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Who's Gonna Take the Weight or "Represent the Real" |
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Historically, urban music has been the voice of our burgeoning generation. But how has this been the case for so long? The power of the hip hop community lies in its constant rebirth and reformation at the hands of young artists. But the breakneck speed at which hip hop changes is due to the constant influx of new talent. These musicians and poets express ideas which exist within many of our hearts. These ideas are often ignored in most public sectors. Hip hop has become one of the only outlets for its purporters.
The result of all this is that the hip hop community is, at any time, a snapshot of the north american urban experience, whether it be Queens, Atlanta, LA, Osaka or Toronto. Philosophies, experiences, styles, emotions are all laid out for our perusal.
And in the case of a hip hop head, many of these philosophies, emotions, and experiences ring true. A true head feels hip hop rather than listens to it. There is no trying or fronting. Just understanding. That's what I love about hip hop. That's why I consider myself a hip hop head.
In hip hop culture, one of the worst insults that you can be fed is to be called fake. And in this light, it makes sense. If you're a hip hop fan for the wrong reasons, or for fake reasons, then you don't understand what the music is saying. And if that's true, then we don't want you.
True hip hop has never had mass appeal, and that's why its fans have remained so elite. But now, pop rap is designed to attract the masses to the weakest element of the culture, thus belittling that which has grown so strong. We, as true hip hoppers, have to remain elite, and continue to be picky. Massive crowd response and airplay shouldn't be enough to make a song hype. A song is hype if it moves us ... and only if it moves us. Let's keep control of the art form, and keep the quality control in the hands of the true fans, not guitar playing A&Rs.
Peace, Rec.