Long Live Hip Hop

Let’s stop saying that hip hop is dead. For something to be dead it has to be lifeless. No longer moving. One might want to investigate what death actually means. To the contrary, hip hop is alive and well. Very much so to be exact. Hip hop no longer being 100% promoted and controlled by the main stream does not indicate that it has met it’s demise. Maybe it’s more so that today’s participants of the culture are using the tools available in this age of technology to keep control of their art. But hey, this is also the era where if it’s on a meme then it must be right and exact. One of my favorite people to follow on social media, the God Ishmael Bey, calls this kind of thing “Microwave Scholarship”. A sarcastic term of endearment for the way people receive, process and regurgitate information with having properly scrutinizing it. When most people say that hip hop is dead they seem to be referring to the fact that there isn’t as much of it on the mainstream as they would like. Or they are listening to these “Mumble Rappers” whom they class with hip hop artists. In my humble opinion, that shows a lack of understanding about what hip hop is. The culture is comprised of but not limited to 4 elements. Those elements are MCing, DJing, breakdance and graffiti. All of which are going strong around the world. We can’t just decide that hip hop is dead because we didn’t like some music we heard. I would dare to say that the hip hop culture is the main influence on art culture today. Just look around at how people dress. Look at how the different ethnic groups tailor there lifestyle to how we dress, walk and talk. Not to mention, all of the dope rappers that are up and coming or have been holding it down. To name a few, Born Allah(Big Daddy Grace) Locksmith, Cyhi Da Prince, Ab Soul, Vic Mensah, K. Dot, J Cole( Can’t believe I actually had to say that), Jay Elect (When he does rap), Isaiah Rashad… Need I say more. The fact that there are other forms of music that are hip hop inspired does not mean that real hip hop is dead. A lot of fashion today exist because of the influence of hip hop. A lot of the language used today from the 5 percent Nation of Gods and Earth was introduced to the world through hip hop.
Breakdancing is still alive and well last time but I checked in places like Los Angeles, Poland the UK etc… Graffiti is international as well in places like the Bay area, Minnesota for goodness sakes. Even Brazil. If I have to explain to you where to find a DJ then you are gonna need to leave your house every now and then. A club on hip hop night will do just fine. In my opinion, if you say hip hop is dead then you are either regurgitating what you heard someone else say or your cipher is void of what you complain about. Hip Hop is alive and well. Just get on Google and look up the artists that I mentioned or look for a breakdancing contest or somewhere you can find graffiti. The culture is alive…….. Long Live Hip Hop.