Have you outgrown Hip Hop?
It's a question I've found myself wondering about over the past few years (mostly about myself). In the past, the answer has always been a quick and resounding, "Hell No!" But the enthusiasm with which that answer is delivered has calmed considerably. That's not to say I don't enjoy a lot of the hip-hop music that is out today. I count The Clipse, Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother, Slim Thug, Lil Wayne and Young Buck among my favorite "new school" artists. The last thing I would want to be is some bitter older cat still stuck in the 80's and 90's. But nowadays when "heinous crimes help records sales more than creative lines" (Thanks Nas), I find myself at a crossroads.
I believe that if there was a soundtrack for our generation it would be comprised of mostly (if not all) hip-hop records. In contrast, most of our parents generation's soundtrack would be comprised of music by Motown. If I believe that, how could I ever outgrow it? How could I ever stop listening to B.I.G., Redman, Jay-Z, Nas, Big L and all my other favorites? I hear people tell me all the time that they've left hip-hop alone since they've gotten older. I usually ask them what they listen to now. "Jazz" or "R&B" is usually the answer. I'm a music fan. I've always listened to all types of music (for example, I have Criminal Minded; Frank Sinatra-Live at Radio City Music Hall, Best of Beres Hammond and We Got it For Cheap-Part #2 in my CD player at home right now), but I never hear anybody that likes rock music thinking they're too old to listen to it. Same with reggae, classical, folk, soul (R&B), etc. Why do the people who enjoy listening to hip-hop music have to "outgrow" the music. It's true that I may not listen to "Talk Like Sex" (Kool G. Rap) or "Wildflower" (Ghostface) like I used to, don't think for one minute that my CD player isn't filled with albums (both old and new) from KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, AZ, and Pete Rock.
There are things about the culture that bother me. The "beef" thing has been played out. The way the women (our Beautiful Black and Latina women) are treated and portrayed makes me cringe (especially as the father of a teenager). I remember Queen Latifah said she'd smack a dude for calling her a bitch. Now being a bitch is a large part of the female MC's bio. The radio and music video stations playlists are so duplicated that you listen to the radio in N.Y. hop on a plane, fly to Cali and hear almost the exact same playlist. There was a time that we liked to listen to the radio when we were OT just to see what they rocked to in whatever part of the country we were in.
I don't think my folks over 30 have outgrown hip-hop. We just want the variety and balance that was once a big part of the music. No MCs (or rappers-there is a big difference) with the same names (Lil, Young, Yung, etc.), different video girls, more interesting subject matter (no more rims or making it rain-since when did music for the strip club become mainstream?) I love lasagne, but if I had it for more than 2 days in a row I will get sick of it.
We at GFHH will never forget the "good ole days." But we'll never look to the past so long that we can't see appreciate present and/or future. We hope to provide a full-view of hip-hop music. The music is our motivation so GFHH will always be true to that. We will, from time to time, comment on social issues involving hip-hop, current events, etc. We hope that our topics make you think and, hopefully, you feel compelled to comment on some of our blog topics.
It's a question I've found myself wondering about over the past few years (mostly about myself). In the past, the answer has always been a quick and resounding, "Hell No!" But the enthusiasm with which that answer is delivered has calmed considerably. That's not to say I don't enjoy a lot of the hip-hop music that is out today. I count The Clipse, Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother, Slim Thug, Lil Wayne and Young Buck among my favorite "new school" artists. The last thing I would want to be is some bitter older cat still stuck in the 80's and 90's. But nowadays when "heinous crimes help records sales more than creative lines" (Thanks Nas), I find myself at a crossroads.
I believe that if there was a soundtrack for our generation it would be comprised of mostly (if not all) hip-hop records. In contrast, most of our parents generation's soundtrack would be comprised of music by Motown. If I believe that, how could I ever outgrow it? How could I ever stop listening to B.I.G., Redman, Jay-Z, Nas, Big L and all my other favorites? I hear people tell me all the time that they've left hip-hop alone since they've gotten older. I usually ask them what they listen to now. "Jazz" or "R&B" is usually the answer. I'm a music fan. I've always listened to all types of music (for example, I have Criminal Minded; Frank Sinatra-Live at Radio City Music Hall, Best of Beres Hammond and We Got it For Cheap-Part #2 in my CD player at home right now), but I never hear anybody that likes rock music thinking they're too old to listen to it. Same with reggae, classical, folk, soul (R&B), etc. Why do the people who enjoy listening to hip-hop music have to "outgrow" the music. It's true that I may not listen to "Talk Like Sex" (Kool G. Rap) or "Wildflower" (Ghostface) like I used to, don't think for one minute that my CD player isn't filled with albums (both old and new) from KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, AZ, and Pete Rock.
There are things about the culture that bother me. The "beef" thing has been played out. The way the women (our Beautiful Black and Latina women) are treated and portrayed makes me cringe (especially as the father of a teenager). I remember Queen Latifah said she'd smack a dude for calling her a bitch. Now being a bitch is a large part of the female MC's bio. The radio and music video stations playlists are so duplicated that you listen to the radio in N.Y. hop on a plane, fly to Cali and hear almost the exact same playlist. There was a time that we liked to listen to the radio when we were OT just to see what they rocked to in whatever part of the country we were in.
I don't think my folks over 30 have outgrown hip-hop. We just want the variety and balance that was once a big part of the music. No MCs (or rappers-there is a big difference) with the same names (Lil, Young, Yung, etc.), different video girls, more interesting subject matter (no more rims or making it rain-since when did music for the strip club become mainstream?) I love lasagne, but if I had it for more than 2 days in a row I will get sick of it.
We at GFHH will never forget the "good ole days." But we'll never look to the past so long that we can't see appreciate present and/or future. We hope to provide a full-view of hip-hop music. The music is our motivation so GFHH will always be true to that. We will, from time to time, comment on social issues involving hip-hop, current events, etc. We hope that our topics make you think and, hopefully, you feel compelled to comment on some of our blog topics.
Welcome to our world.
4 comments:
Interesting topic. I don't think I've outgrown hip hop as a whole but some things have changed for me relating to hip hop as I get older. For instance, going to the clubs every weekend...that part of my life is definitely over. I usually go out to a club now when someone I know is throwing a party..or I might hit up a lounge or something. Now as far as the music is concerned, It's definitely overkill with all the cars, jewels, chicks, guns..yadda yadda yadda...it's like cats jumped on a certain bandwagon and they won't get off! It's so interesting...that so much of us see it as too much of the same thing but yet and still it continues. It's relentless. Now don't get me wrong hip hop has always had that type of content in it..but now it's like every artist that comes out is on the same thing. The funny thing is after 9/11 things seemed to calm down..because it brought a sense of reality to whats really important in life...but of course..it passed and it's right back where it was and even more so now. ...but I do enjoy alot of the music that is out there. Because to me if you're a nice MC you will come across that way regardless of your subject matter. But now it's like some of these cats aren't that nice and their albums are filled with wack music with the same subject matter. Now a days there are only a few Mc's that make me rewind back in the midst of a song because they said something ill. I used to do that alot more years ago. So I have outgrown hip hop is some aspects...but I will always love the music and culture. I was raised in the true culture of hip hop...so I could never FULLY outgrow it.
I don't think I could ever outgrow it. For the simple fact that i was raised during era of run dmc, LL, PE, EPMD, BDP, NWA..all the way to Pete Rock & CL..BIG, BIG L, WU DAS EFX.. RED, NAS...and on and on...they all were such a big part of my life...I can't outgrow that because I truly enjoyed it. OF course things are different now...as we are not as influnced by the music as we once were, but we still enjoy it none the less. The game has definitely changed in way that the subject matter is basically surrounded by a few certain topics...money, cars, clothes and girls/sex... but to tell you the truth that element has always been around...but before the game was more balanced...and the market wasn't as saturated as it is now. I believe there will be a change in the game soon...I'm not sure what...but like with everything else...if you keep coming at folks the same way...they are going to get tired of it...and there for things will change in order to generate interest once again. But Hip Hop will always be a part of my life...I may not live it like I used to..but will always love it.
I could never outgrow hip-hop. Eventhough I feel it is a bit off-track as of late. None the less I love it, breathe it, live it. Hip-Hop 4 life.
July Jones
Outgrow hip-hop, u say? Naah can't. I cant outgrow hip-hop. I grew up in hip-hop. My Brother blasting Cold Crush Brothers out the window, Moms beefin'. Woppin' it up to Nobody Beats the Biz @ the jam. Chillen on the block. Nodding my head to StetsASonic.."It aint nothin' like Hip Hop Music"...Rolling my hips while JAY is singing to me, "I love GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS". And as much as I hate to admit it, I'll even Lean & Rock wit' it a lil sumthin'if u ask me to.
I don't believe that we have outgrown hip-hop. Nor do I think we ever can. If u were born or rocking during the hip-hop revoloution, then its Universal inside of U, ur hip hop 4 LIFE!!!
Brownie.Brown
BX BABY!!!
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