So Hip Hop DX had an interview with Public Enemy mate & the infamous reality television star, Flavor Flav, who emphasized a statement that artists such as Nas has stated many times before: hip-hop is dead. In the interiew, he stated how rap has lost its hip hop element and named artists such as Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil' Wayne (all shade to YMCMB low key) and even our conscious love Kendrick Lamar, as the creators of great 'rap' records but not hip hop.
So what is the difference between rap and hip-hop you ask? Rap is the style, the beat and the delivery. Hip-hop on the other hand is the movement, the culture, the enthusiasm, the lyrics and the tempo overall. The decade from which Flav and Public Enemy emerged was a time when hip-hop was either political, revolutionary or party music. Little to Flav's knowledge, that was 30 years ago!
I do definitely agree that the hip-hop community, artists and themes have changed drastically over the years but that is what evolution is all about. Indeed labels such as YMCMB have switched up the game and kind of shifted away from hip-hop's authenticity but they make music for the changing times. This upcoming generation does not want to hear music that their parents use to jam to at a high school/ college party today. Although we often love to go back to that, it is not what's hot right now.
Many artists have kept the traditions and the elements of hip-hop consistent from its founding and emerging decade. I strongly, and I mean STRONGLY, disagree with Flavor Flav pitching Kendrick Lamar as one of those artists who make music that is not considered hip-hop. If anything, he has been one of the saviors of the game by reinventing hip-hop where you can mix some party music with a little conscious rap. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" has became a classic instantly after its October release last year. It brought you back to the Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Outkast days where storytelling was key, paying homage to the origins of
hip-hop.
I am not even gonna diss Flavor Flav because of his involvement in pop culture nowadays *rolls eyes*. He is one of those hip-hop pioneers that will not be forgotten. In some ways, he is right. Some have lost the meaning of what hip-hop is all about. But in the end, it is all music. Some will hate it, some will love it, but it will always keep us talking. And that is what it is all about.
The article with Flavor Flav is listed below:
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24874/title.flavor-flav-explains-why-jay-z-kendrick-lamar-drake-music-is-not-hip-hop
Shaunda B. :)
So what is the difference between rap and hip-hop you ask? Rap is the style, the beat and the delivery. Hip-hop on the other hand is the movement, the culture, the enthusiasm, the lyrics and the tempo overall. The decade from which Flav and Public Enemy emerged was a time when hip-hop was either political, revolutionary or party music. Little to Flav's knowledge, that was 30 years ago!
I do definitely agree that the hip-hop community, artists and themes have changed drastically over the years but that is what evolution is all about. Indeed labels such as YMCMB have switched up the game and kind of shifted away from hip-hop's authenticity but they make music for the changing times. This upcoming generation does not want to hear music that their parents use to jam to at a high school/ college party today. Although we often love to go back to that, it is not what's hot right now.
Many artists have kept the traditions and the elements of hip-hop consistent from its founding and emerging decade. I strongly, and I mean STRONGLY, disagree with Flavor Flav pitching Kendrick Lamar as one of those artists who make music that is not considered hip-hop. If anything, he has been one of the saviors of the game by reinventing hip-hop where you can mix some party music with a little conscious rap. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" has became a classic instantly after its October release last year. It brought you back to the Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Outkast days where storytelling was key, paying homage to the origins of
hip-hop.
I am not even gonna diss Flavor Flav because of his involvement in pop culture nowadays *rolls eyes*. He is one of those hip-hop pioneers that will not be forgotten. In some ways, he is right. Some have lost the meaning of what hip-hop is all about. But in the end, it is all music. Some will hate it, some will love it, but it will always keep us talking. And that is what it is all about.
The article with Flavor Flav is listed below:
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24874/title.flavor-flav-explains-why-jay-z-kendrick-lamar-drake-music-is-not-hip-hop
Shaunda B. :)
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