Alexander Culverwell
I really enjoyed the evening and particularly enjoyed what Profesor Pate had to say. I liked the way that I learned a lot more about hip-hop and rap rather than just knowing it as music that I listen to on a daily basis. It kind of put it in an new perspective for me.
Question: WireTrap mentions that hip hop is dead. But Jeff Chang disagrees and says that it is a different type of hip hop that was heard 10 to 15 years ago. What is your opinion on the condition of hip hop in today’s age?
Hip-hop has always been associated with the youth culture and not really with the older generations. Therefore, the hip-hop of today is different to the music that was classed as hip-hop 10 to 15 years ago. People of the older generation remember their style of the music, which is now completely different. Because of this they interpret it as being dead, as it is not what it used to be. So from that point of view, you could class hip-hop as being dead because it is not the same as it was a decade ago. However, like everything else in our world; it has evolved. The hip-hop of today's age reflects the youth of today. That is why it is not the same, but that does not mean it is dead. I would say it us very much alive, as it is a huge money making business. I am sure in another decade this same discussion will be taking place because, yet again the hip-hop music will be different from now and from the past, but it is because the people who are making it are putting their mark on o it.