Astounding new theory on why rap sales are sinking

Jun 15, 2007

Astounding new theory on why rap sales are sinking · by Sach O

So USA today came out and said it which means the entire rest of the world got wind of it months ago: Hip-Hop is not doing well on the charts. Believe it or not, a quick look at Billboard’s Top 50 proves that no one cares about Lil ____’s latest album and that teenage girls are flocking to autotune inflected robo-pop rather than the latest tales of champagne-n-hoes. I can’t blame them, that Umbrella song is hot.

Naturally, industry experts and analysts are frantically trying to explain and reverse this trend, lest they all get fired. There’s enough blame for everyone: internet bootlegging is sapping sales (and these assholes are telling kids that all rap post-97 sucks), ringtones are the new full-lengths and people are sick of the violence and misogyny present in rap post-Imus. But I have a radical new theory. Something that’s going to crack this case wiiiiide open. This is something the industry has never even contemplated before. It’s proof that rap can be fixed if they listen. But what I’m going to say now will rock music to its very core…

All current rappers are douchebags.

douchebag
–noun
An individual who has an over-inflated sense of self worth, compounded by a low level of intellegence, behaving ridiculously in front of colleagues with no sense of how moronic he appears.

Sounds like a pretty accurate description of today’s rap scene to me. 15 years ago, when A&R’s were electric-guitar playing mountain climbers, this problem was generally avoided out of fear that signing anything less than a well respected street soldier would result in a crippling lack of credibility for the label. Today however, your average A&R grew up with Hip Hop and his sense of entitlement means he has no qualms about signing douchebags as long as they’re “hot”. That’s a shame really because some of these rappers aren’t bad on a technical level. Lupe Fiasco can rap even though he’s a confused melodramatic anime fan who can’t figure out if he’s a geek or a gangster. Ditto for Lil Wayne who’s trying really really hard at this rap stuff but can’t seem to realize that he should come half short and twice strong (stopping the ghey behavior and gaudy clothing would help too). The Game needs to stop name dropping and being a bitch. Fabolous needs to cut out the Ma$e impersonation. Don’t even get me started on Kanye West.

And these are the relatively dope guys. When you factor Mims, Jibbs, D4L, Lil Mama, Boozie, Webby, Jeezy and Dro into the equation then it becomes stunningly obvious: people are tired of rap because everyone currently participating is a huge fucking douchebag. But Sach you say, Rappers were always flashy! True, but they weren’t always douchebags. Big Daddy Kane made some horrible mistakes but he was never an all out douchebag. Biggie may have acted a little pompous under Puffy’s influence but two tracks later he dropped something to remind you that he was still the fat guy on the corner you could crack a forty with. Plus these were exceptions not rules, Scarface, Ice Cube, Redman, The Wu, The Native Tongues, Kool G Rap and Nas all seemed like decent guys. Sure they might start licking shots but at least they’d feel remorse about it.

So the solution is clear: take off the god damned Louis Viton glasses. Replace the BAPE with plain black hoodies and try signing people who aren’t the biggest assholes you’ve ever met. Give it a shot, judging by billboard it couldn’t hurt because it’s either that or Rihanna will be topping the charts for a long time…

…and I for one welcome our robo-pop overlord. As a trusted blogger may I remind her that I can round up boom-bap dinosaurs to toil in her New-Wave sample mine.

Comments for "Astounding new theory on why rap sales are sinking"

i agree… there is a lack of affability among big name rap stars nowadays.. a nirvana-style backlash has got to be in the works, no? thats what I’M hoping for, at least…

— jamie radford Jun 15, 01:26 PM
That BDK outfit is fucking classic, like a purple bull fighter…...Big up to satin….oh yeah todays rappers are straight douchin’ the whole scene..LOL.

— Klaw Jun 15, 01:48 PM
Since you dissed pretty much every mjaor hip hop artist of note out currently above, who exactly do you like??

— ian Jun 15, 02:37 PM
Saigon and Budden could do damage if they get to drop stuff. Lamont and Ortiz COULD be dope if the interscope machine doesn’t change em. Trife da God, Styles P, Ghost, Sean Price, Turf Talk, The Federation, Clyde Carson, Camp Lo, Clipse. I’m on the fence about Common’s new shit. Heard good things about Kweli’s new one but haven’t peeped. I still think Rick Ross dropped a funny ass album last year. That NYOIL cat is dope.

There’s dope rap out there. It’s just stuck between the backpack scene and the kids in tight jeans with wallet chains.

— Sach Jun 15, 02:45 PM
Indeed. NYOIL is pretty decent. Styles might be the next good emcee if he ever drops a solid solo joint. Definitely one of the nicest on appreances in the last few years.

Love this post. So funny, and so true. Most of the hip-hop heads have been saying this for years, but I never get tired of hearing it.

— the SHWAMY Jun 15, 02:57 PM
remove that remotelink homie!

— David Jun 15, 03:23 PM
What a great article (can’t call something this good a post). Thanks.
When I think about this I don’t get too mad at the Camrons and Lil’ Waynes, they’ve always been who they are. I get most upset at the guys who became douchebags after being normal, talented artists—the ones who couldn’t leave well enough alone and started making shit like Electric Circus, cramming knock-off jazz, neo-soul and new age sounds down our throats and blaming us for not getting it or being mad because they don’t really rap anymore.

— rkm Jun 15, 03:51 PM
I feel you on this, but it’s nothing new that the “heads” haven’t been saying for years now. Thanks to all the BS that is being put out the dumbing down of Hip Hop has finally been acheived. I’ve been doing college radio for about 10 years now and I have to say I can’t recall too many real dope tracks that had me really geeked in the past 5 years. There’s just as much, if not more BS being put out on the indie scene then on the major scene. Everybody and their crew has a label and is putting out music. I’ve been contemplating giving up radio because of this, and the fact that labels just keep pumping out the BS, but each time I feel it’s my duty to keep the show going to break that one dope record that does surface every now and then.

As for the “entitled A&Rs” you mentioned, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m sick of hearing these bums talking about how they been there from day one and now it’s time to get paid for the hard work, and how everyone else is getting paid, why shouldn’t I. I know some DJs that are on this same BS. Get off your own dick and get your head out of your ass before you sign some more BS talking about Chicken Soup and a soda on the side…

— Nesto Jun 15, 04:08 PM
I agree. I think that these ‘douchebags wouldn’t be much of as problem’ if there were cool kats out there too. The main problem with hiphop these days is that it lacks variety.

— Life's a bitch Jun 15, 05:13 PM
I agree with you entirely. Just not when you said ‘don’t get me started on Kanye West’, he’s a cocky snobbish son of a bitch, but he’s the best rapper that’s getting played on BET, so he deserves a little credit.

— Kanibal Jun 15, 07:11 PM
Kanibal:

In the Article Sacha said that Kanye was one of the relatively dope ones, ock

— LoSes Jun 16, 02:32 AM
“…and I for one welcome our robo-pop overlord.”
Farker!

— crunkmachine Jun 16, 02:33 AM
Electric Circus was good.

— Abe Beame Jun 16, 02:36 AM
NESTO!!!!

What’s good fam!

Reach out to me.

I’ve got a few things you might like.

myspace.com/truelight2309

Get at me.

Lmao about the douchbag thing, lol.

Peace to the Gza.

1

— True Jun 16, 11:18 PM
good article, cant be said enough. time will tell with this scene

— edizzle Jun 17, 05:03 AM
But I LIKED Lil’ Mama. At least we have a woman in the rap arena, instead of all of these homothugs

— Billy Sunday Jun 18, 08:26 AM
Dope article. Good, solid points made.

Respect.

— B. Jun 18, 08:33 AM
Atmosphere, Brother Ali, MF DOOM, Madlib, Sage Francis, El-P, Buck 65…

I could go on and on with the rappers who aren’t douchebags and who can actually kick some hip hop ass!!! It’s all this mainstream bullshit that sucks so bad. There are exceptions in the mainstream (like you said, Kanye is one of the better ones, as is Lupe), but until people give a shit about something other than money and ho’s nothing’s gonna change. We DO need a Nirvana style revolution and not just in the hip hop world, in the whole “pop” music world! There needs to be a shakeup and it needs to come soon!!!

— wakeupbomb Jun 18, 04:54 PM
Since when is Sage Francis not a douchebag? And since when are he and Buck 65 not terrible?

— eauhellzgnaw Jun 18, 05:14 PM
Sacha, Have you been listening to De La’s Stakes Is High too much recently?

— Cal Ulmann Jun 18, 06:18 PM
i may agree with sacha for once.

— Lee Jun 18, 11:20 PM
The “shake up” is coming…

80s and 90s takin over…

myspace.com/Flyinglotus

myspace.com/00Genesis

— 00Genesis Jun 19, 11:46 PM
this thread was awesome until that kid interpreted the post to mean that the only solution was the backpackerest of backpackerville rap. get teh eff out

— T.R.E.Y. Jun 20, 06:42 AM
^Ain’t that the truth.

— Sach Jun 20, 01:55 PM
I wonder how doo-wop was selling in 1968…

— Nikhil P. Yerawadekar Jun 20, 02:29 PM
I’m not entirely sold on this argument. The reason this article sites lackluster rap sales is the very same reason that rap became popular in the first place. Social success, whether measured by material gain or sexual exploitation has been central to the rap movement. Cultivating the hip hop artist’s image is part and parcel to the success of the music. I agree with the author that listeners are getting tired with this particular rap image, and further that there are plenty of contemporary hip hop artists who have deviated from this standard. What I’d like to call attention to is what exactly ties these two acts together. How is the music of the “douchebags” connected with the more “talented” hip hop acts? Also, we might want to consider what social consequences come after the diminishing successes of the rap movement. Does the decreasing popularity of these ideals mean we have overcome these issues and accepted them as no longer worthy of our attention? Or does it mean we have only come to recognize them, somehow, as conventional themes that are commonplace in our lives?

— Nilly Jul 10, 01:35 AM
(Its not how you F%#@ its your Brain)-Redman
I am tired of everybody diss kanye man listing to his new Jam
get your money right.
Its the kids today they’r the douchebag and the punk ass parents.
I dont listing to wack shit. My kids love it but I tell them you are listing to wack shit and they are started to pick up on that. My name is Ty,
Teach da youth that what I do and that what we all need to do.Stop bitching
about these wack ass rapper thats what they want you to do, talk about them. Giveing them
the attention they dont need. Time to move on people,
this to shell Pass.

— Ty Jul 10, 08:38 AM
AWESOME! PLUS I LOVE THE SIMPSONS REFERENCE AT THE END...

— Trademark Jul 10, 02:56 PM
This is a great post and makes a pretty good point. I can recall Bill Maher saying something to the same effect to Russel Simmons a few months ago.

The music business (and fame in general) gives people a huge ego so this is kind of hard to stop. But the part I still don’t get (and prolly never will) is that none of these people suck and can’t sell records yet the labels refuse to try something different.

— Incilin Jul 10, 03:59 PM
Nice piece….but

Rap has a savior

His Name Is Pharoahe Monche!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ6-FYAngvc

— Mally Jul 10, 04:57 PM
I feel bad for MF and Madlib getting thrown side-by-side with those other unmentionables…can’t even go there. Won’t go there. Yuk. If anybody out of college (older than let’s say 20) can listen to Atmosphere or (god forbid) Sg Francis, they should just…get therapy. I went there kinda.

Here’s a list of people I think aren’t douchés: *Airborn Audio (M-Sayid, HP) *Mistah F.A.B. *DOOM *Slick Rick *Turf talk *San Quinn *Ghost *UGK *Outkast *Goodie Mobb dudes *Dizzee Rascal, Trimbal, and a few other gully London MC’s.. *and others already mentioned in the article. (I see you Bird, big-up yourself ol’ Red, hold-tight).

No Pharoahe Moncher is not some kind of savior. And I’m not convinced it’s gonna be one person/crew that’ll step up. I think, like the article brilliantly illustrates, that people have turned up their douchebag filtration systems, and the industry needs to get wise to this. The blinged-out dude that can hardly string together a sentence is TIRED. No wonder ladies like Rihanna are merkin these nu-jack yayhoos.

I’m starting to go across the pond, or down to the islands to find interesting shit, and that’s…sad. Mavado et. al be straight wrecking all these chumps Stateside…sorry to say.

— urly.purly Jul 11, 04:36 AM
Hmm..I agree man,this lack of variety is foreal a big problem,but the only thing we can do is wait…bcuz none of us and none of the real rappers like krs or nas can change it..at least not yet…

— ZeeHead Jul 11, 12:47 PM
I SAID IT BEFORE AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN. WHEN 2PAC DIED, HIP HOP DIED WITH HIM. RAP MUSIC HAS LOST IT’S STREET CREDIBILITY PLAIN AND SIMPLE. NIGGAS ARE RAPPING ABOUT BEING GANGSTA BUT NEVER FIRED A GUN OR DID A BID IN THEIR LIFE! ALL THESE LITTLE NIGGAS YOU SEE ON MTV TODAY ARE FAKE! WHITE KIDS SEE RIGHT THROUGH THESE LITTLE FAKE NIGGAS AND THEY’RE LAUGHING AT THEM! NIGGAS TODAY ARE SCARED OF THE POLICE. WHEN BACK IN THE DAY NIGGAS WAS LIKE “FUCK THE POLICE!” EVEN BACK IN THE 70’S NIGGAS HAD MORE HEART!

— DC PUMP Jul 21, 05:42 PM
Mainstream rap does suck but there are alternatives. Ya’ll should listen to some hip hop from labels like Quannum Projects or Stones Throw. Blackalicious,Lyrics Born,Madlib,Pidgeon John,Rhymefest,Lateef or Michael Franti and Spearhead. They do incredible stuff and they are not ‘douches’.

— skizzle Jul 22, 07:54 PM
I sometimes think I must be the only person in the world who listens to Dem Franchize Boyz and Pigeon John in the same day. Then again I think BOTH are highly overrated.

— DJ Flash Jul 24, 06:12 AM
fo real doo!

“rap” is WACK these days. it’s all about selling products for Cadillac and the you-name-it fashion line. lame ass sellouts.

big ups to my boy jeebyjizzybeezywildhoolaginbuggahflippahzow!

— shizzle Aug 3, 12:25 PM
I hear you on this. There is a huge electro-hop scene that is being totally ignored. Groups like Plastic Little, Purple Crush, Addiquit, & iBeat to name a few.

If you want to know where the future of hip-hop and pop music is going, you best to start checking myspace.com/ibeat.

Trust me…it all begins there!

— iBeat fan Aug 13, 12:59 AM
EPMD,..Rakim, PE,....they were not already rich before there records dropped. They still had to hussle and get on the train,walk the hood, just like everybody else.These cats now get recruited for years before they have even done anything worth wile. Here’s and idea. Get some rep in your on hood first. That way you know your being were you come from. Instead of hopping the first jet to L.A. to become an Computer Genereated artist. Hey moron! If your good the fans will come to you., There were 13 years people for me 85 to 98.

— troubleman313 Aug 13, 12:48 PM
Gangsta rappers are Anti Black, Anti woman and anti family. These modern day mintrels are talentless. people watch them like they watch a car wreck… watch the video( below link) for more info.

http://www.redteamone.com/images/1Man01.wmv
Rondeau
— Rondeau Sep 5, 08:25 AM
You dont know sh#t about the hip hop culture. Just cause they were big in the eighties, back when you were young and fell victim to any new music you heard doesn’t mean that these old heads were any better than today’s rappers. I agree most of the pop-rap youngn’s are some trash, but niggas like Fabolous, Lloyd Banks, and Jadakiss are 10 times better than any cat from 5, 10, 20 years ago. Redman sucks, only half of the Wu is good, LL is a fag, and Kane acted just as misogynistic and flaunted jewelry as much as today’s rappers. The only true “classic” rappers who stand the test of time are Nas and Biggie. Pac thought he was the black Jesus, but contradicted his “positive” image in every song like “hit Em Up”, plus he can’t flow for sh&t. Before you go on hating today’s rapper, think about why you think they suck. Have you actually listed through their entire albums, or just what you hear on the radio? Most artists can’t even put their best songs on the air cause they fear the almighty sensor, and risk having low numbers because suburban white kids might find that sh!t too real to handle.

— Josh Nov 9, 12:15 AM
I agree with most of you.(although I think Sage Francis is mad garbage.I guess you have to be a suburban,white,trekkie to get it)On the other hand, the guy talkin about 2-pac totally lost me.2-pac was the biggest studio gangster of all! Just like Ice-T said,“most niggas did dirt,then when they started makin a little money from rap,chilled with the stupid stuff,and concentrated on gettin their business.Pac did all his dirt AFTER the record deal.Choices are choices, but to say Hip-Hop died with Pac is ridiculous.If anything he made it so goofy white boys in Minnesota believed that “thug life” b.s. is how all Black folks live.Besides,I have a problem with any rapper who can’t freestyle.2-Hmm, sounds like modern rap to me!

— no-school Nov 12, 11:40 AM
“niggas like Fabolous, Lloyd Banks, and Jadakiss are 10 times better than any cat from 5, 10, 20 years ago.”

Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You haven’t heard SHIT from back then if you’re talking like that. You picked 4 people to diss who fell from their peaks a long time ago and you’re obviously judging them from their recent shit. You don’t know shit.

What really bothers me about new rap is the shitty beats. I don’t think anyone could argue that the shit coming out now has anything on the output of the classic producers.

And whoever said Pac had street cred when he became a rapper is completely wrong.

— Do you like my name? Nov 13, 10:40 AM
Money is the root. The hunger isn’t there anymore. Isn’t it something when skills aren’t welcomed but not neccessary?

What “artist” don’t understand is that the stories been told. Everybody has it rough. Everyone came from some kind of struggle. Nobody wants to hear about somebody else bitching about how hard times WERE, while owning shares in Google. There’s a disconnect.
Rap will again mutate, not by design but by the typical lifespan of any genre. Someone had made the point, that DooWop sales in “68” probably tanked upon people getting their heads out of their asses.
Unfortunately asses have become much more comfortable then prior asses and it may take some time. Any kind of movement has to come from the youth in this particular arena. Nobodies listening to those of us who were there for the heyday of hip-hop. Until then I’ll keep spinning the classics and getting deeper into alt rock and jazz, and other forms that offer similar passions.

— Matchstick Nov 19, 12:00 PM
All of you white trash pieces of shit, shut the fuck up.

Goddamned Crackers!

— Cracker Killer Dec 9, 04:10 PM
I agree, well written article. I agree with almost everyone except for the dude saying ““niggas like Fabolous, Lloyd Banks, and Jadakiss are 10 times better than any cat from 5, 10, 20 years ago.” I won’t waste time even going there, Im sure your a rapper with mad skilz too. But shit has gotten so bad. I DJ’d college radio for almost three years and just in that time I saw it drop off, but I just listen to the real stuff with my friends at this point. Theres such a paradox… you got the dumbass untalented rappers who think hip hop is about being uncreative,fake, rich and wearing ghey suits and the people who buy that shit. It’s really rediculous to me sitting back and watching this go down. Its up to human nature to just get damn near sick of it and realize the joke is on these “rapperz” and “brilliant record companies”, I don’t even care if real hip hop is mainstreamed It just pains me to watch it get so twisted.

— jdecks Dec 27, 03:16 PM
Lupe, Weezy, Young Cheezy, All G-Unot!

WEAK ASS RAP!

Cool Kids, Lil mama, The pack.

STRAIGHT WACK!

and

People May Hate
SAGE FRANCIS, but he can kill you in a cypher or in a battle, freestyles…so don’t front!

— ktc Dec 30, 08:21 AM
This article is funny but totally off base. CD music sales are down overall and hip hop is taking the biggest hit because, as usual, the Black community is the first to feel the affects of an overall negative trend (ie, unemployment) and our story forebodes what’s to come for everybody else. In an era when people are spending more of their shrinking discretionary income on video games and dvds, when singles are being traded online and people are picking and choosing songs off an album to buy or burn its not surprising that hip hop music – a genre that’s always been singles driven – is down in sales. Its not that people are listening to hip hop less, they just aren’t buying the CDs anymore. No need, they can and will get it for free. Whereas their mamas and the older heads will still go out an buy a damn Josh Groban album because they don’t know no better. I rarely purchase new music and I still have a ton of it. Your average teenager or 20 something is still going to hear his/her jam at the parties and have it in his/her car without actually having to purchase it. The older heads (always more resistant to change and slower with technology) will run to the store and buy the Kirk Franklin album. Meanwhile their child is listening to and doing the steps to Souljah boy who’s song became the most popular track in America behind months of word of mouth that forced radio play, forced a major label deal, forced a big budget video. But people have stopped liking hip hop? Yeah right. The recording industry is collasping, contemporary Black music will take the first hit and the rest will follow. But who cares, this will push hip hop back to its black club and party roots (much needed anyway), get them off the plantation of the major label, bring back the chitlin circuit for urban black music which was always bank for Black artists regardless of genre and keep much of that money in our community.

— Nik Jan 2, 01:14 PM
All i gotta say is if Tupac were still alive you wouldnt be hearing none of this garbage thats out right now. If you were a fake douchebag while he was here he would end your career. Thats whats up. Rap is dead but the new wyclef is a breath of fresh air. Check it out.

— Ghost Jan 4, 05:13 PM
ADDIQUIT ADDIQUIT ADDIQUIT

heheheh.

— JF Feb 5, 02:19 PM
Ok all I have to say is this…if you think that Lil’ Wayne is garbage then why don’t you try to drop somethin then? I think the only reason you don’t think its good is mainly because you don’t understand what the music means. AND not all the music is the same. In case you were unaware…there IS other music other than what is on the radio by popular artists. So maybe you should know what the music means before you startin dissin again. Weezy baby you the shit, and believe it or not, one of the best influences in my life. I am currently makin music with monsterous similies like my boy wayne. get at me if ya wanna collaberate. justinmc07@yahoo.com Keep it pimpin.

— Justin Feb 8, 11:55 AM
Monsterous Similies.

— Rafi Feb 8, 05:07 PM
^^^

Sounds like the name of a Star Wars villain

— eauhellzgnaw Feb 8, 05:29 PM
Wu-Tang 4 Ever

— 4 Eva Apr 12, 06:20 PM
its not just “wack rappers” that have sunk hip hop, its the whole “industry” .An industry is about squeezing the maximum output from the minimum input,If they can get 100 of these talentless moronic clones to chat shit,and all the bored suburban kids buy it cos they think thats what urban reality is all about,then they will continue to sell and promote it forever.I have been a fan of hip hop since 82 – when breakbeats and influence came from all over – if it sounded fresh, you were in the house!, Back then it was not about purpose built studio’s that cost $300 per hour.In order to get inside the Industry,You have to get past the “Agents” Matrix style – they hold all the keys, and will not let you in ,unless you turn into a Samboised rapper – a clown, and your music has to not rock the boat too much – gotta keep those dollers comin..The ONLY way Hip Hop will regain its dignity is the indie route, but quite honestly 85% of people who are “down” with hip hop are too damn lazy and damn greedy to go that route.Everything great about Hip Hop is in Drum N Bass now. Most U.S Hip Hop is pure shite.
myspace.com/kramizm

— Kramizm Apr 23, 10:08 AM
its called diversity. being CREATIVE. why are peeps so scared of it? maybe if record labels had the balls to try something new, we wouldn’t be stuck with fucking t-pain and soulja boy all the damn time. and why hasn’t anyone mentioned talib kweli? he’s not an asshole rapper. listen to ‘black girl pain.’ it has a GOOD message to it, not just slap a ho, shake yo ass, superman that bitch. rolls eyes.

— whatever May 19, 11:49 PM
G Rap is quite a bit of a douchebag, actually. Known woman beater and general asshole.
But this is still a very valid argument.

— AaronM May 20, 12:36 PM
This is a “new” theory, Sach? No comment.

One.

— Dart Adams May 20, 01:57 PM
RAP IS CRAP! NOT MUSIC. MUSIC USUALLY INCLUDES SINGING, BUT AS MOST PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW RAPPERS CAN’T SING OR EVEN PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AT ALL. SO WHERES THE TALENT???? RAP IS NOT MUSIC, I’TS GARBAGE.

— noname Mar 31, 07:59 AM
Well, I agree with most of your article. These modern fakes have virtually destroyed hip hop. As far as the “Assholes” saying that Hip Hop has been dead since 97…Do you ever stop to think that THEY ARE RIGHT? If you disagree, then it’s time for you to actually do a little research. A little history lesson here: Around ’96 rappers began watering down their bars and began rhyming 4,5,6 or more bars the same way (AKA..Jay Z) and other rappers began following. Nowadays rappers rhyme several bars the same way-half the time with few or no inrhymes (and tack a simple multi on the end). Also that year, production became extremely pop-driven (remember the music for Fugees’ “Ready or Not,” or the complaints about some of the pop-oriented songs on Nas’ “It was written?). Those 2 factors led to hip hop becoming more sappy & radio friendly. Also, around 2000 or so, E. Coast rappers began turning out songs just for the clubs. Lyrics & rhymes went out the window. Only the $ mattered for them. One they began incorporating Crunk & Snap,(around 2005) it really killed the music. For all you underground heads constantly bringing up Atmosphere, Immortal Technique, etc, I’ve got some news for you; they aren’t doing anything different than many of the mainstream rappers are! Their production may be a little grittier, but they are also stuck on that four bar garbage style and ultimately refuse to deviate from their sound in hopes of getting signed to a major label.

By the way, I agree w/you about Kanye too. He is a garbage rapper (who used his producer credit to sneak in the back door)that can’t rhyme, uses ghostwriters & has stupid metaphors.

— Check the dialect Apr 15, 12:38 AM
shit don’t these fools realize that lil Wayne’s going to shoot them. I think that the real problem with rap sales right now is that the market is just over saturated with rap and so much of it is so similar.

— outdoor fire pits Jun 4, 03:15 PM