Finally.......
The resurrection of conscious rap as a global epidemic. All this thanks to one major trending emcee in the game. Soulja Boy.
Hahahaaa!!!
Just fucking around. We all know that if it was not for K-Dot a.k.a. Kendrick Lamar, conscious rap would have been a mythical story told to the next generation of Hip Hop enthusiasts.
So
We can start by learning the definition of conscious rap. According to Wikipedia, Conscious Hip Hop or socially conscious Hip-Hop is a sub-genre of hip hop that focuses on social issues. So basically it's not about money, cars, clothes or hoes. It is more about what the emcee is feeling and not what they have or what they are doing.
Now. Why I give my gratitude to Kendrick for the resurrection of conscious rap is because looking back at the year 2006, Nas released "Hip Hop Is Dead" and the Hip Hop community went into a controversial hype. One arrogant bubblegum rapper actually indirectly blamed Nas for killing Hip Hop, but I won't mention his name (Just a site). So as Nas tried to warn many emcees to get real, he was instead insulted by a bubblegum rapper. Imagine that.
For me, that was Hip Hop's last real living heart pulse and the beginning of a class of boosters and braggers that did nothing but show off and subliminally inspire their young fans to either do or sell drugs. I know this because I was there (secret neighborhood smoking spot) with my peers, rolling and smoking numerous joints, debating which label was better. Young Money, due to their swag, money, and Nicki Minaj's fat ass (No Offence). Or Maybach Music Group, due to their street life promotions, mentions of A-Grade narcotics and very violent threats. But both labels never really released material that our parents can listen to and give acknowledgement. Nothing that ever benefited anyone or anything except their bank accounts.
Although, K-Dot is not the only conscious emcee out. We have had an honor to have Tupac, Mos Def, KRS-One, Nas, Immortal Technique, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Dead Prez, Jedi Mind Tricks, Scarface, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Public Enemy, Common Sense, Poor Righteous Teachers, Etc banging out our stereos. Unfortunately you don't know half of them. I don't blame anyone, I don't know half of them either, I mean really Poor Righteous Teachers. But such emcees had songs that had people of similar situations actually feeling better about their lives. Like Tupac made a lot of African American feel proud to be known as Thugs because they had no choice.
So I only ask those emcees and rappers (will explain difference in next post) to keep it real. Not only for your fans. You will be surprised how speaking from your heart rather than your mind can actually relieve you.
Trust me. I made the rapper-emcee transition just last week and I feel like a brand new and improved player in this game we call Hip Hop.
Try it.
"Express Yourself"
-N.W.A.
Keep It Real. Don't Kill Expression.
Enjoy.
