[Opinion] Hip Hop: State of The Union
Every so often we have all have to step back, and evaluate where we are as a society. Which is why the United States President happens to give his annual State of The Union Address in the first month of every year. It’s a time to not only reflect on the past year, but also to criticize and make revisions on efforts that could have been executed better.
Though maybe not always political in nature, these evaluations are crucial to evolving the way we perceive things. With that said then it should be no surprise that Hip Hop is certainly not exempt from such a process. The music that defines a culture should be held accountable just as much as anything else we value of relevance in this world, especially considering the influence of Hip Hop is universal.
Hip Hop has come tenfold. Rappers that have created some of the best diss tracks aimed at each other have buried hatchets and worked together. We have artists who not only have shown their support towards the President of the United States, but we have a President who embraces the culture. Think about that that for second.
Don’t even get into the music aspect of rap. You see there is a huge quantity of rap being produced from all over, and a large amount of it contrary to popular belief, has been very diverse and filled with top quality. There’s a reason why mix tape release dates are just as major as albums these days.
Hip Hop is at a rather interesting time in it’s life span. Though it has never been a stranger to trends and waves, in 2012 it’s become quite impossible to distinguish anyone sound from it. We’ve seen the dominance of the gangster rap era, just as some of us cringed when the crunk movement of the south was in full effect. Even as Kanye West arguably launched the current day “cool to be you” movement that every rapper has embraced, its still quite an odd scene.
You see those that troll through the blog sites and complain of a lack of real every chance they get have proven to be the most narrow of listeners to ever call themselves fans of the culture. As of 2012, there is nothing that anyone with as much as a dial up internet connection can complain about the music. There is literally something for everyone these days.
Looking for something to get you ready for a night of debauchery? 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka got you covered. Want to elevate your mind in more ways than one? Refer to Curren$y and Wiz. Tired of the oppression? Talib still going strong. Lyrical wizadry at its best? Get your fix of Skyzoo. Maybe you just want to save the world on Thursday, and hit the strip club on Friday? J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar have something for that. Come on now, we all have that one friend who refuses to listen to anything but Young Jeezy.
