IMPRESSIONS

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 Pete Lee
  Staff Writer

Hip-Hop was once a vivid movement in which one could express collective consciousness with original individuality. In recent years, the Hip-Hop music of rap has become a dead-end movement infatuated with money, guns, and sex. By spraying these themes repeatedly across radio waves, rap has earned itself a negative image. Those who criticize rap cite its violent, misogynistic messages, but that is because they have only heard what TRL and 106 & Park dictate and show to them.

The bitter truth is that mainstream rap is similar to communism right now for it has become homogenized. Every artist coming into the billion-dollar business sounds exactly the same and uses the same boring flows, beats, and concepts. It seems as if the industry only allows these wacky members through the door if they buy into the formula of cash + women + a tough-guy image = a record deal.

Rhymes constantly boasting about material objects and luxury are favored instead of those dealing with suffering and hardship. Although not all pain comes from poverty, the lyrical ability, complex wordplay, gritty story-telling, clever phrasing, and thought-provoking composure no longer win a rapper's respect or attention. Nothing makes sense anymore, for the introspective and socially aware soul within the music has disappeared.

Because Hip-Hop depends on creativity to leave an impression on the world through verbal expression, this lack of uniqueness is causing a casualty by hurting the industry. Hip-Hop was once an exciting Ferris wheel revolving with art, commerce, politics, and spirituality.

As the legendary Hip-Hop pioneer KRS-One once declared, "Rap is something you do, but Hip-Hop is something which you live." Hip-Hop is more than just the music; it is a culture consisting of four main elements: Graffiti, B-Boying (Break-dancing), DJing (Turntablism), and Emceeing (Lyricism). This lifestyle has spread around the world in recent years and has made a drastic impact upon people and society, setting trends and spurring debate. Because changing tastes will always affect the direction of the game, people expect that Hip-Hop will go through different states and its sound will continue to evolve.

Yet this evolution has fallen victim to rampant commercialization, controlled completely by record companies so that average listeners have no say, The few real artists who still spread the classic feel and taste of Hip-Hop genuine do not get the widespread recognition that they deserve simply because they refuse to "sell-out."

Unfortunately, too many current artists refuse to take chances, instead repeating the same old procedures in search of easy and quick cash. The future of Hip-Hop depends on the artist who is willing to risk his million-dollar sales for the sake of art, by bending the rules and setting new limits for the next generation of listeners to be influenced by.

Pete Lee is a member of Asian Student Alliance, Korean Cultural Association, Korean Student Association, and Pitt Asian-InterVarsity

Express Your View
 

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