What Hip Hop is to me

I was listening to my Tupac albums last night while doing my hair and realised that I know the words to most songs, not only because he was my biggest influence for my love for Hip Hop, but because he spoke of things that made sense to me. Because I was born and raised in the hood, I've had my fair share of understanding what apartheid did to my fellow South Africans from both school and socially. I was exposed to poverty and crime. It might not have been as bad as gangster-ism in the US back then, but I was exposed to and affected by crime. 

I have to admit that the Hip Hop culture was frowned upon by my parents. Mainly because of the offensive language and it's raw, hard hitting way of portraying situations. My mother never bought me a Tupac cassette (which is what I used back then) I would copy from my friends and my first proud moment was when I bought my first own cassette with R25, which was pocket money I had saved to buy Tupac's "Me against the world" album. 

Back to my love for Hip Hop. As much as I adapt easily to change in my personal life, I find that very difficult to relate to some of the hip hop artists today. I totally believe in celebration of success and appreciating the things you have, but I feel like I can't relate to anything anyone says anymore. Apart from a handful of artists who I relate to, the rest just doesn't cut it for me. As much as I enjoy some songs while out partying with friends, I just never listen to them while I'm home or even driving. 

So, who's the music for? Is it for the people who pop champagne, drive Bugatti's, fly to the south of France and import food from India? Coz from my understanding, the most people who buy this music are people who live in poverty stricken communities, who have to save up for months to buy 10 bottles of Dom Perignon, book the VIP and entertain girls. Some are students who depend entirely on their parents for support. The rest is people who have actually made it but those numbers are way less that the people who the music is made for.

Has the Hip Hop culture changed so much that artists don't feel the need to connect with the people they make their music for? Am I living under a rock? Are social issues not important anymore? Is working hard for what you have really redundant? Maybe I'm Old school, or even jealous of what these rappers have, but, is asking for something we can relate to really too much to ask? All I hear is self praise and the amount of money in their bank account. Here I was thinking the audience was supposed to praise and your bank balance is confidential. 

Times have really changed, but that certainly hasn't changed my love for Hip Hop. I appreciate good music and talent. I dance to a good sound, and I believe in self confidence. Ego and arrogance has never been in my good books. I'll just keep listening to good music, give props to those who make good music and enjoy it to the fullest!

Peace xo