As a southern black man, I grew up in the church. Therefore, my earliest musical experiences were colorful collages of piano keys, rhythmic percussion, modified hymnals and voices that could have only been crafted by the hands of god. Gospel, they call it. But I'm not talking about this new age stuff--I'm talking quartets, mass choirs, and families of musicians. Growing up, I personally started listening to hip-hop at the age of 3 (and yes, I can remember as far back..), as it was the voice of black youth (and I'll get to that later) but, R&B has always moved me in ways that hip-hop never has. I'm not saying that one is better than the other--NOT AT ALL. But the feeling that I got from listening and watching videos of Marvin Gaye perform was different from when first I popped my first Nas cd, heard the Juice Crew, or Rakim Allah..
One of my favorite tracks..
As an Libra '85 baby, I envy those that had to privilege to see Marvin perform live...the soul and emotion that he put into his music was (and still is) amazing to me. I sometimes close my eyes while I'm listening and try to envision the kind of love or pain and emotion that inspires people to bare their soul. My personal favorite band, Earth Wind & Fire, painted pictures with their exceptional instrumentation to compliment the anointed voices of Maurice White and Phillip Bailey...it was like musical matrimony. I could only imagine what it was like as my father described to me how grand of show that they would put on at their concerts, while on my trek to Albany, NY. ...I DO remember Michael and Prince. Boy, do I...like so many 80s babies, I too was moonwalking at the age of 3 or 4. Perhaps...my love of dancing started with my intrigue of MJ. To watch him perform, was to be captivated...lost in a moment of time...awe struck...and still so up until his untimely death. To describe Prince in one word?...badass. (That might be two words, but whatever...lol). For one man to play all of the instruments in his songs? Badass. For him to push the boundaries of musical acceptance? Badass. For a 4'11 man with a deep voice to walk around in makeup and tight suits with his rear end out, still pulling chicks? (And some say dudes, too...but I ain't touchin that) Badass. You might not agree with his look, but the man's music is pure genius.
As a 13-14, 15-16 year old, its hard to explain to your male friends before a football game why you have CDs of Jodeci, Maxwell and whoever, filled with ballads and love tunes w/o them looking at you funny. Oddly enough, when I'm in the gym or in the house working out, I like to work out to soulful R&B...rap, rock...all of that other stuff doesn't do it. But, even now that we're grown, its ironic to hear a lot of my friends talk about how they've developed their own R&B catalogs.
Another one of my favs...I would bust out the live version w/ this crazy keyboard solo but y'all aint ready...
AS far as Hip-Hop/Rap?
Ahhh man, I remember vividly being 3 or 4 and watching Yo! MTV Raps every afternoon with my older cousins. The music then was so pure and UNDERSTOOD. I like to call the late 80s - early 90s the golden ages of Rap/Hip Hop. That's when it was about the people, music message and not the money. That's when dancing in videos was fun and cool...and not looked at as a southern minstrel show. That's when women were in videos CLOTHED...not to be subjected to objectivity. You ALSO had female MCs. That's something that I miss about today's hip-hop/rap. I still Fs w/ MC Lyte's music to this day. It's almost like hip-hop needs a gender-based affirmative action plan. There's so little female artists anymore, and the industry has become so mysogynistic. Whether its because of the lack of artists, or vice-versa can be debated. In addition, you had MC and DJ combinations that were perfect for each other. The DJ was still a respectable force in hip-hop and not out to exploit and/or work for self. There was positivity in the music and it wasn't considered corny. I can go on and on...
I remember when used to literally sit and wait just 4 this video to come on Yo! MTV Raps...Definitely one of my earliest fav. hip/hop tracks..
As we know, its a lot different now. You have Nas saying Hip Hop is dead...people claiming that the south killed it...the music is dumbed down...etc...to all of that I simply say with a smile, "Shut the F**k up!"
Recent years have led to an uprise in hip-hop elitism where, too often, certain individuals have developed the idea that their idea of hip-hop is the only true form. Truthfully, I understand where the sentiments comes from. There's reason for true hip-hop/rap fans to be disappointed in some of the music that's played on airwaves and television. But...There are several things that people have to understand about hip-hop now that are different from earlier years.
1. It has been commercialized. In other words, it has now become money dominated. The capitalist principles start the become the dominant ideology, it can kill the purity in anything and with a people who have been financially disadvantaged historically in the U.S., it is intensified. Why?...because commercialized rap is built around selling records, ringtones, etc. You find a formula that might not ever be the best musicially, but if you can get many people of different backgrounds to like it...then they will buy it. THUS, endless radio spins. THUS, lots of money for promo. Y'all forget that this is America and the radio industry is just that. AN INDUSTRY. Radio stations will play what gives them listeners...listeners bring them advertisements...and advertisements pay the stations. I don't like a lot of what is on the radio. Radio stations have no variety anymore. Therefore, I just don't listen to it. Plain and simple. Jay-Z said it himself, "Truthfully I wanna rap like Common Sense, but I did 5 mil...I aint been rappin like common since." EVEN Common traded his Like Water For Chocolate-revolutionary-rap in for some Universal Mind Control...(which sucked, to me lol...but thats me..)...Which brings me to #2...
2. As a whole, black people do not financially support their artists. I hate to say it. People don't wanna say, but I will. Some do. Too many, don't. Some of the most critical of my "hip-hop head" friends do not buy CDs of the artists that they LIKE. Since we know that hip/hop is an industry, and the most visible of artists are the most paid, then...why not support the best artists??? Because black people would rather bootleg CDs (more evidence of how the commercial effect is intensified with blacks), and complain. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. I told myself years ago that if I like the artist, I'll buy his/her cd and I have stayed true to my word.
3. There is no single definition of Hip Hop. Since the late 80s/early 90s hip-hop has developed all over the US in their respective areas (ATL, MIA, HOU, BAY AREA, DMV, CHI, etc.), therefore, you can expect different types of music from different areas. You don't have to like it, but it is what it is and I listen and appreciate it ALL. As a southern man, I love southern rap, because I understand what it is. That doesn't mean I rock with every southern artist, but I'm not going to patronize other people because they do. Same goes with the Bay Area, H-town, DMV, etc. I like Soulja Boy. I love ATLs club music just like I like Go-Go, Balitmore Club and my growing appreciation for Reggae. I like Young Dro just as much as I like Little Brother and Fab, Dead Prez, OutKast, etc... and I accept the many sub-genres of hip-hop for what they are and stop trying to put the music in a box that only you can fit. Some stuff I like to ride to...some stuff I like to play while I'm cleaning the crib...some stuff I listen to right before I hit the club...I'm not really on Gucci Mane like that, but I can see why he has a following and I think its cool. I don't consider Jay-Z the 'god mc' but, I can see why a lot of NYers do. And like I said previously, If you don't like it...you don't like it and that's fine. Just stop the bitchin' unless you're prepared to make change.
You can't hate on havin fun...AT ALL..lol..."Look at my ruuf!"
4. Creativity has become a lost art. I don't care if you "spit dat hot shit"...if u sound like every other rapper that spits "dat hot shit" then, you're not going to have a lot of success...you're boring. Hip-hop has never been (and will never be) just about lyrics. Sorry. Its about making music that people and feel and relate to--whether you do it with twisted wordplay or not. Why did Kanye catch on? He was different at the time. Soulja Boy? Different. Whether they will maintain their relevance is dependent on how they reinvent themselves. We've seen OutKast do it time and time again.
With all of that being said, I think that creativity in hip-hop is returning. I think that the internet is opening doors for artists to support themselves and circumvent the monster that is the music industry and independent seems to be the way of the current artist. One thing that bothers me is that I'm getting a feel that the industry is also beginning to be over-saturated with artists and "artists" to the point that music fans will be even more fickle then they currently are. I hope not. But with so many people trying to be music stars, its certainly a thought. Yet and still, good talent will always be appreciated.
***And If you haven't seen it, this is just an interview w/ Marvin Gaye and a young and relatively slim Tom Joyner that intrigued me...Marvin looks liked he just faced a blunt lol its all good tho..
