Hip Hop: In a State of Emergency?

In a an industry filled with coastal bias, it's about time someone from the West Coast, more importantly the Bay Area, was given the opportunity to shed light on our side of things. Welcome to a West Coast State of Mind, where I'm only bias sometimes, but at least I'll admit it. - ill Will (ill.will@hiphopdx.com)

Sound the alarm! Hip Hop is in a state if emergency, can't you tell?

You didn't think I was gonna jump on the whole "Hip Hop is dead" tip, did you? Fuck no, I ain't a bitch. And if I was, you'd have to throw a "ride or die" in front of it (lol). Don't believe the propaganda- nothing is wrong with rap, but there might be something wrong with you.

What could be possibly wrong with you? YOURE OLD. Well, maybe not old-old, but youve at least out grown Hip Hop. Somewhere after you turned eighteen, you made you're descent to reality. And, well, reality bites.

Bill's happened. Rent, car note, gas, food, and in a lot of cases-families. You began to realize that there were much more important issues in your life than running to the record store every Tuesday to be the first to own the new releases. It wasn't like one day you woke up and proclaimed to hate Hip Hop-it was a gradual thing. You probably can't even recall how or when it happened-it just did.

But just because you're swamped with bills and responsibility doesn't mean you don't listen to music. Of course you do, it's your escape, but after a certain age Hip Hop just isn't for you. When you we're a kid it wasn't for your parents, was it? Fabolous isnt spittin' about what you're going through. Nor is Nelly. But thats understandable, theyre kids. What about the older artists? Theyre stuck in their second-childhood on their records. Theyre rapping to the record buyersTeens. To hell with what you're going through. So to hell with them and their music.

What about those that have grown-up? Talib Kweli, Common, and Masta Ace have been tagged as conscious or backpack rap, when in all actuality theyre just making music for adults, people who deal with Lifes day-to-day struggles. But theyre not going platinumGod forbid that. So maybe you dont wanna hear that shit after all.

Which brings us back to the old thing. But it aint because the artists arent making music for you, because its obvious that the majority isnt feeling the stuff made with you mind. Its because youre too old to connect with the music.

Think about it. Remember your fondest musical memories? When we're they. When you we're a teenager, huh? And just to put things in perspective, think about your elders. When they caught a listen to your choice of sonic stimulation, what'd they say? They'd bring up "real music", right? And none of the artists they named were current hit-makers either.

So what do you do? Throw on "the classics" of your yester-year that takes you back to when life was oh so simple then; Ready To Die, Reasonable Doubt, Enter The 36 Chambers, etc... When you lost yourself in the music. That moment-you owned it. You'll never let it go. Don't. Keep your Hip Hop alive. Just realize that the same thing that sparked a flame inside your heart ten years ago, is igniting new fires everyday, and most importantly, is still burning.

Change is Life's only constant. People change. Music changes. People making music change.

The "Hip Hop Is Dead" movement has brought to a lot of peoples attention as of late. Let's clear some of the bullshit up.

Hip Hop cannot be dead because...

1) ...You're an artist and you only feel yourself (Killer Mike who in his publicity phots is wearing a t-shirt saying Rap Is Dead). You would think that someone rolling with such a free, creative, and successful crew
(Outkast) would be the last to say that.

2) ...You're record ain't selling and no one likes you (Benzino). Benzino never sold records in Hip Hop's Golden Age. He never sold records in Hip Hop's Silver Age. And he's not selling records in Hip Hop's present. Sounds like Hip Hop is perfectly fine.

3) ...A white kid is out-selling everyone (Eminem). Say he can't rhyme. Yes, they've used his skin-color to sell crazy records, but Bubba Sparxxx struggled to do what he did, and the Wu Tang-affiliated Remedy is a nobody. Let's not forget Artist Direct's white boy's who aren't gonna do shit. Em is special; his success has much more to do with the fact that he's white. Get over it.

4) ...Nowadays Hip Hop is only about money, hoes, and material possessions. Buddy, Hip Hops has always been about that shit. I watched an Eric B. & Rakim video a while back and it wasnt any different from something youd see on 106 & Park today. All that has changed is the size of the jewels, style of clothes, and the bikinis get smaller which is a good thing because sooner or later theyre just gonna get naked (Oh Boy!!!Im sorry ladies, you know I love you:)

5) ...Major corporations have turned Hip Hop into a billion dollar industry and are squeezing the creativity out of it. Hip Hop has always been an independent entity, so there is always gonna be an outlet for something going against the grain. Hit the street and search for it. 9 times out of 10 itll cost you less and the artist will see more money. Ask Daz, he aint crying about shit. Nor are the Kay Slays, Clues and 50 Cents.

Now The Source may be dying, but I would hope that they realize that the culture they based their existence on is much bigger than 160 pieces of paper.

Fuck Everybody, except H.E.R.