50 years of Hip Hop- How Come?


Having been a music fan for over 50 years, it’s been fun to see all the different musical genres that have come and gone in popular music.

In the the 50s it was Rock n Roll. Then in the 60s we had Psychedelia, in the 70s Punk, in the 80s New Wave, in the 90s Grunge. It was always interesting to see how music changed into the next new thing.

At the latest Grammy awards, which I did not see, there was a segment called 50 years of hip hop.

I’ve personally never been a big fan of the genre, there are some songs I have liked, but that’s ok. Everyone has their tastes. What I am surprised about is Hip Hops longevity. It just seems like for the last 25 years a lot of music hasn’t really changed much. There has been no " next new thing"as far as I can tell.

How Come? Anyone feel the same way or care to comment. Am I just getting old??

 

alvinnir2

Showing 1 response by whipsaw

Very good comment, @simao 

The silly stereotyping of Rap music (as in the quote that you included) is a dead giveaway of the cultural myopia to which you refer.

There are countless examples of Rap that shatter such stereotypes, and I will offer one that does so on a variety of levels: Anthony Joseph.

Not only is the music that Joseph produces (at times in collaboration) often very different from stereotypical Rap, but he teaches creative writing at the University of London (as in England), has published at least four volumes of poetry (which clearly inform his music), and a novel.

Readers should have a listen to TIME, which he produced in collaboration with the excellent NY-based American bassist and singer Meshell Ndegeocello.