What is Your View on Some of the Music Played Today?

http://www.teenink.com/opinion/all/article/17164/Keeping-Music-Real/
I agree so much with this essay because it really shows what I have been talking about on how rappers today only talk about money, sex and fame.  That is way I am so blessed to have role models like Tupac, Kendrick and Kanye to lead the way back into the real world of hip-hop that talks about real life problems and conveys a real message to the listeners.

"The stuff on MTV and the radio can't be called Hip-Hop because the lyrics don't have any meaning or self expression."  I found this quote while researching the real definiton of hip-hop and I totally agree with it.  You can not say that you are part of the hip-hop culture if your music does not contain any real hip-hop elements such as conveying a real message and art.  What some rappers today call art is speaking of money and fame, or how much they are capable of getting, so knowing that there is still people such as Kanye and Kendrick to keep the real world of hip-hop alive gives me hope.

What is Your Opinion?...

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is an American songwriter and rapper.  He was born on June 17. 1987.  Lamar discovered hip-hop in his hometown of Compton, California.  Lamar looked up to Tupac as his idol and his music reflects the same insights that Tupac talked about.  In each of his concerts, he dedicates at least 10 mintues to acknowledge Tupac because that is his favorite rapper.  Lamar says that once in his dream in 2010, Tupac came up to him and said "Keep doing what you're doing, keep my music alive."  This is exactly what Lamar is trying to do, he is trying to keep Tupac's spirit alive by creating music that is meaningful to the listeners.  One of the main reasons why Kendrick Lamar is one of my favorite rappers is that his music is so powerful and really makes me think.  I hope he continues to do what Tupac has told him and truly keep his music alive because we do not need anymore music talking about money and fame.

One of my favorite songs from Kendrick Lamar is "Ignorance is Bliss."  In this song he talks mostly about street crime and ends each verse with "ignorance is bliss."  By saying "ignorance is bliss" he is trying to state that we don't know what we are doing with ourselves.  I agree with this, but I also feel like we could know what we are doing if we just take time to think and make sure every decision we make is the same decision we want to remember at the end of our lives.

Kanye West

Kanye West was born on June 8, 1977.  West is one my favorite rappers because he has changed hip-hop music with his originality of style, music, independence, fashion and collective music.  West ties together different types of music to create a creative flowing sound of lyrics in his music.  What really inspires me about Kanye is his independent ability to stand out from his rap peers and break the stereotype boundaries of rap music.  His music realtes to some of the topics of Tupac and that is one of the reasons why Kanye is one of my favortie rapppers because they both talk about the hardships of life that people are going through and he also talks about what is wrong and right to do.  Kanye is a role model for many because of his music and intelligence. 

One of my favorite songs from West is "Hey Mama".  This song was one of West's first songs and the reason why I like this song so much is because West took the time to write something special for the very special person in his life.  Now-a-days we have people taking advantage of everything and some people act like they do not have the time to take a chance to give someone thanks for all they have done.  West has really taught me to take advantage of life and do what I want to do because at the end of the day it is only my choices that affect me and the people around me.

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on June 16, 1971-September 13, 1996.  I personally believe that he was one of the best hip hop artists of all time.  My reasoning for why Tupac is one of the best hip hop artists of all time is that he talked about the issues that most of the people in society are going through.  He had a way of giving his opinion and also stating some advice.  His music mostly talked about growing up around violence, racial inequality and the hardships of life. 

One of my favorite Tupac songs is "Keep Ya Head Up".  This is one of the most influential songs that Tupac has wrtitten because this is where he truly speaks of the brutal facts that no one else wants to talk about, or deal with.  I admitre Tupac because he was the aritist that basically started hip-hop and since he died, it seems as though hip-hop is dying out and all the rappers can talk about now-a-days in their songs is money, fame and girls.  This is not what hip-hop is about and I truly hope this is not what it will end up about.  I am blessed to have had someone like Tupac create the hip-hop that I can say  is still alive in my life.