I’d like to begin by saying that I’m not “hating”. It seems as though the term hating now applies to anyone who offers constructive criticism about music. I’m not hating on anybody that came up from the hood and made their dough. Its good that some of us have made enough money to move out of the hood and show off our belongings on programmes such as MTV Cribs – (round of applause to all those who have appeared on it), no really.
But now that most have made it – isn’t it time they said something about how the rest of us are living? Represent us in some way because the last time I checked only Oprah really owns anything. Those same artists that are making all this party music will also be the first ones to tell you how real they are, how hard it was where they grew up. They’ve seen and been through some bad times but don’t feel the need to share it (that’s what Corporate America is telling them – puppets), and now its all about the good times. Yeah, its, nice to have nice things – you rich bitch! I’m pleased for you.
Once upon a time, the East coast represented rap with reality based (real as in – rhymes equal actual life – not the made up G-G-G stories), gritty street tales told with the utmost skill and style, the West coast gaves us their reality which involved guns, drugs and bitches with a laid-back casualness. It was all appreciated, but now the South is on top – with the likes of Slim Thug, Three 6 Mafia, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Nelly, Chamillionaire, T.I and if we need to mention him – Lil Flip. Now their “reality” involves – pimpin these hoes, ridin on 24s”, ice grills, poppin their collars, tip drillin and talking about how much money they got. I know I wasn’t the only one that rolled my eyes regarding the whole King of the South battles. Come on who cares bout that title? None of y’all got skills, and if I was a judge I’d pick Ludacris.
I’m glad that the South has finally come up, but I’m a little disappointed that after the trail that Outkast, Geto Boys, Scarface, Field Mob, UGK, Jim Crow, the Dungeon Family and a few others blazed that the south is now represented by artists who can only make party music. Who talk about stuff I’ll probably never own and things I’d never do. As I’m a Black person with a job, crime is not an option for me. You walk around and see the way Blacks are representing themselves through hip-hop and you think – oh Lord, where is the voice of reason?
Its all good that the beats are heavy and the dancefloors are filled but what is hip-hop or more accurately, what is rap saying right now. In a word – nothing. From the window to wall, rap lyricism has straight gone out of the door. Its all about a catchy beat and some bullshit lyrics about how hard you are, how many hoes or rides you pimpin etc… (Someone please explain to me when pimpin became “cool”).
Maybe I’m old but there was a time when you’d rewind a CD just to catch a verse or a lyric that made you nod your head and say – true dat. Lately I’m not even bothering with the lyrics because there’s nothing worth listening to – you have to underground to hear something decent (not like some artists that are now confusing sales with skills). Shit, now – if it sounds good in the club or in the car that’s all that matters right?
Its just that we are currently living in a time where youth militancy has gone through the roof. Its not safe anymore – you cant travel anywhere without being literally strip searched at the airport, there’s always some bomb alert delaying transportation. Or there’s somebody’s cousin been arrested on terror charges just for having an opinion on the whole Middle East situation. Or that something like Hurricane Katrina can hit and Black and poor folks are the ones that predominantly suffer. Don’t even get me started on the immigration issue (because only native American Indians got the right to say get out).
But hip-hop aint taking no notice – everybody’s on the dancefloor – till the sweat drops off their balls. In a time where Democracy is really nothing but grand theft and the almighty profit by any means necessary rule, people lives don’t matter, we be dancing. So when will we know when the party’s over?
Written by: BARB HOMEGROWN
BARB HOMEGROWN