The Constant Struggle to Accept Change in Rap

Oh no I’m becoming my mother.

The necessary statement I make a lot. I find myself seeing similarities in my mother and me, from different aspects of my life as I grow older. But one that I thought was amusing is the response I make to music nowadays.

“What is this crap?”

I can hear my mom shouting that while driving in the car or when I used to blast music in my bedroom.  Now I’m the one saying it to myself.  No I’m not growing the same taste in music like her, but my quick reaction and instant disdain for “crap” music is very much like my mommy dearest.

I’m very critical of the current rap scene. I don’t like it. Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yatchy, Playboi Carti, Desiigner seemed to have this growing influence over the mainstream last year and continue to in 2017, yet I wasn’t enthused by what I was hearing. Since my opinions are based strongly off of my dislike, I ask myself if I’m being too critical sometimes.  I listen to Run/Running by Lil Yatchy and I’m immediately turned off. I won’t listen to an album or play another one of his songs. So before writing this I made myself listen to some of the mixtapes from the artists I mentioned.

I must say I didn’t loathe every second. Although the artists share some familiar ground I heard quite a bit of differences that made me favor one over the other.  It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I still wouldn’t listen again. The creaky auto-tuning, wince-worthy metaphors and murmuring melodies overbear the elements that did pleasantly surprise me.

Recently I watched Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix and thought it was interesting to see the changes hip-hop has gone through since the 1970’s. As the years went by artists pushed to make sounds that were different from before in a quest to be groundbreaking.  In the 70’s pioneering DJ’s were spinning break beats at parties for people to dance to. Once the beats found the rhymes the rapper was born. Since then there has been significant innovations in the sound because of technology and rap’s lyrical progression.

While watching the documentary I questioned if I’m unwelcoming to change in rap, especially to the mainstream right now. I answered yes and no.

Yes because I just cannot get down with the jerky rapping and pitchy whining. I related a lot to this article on DJBooth about aging with the music you listen to and finding what speaks to your soul. The writer talks about how his musical tastes aren’t the same now that he’s older. While he can still enjoy the mainstream of Lil Uzi Vert and friends their sound doesn’t move him. I feel similar, although unlike this writer I cannot really enjoy what I hear. I can appreciate the creativity to an extent but that is it. This has to be the reason, I’m too old.

No because I understand change is inevitable, I’ve seen different transitions in rap over the years and have been a fan of some and a critic of others. Although I may always favor the rap I like from what I hear today, I try not to be close minded or romanticize the past because I know rap has always been about innovation. However I do think there’s a limit to blowing up conventions and shifting genre constructs too much where it isn’t hip-hop anymore.

Granted these breed of rappers aren’t trying to make “good hip-hop.” But they are still in their early days. What we hear for this moment may be a temporary phase that will fizzle out and they’ll evolve their sound. Or their distinct new direction will mount to lasting careers. Only time will tell.

One thing is for sure there is a new artist somewhere finessing their sound that will soon agitate or enthrall you and I all over again- got to accept that.

-C

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