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January 23, 2005

History of Hip Hop

The Guardian has a look back at 30 years of hip-hop. It's a pretty interesting article, and I intend to use my p2p powers to compile the included "ultimate mix tape" listing. But I remember listening to rap back in the late 80's and early 90's and taking nothing but flack from my high school buddies for my apparent lack of taste in music. I recall they were "Hootie and the Blowfish" fans, but no matter. :)

I'm of the firm opinion that as a young'un, there are two or three songs that knock you flat on your ass and say "now listen to this, bitch!" One of those (for me) was Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit," but the biggee was "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy. There was so much intelligence, anger and musical innovation packed into that tune I was blown away. Years later I got to see Public Enemy live, and it's by far the best concert I've ever seen.

Now watered down and Wal-Mart friendly hip-hop is pretty much inescapable, though I'm willing to bet those same high school buddies are safely cocooned in "hits of the 80's, 90's and today (but no rap)" radio station bliss. :)

7 comment(s) so far (Post your own)

1

On January 23, 2005 4:41 PM, Steven said:

Frey if you want some modern day hip-hop that actually has something to say let me know and I will hook you up.

2

On January 23, 2005 5:06 PM, Warren Frey said:

Hook a sista....I mean, a brotha...yeah, that's right...up! :)


3

On January 23, 2005 10:32 PM, cam c. said:

You know who's good? That rappin' Colonel Saunders! "Yo, yo... we southerners enslaved yo asses.... now buy our fried chicken anyway, yo!" :)

Seriously, in a way, rap is our generation's "rock'n roll", especially now that rock has been so stripped of all its soul and diluted beyond any semblance of coolness... The parallels are there, though, for sure... both of them are black music that made it's way to the mainstream and topped the charts, and both of them are almost universally hated by anyone even a few years older than us... (that still don't quite make Eminem the new Elvis, though)

4

On January 24, 2005 8:14 AM, Warren Frey said:

I've even found I'm starting to get old and cheesed off about the new breed of hipster rock. Not the music itself....I don't mind Modest Mouse, or the Futureheads, or Death From Above 1979, though a lot of the new stuff sounds the same. But why is it all these new bands have haircuts and outfits that make them look like jackasses? I mean, trucker hats and "ironic" mustaches? C'mon!

Though I realize I sound EXACTLY like the aforementioned people ten years older than I who said the exact same thing about grunge...:)

5

On January 24, 2005 12:58 PM, G of T said:

Anyone wearing a trucker hat should be well over the age of 45 and not trying to make any fashion statement whatsoever. Everyone else wearing one should fucking hang! That's right....I went there.

It just seems that a lot of these bands wear clothes of the "so lame it's cool" variety. It's all so bloody unoriginal and downright boring.

6

On January 24, 2005 3:26 PM, Warren Frey said:

As opposed to spandex and gelled up manes of metal hair? :)

7

On January 24, 2005 3:32 PM, G of T said:

Hey, it was as gay as hell. I'll admit it. (Those aren't the only bands I listened to, ya freak!:)

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