I feel like It happens to all genres of music. Rap just had a high peak that burned fast. At least, In comparison to the peaks of other genres of music
bswallace104 on
Facts. Every genre has its awkward puberty before it finds its grown up voice.
quigongingerbreadman on
Icy-Whale-2253 on
I really don’t understand why people worship the ground Kendrick walks on (and before anyone starts, no I am not the Drake crusader) and can’t think for themselves. If he literally meant “watch the party die” as “watch the rap industry collapse” he wouldn’t have a fucking job. 😐
Desperate_Image4620 on
I grew up on the California Underground of the 90’s and 2000’s. Man that was good music, great beats, messages, idiomatic expressions, hyperbole, whit, rhyming. They don’t even rhyme anymore. The message is lost. I have hope it will come back around.
blacksoxing on
I was a freshman in college when Nas dropped “Hip Hop is Dead” in ’06. I’m near 40 now. In such time Hip Hop (and Rap, as let’s be real, they’re used interchangeably) has been far from dead. It’s bounced around regions. It’s found its way into many other genres – country, rock, POP – and strived. It lasted the end of the CD burning era and well through the streaming era. It’s far from dead. It’s just not what it used to be so it’s now becoming a bit more undefinable. Hip Hop & Rap to me is A.I: it’s now easy for so many people to ride a beat and express themselves and it’s more free for them to do it without consequences.
I would not let some short dry spell mean that it finally died. There’s also this hilarity at the irony of mentioning Kendrick, the same one who used the genre and it’s format to use one of it’s best weapons – the diss track – to elevate himself to playing the Super Bowl. Come on!
ghoti99 on
If you’ve never seen it happen before creative evolution can look A LOT like death. Rules lead to mastery of skill leads to the breaking of established rules leads to new rules leads to the mastery of new skills leads to the breaking of new rules. Every skyscraper was once untamed wilderness.
desertstudiocactus on
I think rap not being in the top 100 formally proves that this new generation of rapper is nothing but an echo chamber that gets more and more distorted as it keeps hyping itself up
TerminusVeil on
There’s still plenty of good rap. This is like the argument people make about there not being anyone worth dating. If you keep looking in the same ratchet place you going to find the same ratchet ish.
beekay8845 on
We just watched Kendrick Lamar performing in the most watched half time Superbowl of all time how is rap dying ??and Kendrick was number 1 with Luther for like 10weeks.
sunnymanelaflare on
We are watching the party die?
Idk about that. Hopefully rap doesn’t go the way of R&B
CrunknYoSystem on
Fuckin’ preach!!
spaceunc on
Rap is undergoing the exact same problem as every other entertainment art out there.
Modern day rappers are inspired by the slop they grew up listening to. Old school rappers used to have to pull inspiration from real life and very commonly music outside of the rap genre. This is makes a huge difference.
You see this pattern reflected everywhere:
Modern anime is inspired by modern day anime. The old school mangaka who were inspired by real life have all retired or phased out of the industry. Miyazaki is a great example of this. This is why there are so many isekai anime and just pure garbage anime coming out constantly.
Modern day games are inspired by modern day games. The old school game devs who made games from scratch and developed the genres we all love are all retiring or moved onto non-game dev roles. We still got indie game devs around with that same passion, but its very clear that modern day devs do not understand what made simpler games so good back in the day.
Enshittification is happening everywhere including the talent that makes our entertainment.
hooliganlive on
This is just a sign that labels are not as enthused about Rap music anymore. It’s no longer a true investment for them that it once was. Any new artists trying to get on are going to end up being forced to go independent & pray that they gain a cult following that will support them. That’s it. The effect of this is either going to push a major change in the genre, kill it or even both, within the next 10 years.
Realistic-Archer-695 on
A caterpillar goes into its cocoon before re-emerging as a butterfly.
Rap music and hip-hop as a whole will be just fine. Just needs to figure out the next wave.
Tomatoeinmytoes on
I feel like Rnb and Rock is going to have a resurgence. I feel like music is going to be REALLY good in the upcoming years. Quote me
KDoggg89 on
Call me the friend that’s too woke, but I genuinely believe that there’s a link between what’s happening in rap right now (and rock music too tbh) and the current sociopolitical climate/the rise of conservatism.
If history has taught us anything though, it’s that shitty social climates are always followed by significant and rebellious artistic movements, so good news is music is about to be popping again once we get out of this funk.
CoachDT on
The genre just changing. Can’t tell me rap is dead when chance new album went crazy.
Sure-Bandicoot7790 on
The problem is a lot of the dudes we invested in early for this generation either died or burnt out.
Carti has always been trash (even though there are a couple songs of his I like), Uzi made too much music to fast and never evolved plus he’s terrible live (that’s a huge component to this too), Post was a vulture, Jack Harlow always sucked, DaBaby killed his own career for no reason, getting snatched up by ICE clearly fucked up 21 even if his music is still successful and now he just makes the same shit he was making when he started just over fresher production, Takeoff died, Juice died, X died, Pop died, Dolph died.
The women are doing their thing but male Gen Z’ers have major issues with women and they do still make up a majority of the market.
Now all that’s left are the dudes who really care about the genre but they are all in their late thirties or early forties and Gen Z is allergic to anyone over the age of 25.
Capable_Salt_SD on
Reminds me of all the ‘rock is dead’ talk from the early ’70s. The Rolling Stones wrote It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll bcos of it and Long Live Rock by The Who was also a response to this, and that’s where my quote came from
And guess what? Rock didn’t die. It just evolved into new forms and took different shapes and directions, e.g. punk, new wave, postpunk, the mod revival, goth, glam, alternative, etc.
I suspect the same thing will happen to rap. And speaking of Kendrick, he’s one of the few people keeping the genre alive with his ridiculously good music
His line about ‘watching the party die’ also reminds me of Blur’s song, Death of a Party, which both predicted and captured the demise of Britpop. Let’s just hope that rap takes the same turn rock in the ’70s did and not in fact, die
colonelcleavage on
I agree with this assessment. Rap music is a culture of authenticity and Black power. These days, we have a bunch of posers and frauds pretending to be drug dealers and gangsters because that’s what sells. Like every other genre, rap is at its best when it speaks truth to power. It’s cool to make a few records for the house parties, clubs, and strip joints, but what are they really doing to make a difference outside of that?
Not to mention how low the bar for entry is for rappers now. Almost anyone can pick up a microphone, get a viral hit, and never make anything meaningful again. A lot of these dudes give off the illusion that they care about Black people, but that’s not really the case. Many of them, men and women alike, openly hate on each other.
WheresMyDinner on
Everyone can buy a laptop and mic and put out shit
keefkola on
This is the hair metal to grunge phase.
Important-Purchase-5 on
It capitalism blame and simple.
Capitalism has ruined the music industry completely.
Rap game has been thoroughly ruined because rapping isn’t singing.
If you get a catchy lyrics and good beats with the right luck you can make a hit.
You might be a one hit wonder but you can get a hit.
Once corporations realized rap’s commercial potential in the 1980s and 1990s, that community-driven struggle empowering foundation was replaced with profit motives. Labels saw rap not as a voice of the oppressed but as a product to sell.
Major record labels co-opted rap by promoting what was most marketable rather than what was authentic or revolutionary.
For every Kendrick or J Cole you get a hundred Lil something.
Artists and labels realized controversy and violence boosted profit. Songs glorifying wealth, crime, and luxury became the template.
With the streaming era platforms favor songs that are short, catchy, and easy to listen.
Multiple artists have said people don’t create albums anymore.
They create songs for content to go viral.
Forgot writing a story or storytelling in a song.
And I think rap decline is hitting harder because a lot of people see this but cannot articulate it
Because rap more so anything genre is storytelling.
Rapping is essentially poetry with a beat if you think about it. Like rappers or at least actual rappers are basically doing spoken word.
Because capitalism ruined music industry but it has hit rap harder than ever because the soul of it is mostly gone and it been mass produced into a digestible digital product for the masses.
emielaen77 on
People are choosing whichever narrative they want to throw their two cents into the convo. This shit happens to every big genre like OP says.
If you actually love hip hop/rap, it’s far from dead to you. If you only tuned in because of a viral track or a dance song or whatever, the new thing is right there for you to cling on to.
psaepf2009 on
I feel like the creative process is part of the problem cause nows itd like artists have a hot line or catchy hook for a tik-tok trend, and now they just need to build out 2 1/2 minutes of filler to actually make it a song.
People focus more on hoping on a trend, than building a sound.
Certain_Degree687 on
At least when it comes to female rap, there was a time when actual lyrics, musical ability and talent mattered less than image and “hyping a crowd up”.
Nowadays with the likes of Cardi B and every other female rapper who remotely charts despite not having remotely any talent wanting to call herself the “Queen of Rap”, the genre has clearly lost its way.
FunSwitch7400 on
Every revolution has a sound track and the powerful activity snuff out those voices. The music is and will always be there for us. don’t confuse commercial success with true meaning.
SnakeGawd on
The proof is right here. This year might have some of the highest quality rap albums we’ve seen in a while. They’re not super popular but wow, they’re great. Clipse and Chance’s probably top the 2020’s rn, up there with Nas releases an Kendrick of course
Triggered-cupcake on
The ease of putting out music of any quality has ruined every genre since the 2000s.
There was something to be said about having to be good enough to have a record label invest in physical distribution. Sure it had terrible consequences as well but I believe it was the lesser evil than what we have now searching for a good song.
leeahnee on
I feel like I missed something. I’ve seen some variation of this post like 5 times in the last two days. Where is this coming from?
Caravanczar on
Butt-Rock and even glam was the transition between classic rock and the new Renaissance of metal. Endure these down times, rap fans, something even better than before is over the horizon. You just have to keep the genre alive and support the type of music you want to hear when it is made. Otherwise, you will end up like country music which never survived the transition from soulful outlaw country, to soulless, corporate, fascist propaganda
Triceradoc_MD on
Chance The Rapper has been putting out some great shit. Clipse album dropped what…two or three months ago? I’m drowning in great music.
34 Comments
I feel like It happens to all genres of music. Rap just had a high peak that burned fast. At least, In comparison to the peaks of other genres of music
Facts. Every genre has its awkward puberty before it finds its grown up voice.
I really don’t understand why people worship the ground Kendrick walks on (and before anyone starts, no I am not the Drake crusader) and can’t think for themselves. If he literally meant “watch the party die” as “watch the rap industry collapse” he wouldn’t have a fucking job. 😐
I grew up on the California Underground of the 90’s and 2000’s. Man that was good music, great beats, messages, idiomatic expressions, hyperbole, whit, rhyming. They don’t even rhyme anymore. The message is lost. I have hope it will come back around.
I was a freshman in college when Nas dropped “Hip Hop is Dead” in ’06. I’m near 40 now. In such time Hip Hop (and Rap, as let’s be real, they’re used interchangeably) has been far from dead. It’s bounced around regions. It’s found its way into many other genres – country, rock, POP – and strived. It lasted the end of the CD burning era and well through the streaming era. It’s far from dead. It’s just not what it used to be so it’s now becoming a bit more undefinable. Hip Hop & Rap to me is A.I: it’s now easy for so many people to ride a beat and express themselves and it’s more free for them to do it without consequences.
I would not let some short dry spell mean that it finally died. There’s also this hilarity at the irony of mentioning Kendrick, the same one who used the genre and it’s format to use one of it’s best weapons – the diss track – to elevate himself to playing the Super Bowl. Come on!
If you’ve never seen it happen before creative evolution can look A LOT like death. Rules lead to mastery of skill leads to the breaking of established rules leads to new rules leads to the mastery of new skills leads to the breaking of new rules. Every skyscraper was once untamed wilderness.
I think rap not being in the top 100 formally proves that this new generation of rapper is nothing but an echo chamber that gets more and more distorted as it keeps hyping itself up
There’s still plenty of good rap. This is like the argument people make about there not being anyone worth dating. If you keep looking in the same ratchet place you going to find the same ratchet ish.
We just watched Kendrick Lamar performing in the most watched half time Superbowl of all time how is rap dying ??and Kendrick was number 1 with Luther for like 10weeks.
We are watching the party die?
Idk about that. Hopefully rap doesn’t go the way of R&B
Fuckin’ preach!!
Rap is undergoing the exact same problem as every other entertainment art out there.
Modern day rappers are inspired by the slop they grew up listening to. Old school rappers used to have to pull inspiration from real life and very commonly music outside of the rap genre. This is makes a huge difference.
You see this pattern reflected everywhere:
Modern anime is inspired by modern day anime. The old school mangaka who were inspired by real life have all retired or phased out of the industry. Miyazaki is a great example of this. This is why there are so many isekai anime and just pure garbage anime coming out constantly.
Modern day games are inspired by modern day games. The old school game devs who made games from scratch and developed the genres we all love are all retiring or moved onto non-game dev roles. We still got indie game devs around with that same passion, but its very clear that modern day devs do not understand what made simpler games so good back in the day.
Enshittification is happening everywhere including the talent that makes our entertainment.
This is just a sign that labels are not as enthused about Rap music anymore. It’s no longer a true investment for them that it once was. Any new artists trying to get on are going to end up being forced to go independent & pray that they gain a cult following that will support them. That’s it. The effect of this is either going to push a major change in the genre, kill it or even both, within the next 10 years.
A caterpillar goes into its cocoon before re-emerging as a butterfly.
Rap music and hip-hop as a whole will be just fine. Just needs to figure out the next wave.
I feel like Rnb and Rock is going to have a resurgence. I feel like music is going to be REALLY good in the upcoming years. Quote me
Call me the friend that’s too woke, but I genuinely believe that there’s a link between what’s happening in rap right now (and rock music too tbh) and the current sociopolitical climate/the rise of conservatism.
If history has taught us anything though, it’s that shitty social climates are always followed by significant and rebellious artistic movements, so good news is music is about to be popping again once we get out of this funk.
The genre just changing. Can’t tell me rap is dead when chance new album went crazy.
The problem is a lot of the dudes we invested in early for this generation either died or burnt out.
Carti has always been trash (even though there are a couple songs of his I like), Uzi made too much music to fast and never evolved plus he’s terrible live (that’s a huge component to this too), Post was a vulture, Jack Harlow always sucked, DaBaby killed his own career for no reason, getting snatched up by ICE clearly fucked up 21 even if his music is still successful and now he just makes the same shit he was making when he started just over fresher production, Takeoff died, Juice died, X died, Pop died, Dolph died.
The women are doing their thing but male Gen Z’ers have major issues with women and they do still make up a majority of the market.
Now all that’s left are the dudes who really care about the genre but they are all in their late thirties or early forties and Gen Z is allergic to anyone over the age of 25.
Reminds me of all the ‘rock is dead’ talk from the early ’70s. The Rolling Stones wrote It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll bcos of it and Long Live Rock by The Who was also a response to this, and that’s where my quote came from
And guess what? Rock didn’t die. It just evolved into new forms and took different shapes and directions, e.g. punk, new wave, postpunk, the mod revival, goth, glam, alternative, etc.
I suspect the same thing will happen to rap. And speaking of Kendrick, he’s one of the few people keeping the genre alive with his ridiculously good music
His line about ‘watching the party die’ also reminds me of Blur’s song, Death of a Party, which both predicted and captured the demise of Britpop. Let’s just hope that rap takes the same turn rock in the ’70s did and not in fact, die
I agree with this assessment. Rap music is a culture of authenticity and Black power. These days, we have a bunch of posers and frauds pretending to be drug dealers and gangsters because that’s what sells. Like every other genre, rap is at its best when it speaks truth to power. It’s cool to make a few records for the house parties, clubs, and strip joints, but what are they really doing to make a difference outside of that?
Not to mention how low the bar for entry is for rappers now. Almost anyone can pick up a microphone, get a viral hit, and never make anything meaningful again. A lot of these dudes give off the illusion that they care about Black people, but that’s not really the case. Many of them, men and women alike, openly hate on each other.
Everyone can buy a laptop and mic and put out shit
This is the hair metal to grunge phase.
It capitalism blame and simple.
Capitalism has ruined the music industry completely.
Rap game has been thoroughly ruined because rapping isn’t singing.
If you get a catchy lyrics and good beats with the right luck you can make a hit.
You might be a one hit wonder but you can get a hit.
Once corporations realized rap’s commercial potential in the 1980s and 1990s, that community-driven struggle empowering foundation was replaced with profit motives. Labels saw rap not as a voice of the oppressed but as a product to sell.
Major record labels co-opted rap by promoting what was most marketable rather than what was authentic or revolutionary.
For every Kendrick or J Cole you get a hundred Lil something.
Artists and labels realized controversy and violence boosted profit. Songs glorifying wealth, crime, and luxury became the template.
With the streaming era platforms favor songs that are short, catchy, and easy to listen.
Multiple artists have said people don’t create albums anymore.
They create songs for content to go viral.
Forgot writing a story or storytelling in a song.
And I think rap decline is hitting harder because a lot of people see this but cannot articulate it
Because rap more so anything genre is storytelling.
Rapping is essentially poetry with a beat if you think about it. Like rappers or at least actual rappers are basically doing spoken word.
Because capitalism ruined music industry but it has hit rap harder than ever because the soul of it is mostly gone and it been mass produced into a digestible digital product for the masses.
People are choosing whichever narrative they want to throw their two cents into the convo. This shit happens to every big genre like OP says.
If you actually love hip hop/rap, it’s far from dead to you. If you only tuned in because of a viral track or a dance song or whatever, the new thing is right there for you to cling on to.
I feel like the creative process is part of the problem cause nows itd like artists have a hot line or catchy hook for a tik-tok trend, and now they just need to build out 2 1/2 minutes of filler to actually make it a song.
People focus more on hoping on a trend, than building a sound.
At least when it comes to female rap, there was a time when actual lyrics, musical ability and talent mattered less than image and “hyping a crowd up”.
Nowadays with the likes of Cardi B and every other female rapper who remotely charts despite not having remotely any talent wanting to call herself the “Queen of Rap”, the genre has clearly lost its way.
Every revolution has a sound track and the powerful activity snuff out those voices. The music is and will always be there for us. don’t confuse commercial success with true meaning.
The proof is right here. This year might have some of the highest quality rap albums we’ve seen in a while. They’re not super popular but wow, they’re great. Clipse and Chance’s probably top the 2020’s rn, up there with Nas releases an Kendrick of course
The ease of putting out music of any quality has ruined every genre since the 2000s.
There was something to be said about having to be good enough to have a record label invest in physical distribution. Sure it had terrible consequences as well but I believe it was the lesser evil than what we have now searching for a good song.
I feel like I missed something. I’ve seen some variation of this post like 5 times in the last two days. Where is this coming from?
Butt-Rock and even glam was the transition between classic rock and the new Renaissance of metal. Endure these down times, rap fans, something even better than before is over the horizon. You just have to keep the genre alive and support the type of music you want to hear when it is made. Otherwise, you will end up like country music which never survived the transition from soulful outlaw country, to soulless, corporate, fascist propaganda
Chance The Rapper has been putting out some great shit. Clipse album dropped what…two or three months ago? I’m drowning in great music.
Mumble, mumble, mumble,
I agree…
mumble, mumble