This is the best quote I've seen in a long time. I think Marsalis is on-point here. And as I was reading, I thought about how dramatically different hip hop changed from the late 70s to the 80s; then the 80s to the 90s.....and during these first years of the New Millennium. I have every right to be offended - having participated as an "mcee" back in the day ..... when rhyming was "innocent" and the point was to get in a wise crack or a laugh at the expense of the one who dared to battle you. ... or to simply show of your quick-witted skills over a 'hard' beat...

Thanks for posting this interview...I'd like to see it in its entirety - would you please post the link to its source? :rolleyes:

Another Hip Hopper? :) Tell me: What's in your CD Cartridge right now?

You're absolutely right.... and New Yorkers, although appreciative of the Sugar Hill Gang, often clowned them because the SHG was from New Jersey... and those in the Bronx (NY) felt that the SHG was only able to put on vinyl what the pioneering Bronx and uptown rappers had already been doing for years.....

Be that as it may, in the end we were just happy to hear our art form on the radio station... No one was looking to be paid big money - the fame from being played was enough.

Good point, Chaos.

If so, who would be responsible? The rapper? Or the industry machine?

Wheeeeeeeeeew girl! :D

*Five Mics and a Thumbs Up For This One!!!*

LOL! :D Thanks MzDocta.

I agree, the messages were delivered more carefully. But then again, I'm all grown up now and don't always understand what the gangster rappers are referring to in their songs. Like somewhere in another thread, one of us didn't know what 'Ds' were in a song. My question is this: As far as the negativity in rap music today, is it the fault of the rappers, music industry, etc., or is it really a reflection of what is going on in the streets? The reason I ask this is because like I said, I don't understand some references, but these younger kids sure do, and just like Ms Docta Kay said, when we were young, we didn't understand. So, is that a reflection of how the younger generation is different/growing up too fast, etc., or are lyrics really that much worse? Or maybe a little bit of both?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/e...t/16820808.htm

This will be there for a limited time (so the website says)

Sometimes I think it is a little of both..Back in the day when they were talking about 'killin' it was mainly killin on the mike and that was it. Your ego was crushed and you picked it up, went home and came up with a new rhyme to battle them with next week and regain your title or claim a new one. Today they mean it as in taking your life and meaning exactly that. Sometimes I wonder if the whole thing of what begat what is the million dollar question. There was always violence on the streets but no one ever talked about it the way rap did. Violence and Sex is all around the children today & in some instances there is nothing to balance it out so it is all one sided. Those that remember back in the day we had different genres (battle rap, conscious rap, fun rap and gangster rap) going on at the same time or at least overlapping. Today you don't have those choices as prevalent and popular as they were in the past and what sells is the violent, sexual rap.

It seems right when gangsta rap took off, all the older indie labels that had the other types of rap got bought out by the bigger labels (Big Beat, Sleeping Bag, Rawkus et.al) So there is the gap in the rap industry because all the big boys want to make $$$. In turn that's what the audience gravitates to. Since everybody and their momma has a record label nowadays it would be nice to see some alternate forms of rap emerge again.

But it all reminds me of a quote from the movie Brown Sugar; "Here at Millenium Records we keep it profitable, if you want to keep it real go to Rawkus" .

And that's the double truth Ruth!!

Uhmmm soror.... very thought-provoking.

I think for the most part, the older generations were always left in the dark about the street vernacular or the terminology of that day. I was born in 1971, so my teenage years were the 80s. We'd say stuff like, "Def", and "Fresh", and my moms would always ask: What does that mean?? :confused: But here's the thing.... you always had two areas of hip hop. You had the UNDERGROUND, that wasn't accepted, endorsed, or ever heard by the mainstream .... and obviously, the MAINSTREAM, that was played on the radio, and some times, managed to cross over. [Today, mainstream isn't defined by crossing over, because all cultures embrace hip hop - only being played on the radio makes it mainstream]. In those days, the FCC would go crazy if certain things were allowed over the airwaves. However, with the relaxing of "rules", and the censorship crusade led by Luke, songs we would've NEVER heard on the radio (back then) and was relegated solely to the Underground, made their way over to the mainstream.....

On the other hand, you tackled another interested point that I had to seriously ponder. ..if you're not a product of the streets, you may not always have a clue about what's going on... I don't know if that's ALWAYS the case... I was raised in suburbia....however, we always knew and understood what was going on in the music of our day. Maybe that's because back in our day, there weren't REAL gang members in the game... who had their own code and vernacular. Now don't get it confused with Gangsta Rap - not all who are involved in gangsta rap are REALLY in gangs.......Again...when I speak of back in the day, I'm speaking about New York.....

I would really like to know what others think...

I actually have Mary J. in my car at the moment, but I bought LL Cool J for the song with J.Lo because of the use of the sample from "Looking for the Perfect Beat". So when I need a little pick me up I play that track.
When I have a message on my phone the song it plays is "Scorpio"-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. I can I keep my "Hip-Hopper" pass?;)

Thank you so much for posting...I circulated the link to everyone I know! ;)

I was a little shaky when you said J.Lo....but when you mentioned LL....and went all the way back to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, I had to give you the All Time Platinum Pass..... :D

*Handing the Pass to the Soror on my left*

So what did you all decide?

<---rockin my Nefertiti earrings and hair stacks. Feeling "funky fresh, dressed to impress, ready to party...."

Go 'head girl... you went 1987/1988 on me with that one! LOL

Let's see...... I'm going to go 1985 on you: I'm rocking my braids, my Door-Knocker earrings and gold rope chains.... Lee Jeans with the Name Belt buckle that says, "Lady LaShawn".... hoody sweater, Gucci bag...and B-girl stance on you.... I'm about ready to pop-lock, then break into a windmill.......