artist

What Does Hip-Hop Need Now?

Posted on by raphiphopevolution

So, what is it that hip-hop needs now? There are a few things actually. Firstly, the people- me, you and everyone else; it’s up to us to stand up and say what we want from hip-hop! If we don’t want this pathetic mumble rap and other top 40 garbage everywhere, then we need to do something about it, because if we don’t, then that’s all we’re ever going to get. We need to stop listening to this music, stop promoting it, stop sharing it; Just ignore it altogether. If we don’t give it the publicity that it needs to be successful then it will hopefully start to die down. It comes back to we need to stop making stupid people famous for stupid things!

Even though we can’t control what gets put out there on the radio, if we stop listening to and sharing what is out there then we can try to change what the radio stations and music channels are playing for us. They base what they are playing on popularity and what is going to bring in the biggest audience and thus make them the most money. Therefore, if we ‘the people’ stop tuning in for this crap then maybe things can start to change.

We also have to try and educate our friends on the topic, because some people are unaware the effect they can have when every individual’s behaviour is added together. Others are just unaware of what hip-hop really is meant to be, so we need to show them what it truly is! We need to change people’s perceptions of hip-hop and change how they approach it too. We need to look elsewhere to find our music idols, because the ones that we are seeing on the radio and music channels are generally not the ones we should be idolising.

Secondly we also need the real artists to shine again! But they can’t do this without our help, which it why if we don’t change then there’s no hope for the real musicians out there. We can keep listening to our old school 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s hip-hop because for us old school hip-hop heads, it will never get old. However, this won’t change what is happening to the next generation of music and the next generation of listeners. But, there are actually still artists out there making music that are not conforming to the status quo. This is who we should be looking for, listening to, requesting, streaming and sharing to try and help make real artists famous once again.

If you are looking for these real artists who are putting out new music amongst today’s garbage I would start with these three: J Cole (if that is not obvious enough by one of my previous posts), Kendrick Lamar, and last but definitely not least Lupe Fiasco! All of these three speak on real issues, aren’t afraid to speak the truth and call out what is wrong with society. They are a testament to old school hip-hop, thus if you want real, then start here; but if you want happy, fun and catchy songs then just turn on your radio like all the other sheep.

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Posted on by raphiphopevolution

After the past few weeks talking about rap beefs and everyone trying to take each other down, I thought maybe its time to take it back to what hip-hop was originally about, which is the words that are written and spoken. Hip-hop is not just music, which it what many people think, its actually starts with the lyrics and poetry behind it!

When thinking about this, the first person that comes to mind here is Tupac. Yes, the one and only! Many of you may be unaware that in his time Tupac didn’t just write rap lyrics, but also a lot of poetry. After his death, there was a book released ‘The Rose that grew from Concrete’; which is a book complied of all the original poems he has written, and it’s even in his own handwriting. Many years ago, when I was first getting into hip-hop, I had a close family member buy the book for me, which helped to show and teach me where music was actually coming from. In reading the book, you can see his heart and honest emotions; its so real being written in his own writing because you can really feel his happiness, sadness, pain and anger.

This is the poem ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ which would likely be his most well-known poem and what the book is named after.

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete

Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned 2 walk without having feet

Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams it learned 2 breathe fresh air

Long live the rose that grew from concrete, when no one else even cared!

However, here is one of my favourite ones that he wrote called ‘And 2morro’. It really spoke to me when I was younger, and still does today. It’s one of those poems that just sticks in your head if you know what I mean? After not hearing it for years I could still remember every word and how I felt reading it.

Today is filled with anger

Fuelled with hidden hate

Scared of being outcast

Afraid of common fate

Today is built on tragedies

which no one wants 2 face

Nightmares 2 humanities

and morally disgraced

Tonight is filled with rage

Violence in the air

Children bred with ruthlessness

Because no one at home cares

Tonight I lay my head down

But the pressure never stops

gnawing at my sanity

content when I am dropped

But 2morrow I c change

A chance 2 build anew

Built on spirit, intent of heart

and ideals based on truth

And 2morrow I wake with second wind

And strong because of pride

2 know I fought with all my heart 2 keep my dream alive

There’s one last poem I thought I should share called ‘ Sometimes I Cry’, its rather sad but very true in today’s world, even though it wasn’t written for today’s reality, it appears some things don’t change even after 20 plus years.

Sometimes when I’m alone

I cry because I’m on my own

The tears I cry R bitter and warm

They flow with life but take no form

I cry because my heart is torn

and I find it difficult 2 carry on

If I had an ear 2 confide in

I would cry among my treasured friends

But who do u know that stops that long

To help another carry on

The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by

than 2 stop and c what makes u cry

It’s painful and sad and sometimes I cry

and no one cares about why.

So, after reading the last three poems, I hope I have opened up your mind to the words, feelings and emotions behind what real musicians write. This shows just how real Tupac was, he wrote about life, and the truth; whether it was good, bad or ugly. The problem was back then that a lot of people didn’t want to hear the truth which is why hip-hop faced such an upward battle back in the 80’s and 90’s. However, after reading this I hope it will make some people take a second look at others rather than just judging people based on what they look like. Tupac was more than a rapper, he was a real artist.  He was something rare that I don’t know if we will ever see again.

Here’s what the book looks like for any of you who are interested:

 

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