Rap Music Declining?

[Brent]

Maybe it was the umpteenth coke-dealing anthem or soft-porn music video. Perhaps it was the preening antics that some call reminiscent of Stepin Fetchit.

The turning point is hard to pinpoint. But after 30 years of growing popularity, rap music is now struggling with an alarming sales decline and growing criticism from within about the culture's negative effect on society.

Rap insider Chuck Creekmur, who runs the leading Web site Allhiphop.com, says he got a message from a friend recently "asking me to hook her up with some Red Hot Chili Peppers because she said she's through with rap. A lot of people are sick of rap ... the negativity is just over the top now."

I think this reflects the current quality of "music" that rap artists are recording and selling. Hopefully this will create some changes and produce more creative music for Rap fans.

FOXNews.com - Sales of Rap Albums Take Stunning Nosedive - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

[wiarumas]

i think rap has been dying for quite some time.

don't worry. itll be back in about 10-20 years.

[redstrat]

Originally Posted by wiarumas

i think rap has been dying for quite some time.

don't worry. itll be back in about 10-20 years.

HOPE NOT RAP IS CRAP WITHOUT THE C;PLAY A INSTRUMENT

[Mildred Pierce]

Rap is struggling now because the hit machines that produce it found a formula that worked and rode it to death. Think of what happened with rock music after the grunge movement.

There's plenty of excellent hip hop out there on the fringes. Blackalicious, Dilated Peoples, Kool Keith, to name some of the bigger indies.

Jeez, even Jay-Z and B.I.G who are closely associated with the 'bling' movement had more social commentary and wittiness than most of the trash they pass of as hip hop these days.

[funmusicgirl]

there are definitely still good rap acts out there (all one has to do is look at the rock the bells lineup or something of that nature) but, on average, rap is not selling as much as it used to--the recent ti release was an anomaly, selling 467,000 in the first week--a huge amount for any artist period.

[Mildred Pierce]

I've seen those TI v.s. TIP posters all over the place.

[DarkShadow]

lol, I know this is an oldish thread, but any time a song like "Lipgloss" goes to the top, you know there is a major problem there...

[Dmad416]

The problem is that no one has anything original to say anymore, and lyricism has been phased out for some reason. Like even 50, his old stuff is really good, it seems like these guys aren't trying anymore. Too much money, no hunger, no desire.

[Sheps]

i say bring back The sugar hill gang, that'll sort it out!

[Johnny]

As a producer, i could say to you that these days rap is declining because of a lack of originality and especially in terms of the instrumental. I ain't saying that it's all crap, but 90% is. Take a look at Ryan Leslie (Hip-Hop & R&B producer and artist) for instance, you can clearly notice the quality of the music he produces. I think that inspirational artists are very few & those who are @ the top are the worst! Anyways, thats my thought on the topic.

[fizzwings]

Nice to see Ryan Leslie getting a mention; people tend to overlook him just because he's worked with Cassie.

[kay jay beatz]

To many crappy artist out there who really don't care about making good music, just a quick buck. Nowadays finding a good rap album is like finding a needle in a haystack. Its quite sad to see what is becoming of rap music.

[thekeywork]

umm i dislike rap so if it geos away for a bit it wouldnt bother me but the majority is rap fans. true rockers are a small group.

[redelfshotthepotion]

I'm still waiting for 80's pop to come back!

[danielle fidelity]

I would be surprised if rap died for awhile. It's become such a big fashion style and genre of music, it's already raided all the radio stations where I live. Which sucks.

[Escobar404]

It's not dying, just going through a phase or fad. everything always comes back around. You will see. Dying is such a tough term to call it. I actually think it is growing and is bigger than ever! I mean think about it. The Hip Hop Community has taken over all the media outlets, movies, TV, commercials, clothes, etc. Granted the music being pushed to us by radio & TV is far from the hottness that we all know is out there somewhere, but right now Hip Hop is just growing different sub genres to create enough different styles of hip hop for everyone. If you dont like what commercial rap is doing right now than find some artists that are hot you do like... The internet is full of different sites to find hot hip hop music!!!

[dramababe]

Rap right now really suxs..there are a few songs that stand out but barely.

They all have the same "Snap Yo Fingers" beat..LAME!!!

[indieaaron45]

I don't think that its dying, I think that its becoming slightly more niche. As with other genres in the current musical landscape, there aren't going to be as many rappers selling tons of records becuase people have so many more options.

This decline is just a reflection of the current music landscape.

[Dmad416]

rap music is struggling to find ways to be creative now in the mainstream. The general public will become tired of it and things will go underground. I hate to say it, but house music is going to takeover. Look at Rihanna's new single music... that shit is basically house...... out here in clubs thats what people want (TDOT)

In the meantime, some people are working to put out quality, just takes a little more work to find them

[KingCelo]

Yea, rap music nowadays is all the same compared to the olden days.