:: Idle Neurosis ::

:: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 ::

my opinion article...this year's newspaper crew is going to be a riot...i can already tell....this is before changes were made to it....sorry it's long...

I was left a bit distraught following a casual conversation with a customer of mine. After receiving the typical question of, “what type of music do you like?” I replied by saying that hip-hop was among the many types of music that I appreciate. The response of the young man standing before me flabbergasted me. “Oh, you mean like Nelly?” he asked confidently. I laughed a little and then looked up from my work only to realize that he was not joking. Could this man’s view of music be so tainted that Nelly was being grouped with legends like Run DMC and De La Soul? The depth of hip-hop music has somehow become synonymous to the shallowness of pop rap. Don’t get me wrong, I even find it entertaining to sing along to catchy songs like “Right Thurr”, but in no way should artists like Chingy be considered hip-hop.
A lifestyle in its own, hip hop may be one of the most misunderstood genres of music. With artists like 50 Cent, Nelly, and Puff Daddy blaring on radio stations and TRL, it seems as though hip hop has taken a backseat to pop rap. Hip hop was never fully introduced into mainstream music, but even a rare leak of artists like Common or the Fugees was expected to slip into airplay. Mainstream has lacked hip hop for so long that the common folk is using the terms “rap” and “hip hop” interchangeably. As a matter of fact, many musicians are the one’s trying to blur the line separating the two very different genres.
Perhaps many artists are claiming to be a part of the hip hop culture because hip hop is more of a revolution than a type of music. This highly respected genre of music contains some of the most lyrically talented individuals from artists like the late Tupac Shakur, Atmosphere, and KRS-One. The goal for hip hop MCs is to spit out lyrics no one has heard before in a manner and style no one encompasses. Lyrically is where rap and hip hop differ. While rappers speak about cars, money, and sex, hip hop uses themes like society, love, spirituality and hip hop itself. Rappers also have a tendency to bash other musicians like 50 Cent saying, “I used to tap my foot to Lauryn Hill until she made a CD with no beat”. Hip hoppers seem to have more respect for one another in that they only put another musician down when they are challenged to a lyrical competition by another MC.
The music industry has shown that rap sells. Perhaps it is the way rap coins new catch phrases and fun chorus lines. But not all hip hop is serious. The Beastie Boys may be known for their unique beats and turntablism, but they also stirred things up with their nutty flows and spontaneity. Later the LA underground group Pharcyde also incorporated the same carefree fun attitude as the Beastie Boys.
Another element often found in hip hop (and not rap) is DJing through the use of turntables. Groups like Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, and the Beatnuts use beats and scratching to amaze their audiences. Turntables and human beatboxes are non-existent at rap concerts. Instead, entourages of people follow the headlining rapper on stage causing so much noise as they all try to rap at once that the audience is left wondering who they paid to see.
Hip hop may not be readily available to music lovers through MTV or local radio stations, but it is definitely not dead. New and old hip hop artists are creating new masterpieces to fill the shoes of hip hop legends. The only problem is discovering these new artists. Artists like K-os, Blackalicious, The Roots, and Talib Kweli are always producing fresh music and performing live.
Hip hop is a culture, not just a good beat to bop your head to. It contains the talents of MCs, DJs, dancers, and visual artists. Rap is simply music competing to make big sales. Perhaps a phenomenal line from a cheesy movie can sum it up, “what is the difference between hip hop and rap? It is like the difference between love and being in love with someone…rap is just a word” (Brown Sugar).



stellar lady:: naughti 8:40 PM [+] ::
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