I dugg an interesting article from the Washington Post this morning. It's title Why I Gave Up On Hip Hop. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301426.html)
As someone who grew up on hip hop and is now in their thirties I can certainly relate. But I'm still not giving up.
This article reminded me of part of Chris Rock's last stand-up special. He loves hip hop, but he's getting tired of defending it. And it is definitely hard to defend a lot of what's on the radio and MTV these days. Now, just to qualify, I think most of ALL the music on the radio these days is not worth my time, not just hip hop. But I can't imagine wanting to hear most of these songs 20 years from now. Sometimes I'll hear a nice beat with a catchy hook, but I know I'll be sick of it in 2 weeks and don't even get me started on the lyrics.
But I'm not completely jaded. Thank goodness for the indie scene. I wrote earlier this year about the appeal of indie rock. I questioned how the raw sound has an appeal over the slick production of pop. I suppose the same goes for hip hop. There are still plenty of groups out there producing what some would call true hip hop. They're not rapping about bitches and ho's. They not rapping about rims or cristal. They not rapping about being hard or gangsta. And they don't need to litter every verse with nigga. That element of hip hop may reflect the reality of those producing the music, but it has unfortunately come to dominant the scene. So now we have a generation of listeners who are getting the wrong message.
I'd like to thank the old school and underground MC's that are still holding it down. The rappers that have something to say and realize there needs to be a balance between the bling and the violence and enlightenment. I wish I heard more of you on the radio. Hopefully, some day soon hip hop will implode upon itself so it can start over. Until then I'm grateful that the internet has exposed me to so much better music.