The 90's = GREATEST ERA IN HIP-HOP: ELITIST THINKING OR TRUTH?

[The Lonious Monk]

Music nowadays sucks. I don't really see how anyone could argue that it's better. It's so formulaic, both rap and R&B. Everyone does the same thing and sounds the same. It's not that the kind of cheesy music made today wasn't made in the 90s too. It was, but there was also a lot of diversity and balance. You weren't limited to listening to the cheesy stuff.

 

[Bodhi]

I think the 90s was the best era because there was more variety

 

[illogics]

Music nowadays sucks. I don't really see how anyone could argue that it's better. It's so formulaic, both rap and R&B. Everyone does the same thing and sounds the same. It's not that the kind of cheesy music made today wasn't made in the 90s too. It was, but there was also a lot of diversity and balance. You weren't limited to listening to the cheesy stuff.

And even the music niggas deemed as cheesy during that time still showcased an artists skills. Let's talk about the "Shiny suit era". Songs like All about the Benjamins and Mo' Money Mo' problems were sooo Hip-Hop.

 

[SoulRattler of Venom]

90's was the best era. No nostalgia at all. Just pure fact. Up until the 2000's, Hip Hop was getting better and better because people were perfecting the craft. But somewhere along the line, people stopped taking the culture seriously.

 

[illogics]

90's was the best era. No nostalgia at all. Just pure fact. Up until the 2000's, Hip Hop was getting better and better because people were perfecting the craft. But somewhere along the line, people stopped taking the culture seriously.

I think it's just that the people who took the culture seriously voices got smaller and smaller. The mainstream is so out of touch of what niggas wanna listen to it's crazy. All they play is party music for the most part and it doesn't take a high amount of skill to make bitches shake they ass. We're at a point now where shit is all single driven. Sales reflect this, esp when more people bought your ringtone than your album. Shit is crazy.

 

[a_list]

its was the best...improved from the 80's and peaked...it was a crime to sound alike for a minute in the 90's but late 90's on up its cool to be a carbon copy of the next rapper and get respect...i'd put ice ice baby and hammer up against some of this nonsense going on now yo its crazy...but yea as far as creativity the 90's cant be touched

 

[sutterkane]

It aint just hip hop, its all forms of music these days..........Just look at rock, how you gonna go from Nirvane and Nine inch nails to fall out boy and Chemical romance......Music in general been stagnant for about the last 10 years

 

[willhustle]

90's was the best era. No nostalgia at all. Just pure fact. Up until the 2000's, Hip Hop was getting better and better because people were perfecting the craft. But somewhere along the line, people stopped taking the culture seriously.

Agreed but, (even though this is a cheap example) I think the deaths of Pac & BIG played a factor in the slow decline in hip hop as it left a big void in the game and allow folks to start doing whatever they wanted with the culture and this shit started around '99 with all the bling bling songs and party like music videos.

 

[SoulRattler of Venom]

Am I the only one that thinks that "Laffy Taffy" is where Hip Hop went downhill? Like at that point, so-called rappers and so-called producers realized that they didn't have to possess any skill to blow up. And record labels realized that the general audience would accept anything catchy even if it was dumbed down garbage. "Laffy Taffy" was the music industry getting away with artistic murder.

 

[illogics]

Agreed but, (even though this is a cheap example) I think the deaths of Pac & BIG played a factor in the slow decline in hip hop as it left a big void in the game and allow folks to start doing whatever they wanted with the culture and this shit started around '99 with all the bling bling songs and party like music videos.

I hate that argument with a passion. It never made ANY sense to me.

 

[willhustle]

Honestly I think it's proven fact...well I won't say proven but it is a fact that 90's music both R&B and Hip-Hop seems to be more respected and most of the stuff that was put out was timeless classics and the music industry was at it's peak in sales. I really don't understand why & how everything just slowly fell apart like it did in the 2000's from the quality in music from people not even wanting to buy the CD's anymore (yeah I know internet is the new thing)

 

[SoulRattler of Venom]

Agreed but, (even though this is a cheap example) I think the deaths of Pac & BIG played a factor in the slow decline in hip hop as it left a big void in the game and allow folks to start doing whatever they wanted with the culture and this shit started around '99 with all the bling bling songs and party like music videos.

I see what mean but Big and Pac made those types of songs too. The difference was that there was balance between topics, talent, production, and authenticity. People started putting EVERYBODY in boxes from Nas to Snoop... like they could only talk about certain things.

 

[willhustle]

I hate that argument with a passion. It never made ANY sense to me.

well I did say it was a cheap example but, I also believe that it was a factor to a degree give or take.

 

[willhustle]

I see what mean but Big and Pac made those types of songs too. The difference was that there was balance between topics, talent, production, and authenticity. People started putting EVERYBODY in boxes from Nas to Snoop... like they could only talk about certain things.

Yeah your right they did but the key word in all of that was BALANCE!!! that's the problem with hip-hop now it lacks balance and substance and when you got guys like Young Money, Gucci etc., among the popular kats rapping you can forget about it b/c all that is gone out the window.

 

[illogics]

It's like, When I look back at artists I came up on I'm gonna be lookin back on Biggie, Jay, Nas, Busta (ELE), Wutang, Mobb Deep etc. When the current generation looks back on what they came up on it's gonna be who? Lil Wayne, TI....and who else? So far in the 2000's I only have Kanye going down as a Legend. I know I gotta be leaving some people out. I feel like the new generation has been cheated or some shit. Comin up on all this image-driven watered down bullshit.

 

[willhustle]

It's like, When I look back at artists I came up on I'm gonna be lookin back on Biggie, Jay, Nas, Busta (ELE), Wutang, Mobb Deep etc. When the current generation looks back on what they came up on it's gonna be who? Lil Wayne, TI....and who else? So far in the 2000's I only have Kanye going down as a Legend. I know I gotta be leaving some people out. I feel like the new generation has been cheated or some shit. Comin up on all this image-driven watered down bullshit.

Yup that's exactly what it is this young generation is basically cheated out of quality music

 

[illogics]

Yup that's exactly what it is this young generation is basically cheated out of quality music

Well then shit, I'm glad I came up in the era where shit was tight.

 

[Pretty Fred]

the 90's will always be remembered as the best time in hip-hop. I feel like 2006 was the end.

 

[Question Authority]

There's just as much good music now as there was in the 90's.

Like with any genre, you just gotta get off your lazy asses and look for it.

 

[Kwan Dai]

I like the 80's and 90's equally. In fact the 80's may have been better then the 90's in that. All of the elements were getting shine. DJ's were popping, BBoying was still heavy, Graph was getting it's props and the Music began to take shape. Also the LIVE PERFORMANCE was still a must. The 90's were special only for the MUSIC, advancements in production, and recording contracts but the other elements began to disappear. DJ's were replaced by Producers, BBoying and Back Dancers were replaced by Video Hoes, Graph was basically abandoned all together and all that remained was the MC.