Hip-Hop, for a long time now, has been one of the most prolific genres of all time. Yet, the genre doesn’t get as much appreciation for its poetry as it does for the edgier, unfiltered side. I admit I’m a big fan of the “ignorant” side, but I’ve noticed that it’s this edgier sub-genre that gets the majority of attention. Most people fail to see hip-hop can be as meaningful as it can be meaningless. They refrain from truly exploring the poetry and the cultural impact when in reality it deserves equal recognition. In my opinion, it’s important to explore both sides of the spectrum because hip-hop has a little something in it for everybody, in terms of sheer creative brilliance as well as cultural significance. And to truly understand how and why, we need to go all the way to the beginning.
The first instance of hip-hop was documented at a small, teenage party in 1973. The DJ, Clive Campbell, played instrumental sections of songs on repeat (which became known as breaks). The MC (Master of Ceremonies, who are usually meant to introduce the DJs and energize the audience), a man known as Coke La Rock, began to “rap” to the beat. The lyrics were simple chants meant to energize the audience, but the crowd goes wild and thus, hip-hop is born. No one could have predicted what happened next.
After the groundbreaking performance of Campbell and La Rock, hip-hop spread like wildfire amongst the ghettos, primarily amongst Black teens. With its increase in popularity, hip-hop was propelled into the mainstream in 1979 with the song Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang. Although this was a major breakthrough for the genre, if you were to listen to it now, you would probably struggle to hold your laughter. Yet, this upbeat little tune would go on to be a milestone in the life of the current biggest genre of music.
Flash forward to the 1980s, and hip-hop is becoming one of the most prolific genres of it’s time. What began as a party trick in the Bronx is now slowly spreading across America through the slums, mainly through the Black community. Without dwelling too much on the details, rap was now becoming less about MCs and DJs entertaining crowds, and more about social issues that were plaguing African-American life. It was blending genres, mixing rap with rock (Beastie Boys, Run DMC) as well as fusing it with electronic sounds (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa). Hip-Hop was becoming less of a genre, and more of a way of life, especially for the lower-class Black communities who were now able to use the genre as a creative outlet to talk about societal issues (racism, poverty, gang violence, etc.). However, it wasn’t just a genre for social commentary– a sub-genre, commonly known as gangsta rap, was on the rise. At the time, gangsta rap kept a tiny corner in the palace that hip-hop was becoming, but it would go on to plant the seed for violent, misogynistic themes that would drag hip-hop away from the ghettos and under the media’s spotlight.
In the 1990s, gangsta rap became the poster child for hip-hop, becoming the most commercially successful form of rap at the time. Rappers like Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G, and rap group NWA moved in and out of the public eye, being at the center of many controversies due to their problematic lyrics. The surge of gangsta rap cemented hip-hop as a force to be reckoned with. Hip-hop began popping up in almost every country, as a genre of music and as a subculture. People outside of America were now rapping in their native languages and incorporating their unique cultures into their hip-hop songs. Many of these songs emulated the aggression of gangsta rap, with people rapping about the social issues in their own countries and using hip-hop as an act of defiance. Gangsta rap, for all its flaws, seemed to resonate with the public, but in my opinion it was the beginning of many years of misguided interpretations of the genre. You see, gangsta rap became so popular that it grew to define hip-hop, a genre which truthfully, cannot truly be defined.
In the 2000s, hip-hop was reaching new heights. It began climbing the charts. Rappers were beginning to push the artistic limits of the genre, experimenting with the sound of beats as well as the lyrical themes. Bass-heavy bestsellers were blasted at clubs. Concerts were selling out. Albums were now receiving critical acclaim, instead of just being commercial success. With the rise of the internet, music was becoming more accessible, and a lot more innovative. Creative forces like Kanye West changed the norms, and showed people you could rap about anything; tackling subjects like religion, heartbreak and family. Kendrick Lamar took it to the next level by spinning stories about gang life and racism with literary allusions and symbolism, showing the world that rap is truly poetic (He even earned a Pulitzer prize for his latest album DAMN). Hip-hop had become more than just a platform for social commentary– it had become a medium of creativity, not just for the Black community but for anybody with a pen and paper.
From the 2010s to now, a lot has changed. Mumble rap rose to prominence as the next big wave of rap. Hip-hop surpassed Rock as the most popular genre in the United States in 2017. The signature trap sound began topping the charts, with rappers like Migos and Young Thug becoming some of the most popular artists in the world. With the evolution of the internet, and the formation of websites like Bandcamp and Soundcloud, anyone can become a rapper and put their music online for the world to hear. Some of these rappers (famously known as Soundcloud rappers) go on to become music sensations with songs becoming international hits. Furthermore, hip-hop has become extremely popular in countries outside of the USA as well. From UK grime to Indian gully rap, the genre hasn’t just become a global trend– it’s become a voice for the communities who, prior to hip-hop, didn’t have one. It’s jarring to think this multinational, cultural phenomenon is still growing day by day.
As a musical art form, hip-hop is at the very top. Yet, the songs that become hits are very rarely meaningful. Although all sides of hip-hop are endearing in their own way (unless you’re Ben Shapiro), the ignorant part often paints the genre and the culture it represents in a negative light. Hip-hop is art, and just like paintings or movies, it’s meant to be enjoyed but is also important to analyse. Of course there’s nothing wrong with listening to “hype” tracks, but when you only listen to the sensationally violent and vulgar side, the problematic ideas it glorifies become toxic. On the other hand, when you only listen to profound, “conscious” rap, you start to lose sight of what makes hip-hop fun. It’s important to remember rap isn’t just violent and immature, and it isn’t just poetic and layered. It’s both, because that’s what makes hip-hop… hip-hop. It’s reckless and creative. It’s arrogant and humble. It’s edgy and intelligent. We’re hearing history unfold right in front of us– It’s hard not to listen.
The Candid Contrarian 