Hip Hop Culture Essay -- Rap Music Commercialization Essays Papers

Hip Hop CultureSince the early to mid 90s, rap music has undergone changes that purists would divvy up degenerating to its culture. At the root of these changes is what has been called commercial whang. Commercial hip-hop has deteriorated what so many emcees in the 80s tried to build- a culture of music, dance, creativity, and art that would give people not only something to bob their head to, but also an avenue to express themselves and de pop offr a positive message to their surroundings.What does the bound commercial mean? It can take on various meanings, but in essence that term is used to label artists who have alienated part of the hip-hop culture in their work. The High and Mighty, a duo from Philadelphia signed to Rawkus Records, summed up what commercial hip-hop is in their 1999 single release The Meaning. Mr. time says theyre tryin to turn hip-hop to just plain rappin/let the poppers pop/and the breakers breakBut the disenchantment with artists who dont appreciate hi p-hop as consisting of emceeing, breaking, graffiti art, beat boxing and dj-ing is not new. Underground artists, predominately hip-hop purists, have lashed out at biters and perpetrators for many years. For example, in 1989 3rd Bass released their prototypical album, The Cactus Cee/D. Throughout the album, MC Serch and Prime Minister Pete Nice sc white-haired the commercialized booty shakers like MC Hammer for corrupting hip-hop, particularly on the incubate The Gasface they specifically call out Hammer for his antics.Inside the album jacket, Serch sums up hip-hop in 89 There was a time when nothing was more important than the New York Rap Scene. Its dilluted, but not divided. To hip-hop afficionados, Serchs quote sounds like the equivalent to a Vietnam soldiers garner home. Obviously, the group saw the possibility of the hip-hop culture being tainted.Another good example of a group combatting the increase in commercial hip-hop was The Boot Camp Clik, consisting of Buckshot, Hel ter Skelter, Cocoa Brovaz, OGC, Illa Noyz and The Representativz. The Cliks slogan throughout the duration of their 1997 release Album for the People was Commercial rap get the gun thrill. A descendent of the early backpacker days, Buckshot has always been opposed to mainstream artists who sacrfice artistic integrity in the lure for more money.The underground hip-hop motion-picture show has e... ... ability to rock a crowd with sheer lyricism, explaining why you be doper than the other man, and having a Dj who could support you with dope beats were essentials in old school hip-hop and still are in the underground scene.Underground hip-hop is filled with groups such as The Pharcyde, The Roots, Jigmastas, and Jurassic 5 who use live instruments to not only enhance their lyrical talents, but also to give audiences a great show. All four of these groups are dedicated to preserving hip-hop culture. Emcees troth to prove they are iller, Djs do the same thing, and breakers, break danc ers, poppers, whatever you want to call them, continue the tradition of mixing their dance art form of popping, fasten and spinning using the music to help create different techniques.What has been great for the underground scene is its ability to sell more records now, and that is by and large payable to the increase of smaller, independent record labels(see chapter 1). Labels such as Rawkus, Fondle Em, Stones Throw, Goodvibe, ABB Records, and others can compete with majors like Bad Boy and Def Jam now because they are backed by people who have money and want to see hip-hop culture survive.