Decline in rap quality is correlated to literacy. These rappers now don't read books,don't write, illiterate. No longer intense path b/w poetry to rap

[Playaz Eyez]

It's not just rap it's a lot of art today. Think about how often you watch a film or TV show today and hear dialogue or argument that are ripped right from social media. We have writers who don't read, actors who don't watch films, rappers who don't listen to rap, singers who don't listen to pop/r&b, etc. A few months ago I saw an interview where Winona Ryder was depressed talking about how when she works with young actresses, none of them will watch older films (for inspiration, performance tips, etc) because the films are too long. Like...how can you be an actor but not watch movies? For writing we have an army of people who refuse to read old books because they are "too white" or too patriarchal or whatever. I'd imagine most of us read novels like 1984 or Lord Of The Flies in school. Now many schools don't require any reading.

And then you get to rap. I have a little cousin who is a Drake fan but won't listen to his earlier albums. She's never heard Take Care or NWTS because it's "old." Hell she hasn't heard Scorpion either, which came out in 2017. I just don't see how this mentality is sustainable. Younger people have ignored older shyt before...that's not new. But this shyt is on another level, given how much access they have to information.

The difference is the current youth take pride in not knowing older stuff, like a badge of honor. See: Lil Yachty.

 

[Pool_Shark]

I think the big problem here is that hip-hop/rap music is not one type of music any more. There are a bunch of different styles and sub genres but I don't really see the distinction being made too often.

Imo popular music in general has devolved. I don't mean pop music I mean from rock to rap and everything in between, what gets promoted is baby formula. The music industry is dying, streaming has dealt a huge blow to the amount of money they were making. Anyone can make music nowadays and blow up. So when it comes to a machine taking a chance and using all there power and influence to promote a new artist they'd rather take the sure a bet. A catchy jingle that'll get stuck in people's heads.

There is still good music being made but I doubt you're going to find the best music of our time on the radio. Everything is monopolized, corporatized and an algorithm is what decides what will get played.


Dont worry though AI is coming and you'll have all the lyrical miracle music you want again

 

[Stick Up Kid]

You can direct that at The South.. when they took over is when the decline of literacy in hip hop started

 

[Wild self]

You can direct that at The South.. when they took over is when the decline of literacy in hip hop started

You think Gucci Mane stood a chance in the 90s or early 00s?

 

[Conan]

I think the big problem here is that hip-hop/rap music is not one type of music any more. There are a bunch of different styles and sub genres but I don't really see the distinction being made too often.

Imo popular music in general has devolved. I don't mean pop music I mean from rock to rap and everything in between, what gets promoted is baby formula. The music industry is dying, streaming has dealt a huge blow to the amount of money they were making. Anyone can make music nowadays and blow up. So when it comes to a machine taking a chance and using all there power and influence to promote a new artist they'd rather take the sure a bet. A catchy jingle that'll get stuck in people's heads.

There is still good music being made but I doubt you're going to find the best music of our time on the radio. Everything is monopolized, corporatized and an algorithm is what decides what will get played.


Dont worry though AI is coming and you'll have all the lyrical miracle music you want again

Nah, there were sub-genres in rap back then, and you could find high grade across the board. Even the commercial stuff wasn't that dumbed down.

The South is also a convenient scapegoat in these conversations, by the way.

 

[Uchiha God]

Also worth noting that popular rap music transitioned from having community driven activism undertones to full-on "get the bag, fukk everybody else"

 

[Wild self]

Also worth noting that popular rap music transitioned from having community driven activism undertones to full-on "get the bag, fukk everybody else"

Which rapper in the mid 00s pushed that message?

 

[Knicksman20]

Vocabulary is one thing but actually knowing what they are saying is another, plenty of 90's rappers were spitting some high tense vocabulary without knowing the shyt they were saying LOL..analysing some of my old mix tapes and underground collection can be bit crazy and upsetting LOL

Keith Murray was the first rapper I thought of

Didn't @FreshAIG call Canibus the original smart/dumb nikka

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

Keith Murray was the first rapper I thought of

Didn't @FreshAIG call Canibus the original smart/dumb nikka

Yeah Keith is up there with that shyt!!

That's why man's like Jeru The Damaja is respected he clearly knows and studied on stuff he recites and is clear to the point without using over the top fancy pancy vocabulary.

 

[Uchiha God]

Which rapper in the mid 00s pushed that message?

I said undertones - and you can find those anywhere from Kanye West to Common to OutKast, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Jay Elec, Kendrick. shyt, even capitalist sharks like Hov would give you both poison and medicine in their albums.

The variety of artists, messaging and quality of music has both been watered down in complexity and subject matter and funnelled towards what we have today.

 

[Knicksman20]

Yeah Keith is up there with that shyt!!

That's why man's like Jeru The Damaja is respected he clearly knows and studied on stuff he recites and is clear to the point without using over the top fancy pancy vocabulary.

I like Murray but you can tell sometimes he'd be saying shyt just because it rhymed lol

Jeru's nice bro & very underrated! You can tell he's actually intelligent in how he rhymes & speaks

 

[Playaz Eyez]

I like Murray but you can tell sometimes he'd be saying shyt just because it rhymed lol

Jeru's nice bro & very underrated! You can tell he's actually intelligent in how he rhymes & speaks

Keith Murray and Kurupt are the biggest offenders of this lmao

 

[CrimsonTider]

I blame the consumers as much as I blame the rappers.

It's like the less words in a song, the better the song is.Ver

Verses are the least important part of a song

No one wants to hear bars

 

[Yehuda]

Too many cats lying on their teacher. You know damn well that lady never said you wouldn't amount to shyt.

 

[HoldThisL]

Verses are the least important part of a song

No one wants to hear bars

It honestly depends on the individual and where they are in life. As I grew older I appreciated lyrics more than when I was young.
Younger me favorite artists would probably be Playboi Carti, Future, and Travis Scott right now.