Over the years, i’ve come across a number of Karachiites who feel contempt towards the ‘Rap/ Hip hop’ genre. It’s true that a hip hop concert doesn’t offer the promise of a pseudo-spiritual experience as compared to someone like say DeadMau5. Nor does it have the lure of taking us on a journey that results in a transcendental epiphany like a Led Zeppelin guitar solo. But that is not the purpose of hip hop.
Hip Hop is a more pragmatic art form. It is explicit by nature: direct and to the point. The music and lyrics are supposed to instigate and excite. In short, it is music for the entrepreneurial-minded. Traditionally, Rap has taken on issues such as poverty and crime. And it continues to address these problems. Even though, at times it may come across as vulgar, it does so in an endearing way. It allows us to temporarily free ourselves from societal norms and political correctness, by indulging us with imagery of our basic human instincts and guilty pleasures.
A new sub genre of rap is hipster rap. Rappers involved in this style, have moved away from narrating the often-clichéd story lines associated with hip hop. They have steered hip hop towards exploring their more subtle interests and discussing the more nuanced aspects of life. Contemporary artists like Drake and Kendrick Lamar have adapted Hip Hop to the contemporary audience.
Rappers also have a good habit of citing other people’s lyrics when using them for themselves. Below, an example of a classic Kanye West line borrowed from ‘the Window Shopper’ himself 50 Cent:
“50 told me, go ‘ahead, switch the style up
And if they hate then let them hate and watch the money pile up”
– Kanye West, Good Life
This lyric also tells us in no uncertain terms, that even if we chose to ignore it no matter what Hip Hop will continue to be a major influencer.