Hip Hop

Since we're talking about entertainment and music this week, I figured I'd talk about my favorite genre of music: Hip-hop. I listen to Rock also and a small percentage from other genres but Hip-hop is my favorite one. I guess I'm writing this blog entry mainly to discuss why I love the genre and why people should stop saying "Alex you think your a gangster or something?" when they don't even listen to the music.
Most people criticize Hip-hop or Rap or whatever you want to call it based on what is heard on the radio or music videos. The reason why the majority of the music is so mediocre these days is because Hip-hop is not only one of the youngest genres of music (if not THE youngest) but also one of the quickest in gaining such popularity. It's more than music; it's a lifestyle and a freedom of expression. It was originally a freedom of expression and addressed many issues from personal to political; it was more intelligent compared to how it is today. Naturally like all original and creative ideas, the industry saw it as being profitable and the genre became commercialized to the worst degree. Now, the majority of the material you hear on the radio and television is all about guns, drugs, cars and sex because that is what sells.
The majority of the Rap I listen to is either older or underground (noncommercialized Hip-hop). The music itself is deeper and more complex. I do listen to mainstream music too but I get tired of the majority of the songs (from oversaturation) quickly except from the ones from my favorite artists (Kanye West, Ludacris, T.I., just to name a few). I think I enjoy the genre so much mainly because I want to be a writer and there is a lot of poetry and wordplay involved in the lyrics. Also, the sound is great because it samples from famous songs of many other genres so in a way, Hip-hop contains sounds from every genre of music. I develop an appreciation for other types of music this way.
More importantly, I'm tired of people giving me crap for listening to it when they don't listen to it at all. What I do find funny is that my friends who do listen to Hip-hop tell me that I'm the most "non-ghetto" kid who listens to it. That and the fact I know so much about it. Anyway, that's the end of my little rant. I'll see you all next week. Peace.

-Alex M.