There's a saying that goes, if you think it's too loud, you're too old. If you think Hip-hop isn't music, you're too odd. I'm not saying that you're too physically old, your head-space is old. You can't accept the new and mode of communication which is Hip-Hop. It's because you don't understand what Hip-Hop is. I am Hip-hop.
As a metalhead (and as all metalheads can relate too), I can understand the struggle of being accepted as a form of music. Not until recently has metal been really recognized as a form of music, although with that said it still has a long ways to go (this can be debated as a direction to go in [see hair metal and kiss as an example] but that's for another time).
Anyways, Hip-Hop is the street preacher. It's what punk music did for the disenchanted youth. In the regards they are exactly the same.
The music you hear on the radio today is not Hip-Hop. It's some derivative that's bastardized into pop music. And people think it's just entertainment but no it's a much more important issue than that. It's a bastardization of the struggle African-Americans had to go through in the pre-civil rights movement era. It's a total disregard and quite honestly disrespectful to all the elders of our time. Hip-Hop is for the people and by the people and not meant to be used to rap about bitches and hoes. It's a tool, it's a lifestyle for bring people together, not smacking asses. It's a celebration of black history and it's a celebration of equality. Not about whips and rims. It's a rebellion against oppression and hate. It's not for degradation of women and quite frankly self. Rappers that come out today, who rhyme about their big rims or how much cash they supposedly have should be ashamed of themselves. They're a blasphemy to what Dr. King and Malcolm X did for society... for the world. Every time someone uses Hip-Hop for some vain, superficial way, it is a de-evolution of the fight for equal rights. As the great Chuck D once said, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". At the end of the day, you just have to realize that this so called pop music is a detriment to society. It's worse than any black metal band could ever be. Pop music is the reason why society is so fucked up. It teaches the kids to be vain. It teaches them to be superficial. Because pop music by definition is music that just sounds good without regard to meaning or soul.
On another day, I'll discuss gangsta rappers, but not today. That discussion is in a totally different direction.
