Question about modern era jip hop and rap

goosehorn

goosehorn

500+ Posts
I ask this question as I haven't kept up much with rap for some time now, but does it seem that artists currently don't embrace their roots and pioneers of their genre?

Each generation of rock bands still seem to continually respect the likes of Joy Division, Motorhead, Sabbath, The Clash, Jimi, The Ramones, The Stooges, etc. It isn't unusual at all to hear a band that tries to draw stylistically from the same creative thought processes that these bands drew from during their time, and their fans love it. The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and many other the bands that have big draws have no shame in their game when it comes to giving props to their roots.

When is a rap band going to come out that has a throwback taste reminiscent of RUN DMC? Those guys were incredibly talented. Why can't some kick *** rap band come out with songs that sound like a new take on Egyptian Lover? Zap and Roger?

Come on... Put on Cutie Pie. Tell me you wounded like to hear some bad dudes with a ton of groove come out with two turntables, a moog, a fuzz bass, and a few microphones? Does anyone try and even sound like Terminator X nowadays?

I know there are bands like Chromeo, but I think they relate more to a rock aesthetic than to most high school age rap kids that trip out to Souja Boy.

I respect rap and hip hop as an incredibly respectable art form, but the best days of rap seem to be waiting to be revisited. WIll it happen any time soon, or is it even possibly happening now and I just don't know it?

Please, please, please... find the song Trendsetter by Ron C. and listen to it. Someone needs to be doing that **** right now.
 
most of the rap i listen to was created in the 90's i.e. ATLiens and Aquemini from OutKast, E.1999 Eternal and Art of War from Bone Thugs, or Geto Boys, 2pac, Biggie, Z-Ro, etc. Z-ro and Lupe Fiasco are really the only artists who come to mind when I think of what current artists i listen to.
 
Oops on the jip hop

I didnt think about Outkast while posting this. THey most certainly are channeling from an older school of thought.
 
Of current stuff I like the stuff on Diplo's label, Mad Decent. The B-More scene is fun and artists like Spank Rock and Blaqstarr are good.

Rap and Hip Hop are due a renaissance for sure. There are good artists underground but most don't bother to dig, dig?
 
If you are a fan of the late 90s...Outkast/Tribe/The Roots/Mos Def era...you might want to check out Strange Fruit Project, Little Brother, PPT (the album, Denglish - if you are an Outkast fan), MF Doom and Bavu Blakes.

Also, if you want to do some really good reading...check out Hip Hop Matters by Watkins. It discusses politics and hip hop. It's a tad outdated, but it is eye opening. I loved it.
 
I used to love Common. Like Water for Chocolate is an incredible album. But since his work with Kanye, I haven't been able to get into it. Kweli's newst album is awesome. It is really good.
 
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