Not another 'state of hip-hop today' thread

[dark shadow]

"Gangster Rap" gets more than its share of negative exposure today because its gotten so big. It has seeped into other styles of rap music, as the boasts have reached the mainstream. Would you say T.I. is gangster rap? probably not. but he speaks about some of the same things on some tracks. because of this, people who like to oppose the mainstream will bag on it for this reason alone. As more people start to turn against it, its obvious that they start to influence more and more people to turn on it. The music itself is not to blame for a "lack of lyricism" you see today. It has more to do with the uneducated state of most Americans, complicated metaphors and disconnected stories aren't held on to as well as something we all know and understand. Sex, cars, and women have always been a major part of nearly EVERY style of music. Gangster Rap didn't create the filth you see today, its simply the leader in today's society. If people stopped buying the CD's, than the rappers would move on to new material. No one is forcing a rapper to " belittle himself to rapping about guns and drugs just so brainwashed idiots will listen to his music?" That is a choice they make to be heard. Don't blame the genre, don't blame the lyricist. Blame the people who buy the music. But even with that said, who are you to say what styles of music should and should not prosper or be accepted?

[Alfred]

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

P.O.S. - Never Better

I loved this. Possibly my pick for album of the year.

[pourmeanother]

I really liked it too... but now, outside of 'Purexed' (which is one of the top 5 or 10 songs of the year) and 'Goodbye' the repeat listens have been in sharp decline.

EDIT: While I was reading this thread a line in a song came up. Blue Scholars 'Southside Revival':

"I heard a few heads say that hip-hop was dead
No it's not, it's just malnourished and underfed"

[Alfred]

Let It Rattle was the song that stuck with me the most. But Purexed and Goodbye are pretty top notch too.

[pourmeanother]

Oh yeah, actually, that is a solid track as well... Love the drum and that soulful "ooo". Works well.

[Jester]

What about the title track?

[Alfred]

Originally Posted by pourmeanother

Oh yeah, actually, that is a solid track as well... Love the drum and that soulful "ooo". Works well.

Yeah it's a really nice, kind of minimalist song.

[Kirby]

I would also have to say Never Better is still my album of the year, although, I don't feel that it's as strong as his earlier album, Audition.

[Surell]

I loved me some Never Better also. I haven't listened to it much recently though, i'm not sure if i'd be as fond of it upon further listening.

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by Jester

It's not more obvious, anyone has the ability to "diss" each other with music; perhaps instrumentals would be a lot more difficult, but there are plenty of genres where feuds can happen that aren't rap. Rap battles were a huge part of hip hop's history, and self promotion is a part of the game.

feuds do happen. Bands hate each other especially in the rock industry but they don't go around singing it.

There's more than one focus point in battling and rapping. How can you say bragging is a big part of rap and say "it's okay because it's an act." Okay, then gangsta rap is okay because it's an act. It's entertainment, and there's always room for creativity.

that's the problem with gangster rap and is exactly what i have been trying to say. They're acting gangster just to make money and fit in. When they shouldn't need to/want to do that.

Yes it was. It's a necessity because it allowed for so much expansion. Political rap and story telling excelled with gangsta rap, and not to mention, backpack and alternative rap come from opposing gangsta rap. All that "keepin' it real, not rappin' like i'm a gangsta" rap that you like comes from gangsta rap. I'm not acting like it's the first kind that existed, but it definitely caused the most expansion.

im tired of repeating myself. I've already spoken about this over and over you're just repeating yourself then i'm repeating myself it's extremely pointless.

You're repeating yourself because you're contradicting yourself. You're telling me that GANGSTA RAP SUCKS and then saying BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT I LIKE. Either say it all sucks or admit that it doesn't all suck.

No. Vin Diesel movies suck, he's a terrible actor. But they are entertaining. How can you not tell the difference? i might love boy bands but it doesn't make them good musicians. Big Pun, Big L, Big Daddy Kane, Royce 5'9, Tech N9ne. These are all very talented rappers but they don't seem to respect the talent they have. Instead of trying to do something with their music they're just trying to fit around the usual crap because it sells. Where as Ice Cube, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes can be entertaining but are talentless as rappers. They're just great actors and models they know how to make music sell, they don't know how to rap.

Gangsta rap has its place. If no one ever rapped about it, then there would be less diversity. Also, why the fuck would there not be gangsta rap? Songs are a reflection of our society, why shouldn't people rap about that?

I didn't say it shouldn't exist. Tupac, N.W.A these guys were breaking the mould they were doing things differently. They didn't do gangster rap specifically to make themselves millions and to look cool they did it to bring attention to the lives people like them were having to lead, to get the world to listen. You can't really compare brendas got a baby and express yourself to "the candy shop".

Yeah, I strongly believe that people should rap about (or talk about) what they want to. But freedom of speech isn't all I was talking about. Had you been paying attention, you would have realized that I mentioned to not put strain on the topics that an artist can select from.

blah blah blah - this is me repeating myself yet again. Go read my other posts they should answer all of your questions.

Lastly, give me a direct explanation as to why guns, drugs, or sex is for stupid people.

My point is that everyone thinks that's what rap is about now and they're wrong and they're stupid for thinking that. It's the same as everyone thinking metal is all about screaming really loud and playing instruments really fast. It's just a stupid stereotype because people are to ignorant to branch out and actually try and listen. And the rappers selling this stuff are far from stupid (they know how to make millions) they're just completely uncreative, and talentless as lyricists (therefore talentless as rappers).

replies in bold as usual.


Gangster rap was once great, it was very well done, the artists were creative and intelligent. They were trying to bring attention to the lives people were having to lead, trying to get people to do something about it to change it. But now it's all about how cool you are for living that life not how desperate you are to escape it. It's gotten to the point where it is destroying our culture.

"but its a time that I miss; you ask whats the difference,
Hip-Hop was then a culture, now hip-hop's a business"




to that other guy who said "Don't blame the genre, don't blame the lyricist. Blame the people who buy the music."

I am blaming them. But the artist doesn't have to write about that. They're choosing money over their passion. They're choosing to conform to what will make them money rather than staying true to themselves. It's the rappers fault just as much as the idiotic fans who actually buy this crap.

And T.I is definitley gangster rap, what else would you class him as? He sucks as a lyricist to. Name me an american mainstream rapper who doesn't.


Biggest problem really is that americans refuse to listen to rap unless it was made in america. I hate dividing rap by nationality but right now the only rap i can listen to is australian. Their rappers have the passion and the talent that american rappers had before it went from being a culture to a business.