Music+in+Culture

Hip Hop is Dead: The Never Ending Debate Back To Culture Back To Home In 2006 Nas released the album "Hip Hop is Dead". Shortly after, fans and critics alike began engaging in a debate that would devour hours of their time. Nearly a decade later, the question remains, ** is Hip Hop dead? ** Over the years the state of Hip Hop has been attacked, defended, and debated consistently, yet a concrete conclusion regarding the genre’s condition remains unseen. From barbershops to classrooms, critics, fans, and everyone in between can be found engaging in the never-ending and frustrating argument. Unfortunately, the subjective nature of music makes it impossible to label an argument proclaiming Hip Hop alive or dead as correct or incorrect. However, this dilemma does not shelter opinions from being swayed so the debate continues in this wiki.



Global Growth

To a true fan of the culture, Hip Hop cannot be confined to a simple description or definition issued by a dictionary with no emotional connection to the art. The meaning of Hip Hop changes with the individual, era, or even region in question so everyone has their own experience and memory of the culture. The subjective nature of the art has led to the argument surrounding its current condition as fans are arguing amongst each other about whether the nostalgic sound of the 90's is superior to the modern music. In the past, Hip Hop was somewhat of an undiscovered art and the best kept secret of many inner cities. Today, the culture is everywhere with an immense influence on American culture and society as a whole. Hip Hop culture is far from domestic as some of the genre's megastars are intentionally born. Drake and Nicki Minaj are prime examples as they've managed to captivate the culture despite their birthplace. Hip Hop is experiencing more global success than ever before, supporting the claim that the culture is alive.

Business Expansion

Aside from the geographical growth of the genre, Hip Hop as a business has also prospered in recent years. Hip Hop is now a billion-dollar business bullying its way into the eyes and ears of the American public and big name corporations are beginning to take notice. Artists are now partnering with the likes of Apple, Adidas, Nike, and even several alcoholic beverage brands. For example, Dr. Dre sold his audio company “Beats by Dre” to Apple for a whopping three billion dollars making him the wealthiest businessman in Hip Hop. Jay-Z has even ventured into sports management by creating Roc Nation Sports which manages several high profile athletes across American sports. Business ventures and partnerships are not necessarily new in Hip Hop, but they have never been as profitable as they are today. Regardless of age, artists are venturing out and exploring different mediums of artistic expression which in turn has expanded Hip Hop’s influence. The culture is undergoing exponential expansion and arguing against the obvious evolution of the art is difficult to support at this point.

media type="youtube" key="AhwBUydknWI" width="560" height="315" The video above is a trailer for the 2012 documentary "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap". The film details Hip Hop's progression over the decades.

See Also

References

Christian, Margena A, et al. "Has Hip Hop Taken A Beatdown Or Is It Just Growing Up? (Cover Story)." Jet 111.14 (2007): 54. Middle Search Plus. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. Dyson, Michael Eric, et al. "Is Hip-Hop Dead?" Ebony June 2007: 60. MAS Ultra – School Edition. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. "Hip Hop Is Dead." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. "Justin Timberlake." Iz Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. Ramajentertainment. "Ramajentertainment." Ramaj Entertainment. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. MovieclipsCOMINGSOON. "Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap Official Trailer #1 (2012) Ice-T Directed Movie HD." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.