Our Past Can't Be Our Present
If you follow this blog, you know that I fall victim to this often. I think most of us do. Perhaps our intentions are good in the sense we want to use to find out "where we went wrong" and keep the spirit of hip hop alive, but we end up taking the current, great artists for granted. Sure, hip hop had a golden era, but leaving that period of time doesn't mean that we lose quality music altogether.
Maybe hip hop was supposed to go through this. Perhaps we were spoiled and took many of our legends for granted. I could even go as far as to say that the quality of hip hop music we had previously was a privilege and by not understanding/appreciating that and abusing that privilege, we lost it (or lost control of it). It's kind of like the spoiled, rich kid that gets cut off. We constantly talk about what we once had and are upset that we don't have it anymore.
However, getting cut off might just help that spoiled, rich kid begin to appreciate what was once taken for granted. Maybe that's hip hop's current state - or at least where it's heading. Maybe we are learning to let the past be the past, and although we need to always make an effort to remind ourselves of the past and remember all those that helped us get to this point, we are ready and willing to accept a new breed of artists and let them display their talents. In accepting these new artists, we have to ensure that we allow them to be themselves. Many have compared J. Cole and his storytelling to Nas when he was younger. While I'm sure it's a compliment, and it is almost human nature to compare things that bare some sort of resemblance, we have to make sure that we don't expect J. Cole or any other artist to be a reincarnation of our heroes. By doing that, we're not able to fully appreciate young talent. We only latch on to the part that is familiar and fail to see the greatness in everything else they display.
This isn't easy to do. I'm guilty of doing all the things mentioned. When I first heard B.O.B., he reminded me, as he did many other people, of Andre 3000. I'm sure there are other new artists that will come in the game that will remind of us of others that came before them. Acknowledging that is fine, yet, we have to make sure that we don't expect them to play that role and then become disappointed when that standard is not met. If you meet somebody that looks like your brother or sister, you don't then expect to have the same relationship with them that you would your sibling. Let's not do that with the current state of hip hop. Let's have a new and unique relationship with this generation of hip hop, and as it fades out, create a different one with the generation to follow.
What are your thoughts? Is it necessary to look back and compare? Do hip hop fans do too much comparison? Does that help or hinder the culture? Leave all thoughts and comments below. You can send any e-mails to straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.
Peace.
However, getting cut off might just help that spoiled, rich kid begin to appreciate what was once taken for granted. Maybe that's hip hop's current state - or at least where it's heading. Maybe we are learning to let the past be the past, and although we need to always make an effort to remind ourselves of the past and remember all those that helped us get to this point, we are ready and willing to accept a new breed of artists and let them display their talents. In accepting these new artists, we have to ensure that we allow them to be themselves. Many have compared J. Cole and his storytelling to Nas when he was younger. While I'm sure it's a compliment, and it is almost human nature to compare things that bare some sort of resemblance, we have to make sure that we don't expect J. Cole or any other artist to be a reincarnation of our heroes. By doing that, we're not able to fully appreciate young talent. We only latch on to the part that is familiar and fail to see the greatness in everything else they display.
This isn't easy to do. I'm guilty of doing all the things mentioned. When I first heard B.O.B., he reminded me, as he did many other people, of Andre 3000. I'm sure there are other new artists that will come in the game that will remind of us of others that came before them. Acknowledging that is fine, yet, we have to make sure that we don't expect them to play that role and then become disappointed when that standard is not met. If you meet somebody that looks like your brother or sister, you don't then expect to have the same relationship with them that you would your sibling. Let's not do that with the current state of hip hop. Let's have a new and unique relationship with this generation of hip hop, and as it fades out, create a different one with the generation to follow.
What are your thoughts? Is it necessary to look back and compare? Do hip hop fans do too much comparison? Does that help or hinder the culture? Leave all thoughts and comments below. You can send any e-mails to straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.
Peace.
Posted by H.E.R. Lover at 10/21/2011 3:19 PM 
Categories: General
Tags: hip hop music past present future J. Cole Nas B.O.B. Andre 3000
Categories: General
Tags: hip hop music past present future J. Cole Nas B.O.B. Andre 3000
@so_hiphop - First off, as usual, this blog is exceptionally written. Secondly, I totally disagree. LOL I think you didn't delve far off enough in your comparing past MCs to current MCs. Yes. Comparing LBJ to Jordan, J.Cole to Nas has gotten a little redundant and forced people to miss out on the talent we have before us. HOWEVER, comparing Waka Flaka WHACK to Rakim or Phonte for that matter, is necessary. Necessary, because, for some reason, RAPPERS today feel they don't have any connection, commitment or accountable responsibility to the past. Some, not all, have no sense of history, resulting in no sense of self, resulting in some of the worst "rap music" the world has ever scene. Historically speaking, music released between 2000 - 2011 has been the most popcorn, shallow, womanizing imitation of music Hip-Hop has ever seen. It's downright disrespectful, selfish and ignorant to PURPOSEFULLY disown and dishonor the past. Do I expect Bow-Wow to rap like Big Daddy Kane? No. But I do expect Bow-Wow, to carry the title of MC with some level of respect. If I joined the Army today, I would be expected to uphold the integrity, honor and ethical code that military men/women upheld before me. Men can't be afraid of being compared to their Fathers (good or bad), however, they have to first be MEN themselves and then call for acceptance as the men they are. If we are honest with ourselves, MC's are not willing to accept comparisons because the truth is, they are little boys and girls not desiring the work that comes with being MC's. President Obama is compared to previous presidents and even those that claim they can do it better. Athletes are compared to other athletes, that's a part of the territory. The only thing worst than a bad MC, is a scared MC. Scared of the responsibility, scared of being called to do real work, scared of answering the call of being an MC. So in closing. No. MC's shouldn't be compared to MCs of the past, simply because they are not MCs, they are cowards. Man-up, tuck your skirts in, and BE MCs. Ladies? Instead of insulting the Barbies of the past, show why we should care that you are the Barbie of today.
MD-OUT!!!
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I think we agree, but are disconnecting in what it means to compare the past to the present (and future). It is extremely important to STUDY the past. I try to make that clear in most of the blogs I write. We need to understand that Lil Wayne was influenced by Jay-Z, who was influenced by Big Daddy Kane and Rakim. Having that knowledge helps us to see where it was that we actually came from as a culture and if we decide that the culture has loss something when looking at Lil Wayne's content, style, etc. to that of Rakim, then that is one thing.
However, do say that hip hop has fallen off because there are no more Rakims is what gets us in trouble. There won't be any more Rakims and we don't need anymore. Expecting somebody to fill the shoes of Rakim will only lead to disappointment. I love Nas and what he represents, but I want J. Cole to be J. Cole. I want Cole to know (and I think he does) what Nas means to hip hop, but I don't want him to try to re-create Illmatic. If he creates a classic, then great! But trying to re-create Illmatic is no different then two terrible rappers trying to re-create similar club songs.
So, I agree, knowing history is imperative. I never have and never will question that. But expecting former hip hop greats to recapture their prime in a different body sets us up for failure.
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We are on the same page, somewhat in this regard. Artist being artist? Yes. Recreating artist from the past? No. Understanding history of the art form? Yes. On those topics, we are on the same page.
Where I think our language parts past is "the final product." No. I don't expect J. Cole (or any other rapper for that matter) to "imitate/copy" another MC, that's not hip-hop at all, it's just biting. What I DO want today's MCs to understand stand WHAT IS HIP-HOP and do their best to present THEIR impression of the art, in their own way. Serena and Venus re-invented the game of tennis but they didn't bring lacrosse to the game, they brought TENNIS with a Serena and Venus twist. Waka, Gucci, Souljah Boy are NOT Hip-Hop. They are dudes bringing baseballs to the basketball court. Not only is it the wrong game, they are bringing baseballs with no baseball skills. LOL The Late Great Michael Jackson brought SOMETHING different to music/R&B that was WELCOMED and UNIQUE. It IS beautiful (as my son watches Moon Walker in the background) even today. But, seriously Bro, garbage is garbage. It's not about what I like or don't like. It is what it is. There are more actors than there are hip-hop artists and less honesty in the game and more kats trying to get paid.
Money is not hip-hop; whether you rap like KRS-1 or not, that's just not what this art form is about.
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You're right; garbage is garbage. In this particular blog, I'm not arguing that artists that aren't representing the culture should get a pass. I'm arguing that because there are so many that have taken advantage of the culture, many people (perhaps not us) don't appreciate the talent that is out there and instead of celebrating them, find perceived flaws based upon artists that perceived them. This doesn't apply to everybody, but tothose it does, all they are doing is essentially robbing themselves of a quality music experience and stripping down those that are holding down hip hop the correct way.
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