Authentic Rants :::: Mis-concept-ions of an Art-form

Driving down the road the other night I decided to put on the radio and listen to my favorite variety station that will go unnamed. A Rap song was blaring from the radio just before the announcer cut it off to give us his take on the song. Stating "This music is trash and never will be anything worthwhile to ever come from it." I could not help but to be alarmed that a radio Jock had the balls to say what he really felt about a song. He went on to say that "it should have ended a long time ago, that Rappers such as Soulja boy are not artist and pretend to be a part of the art/music community", and "get away with it by dubbing themselves as entertainers." He said this because he was uneducated about Rap/Hip-Hop as a whole. Someone needed to school him, I am writing this in hopes that I can reach him and people like him.

I cant help it but to agree with his sentiment, but I have done some research on the subject of whether or not, the style of rap that is performed by Soulja Boy is an accurate representation of Hip Hop, and truth be told, it is. A time existed when simple lyrics and a catchy beat was all it took to arouse the ears of the listeners. From the old school to the new school, there were simple songs that got you on the dance floor to show of your latest break dance and pop and lock.

Hip-Hip does not have one hat, and will never where one hat. To the knitted beanie on Common to the baseball topping off a hot outfit on 50Cent. You may at time catch NAS wearing either of the two styles, depending on his state of mind. The epitome of a Rapper is more than sneakers, chains, watches, and cars. It is the ability to make sound out of words, and some rappers are in this case study a little less likely to hone in on the skill of many words, and manipulate a few words to their advantage, and often make up their own to fit the mission they see ahead of them. The mission to make a number one chart topping hit song.

As Much as I hate simple rappers, that have not fluidity in their vocabulary, the genre of lyric-less Rap is nothing new, and will be back in 8 year, 15 tops, when the new era of lyrical rappers take over. Thank you Wu-Tang for coming back with your eight Diagrams, Thank you to Talib Kweli for keeping the pen hot, Thank you Jay-Z for coming out with American Gangster, Thank You Nas for Hip-Hop is Dead and you upcoming Nigg*r Album, Thank you Eminem for all your efforts. However long the simple rap generation, of Hip-hop/Rap hold the throne, they will keep the balance that is needed.

What bothers me most about this, is that it seems the world is dumb, that it wants nothing more than just entertainment. They no longer want great artist to grace the stage. We were lucky that an artist such as Kanye West could come along and knock 50cent off his throne of nonsense. I am not knocking the business man/Actor Curtis Jackson, but the lyrics are trash. With all of his wealth you would think that he would give you an album with Songs that are deep as many men through out an LP. With a few song like in the club, Ayo Technology, and In Da club. I love my party songs, but at some point you want substance on entire effort. A single get you the momentum, gives you a chance to get notices, and then your album solidifies are artistry in my opinion.

No Thank you to Soulja Boy, 50cent latest efforts, and all the Gangsta Rap wannabes and their Craptastic albums and mix tapes. Whenever I hear dumb-dumber say super man that oooh I cringe, then I change the dial until I think it is off the air.

I only protest simple rap to say that the people cant make the decision, if they did, they would have done it a long time ago. It is up to the music industry and the artist combined to start working on quality music. The people that love simple rap are too young to make a choice, our kids are falling off the edge, and that is too close for comfort to the bottom of a never endless abyss.

Parents are not doing a good job of censoring their children, and as much as they try their is always another kid in the school yard who has the latest unrealistic RAP album or Single. They are going to be plugged in one way or another. For some; if they have a complete balance of music to pick from or listen to, they will be able to decide one way or the other, at least have an eclectic mix of Hip-Hop/Rap music to pick from. If not to make a choice having a wide range of styles and lyrical content that will prepare them for what is ahead. The world requires language and Hip-Hop moves too fast at making new words, so having a complete diet of Rap styles work. For example, Mos-Def Main course, Talib Veggies, Jay-Z your grains, and Nas your beverage. Soulja boy for dessert which means too much and you will be unhealthy).


I want to end this by saying that there is more to Hip-Hop/Rap, than any one rapper or Trend in the music. It is an eclectic art form. At times it is innocent, and at times it is in your face and ready to attack. Overall it is a full course meal that many can not define to one category so they file it under miscellaneous and come back another day to define. That day of Definition has come many times, and it has been named Gangster(Gangsta) Rap, misogynist rap, as of late all of them and Idiot or Simple Rap to top it off and throw Rappers that speak peace or teach from history Backpack rappers, which in my definition means they have books to reference and are re-writing the book on what hip hop is. I would like to think of it that way. In closing Hip Hop is misunderstood, and at times it misrepresented, It need to be none by all of its abilities and the people will decide. That Goes for any music, for instance Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, but remember that Thriller has crossed more than the pop charts, and good music does that and last as long as Thriller has in the minds of many and can cross generations with out fail.


In the end some will say that Hip-Hop can be many things to many different people and "I believe Hip-Hop is a way of life expressing elements of urban community" and Hip-Hop is an urban musical tree that has spawned branches from grafiti to gangsta rap and is still growing"


Here is Andre 3000 Actor and Second Half of OutKast had to say about his upcoming movie, where you will get a short quip about his take on the current status on Hip Hop. Here he is being asked has Hip-Hop Loss its Essence: