My Thoughts On The State of Hip-Hop

STATE OF HIP-HOP ADDRESS!

The Hip-Hop nation has seen its share of ups and downs in the past couple of years, from the very public arrests of Boosie  "Badazz" T.I, Gucci Mane, Scarface, and LIL Wayne. At some point in time each artist named were the face of Hip-Hop when they were arrested and lets not forget the so called BEEFS! Young Jeezy vs. Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy vs. Rick Ross, Rick Ross vs. 50 Cent, Jay-Z vs. Beanie Sigel, Game vs. 50 Cent, Plies vs. Trick Daddy and the list goes on. So what are we to think? Has Hip-Hop strayed away from its intention of providing hope to the hopeless by the means of music? Or is it creating division among the listeners choose a side and follow me. I remember when Hip-Hop lost two greats over a so-called beef that had two coasts fighting each other over something that to this day hasn't been explained. Is Hip-Hop the new Willie Lynch? The first beef was east vs. west Biggie supporters vs. 2Pac supporters result two dead Hip-Hop greats. The new beef that seems to be in the works is North vs. South, Jay-Z vs. Lil Wayne in the words of the joker "WHY SO SERIOUS". Hip-Hop has become the stage for simple warfare, the rules of engagement are simple and easily broken say something I don't like and I no longer like you. Jay-Z and Wayne have several songs together that have made history now there’s beef? "WHY SO SERIOUS". As a matter of fact many of the so called beefs seem to be cosmetic in nature if you ask me, lets do some songs together and then when things aren't looking so good for our career lets start a fight, that’s a great marketing ploy problem is the fans of these artist didn't get that memo so they take it serious and when the two groups meet there is often times a fight. 'WHY SO SERIOUS" millionaires living the American dream while the fans live the American nightmare there is no medium. I love Hip-Hop but the current state is headed down a dark road. I remember a time when you could do a talent show in school and recite an entire Hip-Hop track those days are long gone but the message of Hip-Hop is still being heard with artist like Common, Mos Def, J. Cole and several others that have been tabbed as TRUE HIP-HOP ARTIST, all others are just Rappers that know how to make words rhyme and some aren’t really that good. In closing the state of Hip-Hop is in a dark place but even in its darkness there are still lights shining you just have to know where to look.

“No matter how dark the night the light will soon come” Dr. Charles Price Livingstone College President 1886.