(via lieslieslies:saintnate:fantasyaction)
—lieslieslies: This is a lie.
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Granted I do not generally listen to corporate radio at all… I’d probably lean toward saying its a least partially true. I think most stations play rap and R&B and pop-hop, so T.I., Neyo, Kanye West, etc… but what I consider to be real hip-hop, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5 and Nappy Roots, etc… not so much.And, debate.
Here’s my thing: first and foremost hip-hop is everywhere. It’s on a 9 year olds sneaks he spent 4 months saving for. It’s painted on the walls of every city. It’s on mixtapes and it’s on corporate radio, too. Sure, there’s tons of underground artists that will not get the recognition in the mainstream they deserve and that truly is a shame. Doesn’t look like Wale is going to get bumped on 106.7 anytime soon. But Jay-Z, whom I admire and respect, who plays in the vein of true hip hop, does get played. Maybe his shit is more public friendly, more hooks (hooks are a huge part of hip-hop though), more ‘catchiness’. But just because someone decided to play him on the air waves doesn’t lessen his hop. Those who want to automatically put he and others down for this are close minded. ‘I say a Big verse, I’m only biggin’ up my brother’. So big up everyone in the game. Hip hop is on the streets. It’s a boombox on a stoop (whether that stoop be in Bed-Stuy or Minneapolis). Hip hop is in your Air Forces. Hip hop is young dudes yelling ‘get money’ out the window of a Cadillac. Haters gonna hate, players gonna play.
It’s pretty telling that this discussion is primarily being led by white people. Kids on the corners of Baltimore don’t give a fuck about anticon.
Alan knows what’s up.
