Hip-Hop Comparison: Growing Up In The 90's
Hip-Hop Comparison
Quinton Frizell
ENGL112
March 13, 2011
Nelly Aguilar
Growing up in the 1980’s and the 90’s I became a huge fan of Hip-Hop music. My friends and I used to sit around for hours listening to our favorite rappers on the radio and watching the videos on television. We would argue for hours about who was a better lyricist and why. Now as I have grown older and the music I have grown to love and still listen to has changed, I find myself asking a very good question. What has changed in Hip-Hop from the time I was started listening to now? The answer is as complex as it is simple, the music itself has changed. The Hip-Hop music of today seems to be more commercial as opposed to being artistic and message driven. In …show more content…
Record labels began dictating to the artist what was to be considered Hip-Hop. Artists like Soulja Boy Tell’em, Drake, and Lil’ Wayne are at the forefront of the Hip-Hop of today. The majority of the content in their music reflects the voice of the younger Hip-Hop generation. Songs like Lollipop, Get Money, and No Hands only talk about money and sex. The overall criticism has been the lack of diversity in the music. Crank that Soulja Boy was a big hit for Soulja Boy Tell’em but to Hip-Hop purists, the song lacked creativity and lyrical content. Another difference between the eras would be in radio play. Laffy Taffy, by D4L, was another song that was a big hit commercially that several people use as an example for the lack of creative skill and musical integrity. Twenty years ago, you would turn on the radio and hear different records with a variation of styles and song content. Today, if you on the radio, you will hear what many would consider the same type of rap record being made by different artists. The reason behind the lack of creativity is believed to be because artists and record labels are more concerned about record sales and
Quinton Frizell
ENGL112
March 13, 2011
Nelly Aguilar
Growing up in the 1980’s and the 90’s I became a huge fan of Hip-Hop music. My friends and I used to sit around for hours listening to our favorite rappers on the radio and watching the videos on television. We would argue for hours about who was a better lyricist and why. Now as I have grown older and the music I have grown to love and still listen to has changed, I find myself asking a very good question. What has changed in Hip-Hop from the time I was started listening to now? The answer is as complex as it is simple, the music itself has changed. The Hip-Hop music of today seems to be more commercial as opposed to being artistic and message driven. In …show more content…
Record labels began dictating to the artist what was to be considered Hip-Hop. Artists like Soulja Boy Tell’em, Drake, and Lil’ Wayne are at the forefront of the Hip-Hop of today. The majority of the content in their music reflects the voice of the younger Hip-Hop generation. Songs like Lollipop, Get Money, and No Hands only talk about money and sex. The overall criticism has been the lack of diversity in the music. Crank that Soulja Boy was a big hit for Soulja Boy Tell’em but to Hip-Hop purists, the song lacked creativity and lyrical content. Another difference between the eras would be in radio play. Laffy Taffy, by D4L, was another song that was a big hit commercially that several people use as an example for the lack of creative skill and musical integrity. Twenty years ago, you would turn on the radio and hear different records with a variation of styles and song content. Today, if you on the radio, you will hear what many would consider the same type of rap record being made by different artists. The reason behind the lack of creativity is believed to be because artists and record labels are more concerned about record sales and