From all aspects of music there is no doubt that Hip Hop has moved into being the mainstream genre. Pop music is ever changing in a sense that we have seen disco evolve into the ever so popular hip hop funk. Aside from disco and hip hop funk there is something particular about hip hop. Hip hop has morphed from gangster rap to mainstream rap. The difference between the two.... Jay Z.
This past weekend while I voulenteered at USC's Swim with Mike charity event, all of my friends were heading to Indio, California in search for the ultimate Southern California annual music festival, "Coachella." Coachella typically is a three day all day music event that features artists from mainstream rap to electronic house music. I was told that Jay Z performed on Saturday with a not so surprise guest, Beyonce. As pop's ultimate couple, the two performed songs from past albums to unreleased albums.
Jay Z is the undertaker of gangster rap and mainstream rap. In 2001 on The Blueprint, we hear him rapping about in "Jigga That Nigga," rapping,
"Went solo on that ass but it's still the same
Brooklyn be the place where I serve them thangs
B. my niggaz was strugglin, to the 'burbs they came
And then we got to hustlin, murderin thangs
I dipped in my stash, splurged on a chain..."
Jay Z- "Jigga That Nigga/ H.I.ZZ.O"
However in 2007 on Jay Z's album, "Kingdom Come," we hear Jay Z changing his lyrics from rapping about being a gangster from Brooklyn to "flossin" as a successful mainstream rapper. Take a look at his lyrics from "30 Something,"
"I know everything you wan do
I did all that by the age of 21
by 22 I had that brand new Ack Coupe
I guess you can say that my legend just begun
I'm, young enough to know the right car to buy yet grown enough not to put rims on it
I got that six-duce with curtains so you can't see me and I didn't even have to put tints on it..."
Jay Z- "30 Something"
Jay Z is the coneoussour of rap because he made the transition between gangster rap and mainstream "flossin" rap today. With a current net worth of $500 million dollars, there is no doubt that Jay Z has opened new doors for the future of hip hop.
Hey Catherine, I like your blog, i like that you have a unique take on pop culture, viewing it from a lens of integrity history, and the broader culture. Me and my friends just finished an album that's pretty unique, a Spaghetti Western Concept Rap album, called "Showdown at the BK Corral." I'd love to hear your take on it. It's basically an epic Spaghetti Western over 9 hip hop tracks - very influenced by Wu Tang and Morricone. You can download it for free at sunsetparkriders.com Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
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