Today's hip-hop doesn't measure up to the past

By: Roxanne Bailey, '12 | Staff Reporter

Posted: 3/5/10

From the east coast to the west coast, the flow of rap in the 80's to the mid 90's was immaculate. The lyrics were put out in a way where you could actually understand the clarity of what was being spoken of. There was a certain flow and it was as if they were rapping to a beat that wasn't even there. It wasn't stiff and it wasn't forced, it was very free spirited. They were also much more positive. I was born in the late 80's, but I do have a sense of what "good" music is.

There is a noticeable distinction between the subjects that were rapped about in the 80's and 90's and what is being rapped about today. I feel as though rap in the 80's and 90's spoke more about gaining peace, racism, love and poverty. There were a lot more positive rap artists and rap groups. Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Tupac, A Tribe called Quest, LL Cool J, and Bone Thugs N' Harmony all told stories about looking for a way to change the world, to stop the violence and to get the world to think positive; letting certain audiences know that there is a way out, in either having faith in yourself, or having faith in God.

I feel as though nowadays, rap is definitely portrayed in a much more negative way. Almost every lyric of every song speaks of drugs, sex, money and women in a very vulgar way. Gucci Mane, Plies, Soulja Boy, Lil' Boosie and other artists are basically sending out the message that money is all you need to gain true happiness. They are saying that once you have the jewelry, cars, clothes and girls you have reached the last level in life. Rap stopped being poetic and it became more about being flashy and "cool."

Currently, rappers portray women as merely objects for entertainment. Rappers from the 80's and 90's rapped about having goals, making it and "getting out of the hood," or out of poverty. I am not saying that rappers from that time period never spoke of drugs and sex, but there was more of a variety in topics rather than the same ol' same ol' sex, money and drugs.

Hopefully, one day rappers will begin rapping about what matters in this world. I can appreciate current rappers like Nas, Fabolous, and Jadakiss who speak not only of their own personal desires but also of what I feel as though is important. I can also appreciate rappers like Kanye West that rap about making it ("Good Life," "Can't Tell Me Nothing"), about being great, about Jesus ("Jesus Walks," "Roses") and about coming this far in life ("Through the Wire"). Similar rappers mention peace and wanting to change the world. But in order to change the world, we must change ourselves. Songs by Bone Thugs 'N Harmony ("Change the World"), Tupac Shakur ("Changes," "Keep Ya Head Up"), Nas ("One Mic"), and Notorious BIG ("Juicy") are all not only inspirational, but motivational. Sometimes, all a person needs is to hear of someone else's struggle, to hear about how they made it, to either motivate them to keep going or to make a change in their lives to reach their goals.

All of these songs are depicting the same message. Basically saying that all they need is the love from God and the love for music itself. Through all their struggle and effort, they made it and so can we. Hip-hop changed because it stopped being about simplicity and it just became flat-out stupid. Current rappers are just saying words that rhyme with the previous verse, not putting any meaning behind what they are saying. They are basically just entertainers looking for a catchy hook to draw a crowd. Making up their own words ("gutta love") and their own dances ("crank that", "chicken noodle soup", "skanky leg") causes us all to repeat these foolish lines and foolish dances. It is as if the media dominantly controls society. Monkey see, monkey do.

Hip-Hop went from lyrics like, "We got money for war/ but can't feed the poor" (Tupac Shakur), and "See we're losing this world we love/ and it looks like the sinning won't end/ so I'm reaching high up above/ Lord, let your blessings begin" (Bone Thugs N' Harmony), to lyrics like, "Every time you see me up in class my head on the desk/ and when you see me on dem girls you know I'm super fresh" (Soulja Boy). Not to mention degrading lyrics like, "I'm on this liquor oh so heavy/ if we f**k, can you neck me? / A lil' head and I am ready/ I want yo mouth, give me that Becky" (Plies).

It's as if hip-hop converted to solely entertainment and stopped being poetic and even stopped making sense. I believe that it is a shame for the children growing up in this generation because they aren't learning about anything useful. They are listening to nonsense like, "Yah trick yah!" Rap groups went from Public Enemy to New Boys; rap went from talking about police brutality to fresh white tees. It is not only maddening, it's sad. Personally, these reasons listed are the reasons why I won't listen to hip-hop from this generation. I want to listen to subjects that could better me and motivate me. Not about girls, money and other foolish subjects.