Blogcritics Comments on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Comment by A. on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:51:59 EST

Good call, Eric B.: For proof that hip-hop is alive, keep looking to artists whose peak was years ago, not the ones who define the hop-hop of the day. That's a great way to miss the point--something's gone wrong with the scene when instead of the mainsteam being Biggie and Wu, it's this or that li'l bitch. Music can die, cultures can die, and all the love and nostalgia in the world doesn't bring them back. Keep on kissing the corpse, and I'll keep hoping that someone comes up who has something worth a damn to say and half a clue how to say it. A.

Comment by Duane on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Sun, 21 Aug 2005 17:03:25 EDT

Hip hop simply will not die. There is always hope, as futile as that might be. On the positive side, hair metal died, disco died, so you never know. One day, Virginia, music will again become part of the music business.

Comment by verbal essence on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Sun, 21 Aug 2005 16:27:05 EDT

hip hop is not dead, but its a major concern of mine. I can tell you that when i was a little kid i rooted for kool moe dee when he and l.l. cool j battled each other on wax. Ive not only been a fan but most importantly a student of this artform. I just have a question for all of you? 15/20 yrs. later are you going to remember " shake ya tale feather, the same way you remember the bridge is over? There it is, let the debates begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Supafly on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Thu, 30 Dec 2004 14:24:53 EST

Hip Hop is not dead. It's just that people are doing the same thing. They are rapping the same way. If hip hop was dead we wouldn't even be with it. It's a term used by artists such as Q-Tip. HIP HOP AINT DEAD!

Comment by Smenkharon on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Tue, 28 Dec 2004 21:13:52 EST

Proof that Hip-Hop is not dead-Ramm Ell Zee:The Bi-Conicals of the Ramm Ell Zee! If you like Kool Keith and MF Doom and the like, I seriously advise you to seek out this album. Ramm Ell Zee is one of the originators of graffiti, THE originator of 3D graffiti, and released his debut album this year after a 20 year gap from his last recorded output. He appeared in the classic Wildstyle video, was the leader of the Death Comet Crew, and some of you may recall his 12" with K-Rob called Beat Bop from 1983. This is old-school style meeting new school recording techniques. Even though the album drifts a bit towards the end, it is not enough to fall out of my top 10 albums of 2004 list, and I recommend it to all of you who hope to see hip hop branch out further while remaining true to its' roots!

Comment by HW Saxton on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 16:30:19 EST

Mr B., Good calls on Kool Keith(even if he still hasn't topped DR.OCTAGON yet), Common,Talib and Del T.F.H.S. There is a lot of great Hip-Hop happening,mostly on an underground level.I'd also add to the list: J-Zone, Brother Ali, Diverse, Black Moon,Handsome Boy Modeling School, Ugly Duckling and DJ's Q-Bert,Shadow & Dan The Automator(1/2 of H.B.M.S)to the mix.You won't find any of these artists on VH1,BET or MTV.

Comment by Eric Berlin on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 12:30:18 EST

Mr. Benning - How would you define the difference between hip hop and rap? (I honestly don't know.) Thanks, Eric B.

Comment by mrbenning on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 12:15:52 EST

The important thing is to note the distinctions between "hip hop" and "rap". The easiest route is concentrating on music that is not glittered or gangstad. You might not get excited over the next release by a rapper with a name beginning with "Li'l", but that's why you need to look at artists like Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Kool Keith, and Common. Their music maintains a "hip hop" mentality in a music scene that's grown too big for it's britches.

Comment by Eric Berlin on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Sun, 26 Dec 2004 13:46:43 EST

Hip hop is dead only so far as music is dead, and of course, we all know that The Music Will Never Die. There will always be exploiters in the music industry, and horribly cruddy and exploitive musical acts that Some People will end up lapping up (but lots of people do lots of stupid stuff all the time, don't they?). But in every musical genre the cream will rise to the top, proving again and again that talent and desire and tenacity will win out. Take Dr. Dre and Jurassic 5 and The Roots. Tell them hop hop is dead. Tell them music is dead. I dare you. Eric Berlin Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com

Comment by //kikbwoy//@! on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:36:18 EST

No,HipHop isn't dead.It just smells like it.

Comment by Vern Halen on Yes, Virginia, Hip-hop is Not Dead

Sun, 26 Dec 2004 08:08:00 EST

I suppose hip hop is dead the same way that rock 'n' roll is dead, if that means anything. To me, it starts losing its credibility when it all becomes a formula, where everyone wears the same uniform look and has the same uniform sound. At that point, it needs to be reinvented. Is hip hop there yet? I dunno, but r'n'r has been there at least a couple of times, so I imagine hip hop will run the same cycle too, if it hasn't already.