions and values? Thanks!

Rap/Hip Hop Culture - does it exist?
Hi,


yes, it is a culture.


A culture is a way of life. There are many cultures and sub cultures. I think hip-hoip culture comes under "youth culture"!
Reply:it is a culture by the way i see it;





simply because it has became their life style


altho its clear to see that rap and hiphop cn also conclude frm the sense of music yet how they delivers their music is basicly showing how their lifes are. its something tht ppl would do, in a society tht is. Report It

Reply:The culture of rap/hip-hop....





Saggy pants, tank-tops, boomboxes, bling... Is this not a definition of culture? There is a metal culture.





It's basically a way of life, shaped by the music that a person listens to. it's a culture, but not in the same sense as Muslim/Chinese etc culture.





Sometimes music can define the clothes a person wears, the language they use and the general way people lead their life.


That, for me, is a definition of the word culture.





So although I agree with you 100%, I disagree that it is not a culture. It's just a different form of culture. One that is not shaped by beliefs or geographic location.
Reply:Well... according to the legendary KRS1 Hip Hop is officially recognised as a culture by the United Nations. To me it is very much a part of inner city culture, a reflection of city life. To me culture is a way of life, the necessary thoughts and practices needed to form a group of people. Think of a plant from it is seed. All the nurturing it takes to grow it into a fully developed flower is culture.


There was a time when Hip Hop promoted the more cultural aspects of being a black community in a white mans world, however that has been shadowed by the more individualist capitalist idea as pushed by the likes of 50cent and Jay Z type m.c's. Your question should be a real thinking point for all these rappers 2day.
Reply:Does it exist?


Not at this white man's house.
Reply:come and live in Louisiana, and you will change your mind.
Reply:It is a culture.
Reply:What makes the Chinese or Muslim cultures? How would you define someone of the chinese culture? By their appearance? By their customs?





I know a B-Boy on sight. I know the "customs" of a battle. I believe that Hip Hop is a culture and I have been a part of it for over 20 years.





I'm not going to try to "explain" to you what being a part of this culture is because I don't think it's something that could be explained in a forum like this.
Reply:i dont know where happy gets his info from but, whatever


ignorance is bliss right happy ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ loser...





anyway in my opinion hiphop/rap culture can only fall under a larger culture





which is african-american culture





if you look back at the history of hiphop youd see.





granted it has a wide following of races now, it cant be denied that hiphop is a major part of african-american culture.








to the girl below me, HIPHOP is as much a part of black culture as gospel, R%26amp;b, jazz, and soul


it is celebrated as a part of african-american culture just watch BET....





just because it has a wider following more than one race listens in doesnt mean its any less of a part of black culture





just because there white buddists doesnt mean its any less of a asian culture





just because JAPAN has a baseball league doesnt mean baseball is any less part of american culture





and just because hiphop is celebrated world wide


doesnt erase the fact that it is a major part of our culture
Reply:Hip Hop is a culture (encompassing MC-ing, DJ-ing, break-dancing and artistic expression through graffiti). It shouldn't be confused with rap. Coming from one of the original pioneers Busy Bee, rap is just a medium of expression.





True Hip Hop is about peace, love, unity and having fun. All of the materialism, sexism and violence that present in today's "hip hop" (e.g. what artists like 50 Cent promote) has no real place there. It has skewed the original meaning of Hip Hop and why it was born (with Afrika Bambaataa in the Bronx).
Reply:Yes, it is a culture. Perhaps best stated as a sub-culture because it still has to blend itself with the main culture of the U.S. in order to work. One of the tell-tail signs that it is a culture is from the ethnocentrism that surrounds it. Ethnocentrism is an instinct that ALL humans have. It, basically, means that we think that our way of doing things is the best way --- period. If you stop for a moment and look at the answers that have been given, so far, you will see that ethnocentrism coming from both directions.


Rap or hip-hop cultures most likely arose from the isolation that came from being rejected to a certain degree as a race. All humans need culture and if they are not getting enough of it, they will invent their own.
Reply:^^^^^^ I'm black and I am not claiming that hip-hop is a part of "African-American" culture (and you shouldn't either). BUT hip-hop is a culture that has brought dance, urban fashion and music to mainstream society.
Reply:Have you looked up the definition of the word 'culture'? In an online dictionary, it's defined as "the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc."





While not always beneficial, hip hop has brought about 'qualities' within sub societies of mainstream civilisation. You think about how the lyricists of hip hop express themselves in such a huge variety of ways, from the highs and lows of everyday personal life, to their views of historical and current events, and man's progression to the current political and economical climate.





Think about how hip hop has its own genre of art in the form of graffiti. The language and mannerisms adopted by the members of this sub society that consider the words, views and art expressed to be great enough to be both revered and developed.





By looking at the definition of the word 'culture', it can very easily be shown that Hip hop can most definitely be viewed as a culture, far more so than 'Muslim' culture, which is actually the religion of Islam and not a culture at all!





I think a good question would concern whether or not anything should be defined in terms of culture at all. All it does is cause division (between 'cultures'), and can lead to outdated and potentially dangerous customs to be carried out simple for the sake of traditional values that lie within the confines of a culture. Just my opinion.
Reply:Dearly beloved





We are gathered here today to discuss some interesting sh!t! Is this hip hop thing of ours a culture. I’ll spit some of my opinion,….





Hip hop began as a reaction to the gang problems in NYC in the 60s. It was zip gun time and the art of the switch blade was in effect. Gang members (Bambatta most famously) decided to get into the whole deejaying thing as a positive outlet for their crews. Didn’t take long before the battling was on the turntables, break beat selection, fat laces (later to become phat laces!) and the break boys. Hip hop heads that waited to showcase their talents at the break of a soul or funk song where the instrumental break… well… broke down. It was the soul of the record and thus was born sampling (Kool Herc %26amp; FLASH).





So music enthused non-violent confrontation.


Clothing, beatboxin, breakin, slang, clothes, etc are all part of the ‘culture’ but the source of telling street stories, battling with the MIC and a showcasing talent vehicle (in a harsh white corporate world) was the original ethos of hip hop. You should be able to figure out where hip hop culture stands on the Rodney King beating, Iraq conflicts, poverty in the US, etc.





Hip hop is also about love %26amp; humour %26amp; bringing people together %26amp; ingenuity. Using obscure breaks, introducing a generation to Rick James or James Brown can only be done thru this culture.
Reply:a culture is refered to as an appreciation of literature,art,music and etc. hip hop is an appreciation of a type of music, it appreciates literature in the form of the lyrics and poems e.g tupacs poems..the art of dressin is also appreciated. hip hop has its leaders it has its own style and one can also say it has its own race but besides that there are also rules in hip hop...hip hop was once part of a larger culture but has grown and seperated from that larger culture.
Reply:the traditions of rap/hip-hop are to STEAL "samples" of GOOD rock-n-roll/metal music, twist their stupid words like "yo, biotches, mah n***as" to computer-generated drumbeats, with NO actual musical talent needed. values....? *scoff*


Can someone please tell me the difference between hip hop and rap?

I have always thought of hip hop as guys like Common, Kanye, Mos, etc. and rap as guys like Tupac, Bone Thugs, Crime Mob, etc. Some say rap is industry whereas hip hop is "real." To me hip hop is more of a cleaner sense of rap. Rap is ghetto. Hip hop is the anti-ghetto. Rap is more street. Hip hop is more flow. Am I wrong? Am I in the ballpark? Someone help me out here. I love 'em both. I just hate it when people say hip hop is dead when I feel they are talking about rap. They are different genres, and those who say hip hop is dead should at least say it about hip hop and not rap.

Can someone please tell me the difference between hip hop and rap?
i see hip hop and rap as very different. hip hop aims to highlight problems in the black community while i think rap tends to try and glamorize them. to me rappers are ppl like 50 cent, lil wayne, jeezy... and hip hop artists are ppl like common and talib kweli. i prefer hip hop to rap but i do also listen to rap music. i jus dnt like it so much b/c i think some rap lyrics are irresposibly made because they encourage minority youths to engage in bad behaviors and make them think that committing crimes and havin to hustle is cool. but its really not. i agree with nas that hip hop is practically dead.. at least in mainstream music. there is underground hip hop. but hip hop is not the same as it was in the past. i mean what happened to artists like black star, a tribe called quest, pharcyde, etc.





if i were a hip hop artist i would be insulted when ppl consider music by 50 cent or like artists to be hip hop cuz its really not what hip hop was meant to be about.
Reply:I've always known rap to be the actual act of rhyming, and Hip-Hop to be the whole culture (graffiti, cazelle glasses, Kangol hats, beat boxing, breakdancing, etc.). Whew! Took myself back for a moment. Now, I think the Hip-Hop culture is plain old garbage. It's too polluted now.
Reply:rap could be ghetto and be clean like point blank-born and raised in the ghetto





cause u see rap started and it was about being FUNKY


but then ice soemthing screwed up and made a new sub-genre called gansta-rap


and thats when it well down hill....


anyways...





ok hiphop=is a culture , away of living


rap=a genre of music


gansta rap=****.crap.
Reply:there is no diff
Reply:hip hop is useally faster and able to dance 2 rap is like a ryhme fest usally slower and more cousing
Reply:Like others have said, rap is a subset of hip-hop, which consists of 4 core activities (emceeing/rapping, graffing, breaking and djing). Rap contains many subgenres in itself...nerd/backpacker, gangsta, west coast, east coast, etc.





I think KRS-One said it best when trying to differ mainstream rap (pop-rap/gangsta) from other rap (which I really think your question is about) - "Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC’s spit rhymes to uplift they people. Peace, love, unity, and Havin’ fun"
Reply:the spelling?... lol
Reply:lol, what a bunch of newbs!


(except crack-is-bad)





'hip hop' is made of of 4 elements...


djing


rapping


breaking


grafitti





krs1 'rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live'





accept no other answer





/thread
Reply:Now i feel that without Hip hop, there wouldnt be Rap. and as long as there is Rap, there will be Hip hop. the difference i think between hiphop and rap is creativity. hip hop cant be as clean as rap. hip hop spoke about the hood, they spoke of drugs and guns. hip hop made MC's. hip hop was and is a culture and a form of music, just like Rap. hip hop also spoke just a street as rap. in hip hop, when a show was about to go down, the DJ he commanded attention from the people. the people of hip hop know that the DJ is essential. But the DJ wouldnt give the MC his time until he was ready to rock. MC's couldnt get heard without the DJ. hip hop MC's had beef but they didnt threaten each other with gunplay, MC's battled. all a MC needed to battle was a mic, crowd and a beat boxer. The difference is that hip hop didnt care of $200,000 cars. they spoke with a message. hip hop MC are teachers. they spoke of how to get out of the hood. hip hop didnt degrade black/ all women. Rap isnt like that. as you can see as an example, rap today lacks creativity. the rappers are consistent, they glamorize the hood, glamorizing gangsters. they talk about causing bodily harm, talk about jewelry, and ridiculous analogies and metaphors. i dont agree when SOME people say that there isnt a difference. what I HAVE noticed with todays rap, is that there arent any risk takers. rap dont bring people together to celebrate. in Rap, it sounds like eveyone is supposed to be hard or tough. for what??? I THINK that rappers dont make their own lane. SOME rappers today got that "if it aint broke dont fix it" mentality. so lets make the snap record, the club record.
Reply:I can't coz there ain't no difference bo!
Reply:oh yes your defenitley right when you said "I just hate it when people say hip hop is dead when I feel they are talking about rap. They are different genres, and those who say hip hop is dead should at least say it about hip hop and not rap." people dont understand that when I get mad when people ask is "hip hop dying?" or is "hip hop dead?" because HIP HOP artists are doing their thing like the ones you named(lupe, common, kanye, mos def,etc yall know who they are), and the RAP artists(anyone can be a rapper even you) are making music you dont like because your thinking that it is hip hop when they are two different genres... I like some RAP and mostly HIP HOP and I like some of the RAP music because I know the difference between the two, I dont get it mixed up and then say"omg HIP HOP is dead" when I know Im not listening to HIP HOP Im listening to RAP.
Reply:It's all the same. Rap lyrics—often a brash mixture of profanity and street slang—seem to be another reason for the popularity of rap. Unlike traditional rock lyrics, many of which dwell on the subject of teenage romance, rap lyrics often have a more serious message. Some rap speaks out against injustice, racism, and police brutality. At times, though, the rhyming refrains are stated in the most foul, shocking language imaginable. Rap also seems to constitute a rebellion against standards of dress, grooming, and sexual morality. Not surprisingly, rap has become a life-style in its own right. Its adherents are identified by their flamboyant gestures, street slang, and garb—baggy jeans, unlaced high-top sneakers, gold chains, baseball caps, and dark glasses.





At Ephesians 5:10, Christians are told to “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.” Considering the reputation rap has made for itself, do you think it would be “acceptable to the Lord” for you to get involved with it? Would a Christian youth want to be identified with a life-style that is deemed unacceptable even by many people of the world?


Hip Hop Body!! Being Serious What is their secret and How do I get this look and I know it possible?

Check out the link, 36-22-42 is her measurements, mine is **-38-44 so How do I get my stomch to be smaller then my boobs without losing my hips or Cup size. I dont know what workouts to do, but I do know that all these hip hop honeys are not born with these bodies some have to workout to look like that, maybe the butts but not the 22 waist line, some are and I think most are not www.absolutelyamber.com %26amp; http://www.hhdb.com/hip-hop-honeys.php

Hip Hop Body!! Being Serious What is their secret and How do I get this look and I know it possible?
Get off the computer and start doing an hour's worth of cardio workouts. No pain, no gain.
Reply:personal trainers and an eating disorder.
Reply:CUT your calories. do the 1200- 1500 cal diet
Reply:Some people call it plastic surgery.
Reply:Ay yo .For one dawg ,you nids 2 luv urself.U dig. 4 Shizzle.Be happy of whooat you gotz B. Some people r just born with the rite curbs..Whoo Whee..





WWWHHHHHOOOOOAAAAAAATTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!!!





OOOOOOKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY...





Exercises and dieting will help..
Reply:Weight training!


North Indian or South Indian - got the real Hip Hop Grime songs enceeing with back beats & scratching?

I mean a real hip hop genre with Grandmaster Flash %26amp; the Furious Five backbone rythm - something that goes that way or atleast parallel .





I'm collecting and getting to knnow Indian true HIP HOP





I discovered two Indian Hip Hop so far that somehow is hip hop.





These Indian Hip Hops are something like 50 Cent or perhaps better though and I sincerely would like to know if there are any other genuine Indian Hip Hop out there.





** I never meant Indian rap songs or other pop songs with rapping or anything else but HIP HOP genre - because many missunderstood what HIP HOP songs are





Song 1 ( Listen full )


********


( song name = Indian Girl [ I guess] )


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_CoLkz9L...








Song 2 ( Also Listen fully till complete )


********


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSRGdiV14...





P/S - Since anyone can answer it , so I post it on the most participated Y/A category

North Indian or South Indian - got the real Hip Hop Grime songs enceeing with back beats %26amp; scratching?
Its the south Indian definately , the links to the HIP HOP song you have in your question is a TAMIL hip hop song . Actualy there are more Tamil hip hop songs around - Tamils are the first Indian to invade this HIP HOP culture and I belive the next wave in HIP HOP songs are also from another south Indian nation - Kerala .





North Indian ( Hindi , Bengali , Bojpuri ) songs are more Authnetic and hip hops songs are considered weird and out of culture.





If you want more Indian Hip Hop search on Tamil label
Reply:And this has to do with Religion %26amp; Spirituality because...?





Edit: Touche, Glitter Girl—you beat me to it. Great minds think alike.
Reply:And this belongs in R%26amp;S how?
Reply:These guys sound and look more like a "wanna be" rappers .

gold teeth

"The 25 Things That Killed Hip Hop" list, What do you think of this list and how many do you agree with?

I did not create this list but what do you think about this list?.....source below.....





http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2008/04/2...





25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music





In the midst of everyone's declarations that "Hip Hop is Dead" we somehow forgot the slow death that is spreading across all aspects of "urban" music, as the legacy of Soul and its close cousins has devolved into a writhing mass of commercialism, homogenization, thuggification and overall laziness. Now, in no particular order, we present to you the "25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music" because you love lists and SoulBounce isn't afraid to say what you're thinking. Keep in mind that there will be some overlap, as certain items gave way to others that deserve their own spanking.








1. The End of the "Event" Album: There was a time when albums encompassed an era that included a look, a feel, and a style that informed an artist's videos and live performances for as long as they (or the label) could squeeze revenue from a project by releasing singles. The "event" album can chiefly be credited to Jacksons Michael and Janet, who have entire timelines built around the idea of a "Thriller Era" or a "Rhythm Nation Era". Nowadays, instead of treating albums as what they are (a collection of songs with one unifying theme) artists are more likely to seek out the most ubiquitous Hip Hop beatmakers of the moment and record over a hundred songs from which to "pick" singles. Also, when you have artists that are too scared to release music with a healthy 3-5 year gap in between, the lines to between albums begin to blur, and the eras become indistinguishable, rendering them null.





2. Big Name Hip Hop Producers: With respect due to the beatmakers that introduce a track with the name of their production imprint, ad-lib all over it, and insert themselves as guest rappers 50% of the time, they overshadow the actual vocalist of a song. We certainly don't begrudge any of them the right to employment, but when an artist has to do an inventory of who produced her project to qualifiy it instead of telling us what the album is about, we have to take exception. Reality check: If you're trying to goad me into a purchasing your album because you have a Pharrell beat on it and I'm a Pharrell fan, then that's the only song I'm buying. Your album has to have legs of its own.








3. Deaths of The Notorious B.I.G. %26amp; 2Pac: You can probably draw a direct line from the deaths of Biggie and 'Pac to the current state of Hip Hop. The two of them cultivated a style that even a decade later is re- and misappropriated to the nth. Perhaps if they were still alive, they'd have pushed the genre forward. Or maybe they'd be wack and irrelevant. Hey, at least they died while they were still good.





4. "Neo-Soul": We understand the emergence of the "neo-soul" genre as a response to the growing commercialization of modern R%26amp;B. But even the artists lumped into this category began to the see that the term was as much a marketing ploy as the very things they eschewed. The language used to describe these artists ranged from "organic" to "avant garde" and any press materials would claim that he/she looks up to Stevie, Marvin and Donnie. And don't stand too close to the stage lest you get burned by the candles and frankencense! Before long, the audience would be fooled and we would either grow to love or loathe this music, defending the art of its purveyors and loudly wondering why they couldn't move as many units as their mainstream counterparts. Simply put, "neo-soul" has become a term used by people to describe music they respect but would never buy.





5. Reality TV: Aside from the manufactured Pop idols that are struggling to stay signed within their prize contracts, we have to question the motives of Sean Combs, Robin Antin and Missy Elliott, who have all aped the reality television format to generate acts for their own stable of artists. To be sure, reality TV has replaced proper Artist Development as a means for these entrepreneurs to cash in, stroke their egos and embarrass people who, 9 times out of 10, deserve it. Speaking of which, what's O'so Krispie doing?





6. Lazy A%26amp;R Departments: Did you know that A%26amp;R people are also responsible for Artist Development? Probably not, since these days a newly-signed artist is more likely to be stripped of their identity and given one that falls in step with what's popular or, even worse, none at all. Take Cheri Dennis for example. While her album has a respectable amount of solid R%26amp;B tracks, we still don't know who Cheri Dennis is, what sets her apart from everyone else or even what she sounds like. But, she has earned the distinction of being signed to her label for nearly a decade with no album to speak of. Did the A%26amp;R department utilize that time by playing Spades? Probably.








7. Scarface and The Untouchables: Okay, rapper, we get it, Scarface and The Untouchables are the greatest movies ever made; your life in celluloid, even. But, if you look close enough, you'll come to learn that you are neither Pacino or De Niro and should stop emulating them by using audio clips from the films in your interludes and the script in your lyrics. Too many of you are still doing this after all these years. Also, tell members of your crew to stop calling themselves "Ness" and "Nitti". Just, please, cut it out. Thank you.





8. Thugs: Not only do we have "Studio Thugs" that use de Palma films to inform their image (see above) but there's the "Corporate Thug" (robs an artist of his publishing and signs him to a hellified contract he could never fulfill) and the questionable "R%26amp;B Thug", which happened somewhere between R. Kelly and Jodeci and continues to this day. Along the way, labels got the bright idea that the way to a woman's heart was by selling drugs and beating up people. Sexy! This trend has also given rise to something else we'll never understand: "R%26amp;B Beef", in which two singers talk trash about each other to the media. Unfortunately, this doesn't result in a "sing-off" but pretty much makes everyone involved look kind of retarded.





9. Crime: Between violating probation, not paying child support, being pulled over and caught with an ounce of weed or cocaine, assaulting nail technicians, shooting people, tossing concertgoers off the stage, committing perjury, tax evasion, and urinating on minors, we have to wonder if being a good artist means being a bad citizen.





10. Ringtones: "Real Music Ringtones" were created as a way to distinguish your ringing cellular from someone else's while also bringing you closer to your favorite artist. Unfortunately, the labels realized this was the only way to generate revenue and started making music for the sole purpose of selling ringtones. Now, we have stripped-down keyboard beats and grunts and "yaahhs" instead of lyrics. Is that my cellphone ringing or yours? We'll never know, because we both downloaded Soulja Boy.





11. Lack of Music Programs in Schools: Programs like Garage Band have not only made producers lazy, but undercut the importance of immersing young would-be musicians in music history as well as basic composition. Unless a popular musician was trained in the church, they probably lucked into a contract without knowing how to write, play an instrument, or worse, sing a note.








12. BET (and by extension its corporate owner) is on a mission to not only destroy urban music, but poison the perception of Black people in the process. If we were to use this network as a guide (and people unfortunately do), we would believe that "drug dealer %26gt; rapper %26gt; pimp" is a logical career path, alcoholic beverages can be used as bodysplash, women of exotic or indeterminate race are the standard of beauty, darker-skinned women are only valuable if they have a big *** and a tiny waist, a person's worth can only be determined by what they drive and what they wear, you ain't sh*t if you're over 30, and a week's worth of debauchery and decadence can be undone with a Sunday marathon of religious programming. It's funny because it's true.





13. The Radio: Used to be, you would turn on the radio and hear a variety of artists with a variety of sounds. But due to the "Clear Channeling" of Urban Radio, you'll hear a T-Pain song followed by 15 minutes of commercials, followed by a song featuring T-Pain, some shucking and jiving by unbearable radio personalities for five minutes, then something that resembles a T-Pain song, but isn't because just about everyone sounds like T-Pain now. And it's probably a commercial.





14. Spineless Club DJs: If you're going out to a club, you might as well sit in the house and blast the radio instead of paying the inflated cover charge. Once upon a time, DJs were tastemakers, but now so many of them are afraid they'll clear the floor by spinning something new that they just play album versions of songs people are tired of but are too drunk to notice. Then, they add insult to injury by showing off their "skills" with poorly-timed scratches, blends that don't line up and screaming over the music. And consider yourself lucky if you happen upon a DJ with ACTUAL! VINYL! RECORDS!








15. Mainstream Hip Hop Publications: Back in the 90's, holding one of these rags in your hands was like holding a monthly Bible to all things Hip Hop and R%26amp;B. Now, they've all been relegated to chasing blogs and reiterating things we already knew weeks ahead instead of properly utilizing the print medium to do something unique. Changes in personnel and ownership aside, they were already marching towards irrelevance. Even the covers suck now, but you probably won't get the damn thing delivered on time in order to find out.





16. Bloggers: Guilty as charged! Trifle few of us are qualified to be writing about music with any authority, especially since most of the people behind blogs haven't been alive long enough to have a healthy perspective on the subject. Although it can be argued that record companies rely on blogs for buzz, most of the music championed by popular websites is the same music that would've gotten attention anyway. Also, we have to point out that the commenting system has turned discussions about music into an unholy war of "haters" versus "stans", where everyone is an expert on what they hate or love, but have no concept of anything else including real life. Oh, and providing your readers with the URL to full album leaks doesn't "help" the artist.





17. Youtube %26amp; Myspace: On the Internet, everyone is a star (thank you, thank you). But while sites like Myspace and Youtube can provide mainstream and indie musicians with a means of cultivating and connecting with an audience, it becomes a chore to sort through the muck of people with a webcam and a login classifying themselves as "artists". And damn you all to Hell for having the crap you made in Grandma's basement on auto-play.





18. Singing Rappers, Acting Rappers %26amp; Rapping Athletes: We'll keep this short. Every now and then you'll happen upon someone that has been able to organically transition from one career to another. Will and Latifah come to mind. To everyone else (coughCurtiscough), stay in your lane. Again, we don't begrudge anyone the chance to make some extra ends; it just shouldn't be at the expense of the audience.








19. The End of Real Singing Groups: Once upon a time, you not only had singing groups that weren't put together by a reality show, but wherein each member contributed a distinct voice or purpose to the group. Sometimes they had members that barely sang a note, but who actually produced or wrote the song. Point is, throwing a bunch of strangers in a house with one phone and giving them makeovers doesn't create synergy. Also, name a recent singing group that wasn't created for a television show or for the purpose of launching someone's solo career. Exactly.





20. "Kanyitis" is a temporary, yet frequent, illness that afflicts singers and rappers alike, wherein an artist waits until the precise moment they are in front of a camera, microphone or reporter to say something shocking and stupid, which will then be quoted by bloggers and searched on Youtube ad nauseum. Then the artist has to explain what they "really" meant, but by that time everyone already thinks they're nuts and doesn't care about a retraction.





21. Death of Aaliyah: Not that Aaliyah took an entire genre of music with her to the grave, but it can be argued that her passing made way for a wave of young, pretty dancers with okay voices and no personality. Only difference between them and Aaliyah is, Aaliyah had personality along with talent, ideas and a willingness to experiment. Also, she wasn't so full of herself.





22. Money: Even worse than artists releasing garbage because they know it sells is the audience's obsession with how much an artist makes. Unfortunately, we've given lack of artistry a pass because someone's "making that paper", which totally undermines the hard work of true creative talents that are constantly writing, recording, and performing. When I buy an album I don't want to hear an entrepreneur, which brings us to--








23. Products %26amp; Brands: Whether rappers and singers are inserting the names of designer alcoholic beverages into their lyrics or cable companies are inserting rappers and singers in their ad campaigns, things come to a point where we need to start realizing how owned these artists are. There's a thin line between businessperson and corporate slave. We'd also like to reiterate a fact that has been pointed out time and time again over the past 10 years: If you can't pronounce it, why should we care that you're wearing it, driving it, or drinking it?





24. People That Aren't in Any Way Associated with Music: Opportunities in the industry are built on connections and there's almost never been a time when someone didn't rise to stardom on someone else's coattails. But now, things have gotten way out of hand. Why be an actual artist when you can be someone that danced in videos, screwed a bunch of rappers and got a book deal? Or, you can be a butler or Executive In Charge of Umbrella-Carrying? Or, worse, be the "Fifth Mic" guy on stage and reliable instigator? Who needs a recording studio?





25. Teenagers: Young people have always had the power to determine trends in all genres of music, which is why corporations defer to them. However, today's teenagers seem to be slightly more insipid than they were in previous generations and definitely have a shorter attention span. Whether it's the teens themselves driving the garbage labels are releasing, or the labels that are leading teens down a path of ignorance, is totally up for debate. It's the chicken/egg question in its purest form.

"The 25 Things That Killed Hip Hop" list, What do you think of this list and how many do you agree with?
Actually it's..."The 26 Things That Killed Hip Hop"





#26: George W. Bush
Reply:when will we all realize that the real culprint is My Penis?
Reply:i agree with this list.....especially with number22
Reply:A lot of that list is right on point, I do agree with most things on this list, but I'm judging that by what I saw, not the details(too much of a read, haha)





But I especially agree with 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 22
Reply:i think #22 mainly





lmfao but u neva kno it coulda been rent-a-cop's pickle
Reply:Big Name Producers, Lack of Music Programs is schools, Spinless Club Djs, Money, People who are in no way associated with music, Teenagers ------ I agree on.





Also the fact that, ANYBODY CAN MAKE MUSIC NOW. I mean, ANYBODY. All you gotta do is DL FL Studio or Reason and you are set. Record a song over a prototypical loop, with some heavy drums about killing ,put it on myspace and you are set. Its that easy now. Used to take 3 months(no lie, im in a music history class) to push a song. Love in this Club by Usher was released in a day from Polow the Don's computer.
Reply:wow what a question :D


http://itunes.com, http://mp3legal.org, http://mp3netz.com
Reply:Why isn't lil wayne on the list?
Reply:I agree with every reason completely except for the last one. I partly agree with that, but I think there are many exceptions to that rule. Yes, teenagers who listen to hip-hop with substance (including myself) are becoming hard to find but there are still many who would prefer to listen to Nas instead of Souljah Boy.





I think the 25th reason would be better if it wasn't so specific and included a wider age group.
Reply:damn, this ish is just about flawless, thanks for puttin this up, mad good read homie
Reply:Ok well i didnt read all but most of the dam thing and some of that is true but hey what u gonna do cause tellin pple bout this and getin bout 6 answers isnt gonna help i mean thats just life it sucks and ull just have to get over it or sing or higher some one to sing a good hip- hop songs cause mostly everyone is just tryin to worry bout how they gonna make it in life cause of gas prices and food prices goin up, so thats some thing u should be rlly worried bout right now and save all this fo later when some one or all of the U.S. fixes this. And any ways most but not all us black pple can only do is rap cause some of us been through alot and is tryin to tell the world and some just want money so they can at less make it through with out problems that most non rich pple have to worry bout. But not to start any thing im just sayin that rap, metal, soul, jazz, r and b, HIP-HOP, ect, is the less of our problems for right now.
Reply:this is on point
Reply:Not number 4, but 12 and 18, oh yes! Read my profile. It'll tell you how I feel about it.
Reply:its the teenagers. teens these days are lame. they like the gayest stuff and listen to music with no meaning. they like the same beat over and over. everyteen i know now is pretty much a dork. this generation of teenagers should be considered generation dork. i also blame eminem for hip hops death. he should be number 26
Reply:i agree with every single reason that has been stated.......i reakon all those reasons are why hip hop is dead!





the music everyone calls hip hop these days isnt really hip hop...it is the stuff that kills the real hip hop and it is all trash!


Why does everyone blame hip-hop for youth violence, etc?

I cannot stand the ignorance. So how come they don't say anything about violent death metal And rock that has any hate And killing and suicide messages? No wonder so many little young white teens commit suicide. How about violent movies and videogames? You guys need to stop taking shots at hip-hop. RAP = Retards Attempting Poetry? Sorry, creating actual good rap music requires deep thought and emotion. (EX: Tupac, Nas, AZ, Jadakiss, etc) ... I am not talking about Soulja Boy or the Dem Franchize Boyz. They are not RAPPERS. They are ENTERTAINERS. It's not that hard to understand the difference, hip-hop/rap haters. Hip-Hop and Rap music has it's positive side but you guys only look at the negative side and point everything out on hip-hop. Why, why, why? I am not here to argue or complain. I am here to give you guys lessons in order to change your guys minds and opinion towards hip-hop and rap music positively

Why does everyone blame hip-hop for youth violence, etc?
I listen to rock, and I don't think you should be talking about ignorance since you have displayed quite a lot. I listen to rock and hip hop, rap, classical and country. Listening to rock doesn't make you more prone to suicide. I know more black and Hispanic people actually who have been involved with attempted suicide and self mutilation. It's not about the music, you need to understand that. People like to have a scape goat. Come on, what was Hitler listening to? Was it the music or was he just insane?


Good rap is stuff like The Roots, groups that actually talk about a message, most rap today doesn't do that. Most rock today doesn't mean anything either.


People don't want to realize that the way kids are turning out today is a lot of their fault. Uninvolved parents, father's that have left them, not being able to talk about how they feel because that would make them a fag. It's people's fault, not the music.


Your not giving anyone a lesson by the way, your just proving people right with your indignant anger. Your not proving anything. I view OLDER rap and hip hop positively. It's the "entertainers" of today that I view negatively, the rappers the glorify gang violence, screamo metal that encourages rage that I view negatively. But you can't blame music for people's actions. Yes, you can say music encourages people to do things. But in the end it is that person's decision and only they are to blame.


EDIT*


By the way, yes Marilyn Manson does get criticized, metal gets banged at every time there is a school shooting. What is racist is calling every little thing out as being RACIST. Know what you're talking about before you prove your stupidity.


I'm not saying people shouldn't be able to criticize music, they should, but they shouldn't be able to censor it or stop people from listening to it just because they find fault in it.
Reply:I am not gonna down it because I listen to it! but there is subliminal messaging in it! I think that because most rappers tend to curse and sing about hoes money and weed and things like that people only look at the bad songs! Yes there are good ones...and you are right death metal and rock is the exact same...it might also have a little bit to do with the fact that a LOT of people are still pregidous*spelling*
Reply:And yet we are supposed to be on here to ask questions...





People say a lot about video-games, metal etc. Some people blame Super Mario for making kids violent, ffs. Now it's okay to blame the "Goth" subculture for school shootings. People always look for scape-goats to avoid real issues. But a lot of people stereotype rap as being meaningless.





People who say death metal etc. isn't criticised- come off it. If you think death metal causes suicide, all black crimes can be attributed to rap.
Reply:Good question....I think it is partially racial...there are metal bands that talk just as much about death and violence...take marilyn manson for instance...his/her???? lyrics are extremely violent and disturbing...no one is really criticizing him/her/it???
Reply:Society will always have a scapegoat. You have touched on several of them. Not many want to take blame for their part of the problem. Youth violence stems from the society's values and the way these kids are raised.
Reply:I used to listen to rap while I was in high school (because it was cool then, they only talked about having sex and getting drunk or dancing) Now the message is different...so I don't listen to a lot of American music anymore or watch a lot of American TV because its complete nonsense. Negativity and violence is not a good way to live, regardless of what style of music its hiding under. Since there are so many people that believe that what they see on TV is reality and/or how things should 'look' (ie. celebrity, gangster, etc.) then a lot of people will follow suit simply because they are nothing more than sheep.
Reply:What happens is that it depends on the person who is listening !


If i am hearing : im a mother fucka , and your my hoe , lets go to my crib and i know its just a song meant to entertain then what is saying doesnt really affect me , but if someone else takes it serisuly then that person may become influenced .I listen to metal /rock 85% of the time and the last thing on my mind is to kill myself , do drugs , or any other freaky thing , because in the back of my mind i know its just to entertain ! that is why is called music!


The New Era of Hip-Hop & your thoughts on it! For Hip-Hop Lovers!?

Alright, I've been into Hip-Hop all my life, growing up arround a 6 year older brother, I grew up with Public Enemy, House of Pain, Dre, Snoop Dog, Mariah, Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Arrested Development, BoyzIIMen, Shanice, TLC, EnVogue, Excape, SWV, %26amp; then there was a chnage once Space Jam came out, I was into Alliah, Brandy, Nas, Fugees, Monica, Total, Usher, Puffy, 2Pac, B.I.G., Mase, Foxy Brown, BlackStreet, McLite, Missy, Nicole, Lauryn Hill %26amp; then I slid in a new stage listening to Mary J Blidge, Silk, Jagged Edge, R Kelly, Nelly, Juvy, Jigga, Mystical, Silk da Shocker, Devon Da Dude lol %26amp; next thing you knew it was 50 Cent, Twista, Lil Wayne, T.I. Trappin, Kanye, Destinys Child, Beyonce, J-Lo, I was doing the Manolo Timbs %26amp; da Video Girl look lol, I loved Hip-Hop I lived it...but now I am lost! Hip-Hop has become so tacky in my opinion. There r few exceptions like Chris Brown, Jeniffer Hudson, Beyonce %26amp; Jay Z that reflect a positive attitude but overal Hip Hop seems tarnished

The New Era of Hip-Hop %26amp; your thoughts on it! For Hip-Hop Lovers!?
***************BEST ANSWER HERE**************


The worst drug known to man - where he can look in the mirror and say, "There I am".





Commercialized, vanity, and the almighty dollar robbed us of that.


I grew up when Hip Hop evolved, too.


Once artists/companies began to generate revenue from this, the changes started to come.


Use for reference, back in the day, it was about content: Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Boogie Down Productions, MC Shan, Cool J - pre "I Need Love" days, Stetsasonic, etc..


This was passed down to artists like Nas, Jay Z, Talib Kweli, Common, etc..


All the other artists now are not in it for the art - but for the money. They'll tell you that, too.





There wasn't much thought put into videos, etc..


NOW, videos are seen as a marketing tool - which increased the demand and value.


I love Hip Hop - just don't forget where it came from.





"The revolution will NOT be televised"


Tonight's HIP HOP Homework??

OK I LOVE HIP HOP man. Seriously! This is such an exciting genre and I'm feelin it. I wouldn't say I'm a "Hip Hop Head" per say, cause I still have a lot of research and learning to do. But I am a major fan, especially of Old School.





I want you to write a ONE paragraph essay explaining WHY you LOVE HIP HOP and why are you a fan??? ie. what makes you a certified Hip Hop fan? Why does this genre speak to YOU in particular?? What do you love about it??





Again, must be at least ONE paragraph.





C'mon it's an easy assignment...





No need to get too detailed or anything..

Tonight's HIP HOP Homework??
I love hip hop because of the culture, the history, the competitive aspect and the fact that i can connect w/ the music. What makes me a certified hip hop fan is i can appreciate good hip hop from anywhere of the country, and that i can appreciate and respect hip hop from all time frames, not just what was hot during a certain era, or what I grew up on. This genre speaks to me in particular because its a blueprint of my life, hip hop has ups and downs, hardships, and it also has its finest moments, just like most of our lives
Reply:I love the Hip Hop culture and genre, because it's dynamic, it's energetic, it's creative, it's hood life, it's got the good, the bad, it's got the hits and the misses, but it's REAL. It art, it's poetry, it's something that I grew up listening to and brings back a lot of nostalgia for me. I love artists who are creative and just plain raw. I love artists who can express themselves freely and not be afraid of who they are. Hip Hop is ever- changing. Regardless of what people think about it, it's what *I* grew up listening to and it's part of who I am.
Reply:Okay Ms. Lollipop... lol





I love hip-hop becuase its the music I grew up listening to, %26amp; its music that I relate to %26amp; its like one of the cultures for black America. I'm a fan becuase its fun music %26amp; its pretty much the most diverse. I think I'm a certified fan becuase well I know a lot about %26amp; I AM HIP-HOP %26amp; I have it in my heart which means I love it. Hip-hop is like one of my hobbies. Listening %26amp; writting rhymes.
Reply:I love hip hop because of the way it feels. The way it makes the neck snap and the head rock. The way the lyricist folds and mixes his/her rhyme to make you stop in your tracks and rewind that cd with the quicks. From the political (Chuck D) to the lackadaisical (Ghostface Killah), it's both entertaining and tells (warns) you what about what is happening out there without you even stepping out into THEIR hood. The storytelling is just dynamic and transfers you in with damn detail. You can smell what they smell, see what they see. And then, there are the beats. Thick hooks and that bass. Together, its just . . . nature.
Reply:eyy if none of u dont wanna do it then dont come and say it in a comment.





Love Hip Hop because its just who i am. Its the only real music for me. I grew up listening to it and always stuck to it. Yes your right it is an exciting genre. I love all the talented emcees` who spit their stuff and actually make you realize things and such. I go old skool and love everything there. But then again its funny how people are treating this genre now and its just interesting how they talk about the difference now and then. But I live Hip Hop and you can ask anybody. I have albums after albums etc and i defend my genre like my own person. I dont know if its weird what I just said but anyways you get it.








:) AND WHOS GIVIN THUMBS DOWN 2 EVERY1?
Reply:Well I like almost everything b4 2002. Jay-Z Biggie Nas 2pac etc. I like how it because some artists are lyrical and punchline artists. No other genre of music comes up with lines that make u say wow. ex "Far from broke got enough bread and mad hoes ask beavis I get nuthin butt-head"


wow lol. I like the fact o its the only genre i heard of with beefs. Personally I like diss tracks especially ones that make me laugh lol. These r just a couple reasons but theres plenty
Reply:I love Hip Hop, because it's a part of my life. I grew up in the hoods of Southern Cali, I was there to witness Gangsta life fo real. It wasn't no Music video, that was what I was exposed to throughout the 90's. I consider myself a fan, because I have the upmost respect for the genre and I'm feelin in. I take the good with the bad. I eat, sleep and breath Hip Hop.
Reply:this is bringing me back to the 5th grade. Well, I like old school hip hop, because they did not rap about their hoes, money, and cars and all the sex they have with all their hoes. I like the artists nowadays like common and mos def, because you have to analyse and think about what they're saying it's more than lyrics.
Reply:I love hip hop with a passion. I remember growing up I was listening to 2pac, Biggie, Tribe Called Quest, Nas, etc. It seems like hip hop ain't like it used to be but hey it's still my thing. I don't look at hip hop as a genre but as a lifestyle. The clothes we wear are influenced by hip hop and many other things.
Reply:This is what I wrote my college essay about
Reply:i am too lazy to right an essay. i luv hip hop though. especially outkast
Reply:thats too much thats wat skool is for to give us work not you.
Reply:ur gonna give this 2 ur teacher so 4 extra cradit so no
Reply:YA RIGHT
Reply:i like hip hop. alot. it is good. i am feeling it. seriously. i am a certified hip hop fan. I love it. i deserve a good grade on this essay because i worked on it all night.

pets

What is it about hip-hop...?

That makes you love it so much? Is it just because, or is there reason behind it? I want some feed back from hip-hop heads because people I ask don't know why they listen to it, "they just do."





For me, hip-hop is a place for me to escape. Growing up was hard for me in many ways, so I found my relief and sanity within hip-hop. I also use hip-hop to get away from the harsh reality of life, and use that time to reflect on many things.





Why do YOU listen to hip-hop?

What is it about hip-hop...?
There's not Any Difference from Hip Hop .. then there is from any other music..





It just depends on how well you Know/Lived the culture of it.





Emily.. Thats fine..


I grew up in east Detroit.. I've been around Rap Music all my life... Nevertheless, I enjoy alot of Metal.. i.e Slayer, Pantara.. Never used to until i started buying the DVD's and really hearing the songs instead of just listening to them.





Perharps I should of put it..





It just depends on how well you Know/Lived (or Followed) the culture of it
Reply:Cause its all I know...Its either hip hop...or some old school salsa...real old salsa...The ish my pops used to listen to...
Reply:You might like to rap because u relate to how the rappers grew up


I like it cuz of the beats
Reply:like lupe Ficaso hip hop has saved my life
Reply:i know i'm gonna do a terrible job of explaining this, but there's something very different about hip hop from any other kind of music.


personally, i've experienced much more direct emotion through beats and rapping than in any other genre and i feel much more connected to hip hop artists than other artists. it's a more "raw" form of expression, and i love its complexity.


that's why for me at least.





----


Jampton: i disagree. i haven't "lived the culture" at all, but i still connect to hip hop a lot.
Reply:Hip-Hop. Its a movement. Rap. Is a music genre.


I still listen to Rap because it takes me to other place in time


when I was younger and there was still mad lyricists that had somthing to say.
Reply:It's just that is so good. People aren't screaming or acting too crazy like Rock. Most of the time, it's not mushy or too lovy duvy. I listen too it because it is just so good to me. I like it. i have nothing to reflect upon it, I just like it.
Reply:I can walk hip hop, so Ive been told
Reply:I GREW UP LISTENING TO HIP HOP.ITS A PART OF MY LIFE. ITS MY WAY TO ESCAPE THE WORLD WHEN IM NOT IN A GOOD MOOD.
Reply:With the rap I listen to... I listen to it because it makes sense to me. Ocassionally I listen to some music to get away from reality. But anyone with real talent deserves a listen.





And I agree with Jampton.
Reply:the addictive beat, lyrics, and it just makes me feel good when i hear it!





[: *~dRuMmErGiRl~* :]
Reply:i like hip hop because of good lyrics %26amp; production


Nas says that he thinks hip hop is dead. What do you think?

I agree with Nas. True hip hop and hip hop culture is dying. All that remains is fast beats and trashy lyrics. That kind of music can be fun to listen to for strong minded adults, who don't take those kinds of lyrics seriously, but it seems that it perpetuates the ignorance of it's impressionable young listeners. I love hip hop. And I can't front- I like the booty shaking lyrics; the beats; it's fun to dance to, and sometimes the lyrics are so absurd, that I can't help but enjoy the silliness. But I think that originally hip hop music was created to give a voice to the people who didn't have voices. Up until hip hop really started to take off- a lot of issues in black and lower income commuinites (the ones who mostly identify with hip hop) were over looked or unacknowledged. Once that music became popular and started playing in the homes of upper middle class families, who found the music to be despicable- they could no longer turn a deaf ear, or blind eye to what was going on in these

Nas says that he thinks hip hop is dead. What do you think?
you know i agree with you but like you said i love the beats and lyrics and new dance moves out now but the real hip hop that was acually going somewhere is just full of people just tryna make a quick buck and comin out with a lot of bullshit but like i said if you really sat down to listen to hip hop back then to now you would see a big difference...now all people talk about is money, cars, clothes, and hoes but i cant front i love me some hip hop though
Reply:I bellieve it is dying. I have all ways been into music, mostly country and hip-hop, and today, they don't have true hip-hop, just miscellaneous beats, and bad lyrics, because they think that is what today's people want


Well, it's not, and I hope it changes very soon
Reply:i hope it dies
Reply:fo sure! true hip-hop like run dmc and the legends of the late 70s and 80s are not around anymore. the real songs that truely stood for something aint around. all thats left is degrading women, shotting people ,or havin sex. no im not sayin all thsi is wrong or whatever you wana say. i just think its absurd that all this the rappers stood for is gone.








its only my opinion tho
Reply:Well, ironically, real hiphop is mostly dead, but whatever the hell took its place is very popular now, especially to impressionable white teenagers.
Reply:It's dead because rap has taken over. Most hip hop artists like Nas, dead Prez, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, The Roots, and Lupe Fiasco, don't even get a lot of radio airplay. I turn on the radio and hear crap like "chicken noodle soup", or "pop, lock, and drop it". Rap is what's selling now and labels are'nt gonna change cause they want to make all the money they can, leaving us hip hop fans with less and less to choose from. It sucks!
Reply:(you saw that video clip on Yahoo too, eh?...Heh- that Mia chick that asked him a question was HOT!) :)





ANYway, I agree w/ him. Hip hop hasn't been creative %26amp; groundbreaking since the 90s.





You Have to look underground for the good stuff today. Cause MTV %26amp; BET sure ain't airing it....
Reply:It Is? Finally....I thought it would never end....is this the end or the beginning of a new Hip-Hop sound? something to think about.
Reply:As a true hiphop head and Nas listener since 1994, I have to agree with the hiphop genius. I used to love hiphop to the point that it was in every aspect of my life. But the new music they call "hiphop" is not hiphop anymore. They need to give it a new name. I recently started getting into indie rock, just because the overall creativity in it.....all in all, im still going to see Nas perform on April 30th!! And also the Killers on April 9th. : o ) Good music is good music.
Reply:hip-hop used to have a meaning, it was a way for people to express feelings and ideas about their surroundings. Now all you hear about is sex and money and it is completely self-indulging lyrics. Old hip-hop with meanings behind lyrics is not dead as long as there are still people who sing about things with meaning, its just not mainstream and doesn't bring in money to huge record companies.
Reply:It's not at all. That and rap are still the best music out there.
Reply:Absolutely. Whats truly said about it is, hip hop used to be the outlet for rappers who had something important to say, something that makes you think. Sure there were fun light hearted songs back than too, but none of it was offensive.





The industry now is filled up with nonsense "artists" with one or two hits which are nothing more than infectious good beats, compiled with silly and simplistic lyrics and ridiculous music videos that all look the same - exploiting women, black women in particular, putting the genre and Black people in general in an unfavorable light.





Its crazy how easy it is to get a hit song these days. I officially declared this when "Laffy Taffy" went to number one on the Billboard charts. What the hell? Come on, even "Toostie Roll" was better than that. That and "Chicken Noodle Soup". I turn on the radio now, and I'll hear a song that repeats the phrase "This is why I'm hot" repeatedly in the chorus to the point where you'd think thats the whole song, another that sounds just the same but instead has the line "Now walk it out," etc etc. Its all so redundant. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of songs that repeat the same line over and over (especially old ones) but you never get the vibe that its uninspired piece of crap.





Sometimes I feel like I'm one of the few teenagers my age (17) who only seem to realize this. I hear them sing a long to these songs and I'm like, are you serious? Do they really like this? Music in general hasn't been good since the 90s. There are many exceptions but they are overshadowed but commercial productions, undeserved radio airplay, etc.
Reply:I disagree I think hip hop is just getting started with all these new people coming out of no where but it could use some work like some of the raps stop talking about bitches and sex and all that other **** people don't want there kids listening to that thats what I think


What does hip hop mean to you?

my life is all about music and hip hop has affected me in more ways than i could ever express. to me, hip hop is an art form. its like poetry by way of music and thats what i love about it. artists like tupac, rakim, nas, and many others are lyrical geniuses and are icons in the hip hop world.





so i just want to know what you guys think about hip hop music and what it means to you...

What does hip hop mean to you?
I like hip hop. Most hip hop isn't cursing. Some singers like Mary J. Blige don't curse a lot. You act like you have never ever said a curse word in your life. I don't care if you insult me. I am unique and like hip hop and I am fine just the way I am.
Reply:I feel Hip Hop is a way of life. I know that might sound cliche but it really is. So many people have forgotten the true definition of Hip Hop. For example...there is 4 elements that make Hip Hop what it is. break dancing, MC'ing, Graffiti, and DJing. Rappers who call themselves Hip Hop are not Hip Hop. Like my man, NM says "You can't say your the best baseball player ever. You might be the best Pitcher but you ain't the best baseball playa!"
Reply:I understand how you feel and everything but I don't agree. I don't think there are enough rappers like Tupac,rakim,Nas, etc anymore. Hip Hop has become so commercialized and superficial now. Everything seems to be about more money,rims,grills,sex and hoes. It can be so disrespectful to women and that just doesn't fly with me anymore. That's just how I feel.
Reply:To me hip hop is important becuz it represents the black culture and i love to sing.
Reply:i think that hip hop is the culture that rap emerges from.
Reply:rap is my mentality filled with alot of tragedy,


go crazy if i cant have it B, im infected like cavities,


when the blacks can make a masterpeice


instead of pulling out they peice


its feeling like im hustling gettin money really quick


hear alot saying they the truth but da boi aint feeling it


i been out here in the booth trynna cop me a coop


person that wrote this flow is who myspace.com/young_truth


i been that fire i cant deny aint nobody to even tie


no i want take a break until all the fakes retire


or even die thats same reason that i keep the fire


the only way for me to go is if i commit suicide


that want happen cuz im still here no i want disappear


we running trains on hip hop from the front and the rear


yes my vision really clear they know what i got in store


and yahoo can steal this rap cuz i got plenty more


im just showing that im real i aint trynna talk it out


if u aint talking money do like unk and walk it out


so much money over here thats all that i see


made music my girlfriend and ya know she gone take the D (d*ck)





myspace.com/young_Truth





watch out for the young joc dunks remix...BLACK COLLAR ENT....we in here.....
Reply:I think that RAP is somethink you blast through the speakers at a party and HIP HOP is something you can just chill to and listen to the words. if you want to truly expess your feelings then you do it through the only way many people will hear you, through hip hop. in my opion i grew up and still live in a poor neiborhood where whenever u look out your windows you see shootings, drug deals, fights, and stuff most americans don't understand. when u listen to a hip hop song like 2pacs "changes" you understand exactly what he is talking about. hip hop is more than lyrics, its a way of life.
Reply:crap a waste of money
Reply:Hip Hop is a culture, and anyone outside that culture is a vulture - KRS-One.





He said it best, I grew up in that culture, it's DJs, M.C.s, graffiti artists, breakin, style, attitude, being original and loving who you are.
Reply:i think it,s party dance music.
Reply:Hip hop to me is everything, from the clothing culture to music to the dancing to the cars everything! Its like I live it breathe it everyday. Anybody who is truley apart of the hip hop culture knows what I mean. Hip hop to me, is my life. Also just to make another point. It hurts me that people are saying that hip hop is dead. Hip hop can never be dead because, it evolves from the people who create it. Its just right now not a lot of people can relate to it because it is currently mostly a product of the street culture. People who grow up in the street and write about it, are apart of hip hop. Violence, drugs, etc. is apart of the struggle of minorities. So hip hop is not dead the streats have just gotten meaner and glamorized by mainstream america. Hip-hop/ rap is a living breathing growing entity that should not be criticized just because people cant relate. I luv it!!!
Reply:it's basically crap, and the music in almost any hip hop song sounds exactly like the music in any other hip hop song. these guys aren't geniuses by any stretch of the imagination. it doesn't take a lot of brain power to put together a song about killing cops and then just keep repeating the same sh*t over and over.
Reply:I kinda like hip-hop. I don't like that most hip-hop artits don't write their own songs, and pretty much anyone can sing (if you call it singing, its more like talking) that kind of music. It takes talkent to write it. I really like hip-hop dance though (not the wild exotic kind, though).
Reply:to me hip-hop is a way of life and you can really relate and it shows how strong you are and how to deal with problems that occur during life. i also think that if it was not for hiphop the world would not be the same and those eho think it is a waste of time are totally wrong they dont take the tim to listen to the lyrics and try to see where the artist is coming from.I grew up on hip hop its always been around me.I LUV HIPHOP
Reply:i bet your from the bay...





hiphops the **** i like the early 90s nas,gangstarr,big eastcoastmusic.I think its taking a big nosedive right now .im liking joell ortiz now though
Reply:HIP HOP MEAN LIKEPEOPLE WHO LIKE TO PARTY ALL NIGHT NEVER STOPING AN DTHEY ARE FROM PEOPLE LIKE 50 CENTS AND LUDACRIS AND MUCH MORE?
Reply:It means that people are feeling free to express what they're feeling. They're showing the world all the racism and violence. They're showing them how to stop it.
Reply:Hip hop make me think right now about Nas, and for me he's a genius !!
Reply:to bob hip hops just being original, everything about the culture revolves around originality





if you bite somebodys tag or style, you aint a real writer





if you bite somebodys line, you aint a real emcee





if you bite somebodys moves ands style, you aint a real b boy





everything everybody makes is original, they made hip hop at a time where everybody was dressing the same, talking the same and doing the same ****. The music was all the same, teh dancing was the same, the art was your same old picasso bullshit, was bout time somebody came in and showed that generation what being original and yourself looked like.


Only question is, whos gonna show our generation what being original looks like, kinda lost it a long the way from glorifying gang violence, drugs and biting other peoples ****.





thank god for





Super kool 223


Krs-One


Run-DMC


Kool Herc


Sugar Hill


Boogaloo Sam


Haze


Taki 183


The Juice Crew


The Rock Steady Crew





and all the other pioneers who pioneered this ****, too bad all the god damn kids for example Dunn spitting on the face of hip hop.
Reply:a rabbit is going through my garden.?
Reply:wuz up w these people...if u dont like hip hop/rap get out of the category...dont down something u know nothing bout...
Reply:This aint brown sugar! LOL On a serious note I love Mary J Blige she is the bomb. What I enjoy about hip hop is the fact that their lyrics are about real life sh!t. That stuff does happen
Reply:lack of production values and streamlined record release dates for people who don't have a very good sense of exactly how brainless it is to make a Hip hop song in a loop program.
Reply:It means hip-hopping bunny rabbits!
Reply:hip hop is all about the lyrics and the message. It tells about the real stuff happening in the world and in peoples lives. immortal technique and binary star are at the top of my list for hip hop artists
Reply:Hip hop (also spelled hip-hop or hiphop) is both a music genre and a cultural movement developed in urban communities starting in the 1970s, predominantly by African Americans.[1] Coinage of the term hip hop is often credited to Keith Cowboy, a rapper with Grandmaster Flash %26amp; the Furious Five. Though Lovebug Starski, Keith Cowboy, and DJ Hollywood used the term when the music was known as disco rap, it is believed that Cowboy created the term while teasing a friend who had just joined the US Army, by scat singing the words "hip/hop/hip/hop" in a way that mimicked the rhythmic cadence of marching soldiers.[2] Cowboy later worked the "hip hop" cadence into a part of his stage performance, which was quickly copied by other artists; for example the opening of the song "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang.[2] Afrika Bambaataa is credited with first using the term to describe the subculture that hip hop music belongs to, although it is also suggested that the term was originally derisively used against the new type of music.[3]





Since first emerging in New York City in the 1970s, hip hop has grown to encompass an entire lifestyle that consistently incorporates diverse elements of ethnicity, technology, art and urban life. There are four fundamental elements in hip hop:





Hip hop dance: Breakdance and various forms of street dance;


Hip hop art: Urban inspired art, often as graffiti;


Hip hop music: DJing, beats and beatmaking, and hip hop production;


Rapping: MCing and urban inspired poetry.


Early hip hop has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing physical violence with hip hop battles. With the emergence of commercial and crime-related rap during the early 1990s, an emphasis on violence was incorporated, with many rappers boasting about drugs, weapons, mysogyny, and violence. While hip hop music now appeals to a broader demographic, media critics argue that socially and politically conscious hip hop has long been disregarded by mainstream America in favor of its media-baiting sibling, gangsta rap.[5]








A breakdancer performing a one-handed freeze also known as a forearm freeze in Ljubljana, SloveniaMany artists are now considered to be alternative/underground hip hop when they attempt to reflect what they believe to be the original elements of the culture. Artists/groups such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Dilated Peoples, Dead Prez, Blackalicious, and Jurassic 5 may emphasize messages of verbal skill, unity, or activism instead of messages of violence, material wealth, and misogyny.





Though born in the United States, the reach of hip hop is global. Youth culture and opinion is meted out in both Israeli hip hop and Palestinian hip hop, while France, the U.K., Africa and the Caribbean have long-established hip hop followings. According to the U.S. Department of State, hip hop is "now the center of a mega music and fashion industry around the world," that crosses social barriers and cuts across racial lines.[6] National Geographic recognizes hip hop as "the world's favorite youth culture" in which "just about every country on the planet seems to have developed its own local rap scene."[7]
Reply:im white and listen to it and am not a wanna be... all you haters that say it is bad dont know what you talkin bout, it is just a style of music until the kids in the ghetto take the lyrics too seriously and ......... yes i wish they wouldnt use bad words as much sometimes it ruins the songs
Reply:i think it is a bunch of crap and a waste or money. they are making millions off of crap. with the curse words and the way the call women b..... and h... and everything else.
Reply:To me, hip hop music usually has amazing beats that make me wanna get up and dance. When I think of hip hop I think of rap or r%26amp;b-like songs. Artists I consider to be part of the hip hop genre include, but are no limited to, Usher, The Black Eyed Peas, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, etc. I hope that helps.





God Bless!
Reply:Hip Hop means some guy grabbing his self in a video surrounded by half naked and/or black girls singing about his ride and how he's gonna get some tonight or how he's gonna bust a cap in yo ****. Yeah, that's an art form alright. Poetry in motion. Hip hop would be dead by now, but outlets like MTV won't let it die because they have the younger generation suckered into believing that's it's cool. Icons? If you worship guys like Tupac who get shot 10 times and then finally get dead then you are only asking for trouble.
Reply:commercialism


ignorance


glorification of criminal behavior


hate speech











A force for change for the worse





Yo!


Sellin all my drugs


Shoot at the police


Smackin my beotch


Up and down the street


(f bomb, n bomb, n bomb, f bomb) repeat 8x


Word.