just picked up Blackalicious’ latest album, The Craft. they’re evidence that good hip-hop is still around, but you may have to flip off mtv, bet, and vh1 to find it. their recent album is a breath of fresh air in a world consumed with booty shaking and bling (but don’t get me wrong, they do have some bangers that will have you up boogying). they make me believe that there is still hope for hip-hop (of course along with Common, Mos Def, Outkast, Nas, The Fugees…).
Let’s hear it for quality hip hop.
Oh how I long for the golden era of the late 80s and early 90s. Not that everything of that era was brilliant. But you at least had the feeling that it was more about being creative and having fun. Playing with language and sound. There are some really good artists making great hip hop, but you wouldn’t know it listening to commercial radio or TV.
When did everybody start taking themselves so seriously? Rappers have become these overinflated caricatures of caricatures of caricatures. There’s like this huge factory churning out all of these rapstar clones.
It’s not that it offends me. It bores me. It’s become another commodity. Designed for a certain demographic. Grown in a test tube, packaged, and shipped out to the burbclaves. It will be nice when the rap bubble bursts and some other form of music becomes popular. I’ll sift through the rubble and collect the shiny bits of hip hop treasure. Collect them in my mixtape box and pass them around to my friends. “Listen to this. This will change your life.”
Oh how I long for the golden era of the late 80s and early 90s.
Arrested Development owns my heart and soul.
Tennessee. Tennessee. Take me to another place…
Hey!…I Googled for hip hop is dead video, but found your page about p-Hop Is Still Around at Jasiri…and have to say thanks. nice read.