Let’s Take a Note from Hip-Hop

Music-loving brethren we are doing a disservice to the youth by corrupting their ideology of the mass genres of music. We’re leading the future down the wrong path with these misconstrued terms of the art of music. Pop artists are faking, as R and B singers; but even more disheartening are ratchet rappers, or respectfully the “other” category, falsifying their image as hip-hop artist. The madness has to stop! There are a plethora of genres of music and thanks to society there are twice as many sub-genres. This has made it convenient for all music to be appropriate depending on the time and place. 

There is a difference between Rap and Hip-Hop. Two artists that are culturally appreciated and respected break down the difference. Tupac stated, “Rap does anything it needs to do to make money, to stay alive. Hip-Hop stays true to the ‘street’ (culture)”. KRS One stated, “Rap is videos, covers on magazines, concerned with the charts, image marketing. Hip-Hop is street politics, a way of life and thinking. The focus of Hip-Hop was to control your emotions (i.e. dance, graffiti). Rap is a technique of speaking and without foundation it’s useless. It’ll take on any kind of form because it has no structure.” Rap is a style of music in which anyone can use the technique to interpret his or her perception of life. All rap music is not hip-hop. Mainly because all rap music is not grounded in logically providing wisdom in their report of the beauty and ugliness of their hood and culture. That’s cool. Diversity in rap music is an extension of black, brown, and struggling individuals.

Rappers that strategically and habitually make club songs are not hip-hop artists. Hip-Hop answers the questions; what’s really wrong with our communities? What are we doing for the culture? What does the culture need to survive? How do we improve our culture’s reality? If an artist dabbles in hip-hop that is commendable, however if these questions are not at the core of their artistry then they’re not a hip-hop artist.

We live in a world where artists don’t want to be categorized. It doesn’t matter all artists are categorized. The least we can do, as a genuine fan of the art, is respectfully label them. Why? Labels and genres matter because they all stem from a foundation of a particular form, style, and subject matter.

Crossover artist are furthering the expression of their identity and individuality so it’s important we understand the distinction between terms. So when an R and B singer makes a hip-hop song, it doesn’t necessarily matter if you love the song. Respecting the artistic leap of faith is what matters. The listener is then able to appreciate the artist’s vision and that particular culture’s current stop on its musical journey.

As fans of music we have to have more respect for ourselves. Hollering out who you’re a fan of is indeed a reflection of who you are. By all means get your groove on and refer songs to friends and love ones. You should be hype about it but most importantly be accurate. The youth is paying attention to everything we say, tweet, and post. We can’t have them speaking any more foolishness than they’re already equipped to. Let’s respect music and speak boldly and proudly about our ‘song of the moment’. Let’s all take a note from hip-hop and get it right for the culture.