$2 Billion Industry

[S. Fourteen]

Hip-hop generates an estimated $2 billion in sales a year and ranks behind rock 'n' roll as the second most popular music genre in America.

I took that from the McDonalds Story. We all know Hip Hop is big, it's a pop culture.

Forget the whole Burger thing because we all know that's stupid. I'm interested in reading about what you think of the popularity. Is it a good or a bad thing that Hip Hop is selling?

 

[VENOMOUS]

its good.It insures hiphop road to more longevity.Itll fuck around andbe here 4 another 20+ years

 

[2Pax]

It's good, it keeps hip-hop alive with increasingly popularity, although some formats which branch off from hip-hop but which at the same time stray away from hip-hop (eg. hip-pop) may upset hardcore fans.

 

[S. Fourteen]

NO it's bad. We got people like [fill in the blank] who will just abuse the art of Hip Hop and turn it into his own money making tool. We also have the corporations who will rape Hip Hop and turn the art into commercialism. Then we have the fans, the stupid fans who will buy wack albums like [fill in the blank], just because they heard a catchy song on the radio. Hip Hop has lost its essence

is that so?

 

[two187pac]

I took that from the McDonalds Story. We all know Hip Hop is big, it's a pop culture.

Forget the whole Burger thing because we all know that's stupid. I'm interested in reading about what you think of the popularity. Is it a good or a bad thing that Hip Hop is selling?

why would it be bad

 

[S. Fourteen]

why would it be bad

I'm asking you.... and read my post.

 

[Pittsey]

It has it's positive sides and it's negative sides, as with all industry.

The positive is that it reaches a wider audience and with conscious rap that is a good thing. Also the more popular it gets the more money it generates for people whose only route out of poverty is music or sport. That's the appeal of hip-hop, it's open to anyone you don't need any money to get involved. And you also don't need any talent really to get involved, obviously to be a rapper you do, but not to be a part of hip-hop.


The negative side is that with money and popularity comes big business. When black people were the only ones prepared to put money into hip-hop and it was black owned labels who were the major players, hip-hop was pure. It still meant something, with the money and increase in popularity the history is being ignored. Hip-hop now is the name of the music, not the name of the culture. It is music about guns and "bling". There is also a template that everyone follows, there's no diversity or originality. All that matters is record sales and that suffocates creativity. The real hip-hop heads get ignored, the music that gets played is that which generates money. And with the money coming from white teens, the white teens are targeted. They fantasise about the glory behind gangs, guns and money. Hence 50 Cents popularity.

 

[Silleone]

the more it generates the more it sucks IMO, IM Fucking O

the more they sellout, the more i download there shit and sell it to people

 

[AnarchistFunk]

I agree with the quote , that it's lost it's essence

 

[imported_MAKaveli_10]

Its good it makes jobs for so many people. It keeps the music we love going. And so many of us get paid for doing something we love.

 

[sniper]

It has it's positive sides and it's negative sides, as with all industry.

The positive is that it reaches a wider audience and with conscious rap that is a good thing. Also the more popular it gets the more money it generates for people whose only route out of poverty is music or sport. That's the appeal of hip-hop, it's open to anyone you don't need any money to get involved. And you also don't need any talent really to get involved, obviously to be a rapper you do, but not to be a part of hip-hop.


The negative side is that with money and popularity comes big business. When black people were the only ones prepared to put money into hip-hop and it was black owned labels who were the major players, hip-hop was pure. It still meant something, with the money and increase in popularity the history is being ignored. Hip-hop now is the name of the music, not the name of the culture. It is music about guns and "bling". There is also a template that everyone follows, there's no diversity or originality. All that matters is record sales and that suffocates creativity. The real hip-hop heads get ignored, the music that gets played is that which generates money. And with the money coming from white teens, the white teens are targeted. They fantasise about the glory behind gangs, guns and money. Hence 50 Cents popularity.

true-fuckin-story :thumb:

 

[Pittsey]

Why do all the posts which could become a great discussion die?

I liked this topic Salty. But you forgot to mention Eminem or 50 Cent, then this thread would've stretched for 10 pages.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

I would answer this with a long reply Pittsey, but threads akin to this have been started before & I have posted long replies only to find 3 on-topic replies hours later so for now I'll just loosely agree with what you posted.

 

[Pittsey]

I would answer this with a long reply Pittsey, but threads akin to this have been started before & I have posted long replies only to find 3 on-topic replies hours later so for now I'll just loosely agree with what you posted.

..

 

[S O F I]

When black people were the only ones prepared to put money into hip-hop and it was black owned labels who were the major players, hip-hop was pure.

No.

Hip-hop now is the name of the music, not the name of the culture. It is music about guns and "bling".

No.

There is also a template that everyone follows, there's no diversity or originality. All that matters is record sales and that suffocates creativity.

No.

the music that gets played is that which generates money.

Movies that are shown in the theaters are the ones that make money. It's like, a "duh" thing. Your statement can be applied to any single thing in the world, money-wise.

And with the money coming from white teens, the white teens are targeted. They fantasise about the glory behind gangs, guns and money. Hence 50 Cents popularity.

That's actually more of a myth than a fact. There is no proof, other than every other person repeating it so many times, that everybody believes it. It's worse than propaganda. It's like 3 am here, if you'd like, I'll elaborate on my "No's" tomorrow.

 

[Pittsey]

Originally Posted by Pittsey

When black people were the only ones prepared to put money into hip-hop and it was black owned labels who were the major players, hip-hop was pure.

No.

We had better music and more originality. How many original albums, sounds or tracks do we get now. Think of the music we had as recently as 1996, when DR were still in charge of the rap business.

Hip-hop now is the name of the music, not the name of the culture. It is music about guns and "bling".

No.

Well yes. We have had this argument many times on here. Where people don't understand there is more to hip-hop than rap music.

And the majority of rap music is about bragging. It seems very few people are rapping about anything else. Obviously this isn't exclusive, but most are 1 dimensional thug wannabes.

There is also a template that everyone follows, there's no diversity or originality. All that matters is record sales and that suffocates creativity.

No.

I disagree. Who is putting out original music in the mainstream? I can think of maybe 3 people, but that is it. That's a small amount in a $2 billion industry. And there is a template, everyone wants to release a pop record, a club record and a "deep" record. All albums are put together the same. Usually with the "deep" record as the last track. No-one wants to break the mould, step apart from the norm. Aftermath are the main offenders. All their albums are the same.

the music that gets played is that which generates money.

Movies that are shown in the theaters are the ones that make money. It's like, a "duh" thing. Your statement can be applied to any single thing in the world, money-wise.

Ok agreed. lol. Owned.

And with the money coming from white teens, the white teens are targeted. They fantasise about the glory behind gangs, guns and money. Hence 50 Cents popularity.

That's actually more of a myth than a fact. There is no proof, other than every other person repeating it so many times, that everybody believes it. It's worse than propaganda.

No I believe it is truth. Spend a day in a record shop, stand by the Urban section. Check how many Urban Youths buy the stuff. The money is with white teens.

It's like 3 am here, if you'd like, I'll elaborate on my "No's" tomorrow.

Yes please. I also gave you rep points, as I liked your post.

 

[one mc on dj]

What Pittsey said was nice but I disagree a bit because when you put money into something with the idea that you can make more of it..It's already business...So was hip hop pure? Maybe it was when they was deejaying and emceeing in parks yeah that was the time of pure hip hop.

It's funny I am talking about stuff I haven't even witnessed so seriously my opinion doesn't really count in al this but I just gave it neway.

 

[Pittsey]

What Pittsey said was nice but I disagree a bit because when you put money into something with the idea that you can make more of it..It's already business...So was hip hop pure? Maybe it was when they was deejaying and emceeing in parks yeah that was the time of pure hip hop.

It's funny I am talking about stuff I haven't even witnessed so seriously my opinion doesn't really count in al this but I just gave it neway.

Nah. I wanna hear your opinion. You know I like what you have to say, (when you're not attempting to be funny ).

I was on about the times of sugar Hill gang, etc. When no-one gave a shit about rap and thought it was just a phase. That's truer hip-hop than what is out now.

I was waiting for Roaches to come in and own me to be honest. As my knowlege has quite a few holes.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Here's a copy & paste job from a more recent comment on the state of Hip Hop:

Hip Hop became restricted as an art form as soon as major money came into the equation.

Now, all you have to do is follow a formula & you can sell records.

Of course, the nature of the beast is that companies do not want to invest in a formula they cannot replicate & thus, generic 'artists' are pushed rather than true artists which is why so many people either listen to poor quality rap OR, are utterly disgusted at what is giving airtime.

 

[one mc on dj]

Nah. I wanna hear your opinion. You know I like what you have to say, (when you're not attempting to be funny ).

I was on about the times of sugar Hill gang, etc. When no-one gave a shit about rap and thought it was just a phase. That's truer hip-hop than what is out now.

I was waiting for Roaches to come in and own me to be honest. As my knowlege has quite a few holes.

Sugar Hill was business...I thought Sugar Hill opened mad doors for people. I think Sugar Hill was even signed to a huge label but it went bankrupt I don't know I read something about it tho. Perhaps that is truer hip-hop than what it is now because it was new and not played out like it is today but it is still business. so what Im saying is before it was business now it is big business.

Don't really matter if it is truer hip hop because we can't change it and that means the good will be ignored but that probably happened back then too.