Nathaniel Karbank KyleAnne Kiraly Writing in America Tuesday, October 22, 2013 The Dismal Evolution of Rap Music

Rap music today isnt how it used to be; in fact, rap music historically is a much different sound and overall type of genre. Overall change within the black and minority communities in the boroughs of New York City was a large factor in this variance of sound. Much of this was directly related to the economic change and increasing violence in predominantly black neighborhoods. Because of economic change, gang violence, and increasing vanity of rappers, rap music has changed for the worse from its origins in the early eighties to today. The origins of rap music legitimately go back as far as the mid 1960s.When the root sound and rhythm of rap was first invented, it was usually a stanza-type bundle of lines that were repeated over an instrumental record. Techniques like these were pioneered by Jamaican disk jockeys who referred to this process as toasting. Toasts would generally be comprised of no more than four or five words and were used to motivate partygoers to dance. These toasts were played at parties in recreational dance halls or slum yards in Jamaica to set a tone or put out a desired energy. With the knowledge and skill set of toasting, some of these Jamaicans immigrated to the poorer areas of the New York boroughs the Bronx and Queens. Quickly, the primitive culture of rap began spreading throughout the projects. Disc jockeys would hold events to showcase new sounds and compete with other deejays for popular backing. Deejays who had a large local following usually had recruit-like graffiti artists who helped spread their name all over the projects. These neighborhoods became war-zone like kingdoms with different clans of demographics battling for control over the hoods. However, the financial overseers of said projects began realizing the potential of these neighborhoods. If by purchasing the land and businesses of these neighborhoods, the wealthier could control the economy of the projects and were able to manipulate the lower classes. Families within these neighborhoods began losing money and struggled to even pay rent or feed their children. Eventually, some of these children sought refuge

within Fraternity-like gangs who idolized the rap culture. It seemed like a reasonable option; these gangs offered protection, fame, disposable income, and most importantly, a sense of brotherhood and being part of something larger than ones-self. Gangs are, in reality, exceedingly dangerous. Although they do have perks such as brotherhood and financial stability, many gangs depended on organized crime and violence to remain existent. These very same young men (and on occasion young women) who found relief from these gangs were also being killed and put in high-risk high-reward situations. Most gangs do not even consider a potential member until he/she has proven there mettle and worth. Naturally, the weak members wilted away and only the strong were left. Lots of the stronger members had their own dialect and were also talented linguists and poets. Some affiliates did not have incredible strength or skill, but rather relied on the art of their own language to secure food, wealth, shelter, and other basic human necessities as they had been doing since a young age. Poverty and gang violence had bred a master race of intellectuals and scholars of the struggle: brilliant men and women capable of directing any situation with outstanding charisma. It was inevitable that many of these children would be inclined to share their own wisdom, and then two and two came together; Rap music, as it was a preferred genre of young black Americans, became a medium of storytelling and the sharing of the life experience of younger black citizens. Rap music began to gain more and more recognition. These rappers who had candidly shared their story were becoming famous, and more people began rapping to recount their own life struggles and pursuits. The image that was received by some poverty stricken individuals, however, was much different than the original message intended. The next generation of rappers failed to see that it was because of great dedication and utmost perseverance that these famous rappers held too had made them famous. A wave of southern rap groups flooded the industry beginning mainly in 1997. Groups like Cash Money Millionaires and the East Side Boyz began rapping about materialistic values and lost touch of the roots of rap. Some rappers like Lil Wayne relied on talking about vanity and monetary pursuits in their songs to make a living. There was also a good deal of unnecessary disrespect and objectifying of women within these songs. In the song Project Bitch featuring eighteen-year old Lil Wayne, he says This is for

the ones who wobbled it an be putting they mouth on it, an they suck everything out of it then they catch it and swallow it. Quickly, more and more less talented rappers became famous, some of which were blatantly lying about their monetary status. Lots of rap today is still the same filler thats sole purpose is out of monetary pursuit. One of the most popular songs of 2013 was Drakes song Started From the Bottom was a song dedicated to expressing that he now has lots of material value and is successful. However, on occasion, artists produce their own life story and opinions that beckons to the community of rapper and fans alike, and serves as a reminder of what rap music was created to express: it is the energy and spirit of triumph, overcoming struggle, never accepting defeat, and living life to the fullest. Artist Immortal Technique dedicated his album Revolutionary Volume 2 to expressing the story of broken and struggling immigrants in the United States. Unfortunately, it is much more common to find the flood of mediocrity that threatens the existence of real, cultured rap music on a daily basis. But as always in reality, with money and power comes corruption and greed.