As a teenager in the 1990’s, we listened to many iconic rappers and hip hop artists. 2Pac, Nas, Public Enemy, Notorious BIG, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, A Tribe Called Quest, Ghost Face, Jay-Z, Wu Tang Clan, LL Cool J…the list goes on and on. These guys were great, both with beats they provided us, and the lyrics that they used. The lyrics had power, meaning, and a message. It saddens me that, in my opinion, hip hop is dying. No longer are lyrics powerful. No longer are beats hard or original. Instead we have a bunch of trash running around praying on the musical taste of 15 year old females who wouldn’t know good music if it hit them upside the head while they were watching the latest episode of Gossip Girl. Yes, boys and girls, Lil' Wayne is trash.
Synthesized voice? Terrible lyrics? 15 year old females like it? Guilty on all counts.
This is a video of a musician called “Bangs”. I sincerely hope it is a joke, and if it is not, he may be the worst rapper alive. Please note the POSTERS in the background, and the insanely cheesy lyrics (he makes a reference to taking a shower and putting on….perfume?). Combine these things with a fake thug image, a weak beat, and you have yourself a terrible, terrible song. I hope you laugh as hard as we did.
Bangs....a man that enjoys movies, popcorn, and a nice squirt of perfume.
Recently, our resident musical guru, and Zune playlist extraordinaire, Brian Matthews, made a playlist called “Out School Rap.” This should remind you of what Hip Hop IS, and what it SHOULD BE all about. It became one of the most popular playlists to ever be played in the gym, and although the lyrics are not always the cleanest, they get everybody pumped up. We even had one kid develop an unhealthy obsession for KRS-One’s Step Into a World, which he HAD to have playing whenever he was benching. Rumor has it that he know is listening to it before tests at school, school dances, and all other major events in his life.
If you need a great playlist, try Brian’s ”Old School Rap” (songs on the left, artists on the right):
Sure Shot, Beastie Boys
Work, Gang Starr
Bring Tha Noiz, Public Enemy
Motivators, A Tribe Called Quest
Chief Rocka, Lords of The Underground
Gangsta Nation, Westside Connection
Protect Ya Neck, Wu Tang Clan
Breaker, Break, GZA/Genius
Da Joint, EPMD
Know The Ledge, Rakim
Step Into A World, KRS-One
Knockin N****z’ Off, Das EFX
Shootouts, Nas
La Schmoove, Fu-Schnickens
Insane In The Brain, Cypress Hill
Jump Around, House of Pain
Rasassination, Ras Kass
Ital, The Roots
ATLiens, Outkast
The Coming, Goodie Mob
The Return, Brand Nubian
O Le Le, Ozomatli
Is Hip Hop dying? Is Old School all we have left? Post away!
