In contrast to my last article, “How to Resuscitate Hip Hop,” I will be writing about the evolution this genre has experienced in recent memory. I’ve been noticing that many of the writers on this site are very pessimistic, by nature, including myself. Hopefully this article will show the optimistic side of my views on hip hop.
Every music genre has its up’s and down’s as it grows. Hip hop has only been around for, arguably, thirty years, so its obviously unfair to compare the growth with rock music. With that being said, I’ve noticed many hip hop heads being more and more opened to other genres as time goes by. I remember back in high school when it was almost a disgrace for a hip hop head to embrace other genres like techno or rock. I’ve actually had closet rock fans. If I have that same mentality now, I’d be look upon as ignorant.
There’s always subgenres forming within any major genre. I’m glad hip hop producers are more inclined to thinking outside the box, other than sampling the same old tunes over and over again. If you’ve learned music in a traditional setting, you know that the foundation of music derives from classical, 400 years ago. So it only makes sense for new music to be a cross-bred. Even the biggest sellout in the music industry has respect and interest in other genres.
The one obvious cross-breeding is the mix of rock and rap. It’s been done so many times but from my recollection, whenever it’s done, its typecasted into one area, e.i. Rage Against the Machine, Limp Bizkit, etc. Then there’s the Beastie Boys. Although a hip hop group, you’ll have a better chance listening to them on a rock radio station, just off the fact they’re white. The worst is Eminem and how they play his music on a rock station when his music is not rock at all (with a few exceptions).
Lately, rock and rap fusion has resurfaced, in a big way. A couple of years ago, Gym Class Heroes, like them or not, came onto the mainstream arena with a big bang. Their popularity has subsided somewhat but they have definitely left a mark. Lil’ Wayne, horrible as an artist, is opening new doors as he is about to release his rock album, Rebirth. I’ve also heard something about Lupe Fiasco and a rock band of his own.
On a different spectrum, electronic music has become more prevalent in the hip hop. I know Swizz Beatz has electronic influences in his production. A year ago, Wiz Khalifa came out with the song “Say Yeah,” sampling a popular trance song from the early 2000′s. Some people are accepting this new trend, some are not quite ready yet. Akon is one person who’s ready, as his latest album was filled with many songs, that wouldn’t be considered “R & B” but rather “dance” and very electronic influenced.
So what I’d like to know is how do you feel about this growth in hip hop? Do you embrace it or want hip hop to go back to its roots? And, what do you predict as the next inevitable trend?
written by hurryupnbuy
