The fall of Hip-Hop or Hip-Hop's midlife crisis?

in hip-hop •  7 years ago  (edited)


Some say it's dead, some say it's doing well. Both sides of the argument are right though. How? Let me explain it to you. It occured to me couple of days ago, on Hip-Hop's 44th birthday. I was talking to my friend about the state of Hip-Hop these days. His opinion is that I don't listen to all the underground stuff as much as he does and this makes me think that Hip-Hop is dead. But I am fully aware of that the underground Hip-Hop is doing just well. What I really meant when saying that Hip-Hop is dead is that the mainstream Hip-Hop is dead. But then it hit me: it's not dead - it's a midlife crisis! Just look at it.
When Hip-Hop started it was kind of silly, just look at the rhymes and lyrics. Sugar Hill Gang compared to NAS or KRS was just pure fun. That was the early childhood. Then at later stage Hip-Hop started behaving like a teenager, fancy clothes, girls, having fun, and from time to time it touched on serious subjects, just as teenagers do.
After was 20's, the gangsta rap was at full blast. You had groups like Mobb Deep, Bad Boys, whole West Coast, Wu-Tang. It was very mature but brutal. There was no mercy, weakeness was punished, beefs were serious, people got killed. This is that late 20s, when you learn the street life the hard way, you become bitter, there is still space for some fun.
Then there are 30s. It baceme slightly relaxed, the gangsta atmosphere was replaced with countless of love songs, our Hip-Hop was getting in love, the music became more sophisticated and closer to any other commercial pop genre. The production values changed, outsourcing etc. just as people in their 30s act.
Then the 40's, now. We have Hip-Hop quiting the family, leaving it behind. Buying expensive Lambo, doing drugs, parting crazier than ever before. Trying to be young again but deep down we know it to be slightly pathetic. Clever and fresh lyrics of young mind are replaced by mumble of middle-aged man who is so high he doesn't know what to say.
In short it looks like Hip-Hop is going through midlife crisis. But there is hope, after all this is done and dusted the new era will start, hopefully we will be able to witness the wisdom of rap artists yet again and cherish their art without wondering what the hell they are even saying.
Peace!

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