Whatchy'all think of thisw opinion? Or is it a fact?

STOOP said:

I have no idea, but i always wonder what hip hop song of the last couple of years i would make my children listen to in 15 years and tell them: "listen to this, this was great music".

We've been around and around this here. My short version is yes. When middle america takes anything over it's pretty much dead by that point.

It's not dead, but it is wounded.

Unfortunately, like most music, a hunter laid a trap, and baited it with money and fame. The Hip-Hop animal saw it, and instead of working for untainted food, decided it would be a lot easier to just take the food in front of it.

I would expand this statement to say, that all music is wounded, not just hip-hop.

Its not dead, its just people think that if the hip-hop music that you hear from the FRONT LINE is whack then ITs DEAD which is absured. Don't mind the dirt on the front line, its what worth it when you dig deeper. I'm talking about people who gets no light from the media right now like Mos Def, Talip K., Common, Hi-Tek, Outkast, L-Boogie, Roots, Guru and alot of others are the Hip Hop saviours right now.

So HELL NAW!! Hip-Hop neva died and will never die!
[This message was edited Thu Jul 31 12:08:57 PDT 2003 by Harlepolis]

Hip Hop's not dead it just smells funny

One cat you should check out if your hungry for something innovative and not thuggish is quasimoto This guy has a funky underground vibe. The group sounds like it has 2 rappers when there's only one, he does this thing where he'll rap in a cammille like voice and then rap in his normal voice, I always thought that there were 2 rappers in this band until I read an article on him-Madlib. Madlib is someone to keep an eye on he has the underground hip hop thang going on, a jazz band Yesterday's new quintet He just release this album on blue note where he mixed hip hop beats with jazz off of the blue note label called "shades of blue", it's off the hook, there's is also a release out there where he remixed a bunch of stevie wonder's stuff called stevie released on stone's throw records, I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy but I've read several reviews and all of them where praising it.

Sorry for getting carried away just thought I'd let those know who needed a breath of fresh air.

savoirfaire said:

No negativity inteded, but
Nice metaphore, !

sinisterpentatonic said:

Are you sure you weren't in high fidelity?


Admit it your the dorky bald guy!




an unneeded h edit
[This message was edited Thu Jul 31 12:26:49 PDT 2003 by Sweeny79]

Sweeny79 said:[quote]

sinisterpentatonic said:

Actually he's far better looking and has more hair.

sinisterpentatonic said:[quote]

Sweeny79 said:

Post a pic I don't believe you!

Well, it probably depends in what sense do you mean (but from one standpoint) of course it's become SUPER-ARTIFICIAL, and to some degree, ‘exploitive’, but it’s not totally dead. It's been picked up by others and took a life sort of on its own, controlled by others in some othe way, but if it keeps going the way it does, artistically, it will be just another era in music that just came and left like so many others. But hip-hop is so embedded today, (way much more now than before) in the media, and in American culture, and almost worldwide, that it just might take a different course, and that's just about it. But to say it's TOTALLY dead, NO. There are a lot of remnants here and there from the past that some of the music and culture still picks up from, and some good and/or excellent songs are still produced and sung by some of its artists, that are leaders in the music industry, and not followers in the music world. So I definitely wouldn't say that's it's all gone at this point, and it probably never will be. HIP-HOP lives within a lot of people, even if its not shown on T.V, or heard on the radio, just like how it first started...
[This message was edited Thu Jul 31 13:44:47 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

Starmist7 said:

Honey, the moment it became "SUPER ARTIFICIAL", it died. REAL hip hop used to be about Fightin the Power and that Parents Just Don't Understand, and relatin to real situations. Now it's bullshit! Now its all about glorifying "what's wrong" in today's society (drugs, prostitution, etc.) and making money in the preocess. I don't mean to be a traitor to my own generation, but Hip Hop ain't what it used to be. I still listenn to some of it sometimes, but to some people like me, it's just not "the thing" anymore.

Kiss85 said:

Honey, yes, I do know what the deal is. I've lived it, live it, and can see the direction it’s heading, as I continue to listen to the music as well.

My perception is that a lot of these ‘ghetto fabulous’ rappers have nothing to relate to considering the hood, as the rappers who lived and talked about the hood once did, so they rap about the things that people from the hood can only dream about, which is what grabs and holds their attention, since in a negative way, gives some kind of hope or aspiration to achieve the same goal, by the same method, but all this is not to say that these 'new' rappers don't have any skills or credibility either, because a lot of the notable ones very well do, as opposed to a lot of the things you might read around here...

But to say it's all about 'glorifying what's wrong with society', is not so, because there are some meaningful rap songs out there. We just have to dig deep, but it's there, even if it's only but a few others that have that 'power of the other influence' to make that difference. For instance, Lauryn Hill, (who is the most notable of all) are among MANY other artists that are probably unheard of, although it was she who gave the hope that it can. The problem is that if its not as good, compelling, inspirational, tasteful, as it is artistic, and creative, (and I'm referring more to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’) then people are just not going to want to hear it, since the immediate pleasure of what’s bad for us is what people take to more, than what's good. But, let hip-hop focus the positive of things, and have less young boys talking about sex, as they slap young women’s asses in their videos, such as 'Chingy', which is what will eventually bring hip-hop further and further into the destruction of what is low quality music, as it continues to disintegrate into that bottom level. But it HAS NOT reached that level yet, because they are still many songs in the R&B and rap world that have proved that, as well as promising singers, that I would say have what it takes to prove that there is hope, even if the outward appearance says othewise...
[This message was edited Thu Jul 31 17:14:07 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

STOOP said:

depends what kind of hip hop?
some people like commerical stuff some underground...or indie/artsy stuff...

its not dead at all...

Starmist7 said: My perception is that a lot of these ‘ghetto fabulous’ rappers have nothing to relate to considering the hood, as the rappers who lived and talked about the hood once did, so they rap about the things that people from the hood can only dream about, which is what grabs and holds their attention, since in a negative way, gives some kind of hope or aspiration to achieve the same goal, by the same method, but all this is not to say that these 'new' rappers don't have any skills or credibility either, because a lot of the notable ones very well do, as opposed to a lot of the things you might read around here...

I did not say that there absolutely no god rappers in the world anymore!!! I just meant that more of the rich, some of the so-called "mainstream" artists (such as people from No-Limit, Cash Money, Snoop Dogg, etc, make money from exploiting women, not to mention drugs, etc. And YES, a lot of the ghetto-fabulous rappers are relate to the hood and and I DID NOT EXACTLY SAY that none of them had skills or had any credibility. But that's not what I was focusing on, anyway! I was relating to the MUSIC, in general. Not specifically the ARTISTS.

But to say it's all about 'glorifying what's wrong with society', is not so, because there are some meaningful rap songs out there.

Yes, it is so. You don't think sex/drug influence (especially in youth) is wrong? And I didn't say there wasn't ANY ok songs out there!

For instance, Lauryn Hill, (who is the most notable of all) are among MANY other artists that are probably unheard of, although it was she who gave the hope that it can. The problem is that if its not as good, compelling, inspirational, tasteful, as it is artistic, and creative, (and I'm referring more to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’) then people are just not going to want to hear it, since the immediate pleasure of what’s bad for us is what people take to more, than what's good. But, let hip-hop focus the positive of things, and have less young boys talking about sex, as they slap young women’s asses in their videos, such as 'Chingy', which is what will eventually bring hip-hop further and further into the destruction of what is low quality music, as it continues to disintegrate into that bottom level. But it HAS NOT reached that level yet, because they are still many songs in the R&B and rap world that have proved that, as well as promising singers, that I would say have what it takes to prove that there is hope, even if the outward appearance says othewise...

That's what I'm talking bout! Lauren Hill was cool as hell, and she did bring a good vibe. But look at what we have now. Like I said, it's puttin a bad influence on today's youth...YOUNG girls dressin like hoochies and guys actin like gangsters.

I liked it as a teen.the Beasties, P.E, and RUN DMC were like gods to me.I don't know what happened, as a 33yr old i just don't like rap anymore.Perhaps i shooudn't at my age.

I've tried listening to the newer artists through my stepson (Naz, Jay Z, 50cent etc) the only one that i find mildly interesting is Eminem (predictable i know)

sinisterpentatonic said:

review of stevie

I thought the rating shou...e it props

I saw a UPS Driver bumpin' "Sucka MCs" at a stop light. HIP HOP IS NOT DEAD.

I've just downloaded Common's Electric Circus.Now THAT is very interesting.I might well buy this.


[This message was edited Fri Aug 1 6:08:51 PDT 2003 by Marrk]

STOOP said:

It will never die, it will just re-invent itself over and over.
how is hip hop dead anyways. it sells more than any other type of music

Hip-hop is dead,artistically (if not commercially).You know things are bad when a no-talent thug like 50 Cent is selling millions of records.Most of today's hip-hop is commercial bullshit,by a bunch of thugged-out rappers with no real point of view or agenda.It's just "Move Bitch,get out the way,get out the way!".

Hip hop is not dead when you have emcees on the underground that make songs like this...

This is just one of those songs
I'd like to dedicate to everyone in the world
Black, white, pink, purple, straight, gay, bi, whatever
Just peep the rhyme...

It's funny how the Bible works in everyone's equation
Quote a couple of scriptures
Turn your beliefs into persuasion
Of course you need support,
when you judge another human
It's cool, 'cause it's the Bible that you're using
Oh no...
It looks like you broke rule number one
To pass judgment, you must be the creator of the sun
Or his son
But you'se another human
Follow all the rules and guidelines of that book, not just one
Yeah, it's cool to take your faith with you everywhere you go
And there are gonna be some folks who disagree
Just so you know
State your opinion once, be kind, and speak slow
And if you mean well and you're positive it'll show
So if you run into a brotha like me one day
And you happen to find out that the brotha's that way
I'm'a tell you to your face the heavens made me this way
We'll discuss or keep steppin' either one is okay

My motto is don't trip on things you don't understand
And don't judge another, be it woman or man
Ain't nobody said we had to walk hand in hand
But respect one another's situation

My motto is don't trip on things you don't understand
And don't judge another, be it woman or man
Ain't nobody said we had to walk hand in hand
But respect one another's situation

You said it don't fly
Wanna know why you think all fags must die
You the same white man who wants the jews and blacks to die
Gay or straight, fool, leave or be
I don't care if you don't like me
I expect this from men like you
It's the black men I can't believe
Brothas, some of us weren't here when the man call black folks sin
Said the Bible despise our skin
So that gave him the right to kill black men
and we all fought until this day
Same white folks, feel the same way
But, my people wanna turn their backs 'cause I'm black, and gay,
What?!
Lack of education I presume
Is it 'cause your life is filled with gloom
You need to feel empowered, so you turn to someone like me
It ain't surprising
'Cause y'all turn on each other
What's worse: me being gay or them killing one another?
Hhm, I know the answers
'Cause it seems you have a glorification for the thug
and I gets no love
All I wanted was for y'all to understand
Not hold my hand
Ha, But y'all don't even love yourself
So how the hell you gon' love somebody else?

My motto is don't trip on things you don't understand
And don't judge another, be it woman or man
Ain't nobody said we had to walk hand in hand
But respect one another's situation

My motto is don't trip on things you don't understand
And don't judge another, be it woman or man
Ain't nobody said we had to walk hand in hand
But respect one another's situation

My motto is don't trip on things you don't understand
And don't judge another, be it woman or man
Ain't nobody said we had to walk hand in hand
But respect one another's situation
We out.

taken from Tori Fixx's The Mochasutra LP
www.cdbaby.com/torifixx
[This message was edited Fri Aug 1 7:33:05 PDT 2003 by JANFAN4L]

kiss85 said:

Well, that's exactly why I went into specifics because you generalized all of them.

Kiss85 said:

Ofcourse it's wrong, that's a dumb question for anyone. They focus on those things because they think that's what people relate to, and by that, they can then blame the rap artists for influencing young kids into sex, drugs, and bling blinging, when it isn't all the case for many who live in the hood. Then, they give props to other rappers like Eminem, for rapping about other issues, but don't emphasize how he glorifies killing and raping his mother, among other stuff he talks about, as they continue to feed off the marketing and sales of the other rap artists who they say only just glorify sex, money, and drugs, among other things, that is heard on the radio, and seen mostly on BET.

And what I stated before was that not all of the rap songs are about that. Forgot about the ones that are say about...'LOVE' that continues to dominate the charts???

Kiss85 said

That's why I said they focus on the 'bad'. More excellent rappers like Lauryn Hill, and Hip-hop could definetely change for the better. Thanks to Lauryn Hill who put that positive note in for the mainstreamers.

Even still, I dig Rah Digga, and I think Lauryn Hill does too.
[This message was edited Fri Aug 1 8:15:14 PDT 2003 by Starmist7]

Thanks to Davideye for telling it like it is. I agree with his comments 100%. I can't stand all the thugged-out rappers and hip-hoppers out there right now. It's disgusting. This is not talent. They sell records because the fans want them to be popular and to rule MTV, BET etc. and to be noticed and be all over the airwaves. Some people don't care that the same people they are spending their hard earned money on are nothing but low-lifes. Prince may be weird, strange, out there, a reglious fanatic (I could go on and on) but he is not a thug and I believe he and many others are just hard working musicians with real talent. I hope 50 cent and others like him go away soon and are replaced by hip-hoppers with real talent.

Hip Hop went downhill after The Chronic came out.