Do you think modern hiphop is going astray?

Question

JohnPrestwick · Accepted Answer

Not really. Despite rarely listening to it, I've noticed how the genre has continued to evolve, change, diversify and be relevant to today's youth. I would say it's doing quite well. And this is happening more than 40 years after the release of 'Rapper's Delight' and nearly 30 years after it first topped the charts. You have to respect that.

There are some elements of hip hop that I either don't like or I can understand why others don't like them. But I don't see any of them as evidence the genre is headed in a bad direction.

When some people say hip hop has gone astray, they're often complaining about glam rap, which I'm not a big fan of myself. But glam rap is actually less prominent than it was, say, 20 years ago in the 'Bling Era'.

Other times they're complaining about hip hop becoming more of a pop genre and wishing it was more serious in intent. Hip hop as light entertainment is nothing new. That's how it started, and pop rap first topped the charts in the 90s. Pop rap has grown in recent years, but so have the number of serious rappers.

Others complain about the references to sex, drugs and violence. I understand that's not everyone's taste. My own opinion is that these themes can make for art that's edgy, gripping and highlights burning social problems. Other times it's just distasteful. But again, this has been around for a while. The ceiling for explicit lyrics was hit in the 90s.

A more irksome problem is misogyny and homophobia in the lyrics. Again though, this has been around for a while, and the latter may be in decline.

There are also certain sounds that people don't like. Jay-Z is well-known for disliking AutoTune, but it has allowed rappers to experiment with blurring the line between singing and rapping. Then there's the 'mumble rap' trend which older hip hop fans really don't get. Some rap is indeed not worthwhile if you can't understand the lyrics, but others carry the incomprehensible lyrics with great beats, personality and choruses.

Lastly, as always with music, there is good stuff and bad stuff in every year, but when people look back on the past, they only remember the good stuff.

devilman666 · Accepted Answer

Yes, hiphop is being used by the rich, specifically the label owners/label investors. I think the song "exposure" by Tom MacDonald does a decent job at exposing this.
"All your favourite rappers doing downers and you make 'em feel empoweredTill they're fertilizing soil, pushing flowers, yeah
What do little' Wayne, Rick Ross and 2 Chainz all have in common?
They make a living off gangster rap, but they all went to college
It's all just marketing strategy so you empty your wallet
Endorsing Vodka to make a buck and make you alcoholics
They make you stupid with Xanax, they make you broke with designers
They use the music to confuse the youth and influence minors
Isn't it funny how these rappers went from fighting the power
To buy a gun and sell some drugs in just a matter of hours?
They'll turn the students to felons that just get fed to the system
'Cause there are people making fortunes off of privatized prisons
They objectify women till they are all that you crave
So you don't realize there's more to life than just getting laid"

Estellaaa · Accepted Answer

My dad says hip hop now just promotes “a lifestyle of death”

wankiam · Answer

to me the American version has got stuck in a rut for the last 20 years trying to recapture the 90s glory days but here in the uk im really loving where its now moving... exceptions exist ofcourse and i think in the states the likes of k rino or immortal technique have always bucked the trend but so many other acts are following a almost pop culture version of hip hop that it stagnated in what they think sells. if you want to find something new progressive but still tied to its 80s street roots look at a few uk acts like jme or drillminister

errorgoodnameunfound · Answer

Hopsin answered this question long ago (assuming by hip hop you mean rap, as not sure if they are same or not)

Anti-Matter · Answer

Has, past tense... This crap today isn’t the art form of hip hop or MC’ing for fun
and livening up the event or party. It has morphed into a multi billion dollar industry
of disrespect, little skills, zero creative abilities and violence, called rap.

Unit1 · Answer

Rap then Rap now You tell me

StephenCF · Answer

Like all modern music anyway, yes. Bring back the 90s vibe 🎧🎼

R3DthatDude · Answer

Going lol that junk has already left the planet. But such is the experimentation of new music, I just wish it was way better

Outofthegrey · Answer

Rap used to be about "the struggle", and being relatable to people who have to deal with bad things to live. Now it's shifted to some pansy rapping about how rich they are.

Dtegesd123 · Answer

I don't listen to the hip hop anymore, who does? Unless at a club?

cheapshotbob · Answer

it started going down hill after this guys time on the mic, things got crappy

Hepy82 · Answer

Not "going" when it's been going downhill for nearly 20years I'd describe it as "gone"

Kreneman · Answer

I believe that there are some talented artists in this modern day but at the same time I do believe that Hip Hop nowadays have gone astray.

madprofessor · Answer

Been crap. The "lifestyle" they promote is not a good one, and people eat it up.

IcIrIs604 · Answer

Oh fuck yeah buds. Lack of: Originality Soul Vocabulary Albums you can listen to from track 1 til the end My memories

MountAverage · Answer

Every genre is "going astray" compared to what it was in the past, according to someone.

EyesOfGod · Answer

Hiphop now is just as trash as rap is now.

Anonymous · Answer

I dont understand the questio and i refuse to address it

FactNotFeeling · Answer

Not  going.  More like  gone.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Isn't this thread from 20 years ago?

BlckGrl · Answer

Absolutely

Anonymous · Answer

yeah it's dead to me. I got no feels for it.

Iron_Man · Answer

Yes I like the past

Anonymous · Answer

Yes.

Do you think modern hiphop is going astray?

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Rap then

Rap now

You tell me

Do you think rap music is degenerate?

Do you think modern hiphop is going astray?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Rap then

Rap now

You tell me

Do you think rap music is degenerate?

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