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There is no question that hip-hop is major in the music industry today. Drake, Kendrick Lamar etc. are now household names along with pop superstars such as Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. As a result, music conversations in AISG often revolve around hip-hop too. Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s previous albums are all placed in the current hot 200 albums, a feat most pop stars admire. In the most recent Billboard Hot 100 chart, 8 out of the top 10 singles include hip-hop verses. Furthermore, rappers and their albums are each filling up artist and album charts. However, older rappers like Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz are struggling to remain relevant, sometimes even featuring on songs from other artists since they find little success from their own songs. Iconic rapper Eminem’s newest album, “Revival”, was also a complete disappointment. As proven, earlier rappers are either out of the game or quietly working on projects, which provide opportunities for new-school rappers to shine. This certainly marks a revolution for hip-hop, but I hold a negative opinion on this change. Audiences of younger ages are beginning to listen to these songs that carry inappropriate messages such as drug usage, sex, and murder. These songs also frequently contain foul language (most notably the n-word as always) and aggressive music videos with disturbing images. What also concerns me is the behavior of these artists. Obviously many teens view these celebrities as idols, yet some of these individuals are acting bizarrely and setting bad examples.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the new style of music in hip-hop. As technology improves, modern beats and samples are improving in quality and getting more popular, as lots of people are involved in music productions on the internet. Soundcloud, YouTube etc. are now loaded with original hip-hop beats that sound great. Producers such as Metro Boomin, Pi’erre Bourne, and Southside etc. are making a huge name for themselves in the music industry.
In addition, I often see a point criticizing new-school “mumble rappers”, accusing them that they do not enunciate and lack actual rapping ability and lyricism. Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Kodak Black are some that fall into that category. Personally, I have no problem with mumble rap. Technically speaking, they are innovating the genre of hip-hop by including lots of audio editing technology. Plus, I don’t get why people complain about not comprehending what the artists are saying, Why do non-Korean people listen to K-pop then; it’s not like they can understand a single word.
But here comes the issues, first, hip-hop is appealing to younger audiences, and its fake gangster culture is starting to brainwash some of these younger listeners. As always, hip-hop revolved around drugs, killing, sex etc. In the 1990s, rappers such as 2pac and Eazy-E were legitimately involved and responsible for gang riots and murders. Those people were constantly fighting for their life due to their affiliations with gangs and offenses to others en route to their success. I certainly do not advocate this lifestyle, but it’s undoubtedly justified for them to include elements of their daily life in their lyrics. Plus, they included strong metaphors and well-crafted bar structures in their songs. Newer rappers are seemingly influenced by previous generations, though some rappers actually live a life similar to what they portray in songs, most don’t. In multiple interviews, rapper Future addressed that he never takes drugs in real life, and rapping about drugs is just a marketing strategy. To an extent, drugs, sex, and murder are mentioned more in today’s hip-hop, and music in general. It’s not marijuana and cocaine anymore. Lean, Molly, Xanax, and percocets are frequently included harmful drugs in current hip-hop songs.
In addition, wealth has stepped center stage in hip-hop; often, rappers boast about their cash, their appearance, and their partners. Younger audiences are also exposed to vulgar language and images through these songs. Immature listeners will think saying some words are appropriate without understanding the context of those words, because a rapper repeated that word throughout the song. Music videos also impact its audience; sexual images appear often, and there’s usually direct footage of one abusing substances. A lot of people also think that living a life in lyrics is ideal, while that life is extremely unrealistic. Therefore, a large portion of hip-hop listeners are too focused on living their own “rich” life, while other important parts of life are generally ignored. Consequently, this trend certainly has an effect on today’s young generation. Everybody wants to be a rapper; even YouTube stars are creating “diss tracks” in rap to gain attention. Drug usage rates are steadily increasing the US, people are bragging about money all over the internet, and people think disobeying the law or owning a gun is the coolest thing ever.
Tay-K is a 17 year old murder suspect also known for his top 100 hit “The Race”, describing his flee from the police and illegal actions he committed. Tay-K was later arrested, and he is currently held in jail, with a trial waiting for him when he turns 18. The music video on YouTube has gained over 100 million views, with the title containing “#FreeTayk”. This video gained a like-dislike ratio of 9:1, with thousands of comments containing the hashtag. Personally, I can’t understand why the majority supports to get Tay-K out of jail. Though I’ll admit he’s a decent rapper, but come on, dude’s a hostile murderer!
In short, hip-hop today is turning to the dark side, but if you aren’t affected by the negative side of the genre, go for it. However, if you aren’t as exposed to this genre but find interest, I’m going to recommend some 2010s artists who are on the better side of hip-hop.
Chance the Rapper: Though some do not appreciate his music, Chance creates anthems. He has also won multiple Grammys. Chance has that genuine positive vibe in his songs that bring a happy mood to his audience. Check out his latest album here.
Childish Gambino: You might have seen him in a couple movies because he’s also known as Donald Glover in the entertainment industry. Guess what, he’s an extremely versatile musical artist as well. Though his latest Grammy-winning album “Awaken, my love” was mainly R&B, his earlier projects such as “Because the Internet” contained some sick rap songs. His flow is 10/10, complimenting authentic lyrics that generally stay away from those bad stuff.
Logic: A biracial rapper raised in Maryland, Logic describes that his mission is to spread peace, love, and positivity. His songs often discuss racial relationships, mental health, and other current events. You probably know him for his suicide prevention song “1-800-273-8255”, but also take a listen to his older mixtapes such as Bobby Tarantino and The Incredible True Story. Logic also recently dropped his Bobby Tarantino 2 project which was nice.
Jaden Smith: Yes, he is the son of Will Smith, and yes, he makes awesome music. Jaden shows off his crazy Twitter philosophies in his lyrics (not necessarily a compliment), accompanied with fantastic beats. Jaden has developed an alternative style of his own, and if you enjoy constant new-generation expression, definitely listen to “SYRE“. His new album “ERYS” is also coming out this year.
J.Cole: Cole’s raps are always refreshing and simply good. Low production yet high quality, he is known for his lyrical abilities and self-produced songs which resembles old-school vibes with a modern context. Through his deep lyrics, he discusses meaningful aspects in life. His studio album 2014 Forest Hills Drive is my own favorite rap album of all time because every song uniquely complimented the album’s theme. According to his usual pace, he’ll have another album dropping this year.
Joyner Lucas: Despite his rather immature beef with logic, Joyner Lucas’s exceptional ability to story-tell in rap has earned him recognition. Joyner’s creative stories portray racial, mental, and physical problems. His viral music video “I’m not Racist” documents an argument between a racist white American and a biased African-American. “I’m Sorry” was one of the first tracks to put suicide prevention into perspective in hip-hop, and check out his amazing word play in his song “Backwords“.
XXXtentacion: X is easily one of the more talented and versatile artists that fall in the mumble category. His occasional aggressive raps are surprisingly effective for stress relief, and he can also handle soothing tones that often raise awareness for mental health. His latest album “?” is a success so far, with lead singles “SAD!” and “changes” combining for over 70 million views on YouTube.
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