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What Do You Mean By Hip-Hop Anyway? (By Nelson George)
March 27th, 2009
When Nas made the lyrical suggestion that hip-hop was dead a few years back, he pissed off more than a few heads. But, having written a book called The Death of Rhythm & Blues back in ‘88, I know pronouncing the death of any cultural movement, is usually intended more as a wake up call than a eulogy. Near the end of the first decade of the 21st century I don’t think hip-hop is dead, but that the definition is used so loosely now that it may have lost its meaning.
I remember a time before hip-hop, when Technic turntables were used one at a time, when rappin’ was what cool radio jocks and Isaac Hayes did, and baseball caps were for outfielders not gangstas. So I have a little perspective on this game. I remember how “fresh” (in every sense of the word) hip-hop culture felt in its ’80s incarnation, bringing essential rawness, grit and even soul back to a black popular culture that had gotten too slick, too corporate and too self-consciously commercial. And, truth is, you could make that same criticism today about much of what passes for commercial hip-hop.
Hip-hop, as I understood it, was rebel music, representing a outsider culture. It was music that spoke for people on the margins of society, people voice less in America who demanded to be listened to. It was about “making it” of course, but also it had a very underdog quality. Very “them” against “us” which gave it a lot of its passion.
So now the game is dominated by brand name icons, CEO’s of success (and excess) who speak the audience very top down, who are selling products which enrich their pockets but only have a fleeting relationship to enriching the lives of their customers. I’m not trying to romanticize the past, but to say that the perspective of hip-hop has changed so completely that it might not be the same thing it was.
I respect both Lil’ Wayne and Kanye West immensely, but most of what I hear on New York Hot 97 is really dance music. Great tracks and stick in your mind hooks abound, but both lyrically and flow-wise what I’m hearing isn’t up to the standards of ‘87 or ‘92 or ‘97. I’m not saying people aren’t making hits or that stuff isn’t sounding good in a club. I’m just not sure it’s hip-hop musically, culturally or lyrically.
So for me hip-hop isn’t dead. It’s just that every damn thing that people wanna call hip-hop isn’t and hasn’t been for quite some time. Hip-hop is a label that people stick on products — music, video games, vodka, perfume — to sell to people. But I don’t think there’s a rebellious way to smell good or wear a suit. I think we are actually in a post-hip-hop period–and that’s fine with me. History moves on and cultures evolve. But perhaps we should all be looking at every product comes our way and asking a few very simple questions: Is this hip-hop? Why and how is it hip-hop? And does it being hip-hop actually even matter?
catch ya down the road
NELSON GEORGE is the executive producer of BET’s American Gangster, and has just published City Kid: A Writer’s Memoir of Ghetto Life and Post-Soul Success” (Viking). The book will be in stores April 2.
Be sure to check out Nelson George’s, A Survivor’s Tale, featuring BET News’ Samson Styles. It is the second in a series of fictionale tales based on true events that George is producing and directing.
Hip-Hop in its purest essence is rebel music. Once Hip-Hop stood as the voice of a forgotten minority, back in the day who would pay attention to poor black teens and the struggles that we experienced. Growning up in the south during the ninty’s I remembered when individuals began classifing certain aspects in hip hop. It was gansta rap versus hip hop at that time. When you go back and listen to some of the old school hip hop tracks most of the music was up beat, it was party music. Now I remember the hip hop music that evolve where certian groups began spittin knowledge. When the west coast rappers began telling their gansta stories it wasnt hip hop. Now that alot of the southern rappers are making this music for their younger audience every one declares hip hop is dead. In the end if we are going to critize anyone or anything we need to look at how Hip Hop has been commercialized by big business. Thats the true enemy.
Well with no disrespect to nobody, i definantly agree with Nas that Hip hop is dead. because The people that come out with the real stuff “wu tang, ice c, etc” dont really get recorganision for what they do. but most af the people that get awards are people that are talented “dont get me rowng” but are not doin’ any Hip hop. eg Lil wayne, Kanye, n’ so on.
I agree wit nelson. No hiphop is not dead based on who you listen to. it’s okay to dance but what happened to the black empowerment the movement. RAP now is based on Materialistic items not whats goin on in the neighborhood. So to me Its a different generation. Hiphop is a culture a movement RAP is just a song that makes you snap ur fingers and dance!
Hip-Hop is NOT dead! Its just eclipsed by this commercial BS. There is still good Hip Hop out there. But this is not ‘88, ‘93, or ‘97 where you heard Hip Hop in “regular rotation” on radio. New generation…Hip Hop artists are still makin records. But if your using the radio as a reference, your just brainwashed from this repetitive “every hr on an… Read More hr” crap. *Much love to Jean Grae, Pharoah, Roots, Nicolay, Talib, KRS, Little Brother etc…for keepin the true essence of the culture without selling their souls. Us true heads know what time it is!
Divine, PEACE! (Divine ‘Dave’ Joseph-”facebook”)
Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research. Cultures rise, mature and die. When Hip Hop was underground it was untouched. Now that she is on the surface everybody has their turn with her. Hip Hop will never be the same. It is now something else, she (Hip Hop) is just a memory.
Nelson, as always, you nailed it. I do think we are in a post hip hop age, and that we are on the verge of something new.
On the real, how many people would listen to “hip hop” if it were exactly the same as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Hardly any. That is what music does though. It moves and evolves into the next thing. If it were the same then as now no one would want to hear it anymore. Hip Hop was a cultural movement; a different phase in the game. It was a necessary step that catapulted the black community’s ideas and thoughts into mainstream america, through music. It brought the real side of how people lived and what they went through to light. Now the only change in things seems to be that music is branching out and having an affect on a larger group of people. There are different catagories of music out now. There are the always popular Dance Jams that even came out during the beginning of the hip hop era. There is Gangsta Rap targeted towards those who deal with the lifestyle. There is Lyrical Rap which is more closely based of the original meaning of hip hop, but is less popular because it may not be as catchy. There is also Commercial Rap that is the most widley accepted for having catchy beats and rhymes. I wouldn’t say hip hop is dead bucause almost all forms of the music catogorized as “hip hop” now has the roots from the original Hip Hop.
[...] popwreckoning created an interesting post today on What Do You Mean By Hip-Hop Anyway? (By Nelson George)Here’s a short outlineHip-hop, as I understood it, was rebel music, representing a outsider culture. … but most of what I hear on New York Hot 97 is really dance… [...]
i just want to know what is the true meaning of hip hop dancing and the movements. because i was in LA 2 dance and my group did not win the battle because they said we didnt do any tricks or throw people on the ground. so can you pleaces help me out to understand the meaning of hip hop dancing.
on point