What even is Hip Hop?

[SPlDEY]

Junior said:

Hi spidey,

I'm guessing you're familiar with this old SFJ article...

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/10/22/a-paler-shade-of-white




Thanks for posting it. This is the first time I've seen it, and I guess in the defense of The Arcade Fire, Pavement, The Shins, and Wilco. I don't think those bands ever claimed to be Rock & Roll. I think that the term "Rock" is just a misnomer given to the artists by labels, and whoever categorizes them in record stores, and long winded critics and reviewers. I feel that race might also have something to do with it. Is it fair to call Rock music "White music" or Hip Hop "Black music."

It reminds me of a girl I used to work with who told me that she only listens to Rock music, and her favorite rock band was Mumford and Sons. Of course she likes the Beatles, Bon Iver, and Father John Misty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCg_QEHtkY

You know, "Rock Music."

- spidey

 

[Reynaldo82]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXIKMD6xxAo

 

[RhythmGJ]

This stuff (the race debate in music) goes back at least the early 20th Century. When white musicians played Jazz, the debate floor was opened. In my own time, I remember seeing some grafitti scrawled on a desk in high school. Some had written "Jimmy (sic) Hendrix!!" Another desk writer took the time to comment "Jimi Henrix played the white man's music, and so, died the white man's death..."

Understanding the roots of American music, and that those roots are by-and-large African, is important. Arguing about all of this other stuff becomes tedious...

GJ

 

[foe]

i feel this is relevant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmjlA4LSaN4

 

[deezlee]

Wow Joe Budden sucks.

 

[SPlDEY]

I feel like Little Yachty doesn't know much about Hip Hop music. Which is fine, because most of his fans know little about Hip Hop music as well. He raps a bit, and sings a bit neither particularly well. He's riding his wave of celebrity and success from what looks much like a 360 deal. Being a celebrity and entertainer is enough for the Millennial audience. So, Joe Budden actually had many valid points, but came across very angry and inarticulate.

I think that Little Yachty is making black music, but I don't think it's fair to categorize what he's doing as "Hip Hop" music. Even though I feel his label is selling him as a Rapper/Singer/Character he stays relevant so long as people are buying his music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPIuzNv-TyI

Lil Yachty could be considered post-Hip Hop or maybe even post-Music.

Digest.

- Damo

 

[foe]

listening to all this rap that wasn't east coast and wasn't embraced by east coast hip hop, it makes total sense that hip hop "died".

 

[deezlee]

Insisting on an answer to "What do you want from hip hop?"... Calling dude a lier for saying he's happy...
I never heard a lil yachty song and imona guess I wouldn't like em much but this dude Joe buddon is bad comedy.

 

[RhythmGJ]

Yeah, watching more of that, it definitely seems like he's a grumpy grandpa "get off my lawn" kind of guy. There's no reason to be so dramatic and "Almost Famous" about it. But JB feels personally affronted by Lil' Yachty's existence (I actually hate what I've heard of his music; Chief Keef in a clown suit), but there's no reason for all of the hostility.
GJ

 

[ketan]

Yeah, but this is Budden's whole steez. One of the saltiest of all time. He basically emotionalizing (??) the hate for hip-hop culture in 2017 that most older heads seem to have.

 

[deezlee]

This dude JB insists he's a real lyricist or whatever but I have heard a bunch of his music and I can't think of one concept or lyric that stayed with me.
Confidently dissing is not automatically lyrical depth.

 

[deezlee]

Ps no Selma hyak please! : )
(I don't wanna face the wrath!)

 

[klezmer electro-thug beats]

I seriously can't name a Joe Budden song, I only know of him as the guy who got a beatdown on video from the (even then) too-old-to-really-be-doing-that-kinda-thing Wu Tang Clan. If saltiness is his raison d'être that seems appropriate enough.

 

[foe]

i found it more interesting how he tried to tone down the salt. akademiks is the real champ, he tried to see both sides and more.