A lot has been made of the imfamous comment, "Hip Hop Is Dead." There have been shots fired, statements issued, and new alliances formed since the idea that our sacred hip hop is dying. But is it really?
I've been influenced by hip hop since I was old enough to walk and talk. Reciting LL Cool J and Run DMC lyrics thanks to my, at the time, young uncle Clifford. I've seen the fads come and go and I must say that as a young man, I'm split by the whole thing. I mean, I can respect and feel where Jay-Z and Nas are coming from with the content of their album, but I also understand the gripes of Lil' Wayne and Young Jeezy. Is hip hop really dead because it's growing up and the younger generation is now the face of the genre? To find the answer you must figure out what you define hip hop to be. Alot of people under the assumption that hip hop is dead are die hard fans of the "old school" formula. Simple yet structured beats with their favorite emcee dropping clever rhymes by the boatload. The "new school" formula is this:
1 part dope beat: 1 part gangsta/d-boy image: 1 part dope lyrics: 1 part ad lib like crazy.
Now the deciding factor of what you feel hip hop is comes down to what makes you feel good. I get a certain feeling when I listen to a Biggie or Pac record that I know I could NEVER feel in a Jeezy or Wayne record. Not to see that these guys won't go down in history as great artists but understand this. What happened with R&B....WILL happen in hip hop. I'll explain.
Hip Hop is a fairly new genre. With rock, jazz, classical, blues, and other genres of music dating back 50+years at minimum, hip hop is still in its adolescent form as a genre. In saying that, those of us who grew up on the "old school" formula are constantly seeking substance in a record. The problem with that is those who provide (in my eyesight) quality substance are more seasoned veterans who are seeking retirement because of the new trends set and adored by younger fans. Now can a 37 year old rapper sell 6 million records in a market that is ruled by suburban teenage kids? He would have to already have a name and even then, it would be a very difficult task. The younger rappers can relate to the younger fans. I'm not a teenager so I dont't relate to records that they relate to. But I did buy the latest Jay-Z, Talib, Common, etc.
Rhythm and Blues has provided foreshadow of what is to come because of the age split. R&B has a thing going on we might as well get used to. When my mom says she listens to R&B, she's talking about Gerald Levert and guys of that nature. Not Omarion and Chris Brown. Two different markets. Normally a 46 year old woman isn't listening to the younger R&B fellows. As rappers and fans mature, they won't listen to content they would have previously. Rest assured though as younger fans listen, younger artists will provide them with their music.
It is fact. Hip hop fans 25 and up will be the first generation of fans to have heard hip hop our whole lives. Fans in their mid 30's now were around when it all started but knew other forms of music first. I can honestly say, "I came out of the womb listening to DefJam recordings." When I turn 40, if their are still artists recording music I like and can tolerate, I will purchase, however, I dont think it will come from a 20 year old kid. So we've yet to see it because hip hop is still young, but Jay-Z may never retire, Nas either. As long as their market gets older and still purchases they will still release. And hip hop will still be alive... both of them.
