I have already written an article about the very disrespectful notion that "Hip Hop Is Dead" being peddled even by some of the most notable Hip Hop artists (emcees & DJs), who are even still active participants in their respective arts and putting out classic material, and instigated by fans/listeners of Hip Hop Music.

I perceive that people expect for every Hip Hop/ rap artist to love and respect the culture equally, as a sort of unanimous decision on things that are subjective to factors of culture, upbringing, environment, personal taste and passions, and even region. By the way, this has been the case throughout the entire lifespan of Hip Hop/Rap music, where different coasts and regions started off showing little to know respect for other coasts and regions being participants in it who brought their own styles and uniqueness to the culture. The East Coast-West Coast beef of the mid 90s, that suddenly left two of the great emcees (Biggie & Tupac) dead, both around the age of 25. Then there was spite for the South adding their flavor to the mix, with Dungeon Family (Outkast, Goodie Mob, etc), Master P and No Limit Records, Scarface, UGK, and Cash Money Records coming in and dominating the industry. I regret that even I, being a young college student and an emcee myself, allowed for my youthful opinions to drive me into the place that seemed to foster the idea that every artist that comes out as "Hip Hop/ Rap"--- and every song---  should fit the parameters of "good music" that I set. 

What is happening to our culture? Why are people so adamant about gatekeeping what type of music can be made and classified as Hip Hop? And mind you, in me asking these questions, there is a whole lot of music that I choose not to listen to. There is a whole lot of music I have YET to listen to. But I think it is absolutely crazy that people that are trying to preserve the culture don't know how to do that. Is there another agenda underlying these complaints? Possibly. But I think it looks really foolish expecting the MUSIC BUSINESS & INDUSTRY to automatically be proponents of advancing the culture. 

What bothers me is that many of the emcees and rappers who helped to "build" the culture refuse to open up mediums that allow for themselves to control more of it than the industry they think is f*cking it up. There are a few who did branch out to help take back, preserve, and support the music--- LL Cool J (Rock The Bells), Jay Z (Tidal),  Steve Stoute (United Masters). But what people are really complaining about is the industry mediums of radio and television, that once featured the "best" of Hip Hop music on such TV programs as "Yo. MTV Raps," "Rap City," "Video Music Box," and "106 & Park". And a lot of the music that was featured on radio fit the palette of music choices that most Hip Hop heads still enjoy today. 

So what happened? Here's my honest assessment, not just on what happened, but on what the response should be today. 

1. Access: I would totally get the offense that hip hop/rap fans have about the "state" of Hip Hop, if there was only TV and radio as means of accessing music, and those being controlled by people who don't really care for the culture. But that's not the case AT ALL. No matter who owns what, ALL MUSIC is (for the most part) accessible in various forms across different mediums. I can get notifications about my favorite artists' new albums AND concert tour dates, often on the same apps. And while there are discrepancies about what the artists are being paid by those platforms, why is any of that the concern of the fans? While Spotify and AppleMusic (and other streaming companies) are being questioned about what the artists are being paid, sites like Bandcamp allow for the artist to post music at their own price, AND provide the option of fans paying MORE or naming their own price for the music. 

And let's not just deal with the new music, ALL of your favorite classic Hip Hop records you have access to (COMMERCIAL FREE) for $10-$15 per month. We spent $15- $20 for ONE CD in the local record stores. So ACCESS to good Hip Hop music is not the problem. 

2. Local Talent: If you're not supporting the local artists that make dope hip hop music, what are you really complaining about? Some of my favorite music comes from people within my own crew, affiliates, and even from myself. I MAKE music that I enjoy. Saying "Real Hip Hop Is Dead" is an evasive and lazy way of saying "I want what I want, when I want, how I want, spoon-fed to me, AND ONLY for those things to exist anywhere," in which case, get a life. There are plenty of artists doing all kinds of great things in music, looking for opportunities to be heard, and your support could help that. 

See, it's like people want the BEST Hip Hop music to come through the very industry channels they "KNOW" is not trying to do that, and yet won't go LOOK for music they might enjoy. And what's even more sad is that, IF local artists were promoted more, the industry would attempt to grab them so that they can put out more music to the masses. Industry is about money. They're not in it to necessarily push talent. And while I can feel some type of way about that, why should I? I support local talent. I support the music and artists I like. So TALENT in Hip Hop music is not the problem. 

Nay, some Hip Hop artists and fans want the whole culture to FULLY cater to each of their individual personal desires, with no deviation of differences in who puts out what. And I'm sorry (not sorry), not only is that ridiculous, it defies the very thing that helped to build the culture in the first place, which is individuality. What it comes down to is, oftentimes the artists are upset that someone else is getting the notoriety and fandom they aspire to. And while that is not altogether wrong in the desire, the options are, a) change up your music to fit what the masses want, b) create a medium that will allow you to promote your music better, hoping that more fans will want it, c) keep making the music you want and allow for people who WANT to enjoy do so. No matter how you come at this, it's a money thing. The average "Hip Hop artist" is trying to make money from their music. And that's fine--- totally fine. But understand, that if that's the goal, people have a right to spend their time and money on whatever and whoever they want. And you have to deal with that. Because after all (and here's where my Christ-Kingdom faith really kicks in), most people ain't praying and asking God what they should do to be more successful in their careers anyway. They're winging it. And thus I say, enjoy the wings.