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Blogs Guest Blogs Hip-Hop Breeds Jealousy: North vs. South by Sam Wilson | Hip-Hop Breeds Jealousy: North vs. South by Sam Wilson |
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| Written by Foresight | |
| Monday, 01 September 2008 | |
During the last few years, as southern artists have captured the limelight and New York has failed to produce artists with national appeal, a bothersome sense of bitterness and senseless jealousy has surfaced. While competition is a pillar of hip hop that traces back to the original days of MC battles, jealousy is actually anti-competitive. The effect of jealousy between musical artists is that the jealous artist begins to focus so much on the product of a more successful artist that the jealous one becomes distracted and spends less time developing his or her own craft. The resulting diminished skills drop the level of healthy competition between the two. At this point, some even say that hip hop is dead. I agree, and jealousy has killed it.
James Brown In short, the solution to today's divide in hip hop is simple. End the jealously and bridge the gap. Hip hop could not have become so prominent in the last few decades if the musical influences of the south had not combined with the lyrical prowess of New York, and it will not reemerge as a leading musical artform if the two cannot get over the bitterness and reunite. Comments
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It seems like the "old" NY rappers are jealous. Wu-Tang & Ghostface comes to mind off top and other irrelevant rappers. NY rappers like Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Mims, Diddy, Ja Rule, and Jadakiss have embraced the south. Who are you referring to as being jealous? And as for your solution, end the jealousy how?!
Sometimes people just need to accept change. Hip hop changes. It's simple and plain. It's the way it's been been for decades. The game never stays the same. I remember when the West's takeover was considered detrimental to hip hop and now we regard that era as a golden era. I don't think I will ever regard Soulja Boy and Lil' Boosie as prominent rap figures but I recognize what they bring to the table.
 written by Sam Wilson , September 10, 2007
I agree that there are some NY rappers that are still relevant and accepting that the south is emerging. However, the NY scene as a whole is overcome with short-sightedness and envy. I'm hoping that some of the pointless walls built up between the regions can be broken down so that the most talented at each skill - producing, lyrics, musicianship, whatever - can come together to bring the MUSIC back. I don't have a direct solution to ending jealousy, but I know that half of it is focusing more on yourself and your own craft than what the next man is doing. Competition is healthy, but jealousy is pointless.
Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved.       |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 September 2008 ) |
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