Most people say hip hop in Durban is dead, why do they say that? I ask, the answer I always get is not a satisfying one. They say because these Durban rappers’ lyrics are wack (bad), well did they ever stop to think that hip hop is not just about rapping, it is also about beat boxing, b-boying, krumping, graffiti and now a days even some sports like skateboarding. So if you say hip hop is dead and give the above answer as the reason for your statement, you clearly don’t know your hip hop. Hip hop is a wide culture that has a lot of genres underneath its wings.
There are hardcore rap fans who would like to argue with me and say that the rappers’s lyrical content is not up to standard. Up to whose standard, we surely cannot compare every rapper in this world to Tupac, Jay Z or Biggie smallz, we have to accept every rapper with their style of rap. Mostly we have to accept change, we cannot keep on comparing 2011 rappers with 1996 rappers, things change and so why can’t rap change. Hip hop is a foreign culture but these Durban artists have accepted it and are now working on putting their flavour on it, how are they going to achieve that if we keep comparing them to foreign artists.
These days for these rappers to make it they have to go commercial (bubble gum rap some would say) because the market requires them to do so. If you are not satisfied with the state of rap, please do not crucify the krumpers, graffiti artists, beat boxers etc. for the rappers “mistake” (whatever it is). In other words do not say hip hop is dead, rather you say rap is dead. Be prepared to give a valid reason for your opinion because I am sure your opinion is valued, and make sure the reason is not “you should listen to Tupac if you want to know what rap is”. Please guys do not comment if you know nothing about hip hop because it is offensive to hip hop headz, they are in it because they love the game. This comparing game is old, we need to learn to accept change and to be open minded. If you think rap should stick to what it was years ago and that Durban artists are wack please do us a favour and go get yourself a Tupac or Biggie album and leave those who accept change to it.
