HIP HOP.

IS. NOT. DEAD.

You just gotta look for it. Grab ya shovels, and digg deep.

I will admit, HIP HOP has changed, but in this case, I don't agree it is for the better. Listeners keep stressin, saying b.shit like man give it up, its 2008, its all about that hyphy, and weezy movement. I say I guess. WTF, of course Hip Hop will change, and age with time, but why does it have to be taken, crumbled, and then reconstructed into something that it wasn't at first? This is where we go back, way back to before I was even born. The beginning of hip hop. Her birth.

Not tryin to dis anyone who's got pride in their city, but New York is who birthed Hip Hop. The big apple's streets nurtured, and took care of hip hop. New York is her mother and a loving mother she was. Most don't know, but she is related to the griots of West Africa. Which were traveling singers and poets whose musical style was reminiscent of hip hop. Some of these musicians came to the New World (the U.S) because they were purchased as slaves. In the 1960's, toasting became very popular in the African American culture. Toasting was the act of talking or chanting over a beat or rhythm. From toasting, the people started developing dances to go along with the music. So Hip Hop is actually over 50 years old, and she continues to age gracefully.

Some may know the famous Kool Herc, who was actually Clive Campbell who was born in Jamaica in the 50's I think. I only know of him because my Dad used to talk about him. Growing up when I would play Biggie, or Pac, my dad would always come and tell me how much Hip Hop had changed. How she had been poisoned by gangsters and thugs. Lol. I dunno if I agree with him completely, but he would throw on a Cool Herc record, and we would both jam, enjoying the energy beaming from the speakers. That's when Hip Hop and I really made a connection. It was a feeling, or a moment for me. I was watching my dad bop his head to the beat, while I tried to keep up, at the time I was only eight. Hip Hop embraced me with her open arms, and took me on a never ending journey.

Not knocking gangster rap, but man, back then pioneer rappers weren't about flaunting their bling, or their tight ass rims. They weren't about spitting out gangster and street tales. The had a different purpose, and that was primarily to display their skills on the mic, in a celebratory and fun manner. And of course there were those that would speak to the people. Like Public Enemy, they covered socio political issues and life.

Hip Hop is said to dead now. Nah, she can't die, cause she is loved by way too many. Hip hop lives strong, in 2008 more beautiful than ever. You can find her in Common, Talib Kwali, Mos Def, MURS, The Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Jill Scott, Nas, Rakim, Andre 3000 and many more. I mean these artists remind me of that day when I was eight, jammin old school tracks with my dad. Their lyrics link together and tell a story, or talk about a movement. Their metaphors touch your soul, and make you think about the words that just spit out their mouth's. Like damn, did he really just say that. One verse I wanna really stress is the MURS track, he said "People chase money, cause they too afraid to chase dreams!" TRUTH.

All hip hop is portrayed as is this big money making industry. I miss those artist that spit cuz they didn't have a choice, it was their favorite hobby, and they would do it just to get people to feel them. Not to stack them Benjamin Franklin's. Where is the passion? Everything is, kill this nigga, fuck this bitch, get these ho'z, stack this paper. LOL. What happen to talkin about dreams, love, life, imagination, celebration, family, and the struggles? Let me stop, these things still get talked about, by the artists I mentioned in the previous paragraph. They stayed true to Hip Hop, and never abandoned her. They are the ones who nurture her back to health, after she's been banged up by these imposter's that claim her all over tabloids and media!

Hip Hop will never die. She is loved by too many.