Hip Hop Ain't Dead Yet!

When it comes to rap music and the hip hop culture, the question of dead or alive sparks an all too familiar conversation these days.  Music evolves.  Music transcends. But what happens when music is just taken away from its origins?  When it is systematically stolen and turned on its head.  Going from lyrical genius and revolutionary stances to outright misogyny and violent mumble rap.  

Luckily, the hip-hop game has not completely died - at least not yet.  It's very hard to not be judgmental, to not "blame the youth",  but we can't allow every artistic achievement to just be hijacked, distorted, watered down and then repackaged and sold back to the originators.  How ludicrous is that?  Might sound ridiculous, but it is more than a notion. 

Thankfully, in a matter of weeks we saw the release of albums from three legendary icons in the rap industry:  Hip hop Ain't Dead Yet!   By the way, Black America Again is a sigh of relief, perhaps a moment of redemption for Common.  After his "Let's Forget About the Past" comment, he appeared to be falling fast!  I digress.
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- peace