A look at rap music then and now
Rap artist Tory Lanez performs at a concert in the summer of 2016.
When rap first originated it automatically gained popularity. 90s rap was like poetic hip hop, giving rappers the ability to express their artistic side with words. It was used as a voice to the world of hip-hop. Rappers used their music to give listeners a point of view of their world and struggles. RAP is an acronym for rhythm and poetry. Although most of today’s rap is not as poetic it used to be, both eras of rap are very influential.
A very persuasive 90s rap group was N.W.A. Their music expressed the world of police brutality and the discrimination African Americans faced. Most people would not view their music as empowering, but as a menace to society. N.W.A made songs not just as entertainment but to voice their opinions. Their music was banned from any mainstream American radio stations, yet their album sold to about 1 million copies. Tupac was another influential rapper in the 90s. To many, he is titled as a rap legend. He has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide and his music was viewed as introspective. He unfiltered the world of growing up black and explaining the deprivation of going through racism and living in the ghettos.
Lauryn Hill is different from most of today’s female rappers. Her music was soulful. It is the definition of rap and R&B. Her career was soul driven and focused on the inner city blacks and Latinos and self love. As a female rapper, there were a lot of expectations for set for her, but Lauryn Hill is independent and embraces who she is and encourages others to the same. She is also listed as one of the top 10 rappers of all time. Biggie, another top 10 rapper of all time was became a legendary rapper. He was a storyteller rapper just like Tupac and Nas. By describing the struggles in the ghettos and problems most African Americans go through, Biggie was known as a legendary rapper because of his astonishing usage of lyricism. He was very influential because he could relate to his audience. He also showed a lot of attitude and charisma in his music.
Most of today’s rap is not as uplifting as 90s music. Today’s rap artist like Kodak Black, Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert are not motivational rappers or storyteller rappers that inspire people. Most of their songs are not lyrical or rhythmic, but repetitive. These rappers are known as “Turn Up” rappers. Rappers who make music just for entertainment only with no lyricism. These kinds of rappers do not put much work into their music. They just throw in a catchy beat talking about out their riches, drugs, and boasting their ego.
Not all today’s rappers are non rhythmic and repetitive. J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are rappers who rap with a 90s vibe. Their songs contain great tempo, rhythm, and style. Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole are both storyteller rappers. Kendrick Lamar is described as Tupac’s reincarnation. He even described himself as “The offspring of the legacy”. Kendrick Lamar was even invited to the president’s house and rapped for Malia Obama on her birthday. Kendrick Lamar is one of the top Inspiring rappers today. He raps about wanting change and most of the songs he raps about do not contain him talking about his ego. J. Cole songs are deep and emotional, yet the songs are still entertaining to listen to. The hook of most his songs can pull you in and understand what he is going through or been through. Also Pro Era and The Internet are rap and R&B groups who rap with meaning. Their music is a mix of old school rhythm and a modern remix of jazz.
Although rap has changed over the years, there are still rap artist who rap to inspire people. Sadly, most popular artists today make songs that lack meaning once so prevalent in rap music.
pp • Nov 30, 2020 at 1:28 pm
u guys are just looking at the tip of the iceberg like there are still good rappers u just need to look deeper
Casey McCray • Jul 5, 2019 at 8:38 pm
Todays rap is abc rhymes. “Imma f** yo b** she like my d**” “I get to the money im so rich I can f** yo b**’ like shut up who cares about how much cars you have and how many girls you f**. Yes songs even back than talked about this stuff but not the majority of it. Nowadays a lot of rap songs sound the same as the stuff I talked about earlier. Bragging and boasting about what they got and how much it cost. In the 90s it was a vareity. You had the dancing rap, the story rap, jazz rap, etc. Something for everything. You dont get that nowadays no more sadly that rap is gone for good. Rip. I rest my case.
Marcus • Apr 28, 2019 at 5:04 pm
All I can say is what I relate to and its older rappers like Scarface e40,Brotha Lynch hung.its just something about 80s and 90s rap that can’t be compared to the rap of this day and time maybe rap will come back but until then they can keep this trash that’s out now.
Flavorblade • Apr 21, 2019 at 8:33 pm
The main difference between rap now and before is the comparative talent level it takes to make radio. Now its about image and associations. An A&R’s dream. You don’t have to find a great talent, you can mold an acceptable presence (bank roll a lifestyle), use social media, use the colab trend by latching on to someone who gets radio, and the audience follows perceptions. Before the rise of these cafeteria talents you had to add something special or new to the game to get on. I give them decent productions. The rate of fire beats coming out is the same. Another thing that shows the wickedness is that artist like Kendrick and Lupe had to fool the industry to get their breakout radio hit and launch a mainstream career. Kendricks song was about swimming in liqour, Lupe rappeded about skateboarding. They had to hide their politics until they already had a following. The radio is anti consiousness. The audience being young are like cake for dinner; sure.
Jason Kauska • Apr 20, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Lil Yachty!!! Really.. I can’t believe someone said hes got bars or rhymes.! SMH
Grave • Apr 19, 2019 at 12:54 am
NWA was not a 90s group. They were a late 80s group. This article leads one to think that rap was created in the 90s. This is a totally misleading and poor edited article. Total waste of time and the writer is not a true fan of hip hop. This is not the culture.
Larry Smith • Apr 7, 2019 at 11:53 am
I’m just a music fan
MM13 • Mar 28, 2019 at 12:58 am
Ol school rap/hip hop vs now days mumble rap/hip hop ummmmmmm I’ll take the Ol school all day everyday,the music was about real life,had a story,and you listen to it now,you can still relate everyday like to it.
Tavin Harris • Mar 23, 2019 at 9:43 pm
Rapper then told a store line ghetto boys, slick Rick, krs1, 2pac, now rappers just rap abt money cars, clothes, females, drugs, an killing, everybody rich an a killer but the beats make there music sound good but I can’t lie I love it to lol.,
mohamed • Mar 20, 2019 at 1:16 pm
in my mind rappers in the nineties are better than in twentieth. I mean the lyrics and their performance. also you can listen to the music many and never get bored. even the songs never die.
Kassidi • May 8, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Well I feel like this is half and half right.It is true some rappers use repetitive things but there are more come up rappers that use rhythm and amazing flows.Kendrick has been in the game for some time to have the title ‘greatest rapper of the century’ and is known to have that old school type vibe but every song he comes out with gives people this old school vibe but new school beat with a out of this world flow.Rappers today have those types of flows that keep up with the beat and has rhythm as well.Lil Yachty does use a lot of repetitive but uses slick shots in his bars that will amke you think ‘Oh snap did he really just say that’ plus he gets very creative with his flows,rhythm and beats in my opinion.But this article is amazing and it’s helped me with my project!
Elizabeth Weizer • Dec 29, 2016 at 10:55 pm
I love this retrospective of the music I grew up on and your assessment of the “rap” of today. I’ll take 2Pac any day of the week. Thanks for the great read!