50 years of Hip Hop- How Come?


Having been a music fan for over 50 years, it’s been fun to see all the different musical genres that have come and gone in popular music.

In the the 50s it was Rock n Roll. Then in the 60s we had Psychedelia, in the 70s Punk, in the 80s New Wave, in the 90s Grunge. It was always interesting to see how music changed into the next new thing.

At the latest Grammy awards, which I did not see, there was a segment called 50 years of hip hop.

I’ve personally never been a big fan of the genre, there are some songs I have liked, but that’s ok. Everyone has their tastes. What I am surprised about is Hip Hops longevity. It just seems like for the last 25 years a lot of music hasn’t really changed much. There has been no " next new thing"as far as I can tell.

How Come? Anyone feel the same way or care to comment. Am I just getting old??

 

128x128alvinnir2

Showing 1 response by bipod72

There are plenty of new genres & subgenres of music that have emerged in the last 40 years that you're probably not aware of or maybe never listened to before. Much in the vein of electronic, industria and hip hop. Hip hop has entire subgenres unto itself. And people making comments that hip hop requires no skill other than a laptop and a mic probably haven't spent much time listening or exploring the genre.

In fact, Rapper's Delight was cut with a backup band replicating the DJ spun breakbeats. Early DJ & rap crews were rhyming over disco and funk records which kept those from fading away into obscurity. If you like Nirvana, you can thank the disco and funk beats of the 70s for inspiring Dave Grohls drumming. Dave Grohl Inspired By Disco Drum Beats - YouTube

And plenty of hip hop/rap artists use live musicians as a way to break out creatively. The days of two turntables and microphone have long passed. 

What has been terrible for pop music in general is that many of the same top artists use the same song writers and producers which leads to repetition. The overuse of autotune and you have a sameness to it. But again, like with any "genre" of music you have to be willing to dive in and find the unique stuff. 

I find the excuse of being over the age of 50 for the reason for not liking certain kinds of music a bit lazy. I'm 51 and listen to just about everything and I discover new types of music and new bands almost every day w/ Spotify. It's a great time to discover new new music and new old music.