Hip Hop Ain't Dead (It Lives Underground) by Big D

         The majority of people born after 1995 have a certain idea of what hip hop is today, and who represents it. They will probably list off people like Lil Wayne, Drake, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, or Waka Flaka. If asked what hip hop looks like, they will probably say gold chains, gold teeth, and fancy cars. If asked what hip hop is about, they might say sex, money, bitches, and murder. And ya know what? That's actually a very accurate description of what hip hop has come to be. Today's hip hop tends to be somewhat of a hollow shell of what it used to represent when it first came about in the 1980's. In the beginning, or a simulacrum. Simulacrum, meaning an image without the substance or qualities of the original. It is sad, but many of the hip hop artists we know and love today are not even aware of the humble beginnings of the culture.

      One of the main issues that we see in mainstream hip hop today is the emphasis and somewhat glorification of crime, especially black on black. Almost every artist has "beef" with someone else. So they rap about how that other person should watch their backs and how much of a wannabe the other is. I do not doubt that many of our favorite top 40 artists have come from a struggle and cities with violent crimes, so why continue that even when they get out? If we recall from our reading in Can't Stop Won't Stop, hip hop emerged from an era where young men grew tired of burying their brother's and friends from gang violence; why is it again popular to promote such hate?

      Thankfully, that's only considering mainstream hip hop; it also does not consider the other elements of hip hop like DJing, Graffiti, and BBoying. There are still conscious rappers out there, unfortunately their music is not making the Billboard 100 list. Artists like Dead Prez, Public Enemy, and The Roots make music that challenges societal norms, political injustices and contemporary issues; they aren't rapping about gold rings and having unprotected sex. They emulate and reinforce the messages that inspired the OG’s of consciousness like The Fugees and KRS-One. There are probably even more artists, deeper underground than I even know of. (Guess I’m going to have to do my homework as well!) Hip hop with substance is out there, we just won't find it on MTV!