Hip-Hop: We Bid One Decade Adieu & Welcome Another

Rebellion

Hip-Hop:

Times,” The Ecstatic, 2009

lane and relive the many disappointing moments the last decade offered.

We can reminisce over missteps taken, errors made, problems unsolved.

We can look back and remain restricted to the past—like Lot’s

wife. We can. But we won’t. We are Hip-Hop. The past might be

prologue, but it hardly says much about the possibilities awaiting a

culture and generation not quite through tampering with the world, in

and theatrical decade, and now, we cut open the ribbons unveiling a

fresh, new one. The next decade is sure to be very interesting—in

multiple terms. If the last is any indicator, certain predictions can

be made, even from this hollow ground upon which we are currently poised.

but I believe 10 years from now my estimates would have yielded enough

Internalization of Hip-Hop: If you still think Hip-Hop is

a North American culture, restricted only to the United States borders,

you’re bound to be sorely disappointed in the coming years. As Africa

and Europe especially come close to dominating the Hip-Hop scene with

new and challenging rhythmic and lyrical twists, I hope the narrow-minded—the

jingoistic—amongst us would be able to pay off the deductibles on

the heart surgery transplants sure to become commonplace. Whether we

choose to be upfront or not, many of us have an unhealthy commitment

to tribalism, coastism, and sexism when engaging Hip-Hop—which

is deep, as it in no way reflects Hip-Hop’s true nature. In

the next decade, however, Hip-Hop would most likely be hit with the

triple evils of Diversity, Novelty, and Complexity. Here’s to hoping

we have enough compassion in our hearts to tolerate and celebrate

(Continuing) Commercialization of Hip-Hop: If you’re a purist

like myself—with an almost Nazi-esque demand that Hip-Hop remain free

of all commercial contamination—get your oxygen tank fully functional.

You’ll be needing a whole lot of it. For those who believe Hip-Hop

is slowly losing the rat race or loosening whatever gridlock it had

on corporate America, slap yourself three times. You might be overdosing

on morphine. At no other period in its history has Hip-Hop made more

millionaires than the last few years. And thanks to the ubiquitous nature

of Rap music today—in restaurants, airlines, TV ads, Magazines, Disney

merchandise, beer commercials, student loan promos, lecture halls, classrooms—the

next decade almost promises a steep rise in commercialism for Hip-Hop

music. No indication suggests a dissipation or depreciation any time

soon. As much as CD sales might be down, the same can’t be said for

Hip-Hop merchandise. On the backs and bodies of kids and adults alike—Hip-Hop

lives. In their ear drums, through MP3 players and iPods—Hip-Hop lives.

On their TV screens and smartphones—Hip-Hop lives. There’s too much

money left in this Rap business, and until the cow is drained of all

milk, that creepy, bald, White guy with the baseball hat and the white

T-shirt tucked into his khaki pants is unlikely to halt stroking that

sensitive area gently but firmly. (Of course it’s not just

White men anymore. A couple of Negroes here; a couple of suffragettes

We’re three full decades into this thing called Hip-Hop, and I believe

the next decade would yield greater validation than the last did of

an artist-base fed up with WWF beefs and jerry curl spats. Signs of

the last few months suggest many commercial rappers—who in the past

never even bothered to construct parallel rhyme schemes—are getting

a tad bit discomforted with the overflow of ringtone rappers, and are

now turning to a more lyrical landscape for refuge. Artists whose debut

body of work spoke of nothing but mediocrity and minimalism began taking

seriously the musical debt owed to fans for demanding $10 for music

made with $.10 concepts. Artists would likely become more serious and

engaged on the musical front as well as the money front—which raises

a favorite topic of mine: The

Say adiós to the ba**ards who ruined Hip-Hop! It’s improbable

any of the major Rap labels would make it across River Jordan. Even

the Big 4—Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, EMI, and Sony

BMG—are likely to be left with only two standing by 2020. The age

of record labels is probably past for good. Good. Of course uneducated

rappers are inextinguishable—which means record labels would still

exist in some forms (to take as much money from the uneducateds

as possible), but most rappers would come off far smarter and business

savvy within these next 10 years than ever before; either through diligent

study or unforgiving, unpleasant catalysts. One way or another, artists

would come to see how

to selling a brand and marketing directly to consumers—consumers who

never believed the worth of an artist’s music was only as valuable

as whatever big-name label was printing the CDs or sponsoring the concerts.

Artists would probably—again: by compulsion or coercion—become more confident in striking million dollar deals with

corporations and organizations smart enough to still believe

in the buying and selling power of Hip-Hop. Yes, more commercialism;

but more control, freedom, and maturity for artists abused and infantilized

I believe the next decade would produce uncontrollable nostalgia—greater

than previous years—for the “Golden Era” of Hip-Hop. As we move

further away from that often romanticized age, fans of all stripes—but

most likely older ones—would demand that artists “return” to the

“roots” of the fully grown tree which, today, feeds the cultural

needs of millions and provides shade to whomever believes Peace,

Love, Unity, and Having Fun are fundamental principles in the preserving

of a democratic society. And, indeed, many artists would employ aesthetic

supplements to nurture those nostalgic impulses. Don’t be freaked

out if hi-top fades come back in vogue, or if gold chains replace silver

jewelry as the new “Bling-bling.” The next decade should

also bring about a great resurrection of the other 3 Hip-Hop elements

buried to make way for the MC’s (and Rapper’s) rise to prominence.

A possible development in this fetish of antiquity might be the stepping

up of older artist into mentorship roles. If there is any singular crippling

force in Hip-Hop today, it is the fear, resentment, and jealousy many

older Hip-Hop artists arbor against their offspring. Fear because they

truly don’t know enough about this new generation and what its

intentions are. Resentment due to the countless occasions upon which

younger artists have foolishly dissed—and rendered inconsequential—the

generation—and contributions—that spawned it. Jealousy because of

the millions flowing into the coffers of artists who have no clue what

it means—and perhaps never will—to perform not because Uncle Charlie

promises a Rolls Royce, a Rolex, and a blinged-out crucifix if some

single goes platinum, but because 3,000 people have just descended onto

the park to break-dance and boogie to new mixes and the vocal virtuosity

sure to accompany them. Older artists shake their heads—rightfully

so—when witnessing the defecation of a culture they worked tirelessly

to keep in the hands of consumers and performers; but if Hip-Hop is

to make great strides in the coming decade, they would have to humbly

approach the young artists, with arms stretched forth, granting their

blessings to continue about the business of reminding the world why

Hip-Hop fans, for all their complexity, might be some of the stiffest

in the world. The moment a well-known artist switches up on fans without

prior warning, backlash follows almost immediately. Whether right or

wrong, whether good or bad, whether wild or dull, the artist is never

appreciated for pushing the envelope. The artist is told to quit playing

around and return to “Real Hip-Hop.” The next decade, unfortunately

for some, might turn out the “Eat Your Heart Out” decade. Artists

with trans-national and trans-lingual collaborations wouldn’t have

much need of a fan-base still bent on subjecting all songs to the Gang

Starr or CL Smooth test. With even greater cross-genre breeding to follow,

Hip-Hop songs might sound (and look) quite different than what most

are accustomed to. Some for commercial reasons, some serving more productive

purposes; but this prediction—that artists would begin taking career-defining

risks (fans be damned!)—is perhaps strongest of all. For too long,

artists have sat in the pockets of fans, controlled and contained, smothered

and subdued. Well, no more! Hip-Hop artists would arouse anger in some

fans and earn gold stars from others, but what a thrilling experience

it is sure to be. The innovative uses of dynamic technology should provide

equal amount of enragement and excitement from fans—one side arguing

organic Hip-Hop is being eroded; the other reveling in the ability

to make music quicker and easier. But what a thrilling experience it

to remind readers by no means are these irrefutable predictions of the

near future—Ms. Cleo is yet to anoint me with oil. But as one decade

goes by and another opens its doors, if these 5 markers are kept in

heart, fans and artists might not be taken aback by any twists and turns

critic whose work regularly appears on TheDailyVoice.com and other online journals. He can