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What Is ‘Real’ Hip-Hop?

Posted on November 6th, 2015
by
Staff Editor

kendrick lamar future to perform at inaugural the real show event

One of the best things about hip-hop is that its competitive nature and the pride we take in it fuels broad discussions between groups of people who might’ve never previously conversed. For some, the biggest debate is who should be considered the best of all time. For others, throwing a party with the hottest hip-hop records of the moment as the theme music is enough of a salute to the culture. What brings these two diverse groups together is one argument: What is ‘real’ hip-hop?

Ask one type of fan and they’ll answer that it’s about lyricism, rapping about struggles and staying true to your craft no matter the circumstances. Those are some of the ideologies that have been connected with the genre since its birth in the 70s and will likely always remain factors which people consider when judging the music. To them, that’s what’s real and not much can or will change it.

Ask someone else however and you might get a considerably different answer. The theme with some people which is especially consistent nowadays is that you can actually be too lyrical and that aimlessly rapping line after line, whether it’s good or not, is boring. They’d prefer a Metro Boomin beat with some braggadocio raps from Future which is equally as impactful on them. As much as some people might hate that, there’s nothing wrong with it.

The entire mind state that rappers who aren’t as focused on lyrics as others aren’t as good or real is an extremely dated concept. There are multiple attributes to what make a good rapper and even without them, good music can be made. There’s some confusion about what the term “real” actually means and its definition needs to be established so it can be used correctly in context.

“Real” doesn’t have a sound. It should be considered that the judgement of most hip-hop fans today who talk about the 90s music being real and the golden era is swayed a little by their nostalgia. The game is by no means in bad shape when it comes to the quality of music dropping. Being real is simply being honest when expressing yourself through your music, which you’re passionate about. That leaves a lot of room for people to be true to themselves and still accepted without restrictions. I believe that hip-hop can be real coming from everyone from Nas and Jigga to Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug.

Being able to appreciate and understand different types of music and different aspects on topics also makes you a more knowledgeable fan and widens the range of music you’ll end up listening to. We should also acknowledge that there is a difference between what we think is good and what we actually enjoy in the moment. You might agree that AndrĂ© 3000 is a more skilled rapper than Travi$ Scott but there’s a time and place for everything. A balance is necessary. That means that what’s real isn’t always good and vice versa, what’s good isn’t always real. But does being real even matter?

It’s getting harder and harder to distinguish. Details of people’s backgrounds are blurry and it’s difficult to hold them accountable for rapping about things which are fabricated. Sure, they might be stretching the truth, exaggerating or just flat out lying, but that doesn’t make the music sound any worse. So being real is more of a trait than a unit of measurement for a song’s quality.

All in all, the definition of the term “real hip-hop” is perhaps neither as narrow nor important as we sometimes make it out to be.

– by Akaash Sharma

2 responses to “What Is ‘Real’ Hip-Hop?”

  1. Rian E. says:

    Couldn’t disagree with this article more. To think that “real” hip-hop doesn’t have a sound and that it may come from the Rich Homie Quans or Chief Keefs of music is rather misguided. A sense of history and knowledge of the origins of hip-hop, as well as all the attitudes and opinions that come with, is necessary in the attempt of defining what real hip-hop is and distinguishing it from simple popular rap music. Think it would be correct to know there is a difference between the two genres, what those differences are, and what they demand of their artists in how they portray themselves.

    • Odee O says:

      Totally agree with you. Especially with the importance of portraying ones actual self as opposed to perpetrating a false or negative facade that continues to exploit black men and woman has only uneducated drug dealers and users, purely sexual beings who only want to party their lives away. What’s “real” is understanding what shapes the environment your in…what makes it “real” hip hop is setting a melody and great beat and hook to the truth. Not a catchy 3 min pop hit that a 2nd grader could have made. This opinion of “real” is exactly what dilutes the music and true quality of our genre of music leaving it open to being easily copied and abused by those who would look to steal and exploit and make money off the sound. Real hip hop tells a true story and enlightens or uplifts, per our greatest rappers…Biggie, Tupac, Lauren Hill, Jay Z, Nas, Mobb Deep, I mean just look at classics….where will Young Thug songs be in 10 years???