"The evolution of Hip-Hop is something rather extraordinary to witness and study when the story is told right"It's the year 2015 where Hip-Hop music has transcended far beyond the streets of New York into a globally loved genre of music. Hip-Hop is without a question one of the most unique styles of music to be created and surrounded by its own lifestyle, a culture if you will. For over 30 years Hip-Hop culture has broken its way through politics, fashion, corporate business, television, film, education and of course music. With music being the pulse, Hip-Hop continues to survive through its vital organs. Journalism, the lungs that keeps it breathing.
We've witnessed Hip-Hop as a culture be the face of "what's wrong with America," "why Hip-Hop sets black people back" and so many other negative headlines that seek to maximize the culture's flaws associated with Hip-Hop music. Hip-Hop was instantly labeled as a "black thing" by mainstream from the beginning, hence the artist emerging stemmed from inner cities. Disregard one of the founders of Def Jam Recordings, Hip-Hop's first record label was created by a white college student a the time Rick Rubin. The stigma set the tone of perception present day.
The issue of race in America found an easier way to redirect itself to who's really causing the issues in this country through Hip-Hop. Rappers politically charged messages through their song speaking on violence, racism and poverty ruffled tons of feathers over the years. Rapper's raunchy interpretation of women also found a way to direct issues of sexism and exploitation of the black woman's body to Hip-Hop. Fear and disgust form against rappers quickly, stamping yet another label on black America.
"Journalists have to be comprehensive to transcribe emotion and unseen acts into words"
The evolution of Hip-Hop is something rather extraordinary to witness and study when the story is told right. The existence of Hip-Hop journalism has repulsed many of Hip-Hop's misconceptions. Journalists have brought to life the culture, music, struggles, swagger, rags to riches stories. In a world where race, gender and socioeconomic status has been the driving force of why Hip-Hop is and isn't successful, the breath of hidden words through text have kept the music alive. The melodic rhyme scheme, the vibrant presence, the strong demeanor and outspoken voices are transcribed by journalist that identify the artists.
Hip-Hop's one of a kind style has been a direct reflection of the environments in which its artist arise from. Stories of theses environments are brought to life through music and visuals from the projects of Brooklyn, New York, the dirty south streets of Atlanta, the gang-infested city of Compton, California, the 8 Mile of Detroit, the hometown glory of Chicago, the emerging Toronto, Canada, or the unpopular state of North Carolina.
Imagine coming up listening to Biggie, Nas or Jay Z and never been to New York before. Throwing on their album, you could almost paint a picture of where their from. Who would've ever imagined Atlanta would be one of the hottest places today's artists from other regions inspiration comes from? Before 2009, why would anyone ever care about a rapper being from Toronto, Canada had he not he broke down every barriers in his way for the world to listen?
To accept Hip-Hop, you must understand it. Understand its origins, founding fathers (and mothers), why the music sounds the way it does, why the artist are they way they are, why people gravitate towards it. Since its beginning day hitting a wide range audience, Hip-Hop's struggle for acceptance in popular media and mainstream music has remained consistent. Hip-Hop still struggles to be properly covered and understood by the mainstream pop world. The fight for the culture to be accepted by "white America" has come long ways in the recent decade alone, but more work is still to be done. A study published by Royal Society Open Science in 2015, proved that Hip-Hop music is now the most influential genre of music in the world. The pillars of Hip-Hop's journey falls along radio, television and magazines. The diversity of minds (not just people) in mainstream mediums have documented Hip-Hop, aiding it to being as trendy and hip as it is seen today.
Interestingly, Hip-Hop in 2015 is very widespread and very mainstream. Its as big as it's ever been. Many Hip-Hop artist have been able to segway into a pop lane, having huge Billboard 200 chart topping albums/singles and top 40 mainstream radio play. With the help of the internet and social media Hip-Hop is reaching people in places some didn't even know existed. Despite Hip-Hop artists overall still receiving significantly lower album sales than contemporary pop mainstream artist, as well as few award nominations at major shows such as the Grammys, the genre still contributes greatly to music history.
"With music being the pulse, Hip-Hop continues to survive through its vital organs. Journalism, the lungs that keeps it breathing."Journalism has kept Hip-Hop alive to world. As music finds ways to reinvent itself every few years sometimes every few months, there has to be someone there to document it all unfolding. Hip-Hop journalism has also been able to document music with historical times such as the election of the first black president Barack Obama and Young Jeezy creating "My President Is Black." With the internet growing, journalism in its own has evolved. Hip-Hop music doesn't have a strong presence on television anymore as it did in the 1990s and early to mid-2000s. Hip-Hop's strongest presence on TV now merely reflects reality TV.
As Hip-Hop journalism is every-so moving into new territory, the true essence is seeming to fade. In a generation where everyone wants things instantly as they happen then forgets about it tomorrow, it has almost become too time consuming to follow a story to properly cover and report it to the masses.
Magazines are diminishing from store shelves and shutting down completely, while others have rebranded to survive predominantly digitally. Mainstream radio and podcast are now accessible through mobile internet applications. The worldwide web is flooding with blogs and bloggers that seek to reflect Hip-Hop culture.
The McDonalds of television, reality has capitalized off of characters said to be apart of the Hip-Hop industry. The value to watch a reality show is higher to some than to actually purchase a Hip-Hop album. Value is placed more on artist's gimmick rather than their true artistry and lyricism. We've forgotten the things that made Hip-Hop great, the things that have allowed us to reach a place where we can give such great attention to things that don't really matter. A Hip-Hop journalist always saw the power in the music, the influence of the culture and knew what their words could do to contribute to that. True Hip-Hop journalists study the craft and strive to connect personally with artist, producers and the business moguls that continue to push the lines of what America accepts as Hip-Hop.
"A Hip-Hop journalist always saw the power in the music, the influence of the culture and knew what their words could do to contribute to that."The pulse of Hip-Hop was birthed on the experience of the artist from before the music until where they were when they made the album you feel in love with. All that comes along with what makes the Hip-Hop experience what it is, (the lifestyle, creation of the music/fashion/business, the come-up, parties, relationships, the struggles, the wins, oppression, etc.) is a part of the story journalists tell. The pulse of the stories from the music, inspires the stories to thrive far beyond the track. The journalist helps to create the tone for the story delivered to the people and helps it live forever.
If Hip-Hop was to ever die, the stories, the documentaries, the interviews, the books, the photographs, the memories, the films, even the online post will live forever. The responsibility of Hip-Hop doesn't just lie with the artist solely. Journalists deliver to the world with a responsibility to get the story right. If the 10 o'clock local news didn't have a foundation of reliable information, who would watch it? The mission is to tell the story like no one else can, because you believe in something no one else does. In that mission journalists have to be comprehensive to transcribe emotion and unseen acts into words.
For those whose only mission is to get paid to create a story rather than tell a story will only make it but so far. For those that place more emphasis on microwave news are poising what so many have spent years on fondly creating. Hip-Hop journalism is still fighting for its respect just as the music. The stories we tell/create, make it to mainstream news and contributes to shaping what the world thinks of Hip-Hop and those connected to it. Not protecting Hip-Hop slows down the pulse, the music, the craft.
Entertain and captivate yes, but with purpose. What is the purpose of publishing this story? Is this valuable to your brand? Educate and enlightening goes far beyond the instant story no one will care about the next day. Not all Hip-Hop is positive and not all Hip-Hop is bad. Hip-Hop is sometimes hasty, raw. The beauty of Hip-Hop journalism is taking those raw and negative moments to make them look like a piece of art, a staple moment in time. The way in which these events are documented surpass a post on social media or a depthless post. As Hip-Hop continues to be the most influential genre of music in the world, the stories that come with it must be in a place to allow Hip-Hop to keep inspiring and thriving, not killing it slowly. We've been conditioned to think Hip-Hop culture isn't profitable, yet attracts a large percentage of the world's consumer demographic.
The authenticity of Hip-Hop lives within its stories, from the creation of the music to the business behind the scenes, to consumerism, all the way to the delivery of it to your eyes and ears. As we fight for the music, we have to continue to fight for those story tellers, those mediums and outlets, those photographers. The Hip-Hop journalist understands that every word, written or spoken has the influence to make or break experiences for the masses and shape a culture filled with the minds of brilliant, creative, passionate people.
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