What The Kids Are Listening to These Days

“All you kids listen to is that womp womp music!”

My high school English teacher would chide us on our poor music choice when passing back essays due the class before.

“If you listened to better music, you would have better vocabulary!”

She was a strong believer in the idea that modern rap and hip hop was, to quote her, trashy. Of course, there are some… questionable “musicians” on today’s top hit lists, and not everyone agrees with XXL’s recent Freshman Class selections for up and coming rappers, but modern rap music has so much more potential and meaning than it is given credit for.

I am sure that when Juicy dropped in the 1990s, many disapproving parents felt as if their kids were listening to low caliber music, yet, years later, Biggie is revered as a rap legend and his lyricism and flow is an example that others dream of following.

Yet, modern music seems to have the worst reputation to date-- with the growth of the internet, there seems to be a hater in every comment section, a new post of disapproval, and a thumbs down for everything released.

What is often forgotten in the masses of disapproval is the true meaning of rap that many still pursue; the expression of emotion and struggle through a solid flow with a beat to accompany. Several modern artists have displayed their creativity in lyricism or in beat tonality and uniqueness in ways unseen in past music. For instance, rapper Lil Uzi Vert has revolutionized the industry through his use of tuned voice and surrealistic and refreshing beats-- Eternal Atake has earned 47.7 million Spotify Streams, the third most streamed album of 2020, despite a truncated first day (Forbes). Although the internet struggles to understand Playboi Carti’s lyrics, the beats produced by himself and Pi’erre Bourne are revolutionary and have beckoned forward an unprecedented new age of musical variety.

In terms of lyricism and powerful themes, Kendrick Lamar is definitely deserving of recognition for his poetic works with such flawless execution. For instance, Lamar’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d City (GKMC) masterfully navigates the struggles of growing up in the ghetto surrounded by gang violence and negative influence while appealing to a massive audience. His music has opened up the minds of many and expanded the intersectional understanding of many who have not grown up dealing with these problems, while providing a haven of understanding and a stronghold of support for those with similar circumstances. Yet, Lamar achieves a level of projection very empowering for all who plug in to his music-- Lamar doesn’t only discuss the oppression many face, but also creates a positive narrative and while discussing the problems, describes how to get out of them or have a level of thinking above sea levels of struggle known to drown people. When fans insist that music changes their life, this is the type of music that they mean-- HUMBLE. but full of LOVE.

Of course, as amazing and capable as Lamar is, there are many rappers in the modern day that have created lyrical and musical masterpieces comparable, if not even better to the rap giants of the past. Rap music has always been part of an emotional release incomparable to other genres in its own unique way-- the peculiarity of each individual beat, rapper tone, sound effects, themes, and vocal inflection has much more significance in rap than in other genres because rap is matter of fact. It is poetry in music and must be appreciated as such.

Note: Last night, I was listening to Tyler the Creator and my dad told me he didn’t like it. I laughed, and told him if he were my age, he would bump Tyler right alongside Tupac. He then laughed, and said he would give Tyler a chance.