Hip Hop Versus... Hip Hop?

Defining hip hop is not an easy task, especially for culture researchers who seek theory and explanation of this phenomenon. The question “what is hip hop?” triggers more controversy than clarification. For the sake of this post, let’s leave this for a while and focus on the most popular and apparent part of the hip hop culture – hip hop music.

As a music genre, hip hop has contributed a lot to the conflict of defining the culture. After all, music represents sentiments of people who are associated with the movement and if they are divided, so is their music. But the bout for hip hop genre has taken its own battlefield and we, the spectators, are also involved.

Asking an artist to define his/her work is probably the worst thing you can do. Rapping, turntabling, sampling, or 4/4 beats, you name it, means nothing for hip hop artists; these are just tools and methods, and not hip hop. That’s why you’ll more often see people distinguishing between different artists and music periods they represent, rather than attaching an obscure sub-genre name. And this itself makes a conflict. For veterans, the late 70s and 80s are what hip hop is all about. The Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., Big Daddy Kane, or Beastie Boys, to name a few, they are all known as the pioneers of the golden age of hip hop, and for some, hip hop ended right along with these New York-based artists of the 80s.

Public Enemy -- one of the most influential New York-based hip hop groups of the 80s. They are known for political criticism and addressing common problems in the society. Rolling Stone ranked them among 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

On the other hand, newer generations tend to associate hip hop with the late 80s and early 90s – emergence of the West Coast artists. During that period, Los Angeles became the capital of West Coast hip hop. High crime rate, poverty, corruption, and gangs activity in places like Compton – these were the conditions in which legends such as N.W.A and Compton’s Most Wanted grew up. Gangsta rap, influenced by artists such as Ice-T in the 80s, and the so-called aggressive (ignorance...) hip hop dominated the decade that differed so much from the East Coast’s golden age. Ice Cube, Dre, D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, B-Real... it’s just too many to name – West Coast gave birth to today’s hip hop icons.

Straight Outta Compton -- N.W.A's debut album. Talk about influence and redefining the genre. Considered one of the best hip hop albums ever.

Just like listeners argued for true hip hop, the music scene itself didn’t remain at peace. It all boiled down to the so-called East Coast-West Coast feud revolving around Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records in the early-mid 90s, which resulted in the deaths of two legendary hip hop figures, 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.. Though the feud was all about money and influence, it further separated the audience. The division between East Coast and West Coast since remained a clear boundary in hip hop genre.

2Pac -- often recognized as a martyr of hip hop. Undoubtly one of the most prominent artists of the 90s. All Eyez on Me was the last album released before his death and reached the status of sanctity. Many believe that a part of hip hop died along with 2Pac.

Those who are into the subject know that just like latino-rap group Cypress Hill express in “16 Men Till There’s No Men Left,” there’s no status quo in the industry. But is hip hop really like a Mexican stand-off and all its participants doomed to bleed out? After all, the conflicts have brought destruction to hip hop music, while at the same time they have influenced it. We, as the listeners, fans, and spectators, are part of this. And we can comment on it. Are all the debates about defining hip hop, all the conflicts between artists and their supporters necessary for the development of hip hop genre? Should we even bother to define a concept such as hip hop? Maybe all its power lies in the lack of definition...?