if Nas was a 90's baby
A Message from NC-17

The problem for this hip hop
generation is no longer with white people or the police, it’s with other black
people hating on them, their boo’s cheating on them, and the pursuit of money.
There are a lot of things we as a people could complain about but the president
is Black and dudes sell drug more often to afford studio time then to take care
of their family. To spell it out for you—This isn’t the crack era. If Nas Was
Born in 1991 he couldn’t have made illmatic. Mobb Deep would be deemed too
boring if they came out today. Jay-Z would never have been pretty looking
enough to get 1 million Youtube hits let alone a deal at Def Jam. This
generations NWA would be more into Skateboarding than gang banging. The world has
changed and as much as it pessimist would like to say, “we still haven’t
overcome” the fact that a calling himself Soulja Boy got rich off a cellphone
video posted online is proof that real opportunity exists in America for anyone
to make a dream come true. There is no more New York State Of Mind, it’s an
Atlanta State of Mind that says, get money, get high, and make it rain on these
hoes.
Why is today’s rap music all about bragging and exaggeration?
Why is everyone fake? Why doesn’t anyone rhyme about reality? Because people
today aren’t honest with themselves, everything is falsified. Method Man did a
video on the back of a bus, no shape up, no makeup, no light skin girl in his
lap. He was saying, “this is where I come from, yeah we poor, but we don’t care
cus this is who we are”. Go on Facebook and look at the things the average 19
year old writes. He’s popping bottles, rocking black gold, and talking about
going to the auction to buy a benz. In reality he’s using a stolen wi-fi
signal, drinking a beer that he stole from his uncle, and getting rides in his
mom’s corolla. No one wants to come out and admit they’re from “the slums of shaolin”
anymore they have to say, “I have a loft on Staten Island”. Go to Youtube and
look at the $500 videos from wannabees it’s all white backgrounds, rented cars,
and big booty hoes. 90’s babies unlike 80’s babies didn’t get the memo that
it’s okay to say you come from the ghetto for purposes other than street cred.
Exaggeration and lies has become the reality because they grew up seeing Diddy
throw his Rolex in the sky not Biggie on his stoop rocking the tight jersey. So
what music do would you relate to if you were raised in this matrix? 2 Chains
who’s riding around and getting it or MC Dirt bag who’s going to say my
mother’s on drugs, I can’t afford a car, and I sell dime bags of weed? MC Dirt
bag may be telling their story, but 2 Chainz is telling the life they want to
live, so crank it up.
Aside from the generational gap that’s happened I think Rap
music has simply evolved to something that’s no longer urban. Kurt Cobain hated
Pearl Jam because they took what Nirvana did and made it more poppy with
“coherent hooks” and “cleaner guitar riffs” while maintaining most of that
dirty Grunge feel. Today’s Rappers have Pearl Jam’d the industry. Rap music is
no longer dirty, it’s clean. It’s so clean that White Girls in New England can
play it, but still dirty enough that their Moms won’t let them listen to it in
the Prius. It’s still edgier than Pop because of the profanity, but accessible
enough to win Grammys. Hip Hop purist may not like that the social messages
aren’t there, that the rhymes don’t really rhyme, and that it’s better to have
a funny hook then a Primo scratch, but its evolution.
There will always be
older guys who still rap like 1994 or younger cats who want to be honest and
put their life on wax, which means there will always be something for everyone.
The masses however have and will continue to listen to rap music the same way
they listen most genres, as escapism that’s fun and something they can dance
to. For Rap to go back to the silver age of the 80’s, the golden age of the
90’s, or the platinum age of the Early 2000’s means it’s not moving forward. And
if it’s not moving it may as well be dead.
the videos and song are excellent. thanks for sharing such nice post. the hip hop videos consists of stylized music which accompanies rhythm music that is being chanted.
ReplyDeleteThe word "evolution" implies a positive change for survivalist purposes. While all that you said might be true, it sure as hell isn't positive. Therefore, I would not say hip-hop has "evolved" into something "better," for God's sake LOOK at how its skewed this generation's values...it's a chicken or the egg thing...art imitates life and vice versa YES but at some point major media has to take responsibility for their immense influence on formidable young minds. When do we say ENOUGH! Please do not equate this sickening "change" with "evolution," "growth," or anything else positive. Cuz it ain't. Flat out. Oh yea and the "masses" are gonna listen to whatever the hell the entertainment industry puts out and tells them to. And that's real.
ReplyDelete