Monday, March 05, 2007

Nas coming to Charlotte

Rapper Nas brings his The Hip Hop is Dead Tour 2007 to Neighborhood
Theatre on April 11. ($38. 704-358-9298; www.neighborhoodtheatre.com; or
Baseline Cuts Barbershop: 704-567-9919.)

The upcoming show -- and EPMD’s performance here for CIAA weekend --
provides a good opportunity to talk about the state of hip-hop.

On Nas’ new single, "Hip-hop is Dead," he laments rappers today who brag about the women
they’ve slept with and their jewelry. At the EPMD show at Amos’ Southend
on Friday, rapper Erick Sermon also called out young rappers, saying
that anybody could rap, but not everyone can be an MC.

I understand where they’re coming from because that quality hip-hop that
tries to uplift young people and educate young minds disappeared from
radio stations more than a decade ago. But the issues that Nas and
Sermon have with rap music have always been a part of hip-hop.

Hip-hop isn’t dead. We still have Nas, Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, Little
Brother, Outkast and countless underground rappers who aren’t grabbing
their crotches and talking about the kind of car they drive.

What do you think? Is hip-hop dead? Post your reply below.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

ya'll better hurry up cause i plan on buying up ALL them tickets! - hate me now!

Anonymous said...

hop that tries to uplift young people and educate young minds disappeared from radio stations more than a decade ago...

DEAD ON!

LONG LIVE HIP HOP HOORAY.
BRING BACK THE POSITIVE MESSAGE AND LEAVE THE JUVENILE SMUT LYRICS OUT.

Unknown said...

Both Nas and Sermon have valid points. The current state of COMMERCIAL rap is dismal, even abysmal; but you make reference to excellent examples of underground groups (including NC's own Little Brother) that are striving to hold on to the tradition of HipHop really meaning something. It's sad that Charlotte doesn't host groundbreaking, positive, thought-provoking HipHop more often. This past weekends concert featuring Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Rich Boy and Baby probably drew hundreds or thousands of young-minded spectators hungry for the next dose of digitally mastered crack music, but I'm willing to bet Nas' performance will be full of members of the 25 and older crowd. Well, at least the chances of shots being fired will be lessened. I know I'LL be there.

Peace.

Darryl Krush said...

Being a long time dj (since the days of break beats, raw lyrical skills, and no hooks) I've been involved with hip hop since its infancy. Back in the day, the bravado was rich with stuff you wish you had; no disrespect of women; but most importantly, your proving yourself as being good enough to captivate the crowd!! The music industry (money machine) has ruined hip hop as we knew it. Just like any other entity, when you do it for the love, its quality. When you are in it strickly for the money, it shows. True hip hop "babies" (those born and raised on the real hip hop) know the difference. -dj darryl krush of sgl productions

theBlackEconomist said...

Bluntly speaking Nas and Sermon are late to the party. In hindsight it seems that C Delores Tucker and Tipper Gore were right. Everyone I know is fed up with the booty shaking, gangsta brand of hip-hop. All they reflect is the worst part of the community.

Anonymous said...

I grew up in VA listening to Nas, Wu, Gang Star, Slick Rick, Mobb Deep, 2Pac, Biggie, House of Pain, and Outkast's first 2 cd's. I'm a 27 year old white guy, a college educated professional, and I hope there are more out there like me who are tired of the new hip-hop that are buying up all the tickets to the show. Lets get enough of us grown-ups in there so we can enjoy it with out the "young thug" crowd that has the potential to have us on CNN the next morning. I've already bought my 4 tickets. Hip-hop is not dead, but it went on life support in the late 90's!

Anonymous said...

In light of these comments Tonya, it's hard to understand why you still give plenty of praise and publicity to the rappers who promote materialiam, misogyny, and disdain for law enforcement.

I mean, as soon as the next 50 Cent gig is announced, you'll be pumping it up strong.

Why don't you take a real stand for once?? You're a hypocrite.

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