We've all heard the comparisons; "The rap game reminds me of the crack game". My boy once told me that Hip-Hop is like the WWE, with its top stars fighting for position. Ironically, after he told me this, it became a headline in an issue of The Source magazine. Lately I've come to think of Hip-Hop like porn. On what basis you ask? Let me explain...
I'm no porn connoisseur despite finding Roxy Reynolds to be a BAD chick (insert Luda song), but I've noticed some commonalities. For one, they handle age similarly. In porn, when you're the new face, you're all the rave and the cat's meow. However, the minute you look a day over 25, you automatically get labeled a "MILF". Far worse is getting into your late 20s or early 30's because then you're branded as ..."MATURE". How awful? Hip-Hop does the same thing. In today's current climate we find a lot of young artist that find success with one or two singles only to disappear into obscurity shortly after a la Hurricane Chris. Longevity eludes most with the exception of Jay-Z or Eminem, but then they're criticized for being old and out of touch. It's crazy.
I understand Hip-Hop has always been a youth driven music, but the truth is, the artist that penetrate the culture and stick around are usually older. Prime examples; Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. Both have been mainstays since their respective solo debuts in '05 and '06, but neither were spring chickens. However, there's always this negative stigma of being old. It's Hip-Hop's proverbial elephant in the room. Somewhere in people's mind they see rappers as being young, when in all actuality, the most successful aren't.
I guess it all comes down to relevance. Every artist will have their day and hopefully a solid run, but no one stays on top forever. Heather Hunter and Janet Jackme can't compete with Jada Fire, but eventually her flame will out too. With closer inspection, the industries are different. A rapper may spend years trying to "get on" and may not get a break until much later into their recording career whereas new pornstars are sought after once they become legal. They're all treated the same in the end though. At a certain point, they become disposable and have to step aside for the newer face. I guess no one ever wants to bow out, but I've realized you have to be accepting and do so gracefully. At least then, you'll be remembered fondly. No one wants to be the dilapidated rapper past their prime or the pornstar with droopy titties and a vajayjay that looks like roast beef.
Just my thought. Uno
1 comment:
Old, young and relevant.
Good post and topic.
The artist that people feel are too old usually baffles and they often feel that their age determines their relevancy. It's really crazy. As soon as an artist is no longer on a major label or has little presence on mainstream U.S media people tend to think they fell off . . . because they're not being discussed. My problem with that line of thought is the discussion is some times bought and sold. The hype, the buzz is often manufactured just like any hot news item that is deemed relevant by the Associated Press. In hip hop, you can be a big profitable artist without any buzz, radio play or presence online for a number of years before you're deemed relevant. UGK was a huge act well before they appeared on Jay-Z's Big Pimpin . . . but that is how the industry reacts.
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