Does Hip Hop Make You Stupid?

Definately!

O.K., so the broad generalisation that genre makes you stupid is incorrect, but it does ask the question what is Hip hop doing to modern culture?

In the same way as any that seems to be popular these days, a massive band wagon has arisen, usually in the name of profit. All things popular are flogged to the very last penny and in doing so turn what was usually a fresh, interesting idea into the mundane and repetitive.

The "Hip hop makes you stupid" quote came about because of the plethora of listeners who do not question any of the lyrics, artists or motives of the music, and instead take the culture at it's face value, without realising that they are not actually being subjected to any culture at all, simply what is believed will sell.

If you were to ask any fan of 50 Cent, Eminimem, Kanye West etc, who Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc or Afrika Bambaataa I am guessing you would be met with responses ranging from non-comprehesion through to derision. the for corners of Hip hop? When the term was first used and the reason? I doubt that any of this easily to attain knowledge has ever been pondered by afore mentioned fans. It is not necessary to question, innovate or develop with mass-marketed "culture". It seems it would be better to follow blindly like a sheep, ensuring you know only what your peers now.

Eminem himself has fallen into the trap of music for money's sake. When he first appeared on the scene, he was without doubt a breath of fresh air, blowing new ideas into an already tattered and tired genre. This has proven to slowly dwindled and his latest album, although still has very clever lyrics has become victim of the name-dropping, my gun is bigger, "I am" ilk.

There is still a lot of really good Hip hop music being produced, but I doubt that it will ever attain the status and sales that P Diddy and company do. Perhaps it is better that way. Those that truly want to listen to music and discover something a little special, have to put the time and effort to find it. It's just annoying that big business continues to ram what they feel we should be listening to via T.V., radio and film down our throats. Long live independent music and the bedroom producer.

And a final thought, which had me giggling. A friend who I used to live with was relaxing outside in the sun, with some Jazz playing. A girl from the flat below him asked "What's this?"

My friend replied "It's Jazz".
Her inane response was "Oh, I don't like this, I only like Black Music".

Not surprisingly her favourite artist was.....Eminem.

Well, as Snoop Dogg said: "The game is to be sold, not to be told". He was (and is) fully aware that he's a packaged product. I believe that Dr. Dre at one point said that he freely admits he writes music and releases albums just to make money.

But that's just one type of hip hop. I fully believe that in a few years' time, that type of crazy-gangsta-bling-shinyrims-bitches-hos type of hip hop will fall out of favor. Eventually it will be regarded in the same vein as big-hair glam metal. It was cool (for some people) for a while, but eventually everyone will see it for the ridiculous farce that it is. And the real hip hop will remain.