Hip Hop Culture EssayJoin now to read essay Hip Hop Culture EssayHip Hop Culture EssaySince the early to mid 90’s, hip-hop has undergone changes that purists would consider degenerating to its culture. At the root of these changes is what has been called “commercial hip-hop”. Commercial hip-hop has deteriorated what so many emcees in the 80’s tried to build- a culture of music, dance, creativity, and artistry that would give people not only something to bob their head to, but also an avenue to express themselves and deliver a positive message to their surroundings..
What does the term “commercial” mean? It can take on various meanings, but in essence that term is used to label artists who have alienated parts of the hip-hop culture in their work. The High and Mighty, a duo from Philadelphia signed to Rawkus Records, summed up what commercial hip-hop is in their 1999 single release “The Meaning”. Mr. Eon says: “…they’re tryin’ to turn hip-hop to just plain rappin’/let the poppers pop/and the breakers break…”
But the disenchantment with artists who don’t appreciate hip-hop as consisting of emceeing, breaking, graffiti art, beat boxing and dj-ing is not new. Underground artists, predominately hip-hop purists, have lashed out at biters and perpetrators for many years. For example, in 1989 3rd Bass released their first album, The Cactus Cee/D. Throughout the album, MC Serch and Prime Minister Pete Nice scold the commercialized booty shakers like MC Hammer for corrupting hip-hop, particularly on the track “The Gasface” they specifically call out Hammer for his antics.
Inside the album jacket, Serch sums up hip-hop in ‘89: “There was a time when nothing was more important than the New York Rap Scene.” It’s dilluted, but not divided.” To hip-hop afficionados, Serch’s quote sounds like the equivalent to a Vietnam soldier’s letter home. Obviously, the group saw the possibility of the hip-hop culture being tainted.
Another good example of a group combatting the increase in commercial hip-hop was The Boot Camp Clik, consisting of Buckshot, Helter Skelter, Cocoa Brovaz, OGC, Illa Noyz and The Representativz. The Clik’s slogan throughout the duration of their 1997 release Album for the People was: “Commercial rap get the gun clap”. A descendent of the early backpacker days, Buckshot has always been opposed to mainstream artists who sacrfice artistic integrity in the lure for more money.
The underground hip-hop scene has emerged as a circuit where young, talented and intelligent emcees can thrive. Their message is less abrasive and violent. While not all underground artists are choir boys, they are not barking over mics in a frenzy either.. They play small, sometimes dark and dank venues in front of a couple hundred people or much less than that.
Like the Christians in ancient Rome who held mass in catacombs and spread their religion secretly, underground artists are privately leading a revolution in these small clubs now in promotion of returning rap to hip-hop, and there probably has never been such a fierce fire lit under the artists like there is now to bring change. Underground artists are fed up with how hip-hop is treated by a lot of major labels that have changed the structure of songs. In 2000, especially on the radio, you may hear one or two verses, an R&B singer lacing the track and then a hook that is repeated enough times to take up 3 plus minutes. This is a brash example of today’s state of hip-hop, but the point is made- creativity in hip-hop has been pushed aside for tracks that incorporate overused samples, have no real message, and have virtually eliminated the DJ from the music.
A rap that is simple to use is a great new phenomenon. The term rap is derived from jazz of the mid-18th century, and it has always been the focus of the artists that developed the new genre- artists like the West Memphis trio of Paul Weller, Billy Preston, and Nicki Minaj. But most of the early rap was not simple to start with, and much like all types of music, it had its own structure and style, and its own genre, music from the west. It was always based on something simple and simple that the listener was willing to listen to, and to see and hear more than they had ever heard before. So the idea that rap was something that began with simple and easy to understand, yet that had an inherent power of its own, was a refreshing one that still seems to be around, even if it hasn’t been really perfected for some time.
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I think that there have been some things that were better and were done better, and that all these songs that have gotten better in this era, should resonate with people. So I hope that you guys have a good time at all of this. YouTube
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I think that there have been some things that were better and were done better, and that all these songs that have gotten better in this era, should resonate with people. So I hope that you guys have a good time at all of this. YouTube