The Real Death Of Hip-Hop and Decline In Sales Is Because...
Everyone is speculating why the decline in Hip-Hop happened. I think the general decline is based on the endless amount of money that used to be there before the internet came along. People are in a different culture and facet in life now. We get all of our music free and I don't really understand how these smaller no name rappers (Boosie, Fat Joe, etc, even Fabo) are making it in this economy. Soulja boy makes money from white people and immigrants around the world singing his stupid anthem, that has always been a part of hip hop, but never with long lasting careers like nelly, soulja, and others have done. Lets be honest, 2 Live Crew did not make "good" music, but it was bomb as hell in its era inside the club, just like Soulja and others.(not me, im too old to listen and partake)
The decline in hip hop has been based on and stems from this: Most rappers CANT live the way they say they are. The economy wont allow it, back in the days, that kind of talk about money was new, believable, and hot... now it is played and called lying. Why????
Because nigga, nobody buys albums anymore unless you are Kanye West, G Unit, Drake, or have as big of a buzz about your album than those mentioned. And even then... you aint selling what you used too!!!
So now that we are over the bling bling, where does hip hop go? It goes back to its truest form! When MC's didn't think about getting rich, but being the best. Have you ever noticed how your favorite MC is not as good on his second album?
I always figured it was because of them not being hungry anymore. Very rare to find a mc that does it for the passion, is good, has street cred, can find the middle ground between a club joint/banger/and street sht/ and one for the ladies... nowadays. BUT they are out there and being praised at a higher level I think now than before because of the net. Sure they are not making as much money, but they are making more of a buzz, having just as much fun, making some good music(IF WE WOULD LISTEN AND GET OUT OF OUR COMMERCIAL SHELL), and doing exactly what the core of hip hop did and did well... all for the love.
So, hip hop is not dead, although declines in album sales may differ, you just need to search for it again...not in the street, but (corny I know) Inside Yourself.
The decline in hip hop has been based on and stems from this: Most rappers CANT live the way they say they are. The economy wont allow it, back in the days, that kind of talk about money was new, believable, and hot... now it is played and called lying. Why????
Because nigga, nobody buys albums anymore unless you are Kanye West, G Unit, Drake, or have as big of a buzz about your album than those mentioned. And even then... you aint selling what you used too!!!
So now that we are over the bling bling, where does hip hop go? It goes back to its truest form! When MC's didn't think about getting rich, but being the best. Have you ever noticed how your favorite MC is not as good on his second album?
I always figured it was because of them not being hungry anymore. Very rare to find a mc that does it for the passion, is good, has street cred, can find the middle ground between a club joint/banger/and street sht/ and one for the ladies... nowadays. BUT they are out there and being praised at a higher level I think now than before because of the net. Sure they are not making as much money, but they are making more of a buzz, having just as much fun, making some good music(IF WE WOULD LISTEN AND GET OUT OF OUR COMMERCIAL SHELL), and doing exactly what the core of hip hop did and did well... all for the love.
So, hip hop is not dead, although declines in album sales may differ, you just need to search for it again...not in the street, but (corny I know) Inside Yourself.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Justin Stewart on -
Hip-Hop has ceased to be under the control of those that make it and it is now run by the machine which is the politics of the business. Money rules everything and the machine is only willing to feed those that can give them something in return. The business is about give and take and an artist must be willing to dilute their music in someway to catch the sales.
All artists don't have to give up their integrity as rappers like Kanye has continued to move with his own sound, but that was due to his timing. When the dance/simple rap explosion hit, meaningful rap went to the wayside. Why develop an artist when they can milk them for what they're worth and throw them out with paperwork. Artists are coming in with the intent to make music and don't necessarily know everything that does into it, outside of music, and they are extorted over and over.
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Permalink Reply by SL 500 on -
Dog first and formost, how the fuck is fat joe a no name artist, Joe been doing his thing before nas and jay and still make good music. Rap music is dead like rock went dead like r&b went dead, 50 cent is to blame to tell you the truth.
S.L.
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Permalink Reply by Malaya-Nevaeh on -
because...of that wack popcorn music thats been out these past few years talking about shaking your ass and stupid shit like that. smdh
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Permalink Reply by Justin Stewart on
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quantity is overruling quality, why be thought provoking an in depth with a project when you can just put your bank in a few potential smash singles...notice gucci mane is on everyone's music nowadays like they need him to sell
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Permalink Reply by charlieblanko on -
True. Back in the day it was more pure... hip hop is diluted now.
Justin Stewart said:quantity is overruling quality, why be thought provoking an in depth with a project when you can just put your bank in a few potential smash singles...notice gucci mane is on everyone's music nowadays like they need him to sell
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Permalink Reply by Justin Stewart on
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T-Pain further echoed the sentiment through twitter by saying he doesnt care about lyrics and admitting that a lot of wack rappers are getting burn due to the fact that they are doing "fun" records
This whole "fun" record concept is annoying because ignorance is being labeled as fun. There are plenty of fun records nowadays with substance such as Drake records or Clipse as of late.
Hell, even Eminem's goofy ass songs are techincally fun
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