Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am didn’t hold back his views on today’s Hip-Hop scene, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
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During the candid chat, which centered on music and technology, the hitmaker revealed he didn’t hold today’s in Hip-Hop in the same regard as efforts from yesteryear.
He stated that “everybody could do it” and that “it doesn’t take much f*cking skill right now to make Hip-Hop. It’s become the lowest-hanging fruit.”
Elaborating, he added:
“It’s no longer about Rakim-level, Nas-level, not the deep, metaphorical simile sh*t. Out of respect for the Nas’ of the world, let’s not call it Hip-Hop.”
Perhaps Will’s frustration is another reason why his group have returned to their original Hip-Hop sound with the recently released LP ‘Masters Of The Sun.’
More critically praised than a commercial success, the sentiment of being jarred by today’s rap is shared by bandmate Taboo. On jazzy jam ‘New Wave,’ he calls out mumble rappers with the lyrics:
What the f*ck they be rhymin’ ’bout these days/They be mumblin’ like “What the f*ck did he say?” /So please speak clear and enunciate/Don’t be all up in my ear and irritate.”
**************
Even with artists such as J.Cole, Nas and The Peas themselves, there does seems to be a lack of conscious rap in the industry at the moment. Indeed, while it’s not imperative for all acts to skew introspective or socially reflective, it seems that many a Hip-Hop artist is selling more of their imagery and backstory than lyrical content which is of course what the genre was originally known and appreciated for. A little balance won’t hurt no one.
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I disagree. Music is about evolution and change! The last time conscious hip-hop music was mainstream was in the 90s (aka 20 years ago)! Since then hip-hop has been about partying, clubbing, strip clubs, and h0eing. ATL was the biggest hip-hop scene from 2000 to 2010 and still is the biggest hip-hop scene followed by NYC! That means southern raps and NYC raps about partying is mainstream hip-hop.
Well he ain’t never lie lol
how much skill did it take to say “my humps my humps”?
You sound dumb as f***. Fergie is not a rapper. She is the singer of the group lmao dummy
He’s absolutely right. No skills, no brains, the reasons why trash “rappers” like Travis Scott and Cardi B were able to become stars, because they both would have been laughed right off the planet if they tried to become rappers back in the 90s when talent was required.
You are mindless if you think Travis Scott is a trash rapper.
My thing is, y’all realize there are different style of rapping right?
@Meme a rapper who relies on auto tune (computers) to create their entire sound isn’t exactly “quality” rap. It’s trendy, easily replicated rap.
Yup…and cardib should never rap especially on bet
He does have a point. Not only rap but the entire music industry.
When artist attempt to make meaningful music, no one buys it and it’s labeled a flop regardless of quality.
Maybe the lack of quality should determine what we lable “flops” regardless of sales and the climate might change??♂️
IDK lol
Well I see no lies told hip hop has evolve into a joke minus the few who are trying to keep it alive J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Gunna and very few others
“i wanna scream
and shout
and let it all out
and scream
and shout
and let it out”
I think in the past, the quantity of good music available always outweighed the bad…the biggest artists became that off of their talent, not how many likes they get on the gram.
Didn’t read a LIE!! Everything is damn repetitive and that’s all!!
I don’t even think it’s about being deep. There has always been a place for different styles of rap. The point is that all that seems to get promo these days is the most basic, talentless crap. Hell, even these basic ass adult contemporary lookin White artists are out here trying to do trap beats.
Thats rich coming from someone who’s one of the most bubble-gum-hip-pop rappers to grace this planet ?♂️
I like this song. I can totally bump this on the reg.
Unfortunately BEP helped to usher in this current generation of rappers. I don’t remember him complaining when they sold their original sound out to get some #1 hits.
Any who their new album has some bangers on there. Been rockin with BEP since “Fallin’ Up” on cassette tape!!
HE has made some of the most meaningless songs of the past decade such as “Scream & Shout” and “Check It Out” so is he really the one to say this?