Enemy of The State

Last year Nas pronounced Hip Hop Dead, I didn't bat an eye because essentially I agreed. The hip hop that I loved, embraced and supported everyday of my life, died years ago. That was replaced with a more aggressive and flashier version. At this point there was still an environment of originality that thrived within the art form. Gone were the blatant positive and political messages replaced by testimonies of struggle, chaos and contempt. Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and LL Cool J were replaced by Biggie, Jay-z and Nas. NWA and Public Enemy were replaced by the Boot Camp Click and Wu-Tang Clan. These young men came of age in the times that their lyrical predecessors rallied against. Dope Man by NWA was more than a hot track off of a classic album it was their theme song. When it was there time to shine they repped it to the fullest, flaws and all. (Only way for me to G off, was drug loot.) At first as a listener I was annoyed if not bothered initially by the hostility and constant gun references but the lyricism was there and I continue to listen. Those MC's gave birth to what I call the lowest common denominator MC. The MC's that now rep the hardest or receive the most attention saw these mc's in their magnificent blingness and thought that's the main ingredient to success. Swagger now supersedes skill, originality, diversity and flat out talent. Jim Jones and Young Jeezy are succeeding on charisma and style more than any great lyrical ability. My friends and peers sit on both sides of this. One group says these niggas wouldn't have cut it back in the day. Then there's the others that say you got to change with the times and this stuff is hot. I myself look at it as an ignoring of the fundamentals and embracing of the easy skills set. It's the same with the And 1 and the NBA they both have their place. It merely depends on the public taste. The record industry has decided to magnify the And 1 MC's instead of the fundamentally sound MC's because the product is cheaper and easily accessible. I myself live for lyrics and originality and tend to support those who bring them. Talib, Common, Pharaoh have all made good if not great albums this year so Hip Hop may be resuscitated.