Do you feel like Hip Hop is about to see a resurgence in socially aware music?

[Like Water]

I truly hope so. I think Lupe is about to do something amazing with his upcoming album. I'd like to see Killer Mike get some more shine. Common dropped a solid album last year. CyHi had a black power tape that was critically acclaimed. The thing that people fail to realize is most hip-hop heads aren't saying that there's something wrong with your Bobby Shmurdas, Migos, Rick Ross type rappers. There's a lane for that. Most of us are upset because there's a lack of balance with the game presently. It's like a 95/5 ratio of turn up to socially conscious music in the hip-hop genre as far as the mainstream is concerned.

That shit is unacceptable. We at least need 60/40 to right the ship again. And black people aren't stupid. Even the ones that listen to mindless music all day long aren't buying albums. They know that shit is trash. They're not gonna waste their dough on a product with 14 songs when they only care about maybe three of them. If you push a product that is a better representation of people, black and brown specifically, you'll see a better return on your investment. Not only that, but it'll force artists to be more cognizant of what they're putting their music.

The hip-hop genre is filled with older, casual fans who don't use the Internet to find new talent, so to them the genre is dead/dying. If music with a message is pushed to the forefront again, instead of being an afterthought, they'll be more than willing to open their wallets.

 

[Bully_Pulpit]

Yeah maybe but we gonna have to support it too when it does drop although I have no faith that it would be mainstream

 

[sr_the_freshman]

What my nigga Like Water.

White people who were just in it for the turn up are gonna be mad as shit.

Edit: Another point. Peep how album sales are shifting. Apparently, we live in an age where J. Cole album sales can damn near double Nicki Minaj album sales, first week.

Cole is damn near 400k out the gate. Pink Print is only looking at 200k if that allhiphop article is to be believed.

 

[Built 4 cuban linx]

I truly hope so. I think Lupe is about to do something amazing with his upcoming album. I'd like to see Killer Mike get some more shine. Common dropped a solid album last year. CyHi had a black power tape that was critically acclaimed. The thing that people fail to realize is most hip-hop heads aren't saying that there's something wrong with your Bobby Shmurdas, Migos, Rick Ross type rappers. There's a lane for that. Most of us are upset because there's a lack of balance with the game presently. It's like a 95/5 ratio of turn up to socially conscious music in the hip-hop genre as far as the mainstream is concerned.

That shit is unacceptable. We at least need 60/40 to right the ship again. And black people aren't stupid. Even the ones that listen to mindless music all day long aren't buying albums. They know that shit is trash. They're not gonna waste their dough on a product with 14 songs when they only care about maybe three of them. If you push a product that is a better representation of people, black and brown specifically, you'll see a better return on your investment. Not only that, but it'll force artists to be more cognizant of what they're putting their music.

The hip-hop genre is filled with older, casual fans who don't use the Internet to find new talent, so to them the genre is dead/dying. If music with a message is pushed to the forefront again, instead of being an afterthought, they'll be more than willing to open their wallets.

post of the year

 

[L.O.S.T.]

What my nigga Like Water.

White people who were just in it for the turn up are gonna be mad as shit.

Nothing wrong with turn up music. It just seems that's the majority of music that's played. I hope thaws artists bring a little more balance to the force

 

[sr_the_freshman]

What my nigga Like Water.

White people who were just in it for the turn up are gonna be mad as shit.

Nothing wrong with turn up music. It just seems that's the majority of music that's played. I hope thaws artists bring a little more balance to the force

I agree, I'm just saying we've also assimilated a bullshit demographic of fans who don't have the culture's best interest in mind, and are only using our music as a conduit for party and bullshit all the time.

If OP trend is to be believed, then the balance may be coming back, and people who were only listening for the buffoonery will fall back.

Nothing wrong with a little turn up. It's the people that it attracts that can be problematic for the game as a whole.

 

[Built 4 cuban linx]

What my nigga Like Water.

White people who were just in it for the turn up are gonna be mad as shit.

Edit: Another point. Peep how album sales are shifting. Apparently, we live in an age where J. Cole album sales can damn near double Nicki Minaj album sales, first week.

Cole is damn near 400k out the gate. Pink Print is only looking at 200k if that allhiphop article is to be believed.

Crazy thing about that, Every white person I know thats into hip hop are now just underground heads. they asking the same questions we are, "wheres the social/political songs in the mainstream like there was before. I think thats a misconception sometimes that, white fans just like that commerical/club stuff. The real hip hop fans not the casual ones

 

[Ghost313]

There has always been Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Killer Mike,Banner,Talib, Lupe speaking on these issues, just not widely known. With recent events, I believe a lot of artists and consumers are more selective and aware.

 

[L.O.S.T.]

There has always been Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Killer Mike,Banner,Talib, Lupe speaking on these issues, just not widely known. With recent events, I believe a lot of artists and consumers are more selective and aware.

I know they exist but when is the last time one of those artists actually sold any albums or got mainstream attention?

I manage a bunch of early to mid 20 year olds and they are excited about these these projects. First time I've seen this from them.

 

[Ghost313]

There has always been Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Killer Mike,Banner,Talib, Lupe speaking on these issues, just not widely known. With recent events, I believe a lot of artists and consumers are more selective and aware.

I know they exist but when is the last time one of those artists actually sold any albums or got mainstream attention?

I manage a bunch of early to mid 20 year olds and they are excited about these these projects. First time I've seen this from them.

Common is in the mainstream light often. He even performed at the White House. But I see what you are saying overall. Once upon a time there was NWA and Public Enemy leading the mainstream with socially aware music. I do believe that Kendrick is inspiring new and older artists to have a gut check.

 

[manofmorehouse]

I hope so. My fear is that there has been a generation of "hiphop" fans that grew up to snap music and ringtone trends. Will they be receptive enough to put down 2 Chainz for a minute to pick up something with real social commentary? Also I think with the recent events unfolding in the world, you're going to see a shift in the demographics of people that listen to rap/hip hop. Becky and Chad that usually only listened to rap to turn up are backing away. Being a nigga seems to be out of fashion currently

 

[9TRAY]

Socially aware/conscious music has always been in Hip-Hop, it's on the consumers to purchase that music, not download, stream, etc.

 

[The_Man]

I hope so, the evil forces tried to mess up the good music and fuck up our brains, but the forces of good can never be stopped, the light will always shine.

 

[BobOblah]

I truly hope so. I think Lupe is about to do something amazing with his upcoming album. I'd like to see Killer Mike get some more shine. Common dropped a solid album last year. CyHi had a black power tape that was critically acclaimed. The thing that people fail to realize is most hip-hop heads aren't saying that there's something wrong with your Bobby Shmurdas, Migos, Rick Ross type rappers. There's a lane for that. Most of us are upset because there's a lack of balance with the game presently. It's like a 95/5 ratio of turn up to socially conscious music in the hip-hop genre as far as the mainstream is concerned.

That shit is unacceptable. We at least need 60/40 to right the ship again. And black people aren't stupid. Even the ones that listen to mindless music all day long aren't buying albums. They know that shit is trash. They're not gonna waste their dough on a product with 14 songs when they only care about maybe three of them. If you push a product that is a better representation of people, black and brown specifically, you'll see a better return on your investment. Not only that, but it'll force artists to be more cognizant of what they're putting their music.

The hip-hop genre is filled with older, casual fans who don't use the Internet to find new talent, so to them the genre is dead/dying. If music with a message is pushed to the forefront again, instead of being an afterthought, they'll be more than willing to open their wallets.

This is true for me at least. I always cop albums by artists that I think make meaningful music that I want to see win.

I enjoy some ignorant shit to bang in the whip too, but usually I'm not at all compelled to support it with my wallet. kendrick, Krit, Cole, The Roots etc are all auto cop. Rick Ross is auto download.

 

[bless the child]

I think so. The fact that music isn't selling seems to be giving artist far more create control over their albums than in years past. Just having a big single isn't enough anymore.

 

[DOPEdweebz]

Its already out there. It all depends if you care to check it out on your own despite the non hype behind it.

 

[D0wn]

I think the thread starter means mainstream.

Guys like Kendrick , J.Cole, N Wale is out selling rappers rapping about nothing. No pun intended.

Krizzle isnt huge yet he has a solid fan base, that the average rapper rapping about nothing dont have.

The game is coming into full circles and i love it.

 

[StoneColdMikey]

What is played on the radio is not what selling in 2014. People are still buying good music no matter if it's ignorance that's on the radio more

 

[playmaker88]

No

 

[LUClEN]

In the mainstream yes

There was never a shortage though

most of it was just kept out of the media

but at present there is definitely a growing popularity of social discourse in hip hop, probably because of all the activism taking place as of late

It's more marketable right now

I've read that Generation Z (The 14-15 years olds and younger right now) are going to be a lot more socially conscious than generation Y and be a lot more involved in their communities and various charity type causes

If this is true it won't surprise me that this becomes the norm