Hip Hop is Alive and Well....... Right?

Being that this is my first blog entry, it's only fitting that I start a blog about the state of it right? Since the 2006 release of Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead CD, everyone has argued if this statement rings true. Is Hip Hop really dead? Of course not. There are still many artists ( J.Cole, Jay Electronica, Blu, etc..) whom many people believe will preserve the art form. I think the real question should be: Is hip hop alive and well? 

What I mean by 'well' is, everyone who listens to hip hop music can find an artist or artists that they are into through any media outlet (radio or television). Based on that definition, I believe that though alive, hip hop is very sick. Radio stations are dominated by the same five artists 24/7 with no variety which has led me to boycott the radio being on in my car since 2005. Sure, that means that I have to carry a ridiculous amount of CD's with me or my Ipod but its a small price to pay to not listen to record-exec fueled monotony that is played out of fear of taking a risk on artists that don't fit the formula to go platinum in a week (Not everyone can or will be Lil Wayne). In the 80s and 90s you had mainstream, west coast, east coast, and underground styles of hip hop to chose from and most people were able to get played on the radio.  A lot of that had to do with many smaller/ independent record labels which meant less over all control of hip hop music as a whole.

Which leads us to the the present. I am not saying that there is not any good music out there. But I like lyrics and creativity that progresses the art form.  What I see is a lot of artists that are watered down. Artists who are not encouraged by their record labels to become better MC's. And the result is an entire industry dominated by rappers who can't rap about anything past their possessions and 'Simon Says' dance music. I know that many listeners that love their Gucci Manes and Rick Ross's will say that I am a hater. But I challenge any of the songs in their brief catalogs to go up against a Talib Kweli, Mos Def, or MF Doom lyrically. Better yet, try making a song without bragging about some car you rented and none of your listeners will ever attain. 

There is no one solution to change hip hop. Though the listener and as well as the music industry has changed, dope lyrics always trumps a hot beat. I am not trying to 'bring it back' but I don't want to listen to the same song play at the same time on three different radio stations. There is nothing wrong  with listening to music that is meant to dance and have a good time to in the club or something. But even the club closes for a couple of hours. You can't hear half the words anyway because of the mind-numbing bass, your blood alcohol level, and the equally-wasted girl that you are trying to smash in the corner. Lyricism will return to the forefront of hip hop when the consumer is ready to take a break and listen to some meaningful music. Until then I guess I'm going to keep the Roots' How I Got Over CD on repeat while I wait for J. Cole to drop.