The Mainstream breakthrough
After the 1980's, Hip Hop Culture began to decrease tremendlously. However, Hip Hop music has now reached it's "High" because more people from the ages of 11 to about 50 are listening to it in their cars, at the clubs, at school, at the party, on their ipod, on youtube and itunes.
Also, a lot of this new Hip Hop music can be heard on movie soundtracks and are in a constant rotation on the radio. Everyone knows the lyrics to these songs and are the songs that we can not get out of our head.
Also, this music is also selling out in the stores, on Amazon, and iTunes. Due to it's high demand, the new Hip Hop music is the "High" because it is what's selling and it's getting the most attention.
However, there is a correction....
This music is not really Hip Hop. It's really Rap and Pop music but the artist, the journalist, the media, and the radio labels it as Hip Hop. For example, Lil Wayne made a huge statement in 2008 saying, "I am Hip Hop, don't worry, I got it," letting the industry know that his music was Hip Hop. That's personally when I realized that the state of Hip Hop was in trouble.
The TOP 20 Hip Hop & Paid Artist of Today ...According to Hip Hop Forbes
1. Dr. Dre: $110 million
2. Diddy: $45 million
3. Jay-Z: $38 million
4. Kanye West: $35 milliom
5. Lil Wayne: $27 million
6 Drake: $20.5 milliom
7. Birdman: $20 million
8. Nicki Mianj: $15.5 million
9. Eminem: $15 million
10. Ludacris: $12 million
11. Pitbull: $9.5 million
12. Rick Ross: $9 million (tie)
13. Wiz Khalifa: $9 million (tie)
14. Snoop Dogg: $8 million
15. 50 Cent: $7.5 million
16. Swizz Beatz: $7 million (tie)
17. Pharrell: $7 million (tie)
18. Young Jeezy: $7 million (tie)
19. Mac Miller: $6.5 million (tie)
20. Akon: $6 million
2. Diddy: $45 million
3. Jay-Z: $38 million
4. Kanye West: $35 milliom
5. Lil Wayne: $27 million
6 Drake: $20.5 milliom
7. Birdman: $20 million
8. Nicki Mianj: $15.5 million
9. Eminem: $15 million
10. Ludacris: $12 million
11. Pitbull: $9.5 million
12. Rick Ross: $9 million (tie)
13. Wiz Khalifa: $9 million (tie)
14. Snoop Dogg: $8 million
15. 50 Cent: $7.5 million
16. Swizz Beatz: $7 million (tie)
17. Pharrell: $7 million (tie)
18. Young Jeezy: $7 million (tie)
19. Mac Miller: $6.5 million (tie)
20. Akon: $6 million
http://hiphop-n-more.com/2012/09/hip-hop-forbes-top-20-list-of-2012/
Here's What Music Sounds Like Today Compared to the Original Hip Hop...Also, pay attention to the actual music video itself. Notice there are a lot of naked women, cash money, alcohol, maybe drugs, cars, and other materialistic value.
- Lil Wayne - No Worries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z25pGEGBM4
- Drake- Started From The Bottom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AFPQGcL9Uo
- Birdman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cOjnTHQLGM
- Nicki Minaj - Boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFcr6oy5dk
- Ludacris - Jungalin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q3iSg8GQrk
- Rick Ross - Pirates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkJv9ElFR-c
- Wiz Khalifa - Remember You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URdf7WX-nlc
- Snoop - La La La http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5KlZNh1WA
- Swizz Beats - Everybody Birthday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NrsQR282Qw
- Young Jeezy - How It Feel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5mq6fRBdl8
- Lil Wayne, Future & Future - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1gYwDrn1Ck
- Cheif Sosa - Love Sosa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znX4UJAVaxY
However, those are the songs that are blowing up the charts and are being played mostly everywhere. So question...do we accept it or stop supporting it??
On A Postive Note...
Not all is lost. There are still some cautious Hip Hop artist and rapper out today who are innovating and remembering Hip Hop. Artist like Lupe Fiasco, Yasiin Bey, J. Cole, B.o.B, Common, Nas, Jay Electronica, Talib Kweli, and etc.....
However...
They are not topping the charts and the their music is not as popular as it should be.