When Hip Hop began there were crews that spit about life and love and we have allowed the powers that be (media execs) to have us stray from that.

We had Eric B, Krs-One, Public Enemy, X-clan all cause us to pick up books and read, we regained a consciousness that hasn't been seen since the sixties, we began to speak out! Then BOOM, in came gangsta rap, and the "powers that be" said "YES, we can't have them reading, finding out what really has gone on, or becoming a strong voice again" "No more X-clans, No more Public Enemy's, etc...let's have them call themselves "Niggas and Bitches" and everything that is just ignorant".

"Let's take over BET, then get rid of everything educational with a voice, and inundate them with this shit!" "No more music/rap with a message, unless it is about religion, cause you know they LOVE their Jesus"

I'm just tired, that's all...I've said this before, and I am happy to know I have a conscious!! Where are the rest of you?????

I feel u, Dex. It breaks my heart to know what the youth are getting pumped with 24 hours a day. It is corrosive and shameful and I am tired of it.

I think if you look for consciousness you will find it...unfortunately these artists aren't at the forefront the way they should be but their are still some out there...Krs-One(yes he still makes music),The Roots,Talib Kweli,Mos Def,Bahamadia,Slum Village,Planet Asia,Mystic,De La Soul,Jean Grae,Common,The Hieroglyphics,etc....

boriquateddy said:

I completely agree. There is plenty of good hip hop but u have to dig a little harder 4 it. If were waiting on Mtv, BET or urban radio to spoonfeed it 2 us... we'll be waiting.

it got too hip and hopped on out

I felt the same way you did, until about a year ago. Since then, I got put on to these joints:



and, of course, the greatest hip-hop album in a decade.



Kanye's joint is really good, and Common is dropping again in '05. Had Kweli and Mos actually lived up to expectations last year, it would have been a banner year for hip-hop.

I echo boriqua. Like a good woman, finding the real hip-hop requires some work. Put it in, ask for recommendations, and you will be fine.

DexMSR said:

i hear what you're saying and i agree. they say that Nas is suppose to be a rapper with a message and so is Mos Def! beyond that, i don't know if they still exist. you might have to stick with old skool hip hop. these rappers today only wanna rap about hoes and money. sad but true.

dancerella said:

I disagree Nas & Mos Def are not the only ones doing righteous hip hop...I mentioned a whole bunch of artists...now if your looking fo something conscious and commercially visable then Nas will probably be your only saving grace...but if you want something bad enough you will find it regardless of what media outlets praise it and are playing it.