Notes

Hip-Hop Isn't Dead-But It's Dying-Here's 10 Reasons Why
1. Everybody wants to become a gangsta

There used to be all types of MCs rhyming about all aspects of life. Hip-Hop was previously fun. Hip-Hip was previously social conscious. Hip-Hop used to political and militant. Hip-Hop used to be grown and sexy before Jay-Z made the phrase popular on his song, "Excuse me Miss".

Hip-Hop has always been gangsta. Many credit Schoolly D with making the first Gangsta rap record, "P.S.K." Ice-T arrived with "6 N each morning". Boogie Down Productions released "Criminal Minded". And how could anyone fail to mention "probably the most dangerous group", N.W.A. and their infamous classic record, "Straight Outta Compton".

What I'm saying is that Gangsta rap isn't new & most of the so-called gangsta rap acts nowadays all sound the same (regardless of where they're from) and so are not nearly as good and cutting edge as the pioneers of this sub-genre within Hip-Hop.

Bottom-line: Hip-Hop needs to diversify by returning to its true tradition of telling stories that reflect a number of perspectives and not just exactly the same ol', same ol', "shoot 'em up, bang, bang" mentality and lifestyle.

2. Hip-Hop is driven more by commercial success than cultural integrity

Hip-Hop is no longer a culture, it's a business. But the truth is Hip-Hop is indeed a culture that is commercialized, therefore, compromised. Corporate America, whether you're discussing corporate-owned record labels, magazines or cable channels, are in complete control of Hip-Hop.

Hip-Hop is big business and is creating a lot of people a lot of money. But how many of these who profit from Hip-Hop are actually true to the preservation of the culture? And just how much of the profits are being recycled back in the communities everywhere that gave birth, raised and praise the culture just like a proud parent?

Bottom-line: Hip-Hop, as a culture, has to be resurrected and moved forward in having an impact on the planet socially, politically, religiously, economically and not simply exploited to create greedy opportunists rich.

3. BEEF

Let me begin by saying that there is a big difference between "beef" and "battling". Beef is what goes on on the streets and even in the boardroom. Battling is competition; what goes on in sports for example and of course Hip-Hop music. Battling is the foundation of MC'ing.

Battling separates the thorough MCs from the "Sucker MCs". There were legendary "battles" throughout Hip-Hop history; KRS-ONE & BDP vs. MC Shan & The Juice Crew, L.L. Cool J vs. check here to mention a couple.

But beef is another whole can of "words". Beef can (and contains) spread outside of records and onto the streets. Beef, real beef, is approximately more than words. Beef could be dangerous and should be studied serious. Beef is dangerous to Hip-Hop since it damages the culture's credibility and hinders its true intent. Hip-Hop as a culture and rap as a kind of music was not founded on "greasy talk" and violence.

Bottom line: Beef may garner some publicity and sometimes, tragically claim lives nonetheless it does nothing to uplift Hip-Hop culture and the communities it represents.

4. The most used MCs are often the most overrated

It is possible to ask today's average fan to list their 10 favorite MC's and at the very least half of the people they name are average at best or downright wack. The MCs who obtain the most attention in radio, print and television are often not MCs at all; they're rappers, or I assume you can say, entertainers that rap. Your favorite rapper may have a hit song getting 100's of spins a day on the air but that doesn't indicate that he or she is a true MC.

Most rap songs played on the air are the weakest lyrically. Most of the components of Hip-Hop are completely absent from the music videos that serve as a visual for the songs. These entertainers reap the benefits of many different factors that put them at the forefront of Hip-Hop. But often get more info is not one of these factors. Meanwhile a lot of the best MCs that have mastered the art of MC'ing (see #9) receive little to no promotion from corporate America and their great talents are heard and witnessed by few.

Bottom line: True MCs who are in the overall game for the love of it ought to be more visible and the more popular MCs who dominate the charts and grace the covers of magazines should challenge themselves and be challenged to step their rhyme game up.

5. Hip-Hop journalism must step their game up

I'm a writer. I was raised an avid reader of Hip-Hop themed publications. There is a period when I thoroughly enjoyed reading these publications waiting anxiously for the new issues going to the newsstand or be delivered in my own mailbox.

But the last 5 years roughly, the "Hip-Hop press" has allow culture down. For example, the two biggest and most successful magazines (I won't name them. You know...) in my opinion have perpetuated, instigated and contributed to pushing on-going beefs between rap crews. And these publications themselves have engaged in on-going beefs between one another!

This won't happen in other publications unless you're talking about the tabloids. And when it does happen within other publications, the ramifications are not as detrimental to the entire well being of the "profiles" featured within their pages or the readers of these publications.

Plainly, the Hip-Hop press includes a responsibility to the culture it covers. It will challenge the culture while celebrating it. The Hip-Hop press shouldn't lower their journalistic standards or "dumb down" just to sell magazines. I hate to say this, but some of the best pieces I've continue reading Hip-Hop attended from mainstream publications which really have no authority to speak on matters of Hip-Hop.

Bottom line: At times, the Hip-Hop press comes across cartoon-ish and for most of us that grew up in Hip-Hop, we expect and deserve better. The younger generation of Hip-Hop desperately need better (even though they don't realize it). You can find great writers in your culture but we all must present Hip-Hop in a shining light while being objective. The Hip-Hop press includes a credibility problem (and I ain't discussing street cred).

6. read more & TV has yet to step their game up

Radio and television programming as it relates to Hip-Hop is wack. The most used Hip-Hop show on TV (Guess what happens I'm talking about) may be the wackest. And it's not due to hosts or the young, ill informed audience. The blame could possibly be spread over the board between the producers and the corporate companies who are responsible for putting the show on the air.

I don't desire to pick using one particular television show. The point is radio and television do a terrible job of how they present Hip-Hop culture to the masses. And, frankly, advertisers don't care; all they want are the eyeballs to whatever they're peddling.

Bottom line: Radio & Television need to create more formats and programming that celebrate all of the elements of Hip-Hop so that more eyes and ears will see and hear the many faces and sounds of Hip-Hop and not just the often negative stereotypical stuff.

7. The younger generation doesn't know or acknowledge the pioneers of the game

When I was an adolescent, I loved Big Daddy Kane but I also loved and appreciated the soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye. I was students of music, fairly proficient in history and not just hung up on the most recent song on the radio. Many of my peers were exactly the same way.

On Nas' new record, "Hip-Hop is Dead", among the best songs is "Carry on Tradition" where Nas challenges, "Let's see who can quote a Daddy Kane line the fastest." The younger generation need to be more informed about Hip-Hop pre-2004. I really like fire-spittin', Lil' Wayne, or the charismatic, T.I., but there's been a great deal of Hip-Hop prior to the new school or next school of Hip-Hoppers.

I've always said that the pioneers of the overall game don't get the proper platform that they deserve. That's why I love VH1's Hip-Hop Honors. It's not the simplest way to pay tribute to the MCs of days gone by but at the very least the producers try.

Bottom line: The pioneers of the overall game paved the way for the MCs that you see now. The MCs of today, radio, television, print and just the average Hip-Hopper on the street should pay homage to the legends. The culture includes a history and that history is the foundation from which the future of Hip-Hop should be built upon.

8. Live performances are loud, crowded and wack

You might be a hardcore Hip-Hop fan but you will have to admit that the live Hip-Hop performance is awful. It hasn't been this way. As a matter of fact, in its short history, Hip-Hop is known for its performance element. There were great performers within Hip-Hop and several of the performances were witnessed in the park before they reached the Grammy stage.

Nowadays, MCs just don't possess a clue of what must be done to satisfy an audience. There's so much wrong with Hip-Hop performances today. The music is too loud. There are way too many people on stage. MCs are too cool or too tough to dance or just groove with the music. The stage show just lack true excitement and creativity. Often everything you have is a couple of guys on stage as though they're sitting on a street corner. Is that the best they can develop? I think not.

Bottom line: MCs haven't shown true Hip-Hop heads nothing if they can't put on a good show. MCs spend lots of time on the highway bringing their music to the people but they should spend more time focusing on their performance if they hit the stage.

9. "Real" MC'ing is really a lost art

If I had to create a percentage, I would say that only about 25% of MCs today can in fact rhyme. Some have hardly any skill at all. The MCing element within Hip-Hop may be the most celebrated but the least mastered. Now I love beats and I get addicted to a catchy hook, but back in your day, when I heard an archive, I zeroed in on the MC. If he or she couldn't rhyme, my ears closed quickly.

Too many songs are chorus/hook and basically nothing else. The MC really is the voice of the culture. What's said and how it's said is important. A MC will be able to articulate his or her message clearly and skillfully. A genuine MC wouldn't normally compromise their lyrical prowess to generate a hit record. Jay-Z, for instance, has made many hits and yet he rarely disappoints lyrically. Biggie was like this as well.

Important thing: MCs of today should study the MCs of the past and the fantastic ones which are still doing their thing. These MCs are the true masters of wordplay.

10. The ladies are being denied the chance to shine and continue to be degraded and pushed to the background.

The women of Hip-Hop still haven't gotten their due. We are able to talk about any other music genre plus some of its biggest names are females. Maybe it's the nature of Hip-Hop and rap music. But to possess that position would be selling Hip-Hop culture short.

If you feel back, women have been celebrated in Hip-Hop. Now an excessive amount of Hip-Hop degrades its own women just for the sake to do so. Hip-Hop rarely makes the distinction between a bitch and a lady anymore. Bitch or Hoe are two words which have seemed to officially replace what woman, lady or girl in the Hip-Hop lexicon.

Whatever happened to calling a woman a chick or honey?

Some feminists wouldn't like those terms but at the very least they're spoken as a compliment to women. Most women are offended by being known as a bitch or a hoe. Of course, nowadays some women embrace these derogatory terms, seeing themselves in this way and calling one another by these names.

But I will not simply dwell on what men treat ladies in Hip-Hop. That's a record that's been played many times. I agree with those who say that the degradation of ladies in Hip-Hop is influenced by society's treatment of women. But Hip-Hop may be a leading influence in changing that.

What I'm really troubled by as far as women, is the proven fact that there are not enough females in the overall game on the mic. Who's representing for the ladies? I don't mind saying that a few of my favorite MCs are females. MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill...these ladies and others are great MCs within their own right. Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim both can go toe to toe lyrically with anybody in the overall game; past and present!

Important thing: Hip-Hop needs to uplift our women more oppose to holding them down. There has to be more females MCs in the game to represent all aspects (not only the "baddest bitch" perspective) of being women within Hip-Hop culture.

Duane L Lawton is a freelance writer and publisher of "The Rhyme Report", a series of reports that explores the song lyrics of Hip-Hop's greatest MCs. Visit [http://DuaneLawton.com]
Here's my website: https://anotepad.com/notes/md38p9sy