Opinion: Topping Hip Hop
September 18th 2006 12:15
"Kanye and 50 [Cent] are the same artist with just two different poles to me. Like, whereas 50 got shot and had to come back in the game, get on the streets and sell his mixtapes until he became the number one artist because of his hustle; Kanye did the same thing a year later - except by getting in a car accident.". – Talib Kweli
This, taken from an interview between Kweli and allhiphop.com’s Abran Maldonado. The quote got me thinking about the hip hop game, and what it takes to reach the top.
While I don’t agree with Kweli’s conclusion that 50 and Kanye are one and the same (this because I hate 50 and respect Kanye), he does have an interesting point.
Hip hop has always been about the ghetto. It came from the ghetto and grew from the ghetto. So does one have to be ‘ghetto’ to succeed in rap?
Near-death experiences, drug abuse, sexual abuse, violence; these things have, at one point or another, crossed paths with rap’s biggest stars.
Sure, there are your occasional good boys. New Zealand’s ‘Fast Crew’ have a track entitled ‘Suburbia Streets’ for example. Although, you could hardly call NZ’s awesome foursome a top contender in global hip hop.
So is it even worth chasing the hip hop dream if you haven’t done time? Talib Kweli or his ‘Blackstar’ brethren, Mos Def, are good examples of some great artists who survive on talent alone. They still haven’t reached the all-encompassing pinnacle of hip hop as 50 Cent, Kanye, Eminem, Diddy or Dr. Dre has done.
Let me just name a few cats who might give you hip hop hopefuls some real hope. Nas, Pharrell, Outkast… um… this was a little harder than I thought, though there are some top artists there.
The way I see it, music is about music, not money. Talib Kweli has made a living out of his talent, and while he has not reached the iconic moniker of ‘hip hop superstar’, he has stayed true to his musical sensibilities. I suggest all you aspiring rap musicians do the same.
Take care and peace out…
This, taken from an interview between Kweli and allhiphop.com’s Abran Maldonado. The quote got me thinking about the hip hop game, and what it takes to reach the top.
While I don’t agree with Kweli’s conclusion that 50 and Kanye are one and the same (this because I hate 50 and respect Kanye), he does have an interesting point.
Even Dre had run ins with the law, needing Suge Knight to bail him out.
Near-death experiences, drug abuse, sexual abuse, violence; these things have, at one point or another, crossed paths with rap’s biggest stars.
Sure, there are your occasional good boys. New Zealand’s ‘Fast Crew’ have a track entitled ‘Suburbia Streets’ for example. Although, you could hardly call NZ’s awesome foursome a top contender in global hip hop.
So is it even worth chasing the hip hop dream if you haven’t done time? Talib Kweli or his ‘Blackstar’ brethren, Mos Def, are good examples of some great artists who survive on talent alone. They still haven’t reached the all-encompassing pinnacle of hip hop as 50 Cent, Kanye, Eminem, Diddy or Dr. Dre has done.
Let me just name a few cats who might give you hip hop hopefuls some real hope. Nas, Pharrell, Outkast… um… this was a little harder than I thought, though there are some top artists there.
The way I see it, music is about music, not money. Talib Kweli has made a living out of his talent, and while he has not reached the iconic moniker of ‘hip hop superstar’, he has stayed true to his musical sensibilities. I suggest all you aspiring rap musicians do the same.
Take care and peace out…
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