So what have you guys been watching lately?

[sabrage]

I hope for your sake that you stop saying that ignorant shit before you say it within arm's reach of someone who knows better.

[BoringSupreez]

.

[Luke]

^I'm sure it was just a momentary lapse of reason and you meant "hip hop", which barely exists anymore.

I'm on a sitcom spree. My new tv marathon watching includes a ton of Everybody Loves Raymond. That Patricia Heaton is a hot one. Not sure how she looks in person, but I wouldn't mind finding out.

[noiseredux]

^I'm sure it was just a momentary lapse of reason and you meant "hip hop", which barely exists anymore.

hip hop barely exists anymore?

[dsheinem]

there are so many levels of ignorance in this thread right now...

[Luke]

there are so many levels of ignorance in this thread right now...

Nah, seriously I think Patrica Heaton is cute.


Hip Hop isn't dead, I just hardly every hear it. Plenty of rap, very little hip hop. And the hip hop groups I do hear don't seem to taking off in the mainstream. I'm not hearing groups like doomtree being blasted from Lacs while I'm stuck in traffic.

But these days I unfortunately get my music from radio, so I'm sure I'm unaware of some popular hip hop groups that aren't getting air time.

But the popular names like Tyler the Creator, and even Kanye West...That's not hip hop. Chris Brown, Soulja Boy...Not hip hop.

[noiseredux]

Hip Hop isn't dead, I just hardly every hear it. Plenty of rap, very little hip hop. And the hip hop groups I do hear don't seem to taking off in the mainstream. I'm not hearing groups like doomtree being blasted from Lacs while I'm stuck in traffic.

oh I see. Because you don't here it when you're walking down the street, it barely exists?

But these days I unfortunately get my music from radio, so I'm sure I'm unaware of some popular hip hop groups that aren't getting air time.

ah, yes. That's a little more honest then. But honestly hip hop has almost always predominantly lived in an underground world where the fans need seek it out. Nowadays that's sites like datpiff hosting mixtapes, etc. I don't know you too well, Luke. But something tells me you're not checking datpiff on a weekly basis.

But the popular names like Tyler the Creator, and even Kanye West... not hip hop.

and now all credibility is lost and I'm not sure why I even bothered to respond to your post.

[Luke]

and now all credibility is lost and I'm not sure why I even bothered to respond to your post.

You have great taste in hip hop, but you sir have no authority to judge my hip hop credibility.

Tyler and Kanye live and breathe rap and creativity, not hip hop. As KRS-One said, "Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live". Hip Hop isn't about money and being an egomaniac; and you should know better. Now both aforementioned musicians are beyond incredible, but it's not about hip hop more than it is about themselves and chasing paper.

Hip hop doesn't have to be Kid N' Play style hokey, but there should always be some element of fun. It's a getaway from everyday bull shit, not an avenue to complain and whine or talk about how rich you are. Hip Hop is a celebration of having that one day off and living it to the fullest. Hip Hop is even early Will Smith, but yet better defined by earlier pioneers like Doug E Fresh, and almost perfected by Tribe. Hip Hop isn't about stabbing Bruno Mars and hanging yourself in a video, and never has been.

[noiseredux]

Stabbing Bruno Mars is pure fantasy world. It's not so far from "I Can Beat Mike Tyson," ...early Will Smith you say? Also, MC'ing was born in cyphers as battle rhymes. Being an ego maniac was the point. See: "I Got It Made," "Ain't No Half Stepping," etc for early examples of this.

Hanging yourself in a video is self-deprecation, but more importantly using your medium as self-expression ...which hip hop certainly is about.

The fact that you seem to write off Tyler and Kanye as writing all about money just proves that you haven't really been listening.

I also agree and disagree about the escapism. That is to say, I agree that escapism is important in hip hop, but it's not always fun. Sometimes escapism is a murder spree. Other times it's a big boat with chicks playing saxophone and expensive champagne (oh wait, that is fun... but I guess you only want the fun to not include money?) Often times the escapism is just the blurring of reality and what could have been.

[Luke]

Stabbing Bruno Mars is pure fantasy world. It's not so far from "I Can Beat Mike Tyson," ...early Will Smith you say? Also, MC'ing was born in cyphers as battle rhymes. Being an ego maniac was the point. See: "I Got It Made," "Ain't No Half Stepping," etc for early examples of this.

Hanging yourself in a video is self-deprecation, but more importantly using your medium as self-expression ...which hip hop certainly is about.

The fact that you seem to write off Tyler and Kanye as writing all about money just proves that you haven't really been listening.

Self expression is truly important in hip hop, self deprecation is also welcomed, but not in a negative light. "I wish I was a little bit Taller" wasn't dark, and no one was eating roaches. I LOVE Yonkers (play it so much my wife can no longer stand it) but it's basically Tyler just hating everything, then he kills himself. "I can beat Mike Tyson", I think we can both agree on, is much more uplifting (as is "Mama Said").

I'll I'm saying is that hip hop is positive and uplifting. And yes battles are a part of hip hop culture, but doesn't represent it. So where we stand is that you and I have a different upbringing in hip hop, and a different definition of what hip hop is.

Love hip hop, love rap, but they just aren't the same thing. Case in point, I wouldn't even classify Eminem as a hip hop artist. He's just probably the best mainstream rapper we'll see for decades, but he's not hip hop. There's also a certain cut off of swagger in hip hop, and Kanye has crossed it many of times. Being a racist homophobe is NOT hip hop, no homo. I don't need to listen to a full Kanye album to know he's not hip hop, he's a "jackass".

And I think we can both agree that rap doesn't equal hip hop and vice versa,

Big difference between:

This

and

That

But what your opinions on hip hop will be your choice.