As it showed in Part One, The Message, continued to flow like a great conversation between Hip Hop's finest. This episode of the special touched on the movements of Hip Hop, from 2 Live Crew to Cash Money Records. As the special delved into each rap collective that defined Hip Hop, a light bulb turned on. While there have undeniably been movements in recent Hip Hop, our generation doesn't have the synergy swooning behind it that the movements of yesteryear feature. Millenials seem to be following the pace. But Hip Hop has always been about rearranging American culture, either directly or indirectly. I think it would be hard pressed for present artists to create a cultural influence large enough to divide the country like the East/West Coast artists did in the nineties. This is not to champion the violence that ensued, it is a commentary on the affect that music had. Artists just aren't loved the way Big and Tupac were. Gen Y loves hard, but not for long. Truthfully speaking, we are still holding on to the tracks of the generation before us. Our generation's movements span from Crunk music to the reemergence of West Coast rap. And while you will find fans for sure, you won't find dedicated lifelong followers willing to risk it all. The emergence of Chicago artist, like Chief Keef and Young Durk, has shown that Hip Hop can still alter culture. But, overall, Millenial followings pale to Hip Hop's earlier movement, not in money but in spirit. Gen X artists are still defying the odds. Dre is a billionaire. Jay-Z and Baby still lead the pack in Hip Hop, even though they are nearly 20 years into the game. Their prospective prodigies and music groups run Hip Hop. In my eyes, Wayne with Young Money and Kanye with G.O.O.D Music are just a continuation of Jay-Z and Baby's hard ground work in the 80's. Hustle Gang, Taylor Gang, and the TDE collective definitely staked a claim to represent our generation, but none of the latter groups have been truly acclaimed in music.
What The Message has shown me is that, Hip Hop changed America because it backed provocative language up with national acclaim with the Grammy's and cultural difference. That after all is what synergy is. The reason Hip Hop from N.W.A. to Uncle Luke was remarkable is because it affected American legislation and eventually infiltrated American culture. Now that Hip Hop is a part of American culture, it is struggling to do more than sell records and make money. This week's special made me realize what made Hip Hop so special. It was the changing of the big American picture by all these small separate Hip Hop movements.
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ATS MagAgainst the Stream Magazine is an urban platform. We edify our readers by finding noble, pure, and true talent and giving it a stage to flourish. While we love bragging about the folks around us, we also tackle urban issues by giving real world solutions. Archives
September 2015
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