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deleted
· 5 years ago
· FIRST
"Korben sweetheart, what was that? It was BAD! It had no fire, no energy, no nothing! Y'know I got a Show to run here, and it must pop POP POP! So tomorrow from 5 to 7 will you PLEASE act like you have more than a two word vocabulary. It must be green, okay?"
7
deleted
· 5 years ago
"multipass"
5
nicengelman
· 5 years ago
supergreen
5
lemmingoverlord
· 5 years ago
severely underrated movie
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guest_
· 5 years ago
Rap certainly has changed. But all music has from pop to rock and even country. Early commercial rap was largely coherent narrative story telling in prose. This style of rap is and even was seen as perhaps.. “hokey” by many. The “golden age” of rap happens to intersect an age of epidemic violence and drug use, with many of the greatest rappers of all time being tied in various ways to the crack cocaine and drug epidemics of largely inner city low income communities.
guest_
· 5 years ago
This gave rise to “gangster” rap with Death Row records, stars like BIG and 2pac, NWA, Wutang, etc. The idea of “street cred” in rap really cemented at this time as crime and music blended together. Rappers would tell their stories and the stories of friends and peers- relate their daily experiences. These resonated with many in similar situations but also appealed to those outside these groups as there was a gritty toughness to it. Underdog origin stories and life and death tales of close calls, violence, and hardships. These weren’t bubblegum middle class crooners. These were clever, savy, brutal and strong people who hadn’t broken under stress.
guest_
· 5 years ago
This aggression and angst and dissatisfaction with the system, spirit of rebellion and self determination, toughness and wit, the conflicts and struggles made for compelling narrative and gave people a self image to embrace as outsiders if they didn’t fit, were rejected by, or desired to reject the “mainstream.” But it also had costs. Many great artists and young people were lost due to the authenticity of the violence and rivalries. Feuds and violence in sing often became reality, and gangs or other groups militantly embraced ideals of this movement and often saw it their duty to carry studio disses by people they didn’t know into the streets as personal grudges.
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guest_
· 5 years ago
“Mainstream” rap as a commodity largely became a corporate venture, there was big money in it and stars being dead or in jail was good publicity perhaps but bad business. We saw a move to less coherent narratives and hook based boasts. Tracks made for network air time and the money it brought.
guest_
· 5 years ago
There were Socioeconomic and political changes as well through these times that also played in. Of course like all genres rap has to change and evolve to stay relevant. But you can still find many excellent rap songs. Many rappers are still artists and poets, sensing messages of social relevance, messages of struggles and challenges in their modern communities, coherent narratives and rhymes of substance. But what genre of “mainstream” musical performance really is so noteworthy nowadays? It’s all business. Concerts and radio and TV performances. Crafted images and ghost written songs full of auto tune and post production massaging.
guest_
· 5 years ago
But... is that so new? The methods and the technology may change and the formulas may become more refined- but what gets played in the radio and what companies want to play has always been financially motivated. They aren’t generally out to shock, offend, challenge. They want stability. They want to shill products and make money- not lead revolutions.
guest_
· 5 years ago
Tl:dr- in what genre are the majority of “mainstream” songs not largely tailor crafted audio McDonald’s? You’re being sold a feeling. The “down home cowboy” staying in $2k a night hotels and making millions while riding in a limo “still loves cheap beer and best up trucks..” You’re being sold a fantasy to see yourself in. Most people’s fantasies are closer to “bling and sex and fancy cars” than “selling crack, killing someone, then getting shot.” So mainstream rap has changed. Go listen to underground rap then. That’s where it started, where the greats all came from.
