When Hip Hop first started there wasn't
any division between any of the artists.
There was a group of emcees that enjoyed
the music and lived and died rap. Music
is just like anything else that involves
a group of ppl; the diversity of the ever-expanding
art form causes division. The division
was first seen in the boroughs of New
York where the art as we know it first
came about. Modern day Hip Hop has the
same pitfalls. But the day of equinox
seems to have finally arisen.
I have been watching the tides turn for
the better for a while now. I remember
watching the ill-fated Lyricist Lounge
show on MTV. When I saw artist like Wordsworth,
Mos Def and Snoop freestyling together
that was monumental!
The combining of contrasting styles and
the different coasts was major. Tash and
Raekwon had a song together called “Rap
Life” a little ways before and that
implemented the same variables to the
equation. These pieces all have made Hip
Hop an art form where all kinds of artists
can get down and make music together.
This, to quote Keith Murray is: "the
most beautifullest thing in the world!"
It seems to me the one single event has
really hashed all of the subdivisions
of Hip Hop to the public: Kanye West’s
signing to Rocafella Records. That is
due in part to Rocafella is the empire
of the reigning ruler, Jay-Z. The label’s
roster has the best in almost all of the
facets of Hip Hop. Which leads to great
combinations because of the connections.
Freeway and Mos Def on a track, whoever
would have thunk it! It may not been a
reality without Kanye breaking down the
walls to the mainstream.
Kanye is helping the world realize how
great Twista really is and rejuvenating
the monster we all know as Common.
Kanye cohorts also have been involved
in breaking the barriers down. The whole
okayplayer and new Native Tongue artists
have also played their parts. Talib Kweli’s
mixtape was major in the bridging between
artists. The Roots doing unplugged was
a huge step. This generation of conscious
artists realize that we have to stick
together to make the proper impact.
The whole world is elated that the most
heard music genre of our time is finally
solved it own civil war.
Any comments, questions
email B.O.B. at music@geoclan.com
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