A Generational Problem: An Indictment on Rap Music
I'm 25 years old. For my entire, short life I have had to defend certain parts of the culture of my generation. The topic that would come up most often is music. Specifically, rock music. Generations before me would criticize todays rock. Saying there's no substance to it and we didn't produce what their generation had. I could only combat this argument with bands like Nirvana, DMB and Green Day. Putting them up against the likes of the Beatles, Dylan, Hendrix and all the way to Pink Floyd, really was no argument. In fact, I would argue if you think that is a fight at all, you should probably stop reading this post. What did my generation have to offer though? We obviously couldn't top rock due to what was going on in the country while it was produced. The civil rights movement and the Vietnam war. Forget it. Lost cause. What did our generation come up with that was cutting edge, raw, and honest? Rap music.Admittedly so, I am at the tail end of this generation. I am old enough to remember Public Enemy, NWA and Ice T. Therefor, I include myself with them. This music was graphic, grotesque, angry, violent, but most importantly, it was real. As white America (myself included) listened to these songs, most of them listened in horror. "How could someone call this music" people would say. The open minded Americans would realize, it was real. Sure it did have all those elements to it, but it was more the horrors of this country, not the people writing the songs. They were simple observations, and sure, in some cases embellished. But it opened eyes to the problems going on in inner cities, and what teenagers were growing up with. Over the years it got away from the social lyrics, but a lot of it remained real and raw. Look at Eminem. And for you young bucks reading, any of you that claim Lil' Wayne is the best rapper of the last ten years, do yourself a favor and listen to Eminems' "The Way I am." If Weezy produces one song half has honest and real as that, let me know what it is.
Although the music got away from social implications, but kept the raw, tortured lyrics it remained cutting edge. Somewhere along the lines it all changed. Personally, I think the career of 50 cent is the best example of this. Right before he released his first album, everyone was all over the web looking for under ground and unreleased music of his. It was great. I could probably produce a CD of that music that would blow out any of his albums. His first CD was real good, but it started the transformation from his street life to his celeb life. Now he raps about how he was a gangster, but is rich, gets "ho's", drinks in the clubs, and loves life. To me, that's a snore fest. Sure the beats of these "modern" rappers are good, and when your partying or at a bar they're fun to listen to. That's it. Entertaining at best. Don't tell me it compares to the late '80's to late '90's. That for the Rap world, is it's '60's movement.
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