No one raps anymore. Yes, this is the Dirty Bourbon River Show blog, but I need to get this off my chest. I know it’s been said before, but its all hype now. When was the last time someone younger than 20 named Rakim as one of the best ever? With a generation raised on it, it’s amazing how quickly we forgot how you used to be able to dance to the beat and have an ill MC on the track. What’s the constant refrain I hear “Man, you don’t need to be dope to get on the radio. Just payola and a beat that people will dance to”. And I always ask “Then why do you listen?” I always hear the same thing, who ever I’m talking to gives me a sheepish “Well, cus you dance to it…” Bullshit, I still remember when you could hear A Tribe Called Quest on the radio. Tell me you can’t dance to that and that Phife and Tip weren’t two of the best. Are there cats out now that do their shit right on a mass level? Of course, we still got Lupe and Raekwon’s Only Bulit 4 Cuban Linx pt. II was dope. Jay-Z can still be on point when he wants to be, but now we got Premo making beats for Christina Aguilera. Fucked, aint it? We still mourn losing Biggie, Pac, and ODB, but how many people still mourn Jam Master Jay or Big L? It’s like everyone gave a pass to the mainstream that said take the aesthetic, borrow what you want, but make sure you make it for everybody. Then the underground kept everything that was dope. Thing is, is there any form of music that is meant for everybody? Does everybody like jazz? No. So why does everybody have to like Hip-Hop? Why don’t the best MCs and the best producers get to put forth their best foot and let the people who want it come get it? And I don’t want to hear all about how it’s the nature of the beast, cus that beast is dying in its cave. Record sales DON’T MATTER anymore. So with dawn soon approaching, let’s take back whats ours. Or better yet, let’s just be good again.
Catch your breath
Clay
Thanks for posting that. reat video. As a jazz musician I can vouch for the fact that not everybody likes jazz!
i have had this conversation 3 times in the last couple weeks. rap has been absolutely commercialized, and the producers that are most respected nowadays are the ones that have achieved that (i.e. kanye, pharrell). there are still many good emcees around, but lots of them have changed their style completely. q-tip just came out with a soul album, which to be honest is very good, but it’s not nearly like midnight marauders. mos def will always be great….