BronxTalk: Is Hip Hop Dead?
Many Morales, 20
By Nile Gayle
Bronx Journal Staff
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, hip hop songs were meaningful with creative, unique lyrics. During that time, rappers were well known for telling stories. Since the late 90’s and early 2000’s, hip hop has become more commercial. In 2006, hip hop star Nas was so unsatisfied with the current state of hip hop that he released an album “Hip Hop is Dead.” The controversial title made many southern rappers furious because they felt they were being blamed for destroying hip hop. I went to the streets to see what Bronxites had to say.
Many Morales, 20
Bronx, Lehman College Student
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “Hip hop doesn’t live up to its hype and potential like it did in the 1990s and early 2000s. It’s too bad the way hip hop died down. Most rappers rap about the same thing over and over. If you’re asking me if hip hop is dead, I’d say yes, but not fully. Nowadays people are trying to make a comeback mixing techno to see what else could bring hip hop back to life. I still prefer the 1990s hip hop and early 2000s.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “I’d have to go with my boy Eminem. He’s been really consistent with his lyrics. Even though he’s been off his grind for a few years because of his personal issues, his comeback was pretty big. So I have to give him the edge right now as the best rapper.”
Azuka Utti, 21
Azuka Utti, 21
Bronx, Lehman College Student
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “No it’s not. It’s just evolving. That’s what I think. It’s not the same, but it’s not dead.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “I would have to go with Jadakiss.
Kareem Robinson, 26
Bronx, Lehman College Student
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “I think hip hop in the old school sense is dead. I think in terms of popularity as a pop culture type of thing, it’s alive. Now it’s a new school of bubble gum hip hop and that’s alive. It’s doing good for record sales so it’s alive as a business, but as a true art form it’s dead.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “Right now I would have to say Jay.”
Cut Castro, 21 and Mello, 24
Cut Castro, 21
Bronx, Student Lehman College
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “Nah, hell nah, I don’t think it’s dead. I’m a tell you why I don’t think it’s dead. There’s a new breed out called Cut Castro. Got some other people called The Duo. About to change the world man.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “I ain’t going to go with the generic answer, Jay-Z. I don’t believe that. I’m a go with Lil Wayne.”
Quaseem Weems
Quaseem Weems
Bronx, Lehman College Student
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “I think aspects of hip hop are somewhat dead because some artists make music that is built on dances and that is killing it. Lyrically I think it’s dead, but I think the spirit of hip hop is still there. Some artists such as Jay-Z, they keep it original. But Solider Boy and Little B, they’re killing hip hop.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “Jay-Z. Hands down. Definitely. Lyrically, the most hits, best albums. It got to be Jay-Z.”
Andre Knight, 18
Andre Knight, 18
Bronx, Lehman College
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “Nah man. I think hip hop is very much alive and it’s changing in many different ways. You got your boy Drake. He’s using his lyrics in many different ways. I feel like he speaks to me. A lot of other hip hop artists are doing the same thing. They’re making it more enervated. It’s all the same cocoon, hip-hop.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “I think Drake because he’s out there doing his thing. His lyrics speak to me. It’s like life experiences that I’ve been through I feel like he’s been through.”
Mello, 24
Bronx, Lehman College Student
Q: Do you think hip hop is dead?
A: “I don’t think hip hop is dead. I think hip hop is coming back in a big way.”
Q: Who do you think is the best rapper alive?
A: “I got to give it to Wheezy.”