Did Baduizm allow the Southern songstress to predict a common sentiment among some Hip Hoppers?
By Olimatta Taal
There is an ongoing debate about the direction of hip hop, the sub genres that have grown from its development, and the commercialization of hip hop culture. In 2010, Erykah Badu sent out a controversial tweet on Twitter questioning the state of hip hop, “How y’all gonna stand by and let our music turn into some pop techno cornball ass music.”
Coming from the perspective of a hip hop head who has been apart of the hip hop movement from its development, you can understand why one might have a number of criticisms and or opinions on the state of hip hop. However, there are generations of young people who also feel that music doesn’t stay the same forever and believe that hip hop should be allowed to grow.
“You don’t give up the boom bip and the hump for the pay day. I love house and techno as a side dish. But now it’s served as the main course and that’s all you gone get,” tweeted Badu. Does Badu make a valid point? Should the hip hop generation be concerned about the current state and direction of hip hop?
M-1 of deadprez agrees with Erykah Badu “I would have to say that hip hop is still controlled by the same corporations that have transformed the sound, the content, and ultimately the purpose of the music. Her statement stands as a correct analysis. Hip Hop and pop are synonymous, it has been transformed into popular culture. The uptempo is becoming what people dance to, so hip hop has transformed its sound from what used to be relevant to adopt to sounds that are relevant now and selling.”
One might argue that there has been a consistent relationship between hip hop, techno, and house from the 70′s with Afrika Bambatta’s and Kraftwerk’s ‘Planet Rock’ serving as a model of success that can happen when merging the two genres. Today that has evolved into a number of collabs including Dub Pistols, Busta Rhymes, and Silk The Shocker with ‘The One.’ A number of artist have collaborated on fusions of hip hop and techo/house like Wiz Khalifa, Nicki Minaj, Mos Def, Kanye West, Danny Brown, Slum Village selling platinum records and opening international markets.
“I like fusion in general, if its done where the origin of the music is understood. But if someone is just trying to piggyback off the trend and trying to bust their career, nah that’s not hot. You have to understand the roots and do the research. Understand the format of certain music, the drum pattern, the variety of instruments, the history,” expresses Echo Slim, international DJ.
As hip hop grows and spreads it wings into a plethora of sub-genres, there will be this continual dialogue between the pioneers of hip hop and the new generation. Continuing to having reservations of the development, expansion, and growth while hip hop yearns to be clipped of its wings and fly. “Hip Hop is phenomenal, born out of a resistance of oppression of African people. It is a survivalist mechanism and will do whatever is required of it,” concludes M1. On that note fly, but don’t forget what you are Hip Hop!
