Well, Nas said it...Hip-Hop is Dead...nuff said...and unfortunately, in a way I think the brothaz right. Now, I can't account for all the local artists coming up, because I can't hear about new cats on the other side of the coast for example...But I CAN speak about rap in the general nationwide mainstream, it may not be flatlined yet, but yes, it SEEMS to be dying slowly...maybe rap got Aids?? Hmmm...so then who gave it to her? If you ask me, it all started when Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Diddy Dildo or whatever this dude wants to call himself now, came about infecting us all with his little playa playa richy raps, skewing and distorting the visions of all future rap acts, and playing on people's lust for excessive wealth and those out there chasing this non-existant american dream (american scheme). Meanwhile, exploiting all his artists to the fullest extent, sucking all talent from them until nothing but an empty shell of a rapper remained either washed up, dead, or in jail...LITERALLY! But as much as I hate on that silly little man and would like to blame it all on him... it could not have been the work of one man or crew alone...if this de-evolution of rap music was somehow a premeditated and calculated thing by those who are against rap? Then let me tell you something meyng, they are winning...Lets not forget though that its because we have allowed this to happen for so long is the reason that it is so...yep! some of us are to blame as well...I have seen some of the best rappers attempt to crossover to this new found commercialism time & time again. Although I gota admit some pulled off this commercialistic style really well...like Biggie and at times, 2Pac, although Pac had a perfect balance of it...and I don't think they make em as smart as Pac or Pun these days anymore...as in everything...balance is the key. But sure enough I seen it with my own eyes throughout the course of about a decade...the decline in the quality of authentic rap music...See What first drew me to rap music was it's hardness, rebellious lyrics, and the explosive nature of the opressed human soul...I think America as a whole, not just in Hip-Hop, has become wayyyy too complaicant and far too comfortable for their own good. Public Enemy did it for me, since I'm a rebel by nature, and then N.W.A. Just sealed the deal leaving my jawz dropped when I realized "WOW You can actually cuss that much on a song and still make it sound dope AND still be famous?" but holy crap man what the f do we have today? LAFFY TAFFY??? Dog.....come on....Laffy Taffy? with a beat behind it that sounds like it took no brainpower whatsoever to make? No offense to the South...shiiii I live down here in Miami right now, originally from NY....and I love me some dirty south rap...but not when its that DUMMY RAP...you know what I'm talking about...songs sooo stupid and dummed down that it becomes a mega-hit...like Soulja Boy for instance....I mean I ONLY grew to like that "Crank dat" song out of the radios and clubs repeating that song over and over pounding it into my brain...Almost as if I had no choice in the matter...but these other songs I heard from his album...some song called DOO DOO HEAD about how some chick's mouth stank...............need I say more??? Lol.....but I WILL say this...while Run D.M.C. was coming out back then, everyone thought rap was dying off as well...but these 3 brothaz from Hollis Queens kept it alive for so long until it was revived again...AND THEN SOME!!! Where are our modern day Run D.M.C.'s???...............Exactly, there AINT none........So if you're thinking of putting out an album, just think for a bit about how it will impact rap as a whole...not just how many units you'll TRY to sell for 5 bucks a piece to unsuspecting tourists on Time Square cuz nobodyz ever heard of you or none of the "featured" artists on your album...let me stop there cuz that sounds like a whole new blog post to me...but let me know if anyone has anything to say about this subject...I invite all who have the same love that I do for this artform, comment or give feedback...but please be aware: ONLY those who are truly Hip-Hop can speak for Hip-Hop...If you are not a part of this culture you are merely an observer of Hip-Hop.

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