Hip-Hop vs. The Law

ballerz1 · #1 (**permalink**) Oct 06, 04

Why is it that every successful hip-hop artist needs to project themselves as being criminals, even when they grew up in suburbia? Take Ja Rule for example. He was raised in a suburban community but then started projecting himself as a hard-core gangster. Then a song came out (“Hail Mary”) by 50 Cent, Eminem, and Busty Rhymes that dissed him for the fact, and his sales started to slide. It’s also interesting to see how the law enforcement deals with these young artists, such as the NYPD setting up a special “Hip-Hop Task Force” that monitors their every move.

I thought to bring up these topics because I just saw a preview for an upcoming hip-hop special on Court TV being produced by Russell Simmons.

It’s called “Hip Hop Justice” (I think), and airs Wednesday (10/06) @ 10pm. It looks really interesting and hopefully will help put hip-hop in a more positive light.

Peace,

Trevor

Clayton. · #2 (**permalink**) Oct 06, 04

What your listening to is not hip hop it's mainstream rap with people who potray themselves as gangsters to sell records to middle class kids who think they are also gangsters.

cinist · #3 (**permalink**) Oct 06, 04

i have a gun

wundergirl · #4 (**permalink**) Oct 06, 04

nono
not all artists portray themselves as ganksta, some suggestions...

atmosphere
k-os (canadian)
roots
tribe called quest
dead can't bounce (canadian)
immortal technique
del
blurum13/platypus
buck 65 (canadian)
freksho (canadian)
jean grae
blackalicious, and gift of gab just went solo
max prime (canadian)
talib qweli
mos def
bahmadia
sweatshop union
binary star
sage francis
de la soul
jurassic five
max prime (canadian)

if you expose yourself to more music you'll be rewarded. gankstah is a marketing gimmick, and it sells. this means that some really good artists are slightly less popular because they aren't trying to sell an image, they're just trying to make good music.

Senior · #5 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by wundergirl

nono
not all artists portray themselves as ganksta, some suggestions...

atmosphere
k-os (canadian)
roots
tribe called quest
dead can't bounce (canadian)
immortal technique
del
blurum13/platypus
buck 65 (canadian)
freksho (canadian)
jean grae
blackalicious, and gift of gab just went solo
max prime (canadian)
talib qweli
mos def
bahmadia
sweatshop union
binary star
sage francis
de la soul
jurassic five
max prime (canadian)

if you expose yourself to more music you'll be rewarded. gankstah is a marketing gimmick, and it sells. this means that some really good artists are slightly less popular because they aren't trying to sell an image, they're just trying to make good music.

Add to that more mainstream artists such as the Beastie Boys, KRS-1 and Outcast. Also lets not forget that there's more to Hip Hop than MC's. Big ups to Craze, Z-Trip, Shadow, Babu (Dilated People), The Executioners, Jazzy Jay, Q-Bert, Hi-Tek and the 100's of others that don't rely on stupid marketing gimicks like being a "Gansta!"

decypher · #6 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

^ z-trip has more ounce of creativity and skill in his pinky then all of G-unit could ever hope to have. Hell any of those dj's u listed do.

G-Style · #7 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by decypher

^ z-trip has more ounce of creativity and skill in his pinky then all of G-unit could ever hope to have. Hell any of those dj's u listed do.

I wa sabout to type the same thing.lol

miss.myra · #8 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Hey everyone! I got lots of positive hip hop in my backpack! Let's go listen to it and hug everyone and pick flowers!

G-Style · #9 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

Hey everyone! I got lots of positive hip hop in my backpack! Let's go listen to it and hug everyone and pick flowers!

*sniff**sniff* I smell sarcasm!

miss.myra · #10 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

You betcha'. This thread has been done so many times, it's nauseating every time I have to come across it. It's just like 'OMG I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BRAG ABOUT ALL THE UNDERGROUND ARTISTS NAMES I KNOW! I ALSO EAT ORGANIC AND OCCASIONALLY PROTEST THE WAR!' good for you, gold star.

Like obviously with any genre of music, the more obscure, the less commercial, the more street cred or whatever the fuck you are trying to gain you get from dropping names, whoopie, great. It is also fairly obvious that ANY music that is produced for a large audience ("commercial") is going to be something that is often not much 'deeper' than something that is catchy and easy to enjoy. That is how music is marketed in mass. And really, if you're expecting to gain some kind of ephiphany from the music you listen to, then power to ya. If you're expecting to listen to music that you can dance to and don't care about the message, then power to ya. There is really no right or wrong reason to enjoy music, as far as I'm concerned. Commercial music as a whole is all about overrating the blandest of acts, but I can't help but bop my head to some of the stuff coming out. And hey, all the big names in the entertainment industry are trying to sell SOME kind of image.

G-Style · #11 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

You betcha'. This thread has been done so many times, it's nauseating every time I have to come across it. It's just like 'OMG I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BRAG ABOUT ALL THE UNDERGROUND ARTISTS NAMES I KNOW! I ALSO EAT ORGANIC AND OCCASIONALLY PROTEST THE WAR!' good for you, gold star.

Like obviously with any genre of music, the more obscure, the less commercial, the more street cred or whatever the fuck you are trying to gain you get from dropping names, whoopie, great. It is also fairly obvious that ANY music that is produced for a large audience ("commercial") is going to be something that is often not much 'deeper' than something that is catchy and easy to enjoy. That is how music is marketed in mass. And really, if you're expecting to gain some kind of ephiphany from the music you listen to, then power to ya. If you're expecting to listen to music that you can dance to and don't care about the message, then power to ya. There is really no right or wrong reason to enjoy music, as far as I'm concerned. Commercial music as a whole is all about overrating the blandest of acts, but I can't help but bop my head to some of the stuff coming out. And hey, all the big names in the entertainment industry are trying to sell SOME kind of image.

As the buggles said "Video Killed the Radio Star" Sad but true.

Senior · #12 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

You betcha'. This thread has been done so many times, it's nauseating every time I have to come across it. It's just like 'OMG I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BRAG ABOUT ALL THE UNDERGROUND ARTISTS NAMES I KNOW! I ALSO EAT ORGANIC AND OCCASIONALLY PROTEST THE WAR!' good for you, gold star.

Like obviously with any genre of music, the more obscure, the less commercial, the more street cred or whatever the fuck you are trying to gain you get from dropping names, whoopie, great. It is also fairly obvious that ANY music that is produced for a large audience ("commercial") is going to be something that is often not much 'deeper' than something that is catchy and easy to enjoy. That is how music is marketed in mass. And really, if you're expecting to gain some kind of ephiphany from the music you listen to, then power to ya. If you're expecting to listen to music that you can dance to and don't care about the message, then power to ya. There is really no right or wrong reason to enjoy music, as far as I'm concerned. Commercial music as a whole is all about overrating the blandest of acts, but I can't help but bop my head to some of the stuff coming out. And hey, all the big names in the entertainment industry are trying to sell SOME kind of image.

Whoa, easy there. It seems like you're getting a little over excited about people mentioning some music they like and or being annoyed with stupid marketing gimmicks. At any rate if you read what I posted it would seem that we do agree in some respects as I mentioned that there are mainstream acts I like.

I didn't really follow the whole bit about name dropping though... Is it bad to mention music that you like?

miss.myra · #13 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Yes. Vey bad. :p

I don't know, I'm predicting the trend that this thread will likely develop into, because it's happened every other time someone has posted this topic. This whole 'rap' vs apparent 'real hip hop' issue IS something I feel strongly about. Add a cup off coffee, and I'll get a little over excited.

Clayton. · #14 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

If i listen to 50 cent will i be cool?

axion · #15 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

dumbest thread ever.

G-Style · #16 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

Yes. Vey bad. :p

I don't know, I'm predicting the trend that this thread will likely develop into, because it's happened every other time someone has posted this topic. This whole 'rap' vs apparent 'real hip hop' issue IS something I feel strongly about. Add a cup off coffee, and I'll get a little over excited.

Then we be drinking coffee drinks on Sat.

Clayton. · #17 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by axion

dumbest thread ever.

What do you expect from someone who's name is ballerz1?

oxide · #18 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/capi...dirty_v300.asx

oxide · #19 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

the truth is revealed about the origins of the original hip hop hook

miss.myra · #20 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ever666

If i listen to 50 cent will i be cool?

only if you liquid dance while listening to 50 cent. white gloves and all!

hoooo, get the webcam on clay!

Senior · #21 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

Yes. Vey bad. :p

I don't know, I'm predicting the trend that this thread will likely develop into, because it's happened every other time someone has posted this topic. This whole 'rap' vs apparent 'real hip hop' issue IS something I feel strongly about. Add a cup off coffee, and I'll get a little over excited.

Funny thing is that I just went to get a scone to counter act the caffine jitters.

Clayton. · #22 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss.myra

only if you liquid dance while listening to 50 cent. white gloves and all!

hoooo, get the webcam on clay!

omg have you seen the new eminem video? he's my hero i'm gonna dress like him and everything.....hip hop for life till death yo!

cinist · #23 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

i said , i have a gun !

Akeel · #24 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

i had this shirt that said 'Hip Bop" on it.0

Cdn_Brdr · #25 (**permalink**) Oct 07, 04

I hate all these arguments about 'mainstream' vs 'underground' music. People seem to think that just because an artist is underground that the music is so much better or that these underground artists figure that their image doesn't matter. BULLSHIT!

You know what the real difference between the two is? Money. End of story. Every artist out there would 'sellout' to make some money. Fact: Making music is their passion, but its also their job. People get paid to do their job. People who get paid well to do their job are happy.

If any of these so called underground artists got signed to a major label they would definitely start making more money, have a stylist or PR rep mold their image.... does this mean they suck now? Goddamn them selling out to the man.... god forbid they have a family to feed or something. The one thing is that they'll still make music. More often than not its the same music you loved by them when they were still minor label underground artists.

Underground is no more than the farm team for the big leagues so quit ragging on people who like major label artists. Almost every major was a minor at one point in their career.