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H.E.R. Near Death Experience
The Beat's Strong Like It Was Made by J.Dilla
You ever see a close friend go from being on the top of their game to shell of what they were? I have and it was tough to watch. We grew up together. Sure she was a bit older than me, but the age difference didn’t matter -- she was always in my ear. Not always telling me the right thing to do, according to my folks, but at the very least it was entertaining and informative. Then somewhere along the line she started to change for the worse, getting caught up in things that normally weren’t her style.
As a result, I started to distance myself. I thought there was no reason to always be with her if she wasn’t the friend I once knew. That only lasted a few months and like all true friendships we got tight again. No matter how many other folks I tried to vibe with, no one got me like her. Unfortunately soon after we reunited, she was prematurely declared dead. I anxiously stood by as she desperately fought back for life. And I’m here now celebrating when it seems like she’s almost back to how she used to be.
Hip Hop has been a friend of mine for twenty some odd years and I’m beyond happy that she’s back. But like most people who have near-death experiences, she’s not quite the same.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid fan since the ’80s, a modern day Stan or just an occasional radio listener, you know Hip Hop hasn’t been the same since its “glory days.” Commercial rhymes, ring tone raps, auto tune and instructional dance hooks have done more damage to her than those drug filled nights did to Ozzy Osbourne. But I’m not here to harp on the bad times. We all make mistakes. All that matters to me is that this new freshman class is doing their best to revitalize her. J Cole, B.o.B., Wale, KiD CuDi, Drake (Does He Count if He Hasn’t Dropped an Album?) along with Jay Electronica, Lupe Fiasco and a slew of other MCs that folks will get mad at me for not mentioning are changing the game for the better. But as much as they bring us back to the ’90s, they also launch us forward into some uncharted territory.
Some of these artists are really pushing the boundaries of what the definition of an MC is. Like most of us, they’ve been exposed to more than just R&B, soul, gospel and other “Black” music. Rock and roll (originally “Black” music), electronica, techno, house, a bunch of music that can’t be labeled are all incorporated into these artists’ work. And it’s for the better. Without question. Have you ever heard an MC rhyme over a futuristic rock/techno track? I suggest you check out Wale rip Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. beat and get back to me. Or listen to Jay Electronica rhyme over the theme music from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” I’ll wait.
Right? And that’s old! You don’t know what you’ve been missing. And those are just the MCs that rhyme over outlandish tracks. They still keep the lyrical authenticity of the ’90s. What about these new artists that truly are artists more than MCs? Guys like B.o.B. who are arguably more appealing as a vocalist than as an actual “rapper”. He’s an MC from Atlanta who will play a guitar and sing the blues on one song, but will rap over an old NaS track on another. Or KiD CuDi. His execution may be questioned, but his ability to be a jack-of-all-trades can’t. And if you listened to his album, you know that the “Moon Man” is not your typical MC. And then there’s Drake. The artist who had the women swooning when “Best I Ever Had” first came out (now their ears bleed) and had dudes quoting his punch lines. Can you see KRS-One wooing the ladies with his smooth vocals? I think not.
Which brings me back to my original thought -- Hip Hop is different now. Certainly not bad, just different. That’s what happens when something great is on the brink of complete collapse, it returns but in a different form. I’m not saying that the era of Crap Hop is over, yet, but these guys are bringing in a new wave of music. And I for one am a big fan.
What do you think? Has Hip Hop changed that much? Is this new wave worth celebrating or do you still think Hip Hop is on life support? Are you still studying Exhibit C or are you awaiting Soulja Boy’s new LP? Let me know!
Seattle -- I Still Love H.E.R. -- Washington
44 Responses to “H.E.R. Near Death Experience”
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I LOVE WALE’S DANCE song! That is what got me hooked on him back in 2008 before his come up. I am def a fan of the new version of hip hop. Great post Seattle!
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uh-oh.. a Hip hop Post on 3ways…..
LOl
Hip Hop has evolved. it will die every decade when the paradigm shift occurs in the genre. Some people thought it died with the infusion of gangsta rap but it only brought it to new levels.
I think the new class will show that an emcee needs to be even more versatile, but in the end tuff lyrics are tuff lyrics!
Good shyt S Dubya
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I seem to be forever having this conversation. (Maybe it’s like this everywhere, but Toronto seems to be the international headquarters for hip hop “purity”). Hip Hop has of course changed, and not always for the better. It’s a relatively young genre and it has to go through its growing pains. It went from something niche and underground to something popular and commercial; of course its head was going to get swole and it would stop trying. It had a downswing for a while there but I agree with you that it seems to be on an upswing now.
Like all true heads my feelings have been hurt by the way hip hop has gone, but I always ask people who bemoan the state of hip hop – what’s the alternative? Should it have died out in its glory days? I would much rather endure a few years of utter crap than see it die out altogether.
Now if I could just get a Mobb Deep comeback album I’d be a very happy girl.
Amazing post Seattle.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:53 am
I have to concur, Canada in general seems to get it and their artist put more emphasis on being well rounded.
SMH, but if I had to make a list of the “least educated about hip hop culture, but listen to the music” it would probably start with Hood Ninjas from US. And than last on the list would be international 2520s.
…
Might be a topic for another day.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 am
You’ve noticed that too huh? This White woman that sits next to me at work can riddle off Raekwon’s OB4CL at will. She knows the old and new Ghostface. I’ve had full on discussions with some folks and they don’t have her knowledge base.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Dog when you go to these shows you see nothing but 2520 skateboard type 2520 Hipsters. Roots shows. Blackstar shows, Slaughterhouse shows (sidenote, never go to a SH show, all sauage).
They have kept hip hop strong, while ninja’s continue to support Wacka Flacka Flame.
You seen the footage of Jay Electronica in London? All 2520s.. they know every word to Exhibit A. Not C, A! Wall to Wall.
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Those first 2 paragraphs were DOPE!
*BRAVO!*
Anyway,
YES! Hip Hop has changed from what I knew her as (and I can still, vividly recall that day back in ’84 that Hip Hop & I became acquainted). She’s on life support w/ a very small handful of MCs reviving her but she’ll never die *fingers crossed*.
Just two days ago, after a back & forth email convo about Curren$y w/ one of my brothers, he wrote, “I must say, I had given up on you w/ Hip Hop. lol! Glad to see you back a lil’ bit.”
For at least 2 or 3 yrs, I was done w/ that genre and was just deep into my Metric, J*Davey, Mickey Green & so forth but I must say it feels good to have H.E.R. back in my life again.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:53 am
Thanks a lot Nikki.
Yeah, I’m with you. I was on my Franz Ferdinand, White Stripes and Coldplay trip for a while. I started listening to Dizzee Rascal and then somewhere along the line NaS and Jay brought me back.
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Its going to be a good day. I’m off to the office, but I wanted to post before. Trust I will be here all day.
The real is still here, you just have to find it. I actually think the best Wale video is My Sweetie. He reps Nigerians so HARD! I always hope Wyclef could do for Haiti what this video does for Nigerians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJM8zHx7AAk
Amazing top notch. True representation of our culture and the way life (atleast partying) is held, with real women, doing OUR dances (eff if you think its distasteful)
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ILoveit...Yaaay Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
I love him for this song. You don’t think Wyclef does the same for Haiti? I always say Haitian/Caribbean celebs rep the hardest for their homeland.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Clef as a solo artist always has the oppession with commercializing Haitian culture. Taking mainland themes or Reggae or Jamaican themes and adding them to the pot. Why isn’t Haiti enough? Why did he have to put Mavado on the damn hook!
He doesn’t stay true to the Haitian sound. Always gotta add teh lastest instrument that current hip hop producers are using to get Hot 97 to play it. You know how black people say Al Sharpton isn’t the president of Bpeople. Same goes for Wycelf. I appreciate him and all and I know we need to come together during this time of need. But I know some people who were knee deep in Haiti before 1/12/10, who don’t think highly of his sole representation of us. Plus remember he did that video back in ’03 where the car turn into an submarine? I think Missy and Carmimi where in the video?! DAMN that was a bad look!
His first album, Carnival, had some tunes though, I can’t lie. Still listen to that Jaspora to this day.
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Got Enough Street Cred to be a Rapper Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
LMAO…so he aint ya modern day T’oussaint L’Overture?
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Hip Hop post…I like!
About 1/2 way through this post I started humming “Hip Hop Saved me” love that song, I am by no means a hip hop head but I am beyond elated that there’s more options now than hardcore raps or bubble gum rhymes. I have to say I never understood why dudes were so into Rick Ross, why do you need to listen to someone rapping about killing and drugs, and a whole bunch of other nonsense. I know I sound like 65 year old grandmother but all that violence is not helping the community. I’ve been on the train and seen young boys and grown men alike rapping the words to some awful song about shooting and killing.
As a female Drake, Lupe and Kid Cudi appeal to me because they are sorta “emo” but in a good way. I love love love “So far gone” kinda excited for his new album but I will be shocked if I like it as much as “So Far Gone” since Young Money and his record label will probably put there commercial touch on it. I’m kinda surprised Drake made it into the post, I was kind under the impression that he wasn’t a respected MC. I was also crazy excited for the Kid Cudi Album, like checking iTunes every 2 days, but I really have to be in the mood because the sounds are crazy depressing at times. I’m not really down with Wale and the other people on the list, not for any specific reasons but Ill probably browse through their music when I get home, I’ve been kinda bored with my current playlist.
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Hey Seattle, can I ask you a personal question?
What do you think about people saying you are too old for Hip Hop? Its for kids. Its shows immaturity that you are still into such a shallow form of music?
I heard this comment before..here.
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Peyso Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:27 am
Its a stupid comment IMHO. The best rapper alive is damn near 40.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
thank you Peyso.
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Tunde Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
exactly
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miss t-lee Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:46 am
“What do you think about people saying you are too old for Hip Hop?…I heard this comment before”
I’ve heard it more than a few times. I tell them they’re straight up FOS.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:50 am
I feel like this is the set up or #TheSwindle…
Anyway, we’re never too old for hip hop like Guns N Roses is never too old for Rock and Roll. How are we going to be too old for it when it came through us?
However, there is music that just isn’t for us within the sub-genre. Like Kid Cudi is more for the hipsters than the true 80s babies, Soulja Boy is for the kids and not for us. Similar to how Kris Kross was for me and not for my uncles. Yeah, I still have my Cross Colors shirt somewhere…
Anyway, there are factions within the music that may not be for a particular group, but over all Hip Hop is for the masses.
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Yo, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THAT NEW SOULJAH BOY ALBUM COME’S OUT!? I’m FEENIN!!!! FUCc an Exhibit C…
On another note, this will soon happen to hip-hop music/culture as well (see below):
This is a sad & funny all at the same time but was only a matter of time before they stole this too!
White Sorority Wins Sprite Step-Off Competition
Stepping, which is deeply rooted in the tradition of historically Black Fraternities, has moved into the mainstream. At the Sprite Step Off, a traditionally white sorority with all white members, Zeta Tau Alpha won the $100,000 prize. Bossip was in the audience and they agreed that Zeta Tau Alpha “brought it.”
This can be considered of another example of how Black culture becomes mainstream and becomes appropriated by Caucasian people and becomes a greater part of American culture as a whole.
Judge for yourself, here is Zeta Tau Alpha, stepping along with videos of performances from the AKAs, Deltas and Alphas.
Click to read.
http://newsone.com/nation/casey-gane-mccalla/white-sorority-wins-sprite-step-off-competition/
I’ll be back…
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:21 am
Ay ay ay man. Don’t go posting off-the-topic events that we’ll be covering in the future.
Everyone look away and disregard SoBKAllDay’s comment. You know the drill – nothing to look at here.
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SoBKAllDAY Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 am
First of all, I was totally on topic! See:
“Yo, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THAT NEW SOULJAH BOY ALBUM COME’S OUT!? I’m FEENIN!!!! FUCc an Exhibit C…”
I then related how the future of Hip Hop will end up like other areas black folks have started, and given blood, sweat and tears too! See:
“This can be considered of another example of how Black culture becomes mainstream and becomes appropriated by Caucasian people and becomes a greater part of American culture as a whole.”
So how bout you get off my BACK!!!! And just hit me w/that Soldier Boy Album Release Date.
THANKS!
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
SB Tell’em next album doesn’t have a release date.
Its called the D’Andre Way, i think. The first street single is a video called 2 Milli, which he gets ‘lyrical’ and makes the claim that he is now the best rapper. The teaser came out late last night, so you will see it soon. All green screen.
I feel dirty now.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I hope you washed your hands after writing that.
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One of my fav Wale tracks, and this Jay Electronica goes hard. He has a joint that is getting major airplay in NY. At least NY has DJs that will occasionally play some off the wall sh*t. I never thought Hip Hop was dead, I just thought that she went into hiding. She wasnt out in the open, at least in the light we wanted to see her. She was hidden deep on an album, relegated to just being an album cut. Even when you listen to a Plies album, you hear quality album cuts, that I even wish was a single.(If you think I’m joking, 100 years and Runnin My Momma Crazy off of The Real Testament album goes hard).
I like these freshmen because I feel like these are rappers that I can relate to. Despite me being from the hood, I cant relate to slinging and gun toting. Yea, I own a gun but it is licensed and I have never pointed it at another person. Maybe sold a lil weed, wasnt moving weight, just wanted to be fly. Some of them went to school for a minute (Wale played football at Virginia State and Bowie State before dropping out, Mickey Factz dropped out of NYU Law and J. Cole graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s). I feel like rap/hip hop is actual “realer”. This is the first time since the 80′s when we have a plethora of rappers really expressing their struggles and in turn expressing the full struggle of the whole diaspora.
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I never get bored with music. Those that do hear music but don’t listen…
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ladym09 Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I concur.
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i understand what you mean about hip hop being a shell of its former self but with all music (and pretty much everything else) things transform with the time. i’d rather listen to this new form of hip hop than listen to a lot of this bubble gum rap i hear on the radio (i.e.-souljah boy, g4boys, etc.) out of the freshman class i would have to roll with j cole. he is the nicest of all that you named. he has a smooth delivery (pause). and his content appeals to me. he is another one who’s album i’m waiting on.
at first i really wasn’t feeling kid cudi but son is nice.
another group that people should be on the lookout for is Kidz in the Hall. Naledge and Double O are pretty nice. they already have 2 studio albums and their album “land of make believe” drops march 9th.
oh yeah i guess you decided to just leave asher roth off the list of the freshman class? lol
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Peyso Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:53 am
Kidz in the Hall are some cool dudes. The dude Naledge is a Nupe from my yard. Asher Roth is a cool bol too
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Tunde Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
yep. although naledge is on some wale ish on twitter right now. if people follow you on twitter they probably are already fans and thus going to cop the album. no need to beat of over the head with it. smh
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Man, I can’t really get down with Asher. “College” knocks, but I heard his mixtape with DJ Drama and wasn’t really impressed. Soon after that Wale and J. Cole started to drop their own tracks and I quickly moved on to greener pastures. I don’t think he’s as good as his counterparts.
J. Cole is the nastiest though. Folks need to stop letting him feature on tracks with them. Lol.
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Tunde Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
yes. because he clearly killed wale on both beautiful bliss and rather be with you (vagina is for lovers).
“i’m definitely in a class of my own having dinner with hov. hoping he’ll pass the baton but he just passed the patron.”
“your two lips, they smell like tulips.”
he definitely ethered wale on those two tracks.
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Peyso Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Wale did get ethered.
On another note Wale’s Mr. Carter verse>>>>>Jay & Wayne’s Mr. Carter verse
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
You hear him on the B.o.B. mixtape? I like B.o.B., but Bobby Ray should’ve just sung on the track. Lol.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I’m still tight that J Cole might have smashed my cousin back at St John’s. But everyone who knows him says he is a good humble dude. Can’t say the same about Naledge but I’m sure you have more first hand knowledge than me Peyso. #nobeef.
But Cole’s flow is so nasty, I can’t get mad.
I read an allhiphop article comparing him to D Wade (not the highest draft pick, but first to a Championship and best coach).
“I’ll never fall off, Knock on wood y’all, COLE”
I honestly think him and Joell are the only dudes in the past ten years to debut and impress me. Sorry Lupe and Kanye, but I feel like I can’t trust you.
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Tunde Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:44 pm
you got a link to that article? i would love to read it.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 10:50 am
http://allhiphop.com/stories/editorial/archive/2010/02/19/22129712.aspx
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Peyso Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
How’d i forget about Joell Ortiz? I’m bugging for that
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I got too distracted by the first part of your post to give much insight into the actual topic. I’m now too busy thinking about two life-long friends that are now shells of their former selves. Mmmh, I have to go and make a couple of calls now.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Hahaha. Well, I’m happy I could at least reignite some long lost friendships. Good luck.
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I’m a fan of all t ype of music. And I admit hip-hop is not my #1 favorite musical genre, but the hip-hop artists I enjoy and actually purchase their music, it’s because I listen to them as musical artists in their own right, and not just as hip-hop artists. I know that may be sound weird, but that’s how it is.
Yes, hip-hop has changed… all the genres have changed. Just ask some old school country music fans. Art is a reflection of our world, so as the world
turnschanges, so will the art. So, I don’t think hip-hop was on life support, but maybe it reflected certain changes in the local, domestic, global community at that time, and the attitudes regarding those changes. But like I said above, hip-hop is not my #1, tso what do I know. #brownskindreadheadshrugReply
With any change there is a period of time in which the observer cannot recognize what is there. This is because we look for what was and not to what is, with thought of what could possibly be. I don’t think Hip Hop is on life support. I think Hip Hop has continues to grow up as we grow up, it also allows for new comers to jump in anywhere along it’s time line and find a place to fit. Long gone are the days of sitting on my stoop with my boom box listening to Eric B….then KRS -1, then LL, then BIG, then PAC got air play on the east coast, then NAS, then JAY-Z…and the list grew….technology grew, they grew. As I’ve gotten older, I still relate to Hip Hop, I hear something from my younger days and it takes me back to that stoop, takes me back to riding the CDTA to school, takes me back to sneaking in Albany High dances, takes me back to walking in the cold with a Triple Fat Goose and a Scully on debating who’s the best MC. But now that I’m grown..I still relate to it, I blast All Eyes On Me, followed by Already Home followed by So Ambitious on my way to work, every morning…in that order! I’ve long since left NY, moved to Texas, then to NC, now California and with all of this movement, I’ve been able to see how hip hop metamorphosis’s to fit the climate and culture of the region. My New York people who immediately snap a hard head bop as soon as we hear “Who Shot Ya..Separate the weak from the Obsolete, hard to creep in Brooklyn Streets…it’s on Nigga!” coming out the speakers may not have the same enthusiasm as my ATL partners who look down at their feet, sway side to side real slow and rhythmically as soon as they hear “It’s beginning to look a lot like what? Follow my every step Take notes on how I crept…” and likewise my ATL partners may not feel the inclination to pull up their pants legs throw an odd arrangement of fingers in the air and do what I can best describe as a clumsy heel toe reggae step anytime they that high pitch whistle and whale sound followed by “There’s so much trouble in the LBC, it’s kind of hard being SNOOP D-O Double G!” come blasting out. These examples may be a bit off because those are classic hits within all regions, however you get my point….and that’s the beauty of hip hop, it allows anyone to openly express whatever they feel. However the feel fit! It is limitless, boundless and timeless. It exceeds most all other music, in that it depicts placement in life as well as placement in time. Jay-Z went from having “presidents to represent me” while asking “Who’s World is This?” To telling us that he actually has the President on his cell asking him to get folks out to vote for him on “On to The Next”. Now if that doesn’t depict metamorphosis, I don’t know what can! And all of the in-between stages can be found in his music (I’m only exemplifying using Jay-Z because I can appreciate his growth (Pause)). Just pick a place and slide in (PAUSE) …literally Hip Hop is constantly “On to The Next”…and I appreciate the process of its progress because while I may not relate to Soulja Boy or Baby Huey or any of these “little boy, please pull those tight ass pants off and get some that fit right” rappers, I’m sure my older cousins who came up on Tougher than Leather, Walking with a Panther and Eric B. for President, couldn’t fully embrace Wu-Tang’s Enter the 36 Chambers, Onyx’s BACDAFUCUP, nor ATCQ’s Midnight Marauders. But that didn’t mean that these contributions weren’t Hip Hop and it didn’t mean that they weren’t legitimate. It meant that they were/are a representation of the ongoing metamorphic state that is Hip Hop. I mean who would have thought that at one point folks were dissing Will Smith because he and DJ Jazzy Jeff were considered too soft and “bubble gum”. Now the most anticipated rapper (Drake) is both heralded for and criticized for making the comparison between himself and Will Smith in calling himself “The new version of Fresh”. The critical part because he hasn’t released anything and Will Smith is finally getting his props for being a rapper (long overdue) as well as an actor. I love Hip Hop in all of its changes. In all of its progress due to a wider audience via the World Wide Web, MTV, mix tape genre blends (Danger Mouse’s The Gray Album mixed my two favorite music sources..Jay-z and The Beetles…so Gangsta!) Auto tune or whatever. I embrace the understanding that here is a sect of music that I grew up on, that embraces and encompasses the music that my mother grew up on via sampling and more than likely will continue to grow and be the music that my kids grow up on…with a new twist to it. That’s hot, That’s change, that’s progress, that’s the Hip Hop I know! And let me leave you with this, Seattle. The only time we are without the “same” is when we are truly dead! Hip Hop changes constantly, which allows us to know for certain that it is truly alive, thriving and serving to embrace all that wish to embrace it!
Nice Post My Dude. I needed this break from work today!
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I’ll preface this statement by admitting I’m more of reggae cat than a hip hop cat, so I’m commenting as a casual listener as opposed to many of the die hards fans here today.
For a minute I didn’t think hip hop was dead, just in a coma. Over the years even though the majority of entertainers were not putting out the fire we’re used to, there was always one or two bright lights to keep you going. Personally, I’m a fan of tracks that detail some sort of misdemeanor or felony during the verse or on the hook. So while I still effs w/ BPIII, I miss the Jay the “won’t change for no paper cuz [I} been rich.” (I know, I know, buy his old albums…)
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Lmao….hahahaha….I remember when my cousin put me and Seattle onto Mr. Electronica in 2007…It was like the Matrix and picking the right pill to open our eyes…
Hip Hop is definitely starting to make a definite turn for the good. I’m starting to see the real light at the end of the tunnel and not the light of jewels, grills and diamond bracelets.
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