We have long talked about “the day the music died” and there have been plenty (probably too many) songs about how hip hop is dying, if not dead. But in reality, those songs actually kept hip hop alive. Many of those songs and artists were odes to the authentic sounds of original hip hop, including samples, drum breaks, creative lyrical cadences, etc. Today, what is considered “hip hop” actually has more in common with pop music. Verses that are sung, not rapped, kicks and snares that sound more “keyboardish” than sound like they were sampled from records, more electronic sounds, less original instruments sampled from records, etc. Actually, when I listen to a classic rock song, I hear more in common with original hip hop than I do when I listen to any popular radio station playing “hip hop.”Here’s another interesting occurrence happening now. Many of the current popular “hip hop” songs are remakes of songs I listened to when I was younger– when I say younger, I mean just like 10 years ago. There are no popular RAPPERS anymore. Name me one real RAPPER (meaning he/she doesn’t sing as well as rap) that hasn’t been around for over 10 years. Even in the underground and indie hip hop scene, the most popular artists are all hip hop artists that have been around for over 10 years now. Nobody new is coming up. Nobody new is creating anything new. And the question is why?I have some theories, but I’d like to hear some of yours. Is this the beginning of the end? Or is this just a transformation that all genres of music go through?
Well my amigos- it is true. I have officially moved to Utah! The “Life Elevated” term is the new slogan on the Utah license plates up here and I’m kinda diggin it. I am living on the mean streets of Provo now, thuggin it up with my fellow BYU Cougars haha. One of the reasons I moved here is because my homey and I (the homey that used to go by the name Charlee Brown back in the…. well more than a day) are starting up a business together. We were really planning on starting the business in Arizona, but due to uncontrollable circumstances, I find myself here in Utah. He lives up here, as well as several other companies we are working with, are located along the Wasatch Front here in Utah. It’s been quite the change!
But to be honest, it hasn’t been that bad of a change at all. I thought Utah was still going to be the nerd capital of the world, but it’s actually developed into a pretty dope place since I used to go to school here. Lots of cool stuff going on, lots of unique spots. Especially when it comes to music and art. I hit the Provo First Friday this past Friday night (it’s the equivalent of First Fridays in Phoenix, just on a MUCH MUCH smaller scale) and found some really dope up-and-coming spots. I’ve also been kickin it with my man DJ Shawn Phillips quite a bit. We’re hoping to get something poppin here to bring indie, positive hip hop to happy valley! I’ll keep ya posted. Now back to slangin’ Coke on the corner… come on now, this is Utah! I meant the drug of choice for us Utahns… Coca Cola! Real recognize real son!
This is the weirdest thing to me. My entire life (well, since I was in 3rd grade anyways) I have always loved hip hop music. I used to refuse to listen to any other types of music growing up (part of it was me wanting to be rebellious- boy am I a revolutionary or what- and part of it was me just not liking other types of music), but now I am really uninterested in any hip hop I hear today. It just doesn’t move me like it used to. I am sure me aging has something to do with it, but perhaps not. In Christian hip hop, there used to be the Redclouds, the entire Syntax Records crew, the DeepSpace 5 crew, that were constantly new, fresh, and innovating. Most of them now just do a record every few years. In underground hip hop, it was The Visionaries, Swollen Members, Blackalicious who really moved me. Same goes with them– a mediocre album every few years. I dunno– am I the only one who sees some void in hip hop now?
Well I been working hard to finish up my new album “Equations” and I am happy to say thanks to my mans Scott Allen– it is just about finished! I still have a few hooks to write to, but Scott helped me come up with a SICK hook for the beat Pac0naut made for me. Anyways– I posted some of the new songs in the “media” and “store” section- so check em out.
