Why is Conscious Hip Hop Getting Dropped?

"Conscious hip hop is getting dropped," is a quote from a rather intelligent artist by the name of K-os (Kevin Brereton), and I couldn't agree with him anymore. Conscious Hip Hop/rap is being overshadowed by unconscious rap music. Many people associate today's rap music as meaningless noise, promoting a materialistic lifestyle and the degradation of women. A great majority of today's rap artists can validate these statements with their heavy usage of pointless expletives that belittle woman , and with their blinged out Jesus pieces, and their diamond laden grills.

But is there more than Rap?

"Rap is something we do, Hip Hop is something we live, it's the art, culture, politics,"- KRS One

There is a such thing as conscious hip hop; music that takes listeners on a scholarly high. Conscious hip hop is like volumes of African-American history lyrically illustrated on street beats, it's political, and it's also full of wisdom. A single track of conscious hip hop allows a person to gain an educated perspective on life, and society. It's good for the soul, the body, and the mind. Conscious hip hop is like organic, nutritious food that takes time and devotion to prepare, as opposed to today's unconscious rap music which is like the over processed, junk food, filled with all kinds of harmful chemicals. Of course if a person consumes the nutritious food, the conscious hip hop, they will become, alert, more active, healthy and ready to prosper. If a person consumes the fast food, the junk food the meaningless noise, they will eventually become physically sick which will affect their ability to prosper.

Why "Conscious Hip Hop is Getting Dropped"

Many American's likes everything fast, so why not have rap in America the same way, unconscious rap is the fast food of the music industry, and it's selling because it's convenient, tasty, and addictive. The lyrics of the songs are so simple that they seem to have been prepared in less than ten minutes, the lyrics are easy to follow, catchy, and addictive. It's almost as if the artists use bling, flashy clothes, cars, and skimpy woman as the backdrops to their music videos to disguise the ingeniousness of their song lyrics, and these music videos appeal greatly to many kinds of people, furthermore, helping the sale of the unconscious artist's music.

Music for some is their way to achieve refuge, and what better way to achieve refuge than by listening to a bunch of songs that talk about the good life; having money at your disposal, orgies, one night stands, fast cars, fast girls, thousand dollar getaways..... this type of music takes a person away from reality to achieve an untouchable bliss, and this is also why this type of music is flying off of the shelves. Another reason why this music is selling so quickly is because the beats are so addictive, the lyrics are superficial, or oversexed, these type of tracks are club bangers, and young people love to dance, and obsess over sex, money, and materialistic matters. Conscious hip hop has been pushed into the backdrop just because it is the complete opposite of meaningless hip hop. This music is in your face, raw, harsh, it often forces people to face their reality, it is reality, it talks about the now, and also the yesterday, and the future. It's inspirational, spiritual, complex, and at times the genius structure of the lyrical piece makes it almost impossible to decipher the true meaning. These People today do not want to invest time into decoding powerful messages, they are not worried about the betterment of themselves, they want to party, and live life in the fast lane, they don't want to slow down and learn, they don't want to or are not ready to wake up. Conscious hip hop is in your face but it's modest, and it's not too focused on materialism, it's socially aware, that's why some of this music is sitting on the shelves. It's hard to make good music that sells, but it's easy to make bad music that sells.

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The Affects of Conscious Hip Hop and not so Conscious Rap

The artists' music, style, and message are often inspirational, motivational. Intricate melodies and lyrics delivered by artists captivate our souls, and enter, and influence our mentality , and some times some of the artists' messages are received in ambiguity which in turn dictates some of our most prominent actions whether good or bad. For example, an individual shot a cop while listening to a Tupac song, many teens took their own lives after Kurt Cobain's suicide, some individuals took on Rastafarianism, united, and wore dreads because of the great Bob Marley, and those of us who listen to gospel music whole heartedly, are reminded to do good by God's word everyday. So it is very apparent how much power an artist can have over an individual, an artist can inspire us to do good, or to do bad, just as they can help us grow, or become altered ,so the affects unconscious and conscious hip hop has on individuals differ greatly for the better or for the worse.

The Affects Of Unconscious Rap

We see that those who prefer unconscious hip hop are affected by it, the men and boys mimic their musical counterparts and degrade women, and indulge in a materialistic lifestyle while bills pile up, and rent is overdue. Judge Mathis could not have described these type of people better, "Buy what you want and beg for what you need." The young girls and women who also listen to unconscious hip hop assume the roles of oppressed women, who's most important asset is their body and the way they move it, these girls and women are often dressed like they just walked off of a video set. Young people who listen to hip hop that glorifies gang violence, and the sale of narcotics, may mimic this lifestyle, without completely understanding it and suffer greatly.

The Affects Of Conscious Hip Hop

Conscious hip hop is actually nourishing, and creative. For aspiring musicians this music will inspire, and give the musicians a positive direction for their own music. For the listener this music, can suffice a fresh sound, it can also give inspiration. This music teaches, and it makes one conscious of themself, and of their society, their culture, their surroundings, and their place in this world. Many young children see role models in musicians, so if young children decide to look up to conscious artists they can benefit from that artist's wisdom; they can take from all the knowledge that they have learned from and prosper, mentally, physically. I place much emphasis on the word prosper because not enough of us are doing it, and many people prosper differently, some need the aid of art, and music is art. In short , an individual can learn how to be strong, conscious of their history and their future, intelligent, and wise from listening to the right type of conscious music.

Some wonder if conscious hip hop will teach one to become rebellious, and if it's racist. Well one must remember hip hop originated in the ghetto where the majority class consisted of Black African Americans. The ghetto was and is full of individuals who feel a little more than bitter about their placement, and treatment in society, especially for Black /African Americans active in the 60's. Hip Hop was and is the canvas for angry, or unsatisfied artist who feel they are treated sub-human, so it's no surprise that a lot of conscious hip hop talks about the black struggle, and the black movement. Certain artists illustrate their emotions differently some are blatant and some are furtive, either way some may find it offensive, but it's truthful, raw emotions that deserve to be heard. Conscious Hip Hop is used to wake up insensible individuals, and if the wrong person gets a significant amount of power with the fans, ,than it is possible for a rebel to start, but that is just with anything, rebellion can break out in any arena, not just in hip hop. I believe that conscious artists want to teach and not start a racial war. I feel as though conscious hip hop is very essential to the preservation of Black African American history, and the betterment of Black African American People.

Well-Known Conscious hip hop artists.

K-Os

Black Star

Mos Def

Talib Kweli

Common

Lauryn Hill

*There is nothing wrong about liking expensive items, or treating yourself, or even seeming vain at times, it just becomes a problem when materialism becomes your being, when a superficial lifestyle engulfs your soul, and when narcissism creates the greatest obstacle; war between yourself, and growth leaving little room to allow yourself to become conscious.

· K-Os Quote is from song Dirty Water Off of album Joyful Rebellion (2004)