I like those songs as well. But how old are those acts now and who/where is their audience? Let's take Tribe. QTip is 40. Most 30-40 year olds who came up on Tribe and QTip are not bumping it now. Sure, we may pop in something for nostalgia sake but playing them regulalry or running out to buy new records or keeping up with them to see them live? Not the 30-40 year olds I know, it's just not the type of music people consider mature as adults. A guilty or nostlagic pleasure, maybe, but I don't know that that is enough to sustain a fanbase for generations like Bruce, Stevie, or even Prince.

While the rap genre is relatively new I think there is a fair amount of evidence that rap is not really relevant for older acts or fans.

And one more thing. I note that you chose songs from the Roots and Tribe as classics. Well, they derive heavily from Jazz sometimes outright sampling, which is going to lend to the music aging better than the rap genre at large (including acts like Dr. Dre). Roots and Tribe are not typical rap and in my opinon, take away their jazz leanings and their music would have "aged" more quickly as well.

nd33 said:

119 said:

I agree with those who say rap has a limited shelf life. Not only does the music not age well, it doesn't seem that the fan base will grow old with it like for instance the Eagles or Stevie Wonder or Bruce Springsteen. You look at their current audiences and who buys their records and you'll see their 60 year old peers in support. I don't think rap works that way. Rap seems to be music that people grow out of and aren't going to keep as the soundtrack to their adult lives in that way. Add to that the difficulty of an old act attracting a young fanbase and it seems the lifespan of a rap career is going to be relatively short.

[Edited 11/23/10 19:51pm]

1993 sounds fn good to me:

1994? mmm yes

1996 sounds fresh right nowww

[Edited 11/24/10 5:07am]

[Edited 11/24/10 5:10am]

I get so sick of rappers announcing retirement dates like they're athletes! Who gives a damn about Dre retiring from rap? He hasn't put on an album in ages but yet announces retirement? I could care less at this point. Just release the damn album and get it over with! Maybe it's the steroids talking!

HonestMan13 said:

QUESTIONS EVERY AGING RAPPER NEEDS TO ASK THEMSELVES WHEN CONSIDERING RETIREMENT

How do you retire from something you haven't done in years?

Are you still eligible for a rappers pension?

How do you file to collect you emcee security checks?

How do you choose which retirement hood to move to when you can no longer be independent?

What benefits are you entitled as a retired rapper?

Will medicare cover a hip replacement if some fool busts a cap in yo' ass?

Identity said:

Superstition said:

On a side note, I just saw that 2k1 was in second place during its debut, with sales of over 500k in its first week. What the hell was number 1 then?

Issues by Korn.

Thanks. Kind of a dynamic top two there.

Identity said:

NDRU said:

it's only logical. He'd be dead before he completed another

What is the probability that he will finalize another CD before Stevie Wonder?

They should form a supergroup with D'Angelo

NDRU said:

Identity said:

What is the probability that he will finalize another CD before Stevie Wonder?

They should form a supergroup with D'Angelo

MajesticOne89 said:

NDRU said:

They should form a supergroup with D'Angelo

@ your avatar.

F%$k Dr. Dre, he is waaaaay overrated. In 30 years, he's only put out 3 (soon to be 4, if it happens) albums. And there is no reason for him not to have all the talent in California locked on Aftermath right now. If you believe he'll still produce for younger acts, then go smoke another one, it'll be 2-3 songs a year or something stupid. I hope he does retire though, its been a long time coming.