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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.
Good Morning! What Do You Mean By Hip-Hop Anyway?
Hi! Hip- Hop
Good afternoon! Nelson George
Well hiphop is not dead its just kind of lost right now on lifesupport i grew up in the90s when there was something called gangsta rap or real rap i think alot of these rappers are fake tellin somebody elses story i mean if your going to be postive it is what it is dont be fake starting mess then wont to change into a studio rapper ya dig .what happened to mjg and 8ball ugk,and all the other hard hitters they need to come back and help these youngstas out are alot of these rappers need to retire
http://www.platinumrushmusic.net
well kid cudi is so cute that i can’t wait until i get his cd so that i can listen to his song day and nite.
Kid Cudi – Day and Nite is the best song he ever made …………………………………
Me and my friends are trying to form the best dance ever for our graduation dance but we dont no where to start because we dont no which is the most popular style of hip hop dance and who even started these moves anyway ??????????????????????????????????????????
also i think the rianna and chris brown thing is so stupid and if they go out it should be there buisness not the public’s
also what J ssaid is true because over time the world is suppose to evovlve and change that’s part of nature and that’s what has happened to the world these days
Well, my opinion is that to say Hip Hop is dead is in fact more of a wake up call like George said because there are some artists who put out music that is reminiscent of the earlier days, its just that Generation Y is so dumbed down that their definition of hip hop is based off whats being played on the radio, which is mostly club music. I am not against club music because i like some of it myself. However, when ask people what kind of music they listen to and the answer is hip hop, then you ask them which artists they like, then they say soulja boy tell em or shawty lo, you have to ask question that persons definition of hip hop. I like the club music, the conscious rappers, the instructional dance songs, etc, but if you ask me what hip hop is to me, i will tell you that it is music with a message, and somebody singing “watch me superman that hoe” is not a message. (Not to take anything away from soulja boy). He makes dance music, not hip hop.
http://www.goldmic.com/mikedizzle real music!
well, i think that hip-hop is not out of style and that song by the dream and mariah carey is d@ bomb. And also these songs Playhouse, Boyfriend#2, Say Yes, and many many many mo. So yall can stop hatin on hip-hop. To tell you da truth.
GET “READY” IM OUT ,AND GROWING UP THE LADER “QUICK”,I AM UNDERGRUND,NOW UPERGROUNG,I AM PROUD AND VERY HAPPY FOR ALL RAPERS AND HIP-HOP ARTIST,MANEN UP,AND WOMANEN UP ON THE MIC,FOR WHAT YOU DISERVE TO HAVE,EXCUSE MY SPELING PEOLPE ITS KIND OF WEEK BUT IM “LERNING.”ANYWAY AS MY GRANDMA SED KEEP GOD FIRST AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL TAKE CAIR OF YOU,AND GRANDMA WAS RIGHT,GRANDMA AND I HAVE PROOF,I JUST MADE IT BACK FROM TOKYO JAPAN,>GO http://www.amazon.com TYPE IN CORNELIUS ACAPELLA ((”YES” GRANDMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WEEEEEEEEE DID IT.>:)
Some people don’t understand that generations change. What you listen to in the 80s I would definitly not listen to in the 90s. Things change from hip hop to R&B. Do you even listen to any artist of today albumns, or you just listen to radio stations. These artist have many different styles, anybody could rap like they rap back in the 80s, but it want sale in todays world. I look at it as though hip hop is advancing, look how far we came from. So if you can’t congratulate you sound like a hater to me.
thats wuz up!
Nas really stirred up people emotions which got people dscussing this issue. Hip hop Isn’t definitely not dead it just went back under ground.The trend iam seeing that their is alot of more whites doing hip hop .Hip hop can go in different directionsat the same time thatis what is going on.
what it is cuzo im at fegs work vendor i notice your blog sounds like something that need to be jumped off. IMformous nasir gerald give me a holla 3474997507…
Hip hop aint dead!! R&B n Hip Hop 4 life
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It might not be dead but it’s in a coma. Everybody thinks they have so much swag and everyone wants to be a rapper or singer of some sort. I look out into the public and everyone is the same. Looks, sounds, and lyrical content. To be honest I couldnt tell you the last time I watched 106&park or even listen to the radio. If I can hear it in the club I dont want to hear it at home and thats how it is. But Im the type of person to give everything a chance before i knock it down and thats another difference. I know about Swag Surfin and Knock You Down but just as well I know what the Kiss of Death is and Cant Ban the Snowman.You want commercial listen to the radio. You want somethin else buy a cd. I know its bad but whatever floats your boat I’ll jus keep the ipod juiced up.
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