Is hip-hop dead?

Is hip-hop dead? It sure sounds like it if you turn on the radio. The only topics discussed are bling-bling materialism, how many guns you have, and "ho's." Back in the hip-hop's days of the '80s and early '90s, some of the most popular groups were Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest and KRS-One. Public Enemy is an hip-hop group known for its politically charged lyrics, criticism of the media and the concerns in the African American community.

The music has gone so far from its roots that is might be a parody at this point. There is an over-representation of the criminal aspects of black youth culture. Not all black kids out here are using drugs and shooting at each other. What about the black kid who works at the ice-cream shop? Or what about the black kid who just goes to church with his grandmother on Sundays? Stories like this doesn't exist is the present hip-hop music. In the early 90's, NWA was introduced. Their music was about a lifestyle of violence, drugs and sex, and when sales exploded, the themes in rap songs changed. Eminem, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Notorius B.I.G. and Snoop Dogg had enormous sales.

Even though most of the hip-hop music today is about themes like violence, sex and drugs, there are rap-artist who balance out some of the other hip-hop that lacks the love for the art and the effort of innovation. Artists like Common, The Roots, Talib Kwelli and Mos Def. Artists in the underground music have problems to be heard. For example the rap group Blue Scholars are doing independent records but not getting exposure.

Hip-hop is definitely not dead. It's just underfed and concealed. A lot of great rappers are underground, and they're not getting enough recognition. For as long as we have got "Lollipops" and Soulja Boy's constantly in the media and radio, hip-hop will remain a dumbed-down society.