Charlamagne: Hip Hop's Having Another Golden Era

[@AJ-di4df]

Its always the cool thing to say "Nah things were better back in the day" because of nostalgia but if Illmatic was dropped tomorrow 90% of you wouldn't even cop it. Guaranteed.

[@alfredogarcia2273]

It's crazy to think Illmatic didn't even go platinum until 2001 when it was dropped in 1994.

[@rebecca2353]

+WordSmith Verses people didn't buy hip hop as much back in 94. Same thing happened with the NWA albums.

[@MrEOM41]

Truth it’d be an underrated album

[@nilhav]

Illmatic wasn't bought then. It's not nostalgia it was a better state, especially in the late 80s. Before money and labels took over in the 90s hip-hop was free. Artists did whatever they wanted, and the competition was high, creating a high level of creativity and innovation. That's why 1988 produced 8 five mic rated classic albums. If you were there you'd know what I am talking about. It wasn't the same since. The 90s still produced great music, but much of it underground like Illmatic. The 90s was when hip hop crossed over; by the end of the decade the music had become mainstream.

[@ClasherSports]

ur an id-iot

[@EngleSackJus]

■ Honestly, when 50 Cent and that G-Unit wave came out, that was a HUGE takeover. That hype took over like a tidal wave sweeping off everybody in 2003-2005. Hate it or Love it, 50 was the golden era.

[@fotbollsprofs]

EngleSackJus so true

[@Officialbasscloud]

EngleSackJus I think the 2000's is definitely the worst era in hip hop.

[@JihiTheMusicGeek]

EngleSackJus They had Beg For Mercy, The Massacre (50 Cent), Hunger For More (Banks), and The Documentary (The Game). They had a movement for a second, but NOT A TAKEOVER. Game crushed that with 300 Bars and Runnin'.

[@vinnysaccount]

Frontend Programmer how so? Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-ONE, MC Lyte, Slick Rick, NWA, Geto Boys all had classic albums in the 80’s, not to mention dope albums from De La Soul, Too Short, Spice 1, Ice T, The D.O.C., Above the Law, Run DMC, among others. Queen Latifa, A Tribe Called Quest, EPMD, Digital Underground, all got there start during 87-89...thiswas a dope era for hip-hop! If you have time check it out!

[@vinnysaccount]

EngleSackJus then from 2006-2008 the Hyphy Movement era although that was more a Regional Bay Area thing. It would have went national if niggas didn’t spazz out over the Ying Yang Twins using hyphy references. 2008 ushered in the skinny jeans era as the last of the millennials were just becoming adults and putting out music using social media.

[@MerkhVision]

I swear I thought I was the only person who felt this way. Shout out to Charlemagne, I'm glad you said this

[@hazwuncertified]

This dude just spoke my whole mind, too many people stuck in the 90s and old wave they can't catch up and end up hating on new music because "it was radio music and I never listen to the radio" or just disliking the new sound without actually paying attention that new amazing artists do exist in their time. great hip-hop still exists

[@stevebhikh1540]

This is total bs. He didn't even mention when the South blew up UGK, Outkast, 3-6 Mafia, T.I., Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne. That was a Golden Era

[@jumpman2326]

Steve Bhikh basically the 2000s were the golden era

[@robertyoung2303]

To everyone still complaining about how many wack rappers exist today is exactly what Charlamagne is talking about...Stop focusing on the wack artists and listen to dope artists because they are definitely out there...Just because 2 Chainz is popular doesnt mean YOU have to support him smh If u want to that your choice too just dont complain when u see him everywhere..Simple as that

[@neverstar22]

Or I rather stick to the 90s

[@BigRuZ587]

Charlamagne, You're giving this era way more credit than it deserves. Golden?? Hell No. More like Bronze.

[@papapetad]

BigRuZ587 I don't know. He knows his shit and purely speaking in terms of the hip hop industry and its evolution, he's sharing a lot of pertinent info. I know what you mean about the bronze age though. It's written in the old books. Graham Hancock gives a lot of food for thought on that subject. peace

[@chaelmavik]

+BigRuZ587 In the grand scheme of things with hip hop, bronze isn't bad. Couldn't stand hip hop around 07-09, but it's getting better lately.

[@atomicvoid3549]

nigga said bronze, L

[@atomicvoid3549]

Jose Capetillo UK, dafuq lol

[@BigRuZ587]

+Atomic Void you're absolutely right, I shouldve said copper or plastic.

[@CharlesBergLivet]

Ab-soul, Schoolboy q, J.cole, Joey Badass, Action Bronson, Currensy, man I love this era

[@modetoo]

No. This generation is WEAK. Period. Charlamagne is mentioning all these rappers, saying he doesn't like their work, but says they are dope? Contradicting himself.

[@fotbollsprofs]

Shady/Aftermath/G-unit was the gold era

[@BigRuZ587]

fotbollsprofsDont forget the Pac/ Biggie, and the Nwa era

[@Dank_Dank]

+BigRuZ587 Don't Forget The Rakim/Big Daddy Kane Era.

[@timorrok938]

+fotbollsprofs Shady/Aftermath Was Dope But G-Unit? They're Garbage Sounding Corny Motherfuckers

[@neox9369]

+fotbollsprofs Not at all, they came long after.

[@bowdownORbringthawar]

Kendrick, J.Cole, Schoolboy Q, Vic Mensa, Chance the Rapper, Ab-Soul, KRIT, Pro Era, Freddie Gibbs, Pusha T, Danny Brown, Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Macklemore, Flatbush Zombies, Curren$y, Action Bronson, Your Old Droog, Odd Future and Jay Electronica. All these guys are ideal examples that make me think that Hip-Hop is 'walking' in a direction we'd favor; Not there, but walking. My only problem is guys like booby shmruda, young thug, future and rich homie quan as the platform of it all.

[@mothc]

***** He wrote Pro Era

[@rockstrr9619]

And all the guys that you have a problem with are the guys that are the most popular. And it's because us young guys like them, don't let nostalgia cloud your judgement

[@comegetit2010]

•Adult Alternative Rock •American Trad Rock •Arena Rock •Blues-Rock •British Invasion •Death Metal/Black Metal •Glam Rock •Hair Metal •Hard Rock •Metal •Jam Bands •Prog-Rock/Art Rock •Psychedelic •Rock & Roll and Death Metal we have all theses categories for the Rock genre yet we're still arguing what hip hop is or what it should sound like or who should be talking about whatever hip hop was never in a box lets stop trying to cram it in one

[@mrpostman730]

New Golden Era??? Nigga Please!!!!!

[@neverstar22]

that what i said !!!!!!!

[@papapetad]

It really is the golden era now. Not in terms of what's most popular but in terms of the rate of evolution of the whole thing. As the internet is doing its thing, we're back to learning easily about so many aspects of our history that we've been misled about. We have the opportunity to gain access to a massive amount of music so we can rekindle with its history from many different aspects. These interviews. Some of the "veterans" are back with much wisdom from having survived the roller coaster ride of the past few decades. When I hear Charlemagne, Kweli, Mos, Immortal Technique, I'm learning a hell of a lot within just a couple of hours. Tks for sharing Vlad and peace to all

[@MrPragmatism]

Stuck in the 90's and proud of it all day everyday. You cant even compare the shit out now to then....I understand its a different era etc. But the quality in lyrical and production just isn't there Charlamagne. 90's hip hop was the last golden era...Shit isnt coming back no more.

[@MrPragmatism]

+Lunar Orbit I am G, and again it cant be compared. The game was taken over and wont recover, sad but its true. Too many sold out. The music stood for something real before...The corps won.

[@hiphop80sjungle92]

+MrPragmatism i beg to differ bro checkout my page and video analysis on hip hops new Golden era theres mad artist that are not being talked about as much....trust check stop by my page bro

[@Dank_Dank]

Would You Rather Listen To Vanilla Ice Or Kendrick Lamar?😐😐😐

[@MrPragmatism]

+angel eleven Would rather listen to the Geto Boys, Dogg Pound, DJ QUIK, Gangstarr, Nas among many of the other legends of the 90s than kendrick lamar. The ratio of wack rappers and producers in this era is 10fold if not more than the 90's.

[@Dank_Dank]

MrPragmatism True True....

[@JamalGG]

G-Unit/Roc-A-Fella/Dipset era is extremely underrated

[@DC-zx9gs]

Tupac was real 👌

[@Mattwashere2013]

Exactly what I've been saying. Ever since that mid 2000's dance craze/hip-hop is dead era, it became cool for people to trash newer MCs but if you notice they never put the best MCs vs. the best MCs. They'll ask "how did we go from Big DaddyKane and Rakim to Trinidad James and Chief Keef." They take their best MCs and pit them against the artists they don't like. They won't put those guys against Royce the 5'9 and cats who can really get busy.

[@zenmastakilla]

"Drake gets busy lyrically" Rofl. He doesn't write his own shit, god!

[@bawentertainment9895]

listen to 5 am in Toronto

[@bawentertainment9895]

Kenn Adams i know thats why he's have a body catalogs to back up my claim

[@NunYaaBizz]

I know... there will never be another ''golden era.'' Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Meek and all these new guys are good, but will NEVER compare to Pun, L, Pac, Big, Jay, Nas, etc. etc. all these legends were once upon a time alive at the same time... that was a golden era

[@emssasukeisunderrated7946]

If anyone thinks that hip hop is in a golden era, you are fooling yourselves. First, let me start off by saying the real Golden Era of hip hop was from 1986-1997 (they actually count it from 86-93 and 94-97 as two golden era's but I'll just combine them). Here's why this isn't the golden era. First, mainstream hip hop nowadays is garbage. Mainstream in the 80s and 90s (real, what they listened too in minority communities) were some of the best to do it like Run-DMC, Rakim, Kane, B.I.G, Wu Tang. Nowadays, the best artist are usually underground as far as mainstream is concerned because hip hop heads know the real lyricists and emcees. Second, there's not a whole lot of young emcees stepping up as there used to be. Guys like Logic and Joey Bada$$ I think is what we need, but there needs to be more. Need some more young emcees to tell there story and to have a voice in the hip hop community because it usually people around there age (and mine too, I'm 18) that attracts the biggest audience of the modern day hip hop scene because this is what we are growing up listening too. Me personally, I listen to more old school for the same reasons I am writing this. Also, there's not as much things that can be taken away from this era to expand hip hop music and culture for the good. Obviously, gangsta rap had it's positives but was mostly negative from the 80s and 90s. But even then, the way they sent that message was, yes this happens in our hoods but this is how we can escape it or I want to find a way to escape it. It made the music realistic, and it painted a picture of hope. Same with conscious rappers. Also, sampling was a big deal. It really isn't done at all anymore except by the emcees and producers that were around in the 80s and 90s. Sampling brought a sense of the culture. Taking samples from different jazz, James Brown, and any other Afrocentric music. For example, if you listen to most songs back then, they were well put together even if the production wasn't clear cut (Dr. Dre kind of production with smooth beats that dominate hip hop now), the songs always had a good, if not great, message with the scratchy samples in the background. Then, it would have some kind of jazzy horn riff playing in the song with the high hat snares as loud as the horns. That's what I like about the REAL and so far only Golden Era of Hip Hop. Not saying there will never be one, but it isn't now. I am also not saying that todays music sucks, only todays mainstream hip hop. I love the up and coming young emcees out that can rhyme and are lyrical, but there isn't as many as there used to be. Also, I think Charlamagne should now that there are specific years that impact hip hop and then there is an era. Era is a long period of time (86-97). The top 5 years in hip hop for me so far have been 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994/95 (Seemed like all the main albums from 95 released there hit songs in 94) and 1998. I could also add in 86/87 but everyone was still there in '88.

[@emssasukeisunderrated7946]

I will say this, there might be a start of another era in a few years though I agree, that there needs to be younger guys in there teens and early 20s coming into the time and spotlight.

[@emssasukeisunderrated7946]

2pacbeast I listen to anything that's great music in hip hop. I've listen to all those guys you've named that really aren't part of the new generation since they've been around at least since 2003. Also, you're an idiot. Premo, Dilla, DOOM, Questlove, Madlib and Kanye are 90s producers! I love Statik Selektah, especially his last 2 albums. He's been around for about 10-15 years as well. Also, tell me why all the young real good emcees like Joey Bada$$, Logic, Ab-Soul and others wanna work with 90s producers and they ALL say there main influences are from 90s emcees, produecrs, and records. U wanna know what I listen to? On Spotify, my 80s hip hop playlists has 926 songs. The era from 1990-1993 have 1,607 songs. 90s East Coast I have 1,275 songs. West Coast 90s I have 520 songs. 90s Midwest and South I have 252 songs. For the years 2000-2011, I have 1,526 songs and for the current era of 2012- now, I have 745 songs. My Spotify playlists only has Hip Hop and R&B. I use Pandora for my other genre of music.

[@emssasukeisunderrated7946]

2pacbeast Logic is 24 by the way. There are really good EP's and LP's out his year and I think it's awesome. Keep this in mind. The GOOD modern producers sample, I don't hear DJ Khaled (I don't listen to him, I know from radio play) sampling a lot of those beats. 80s and 90s hip hop sampled from the jazz and soul music 90% of the time. So, if they sampled from then and great producers like Statik (which he samples a lot from jazz and soul) sample also from 80s-90s hip hop, then they do sample from jazz and soul. Also, being in an underground golden age is way different from the real Golden Age of the past. I think this new era is on it's way. I believe this year and 2015 could easily be the start of another golden age. Hip Hop has had a lot of really good albums coming out since 2012, so it's back on the come up. Maybe you haven't looked at the old school. Take a random year between 1987 and 1996 and look at how many REALLY good, if not classic albums out just in that year. I haven't heard a classic album from an emcee that is from this era this year. There have been really good ones (I think Joey Bada$$ and Logic's may be classics, but we'll have to wait until it releases but have that kind of potential) but most of the classics have been from guys who have been in the industry for a while like the Roots, Dilated Peoples, Common, MF DOOM, even Statik Selektah among otheres. Since 2012, the classic albums I would (from new emcees or emcees of this era because like I said I can't count these others) say are: good kid, m.A.A.d city , piñata from Freddie Gibbs & Madlib , Young Sinatra: Undeniable , Knock Madness , The Golden Age, Elmatic. There have been a lot of others that have been really good. Look at a year like 1988 where there were in just one year there were 18 certified classic albums: 1988 Great Classic Albums in no order: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back (Public Enemy) * debut album Critical Beatdown (Ultramagnetic MC's) * debut album Follow the Leader (Eric B. & Rakim) - 2nd album By All Means Necessary (BDP & KRS-One) - 2nd album Strictly Business (EPMD) * debut album Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) * debut album Long Live the Kane (Big Daddy Kane) * debut album Tougher than Leather (Run-D.M.C) - 3rd album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (Slick Rick) * debut album Eazy-Duz-It (Eazy-E) * debut album In Control Vol. 1 (Marly Marl) It Takes Two (Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock) * debut album He's the DJ, I'm The Rapper (Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff) Life Is..... Too $hort (Too $hort) * debut album Goin' Off (Biz Markie) In Full Gear (Stetasonic) Power (Ice-T) Lyte as a Rock (MC-Lyte) * debut album - Not to mention at least 5 other good albums in the year, there were out of these 18 classics, NINE of them were debut albums. That's incredible. Though this is one of two of the greatest years for Hip Hop, there were at least 7 years that had at least 7 certified classic albums in just that year (1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). To think most of these classic albums was there debut albums is CRAZY!

[@2pacbeast]

Sam Alexander I bump illmatic, all eyez on me, me against the world, reasonable doubt, the score, the chronic, doggystyle, it was written, ready 2 die, enter the chambers, death certificate, life after death, rza-líquid swords, big l's album, the root's first album, every tribe called quest album, mob deeps album, and 50 cent's first album "power of the dollar). I personally think 95-96 was hip hop at its peak all around. But I still think we're in an underground golden hip hop age. Especially when im on soundcloud. Maybe im just being ignorant because I was used to mainstream with the occasional underground artists like j cole & xv until I heard 1999 by joey badass when I was 15 then I eventually started digging more underground.

[@2pacbeast]

Sam Alexander I dont think we will ever have a golden age again in mainstream though. Ever.

[@julianbluefeather8491]

To me, West Coast is snoop dogg, ice cube, and Tupac. Game doesn't have the same vibe, he mentions bloods and crips but is style is pretty different especially now.

[@cedrikthibert3449]

Game says when he was trying to sign to deathrow and labels in the west cost they didnt want him, because they didn't know what to with him since his flow is like an east coast rapper! Me though personally....I always thought game didnt sound like 90's west coast because by early 2000s..that g-funk sound was dead. So that west coast sound was over. But thats just my opinion.

[@solomonwaterton1940]

The golden era was back in the 80s 90s and the early 2000s. Not 2014 and especially not this year in 2015.

[@1ColdFuture]

solomon waterton true, the real and only golden era was like 1988-2004.

[@IC3BProductions]

When J Cole said that he didn't mean for the current legends to move out the way, he meant for people to stop being stuck in the 90s and start to recognize there truly is great hip hop music out right now despite on the crap. He was basically supporting what you had to say in this video.

[@rackembarry]

i agree. probably more good and diverse rappers than ever now. Cyhi the Prince, Kanye West, Odd Future, The Underachievers, Flatbush Zombies, Pro Era, Big Krit, Currensy, Young Roddy, Smoke DZA, Kendrick Lamar, Danny Brown, ASAP Mob, Vado, Uncle Murda, Casey Veggies, Vic Mensa, King Louie, Chance the rapper, Fat Trel, Los, Pusha T, Isaiah Rashad, Del tha funkee Homosapien, Ab Soul, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Fiend, Styles P, Juvenile, J. Cole, Big Sant, Yelawolf, Action Bronson, Wale, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Jay Z, 3d Nate, Trademark, Gunplay, Childish Gambino, Czarface, Run the Jewels, Drake, Corner Boy P, Deelow Diamond, Chip$, MF Doom, Lil Herb, King Louie, Iamsu!, Sage the Gemini, Heartbreak Gang, Pharrell, Mr muthafuckin Exquire, Mistah Fab, Vado, Freddie Gibbs, Prodigy, Jon Connor....etc seriously, if you think hip hop is dead than you are a fucking casual and not a true fan, or you are to much of a lazy fuck to look.

[@rackembarry]

***** ....well yeah he's a fuckin legend.

[@rackembarry]

Mehek Tanvir Drake is honestly a good music artist. He's this decades Heavy D kinda, i like him. he's a great musical talent, and every versatile

[@rackembarry]

Mehek Tanvir numbers and sales wise, mainstream is definitely not flopping. lol but it does deviate heavily from 90s mainstream, music evolves man

[@rackembarry]

jack ramirez dude you have never made a hip hop song in your pathetic ass life, how would you know what a disgrace to the genre is? shut yo suburban ass up

[@ryanthorne8599]

You forgot vinnie Paz, Jedi mind tricks, apathy, celph titled, RA the rugged man, Snowgoons, Chris webby, Ras Kass, tech Nine, Esoteric, The lost children of Babylon, Immortal Technique, and Diabolic. Spiritual rap! hardcore rap!

[@SnowMan2595]

I think the reason why these new legends dont feel as legendary as the old legends is because of the internet, its so easy to get your hands on the music now a days that it doesnt feel that special. That and also that people remember those great times back in the 90s that for them it'll never get better than that, its like when you go to a really crazy football game & you have a blast youll go to another really good crazy fun game but it'll never be as good as the one you went to the first time.

[@lmbeskovic599]

People are so caught up in the past it's ridiculous, just because a lot of these rappers didn't see the struggle (drake) that most rappers from the 90s saw doesn't make them any less of an artist. Sure rapping about struggle and your life can relate to people, but it's more important for hip hop to be a way to express yourself and your ideas through music. Go listen to astro and tell me he doesn't sound like young biggie. Kendrick is a technically better lyricist then PAC ever was. J cole is dope and will be a legend no doubt. The only reason people say hip hop is trash nowadays is because of trash they hear on the radio... Tell me if I heard vanilla ice back then and said hip hop is trash based solely off of one bad thing I heard would that be fair to critique the whole genre. And one more thing, easy e, which was a mediocre lyricist at best, is considered one of the best because of his messages, however macklemore which isn't a great lyricist either has great messages in some songs gets frowned upon because he's part of the new era. Makes absolutely no sense at all.

[@killua1293]

only reason why lyrics dont sell anymore is because we are in a social media era with better technology, its all about what song sounds best at the party, and if people keep buying those songs artists arent going to stop making these songs

[@coreywilliams1695]

FOH Golden Era was in the 80's, So your telling me that Drake, Kendrick, J.Cole and who else is like comparing it to Rakim, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, LL Cool J FOH. The last great era of Hip Hop was late 90's early 2000's after that the game is half R&B rappers. Don't get me wrong Drake, Kendrick and J.Cole are really good rappers but there not the caliber of say a Pac, Biggie, EM, Nas or early Jay Z!!! Hip Hop is going to evolve look how much it evolved from mid 2000's to now, it ain't going to evolve backwards and that lyrical shit don't sell like it used too and today's kids ain't in to that shit. I predict Hip Hop will hit that equivalent to Butt Rock era real soon look how these niggas act and dress. Got maybe a decade in mainstream rap that's good. Watch Hip Hop is over 40 years old everything is going Pop even Rock is in that direction just cuz they call it rap or rock doesn't mean that's what is gonna be. Want Real Hip Hop gonna have to go Underground!!

[@BSimmonslfguapboi]

times change. Flows are more intricate now. Some of those u named were wayyy ahead of their time so they could fit in tbh right now but u gotta give credit where its due. Kendrick, J.cole, drake, Em, can all rip a mic and you can tell they put time into their craft.

[@nicholasgibson7950]

Stop it, it's like niggaz that be claiming LeBron aint one of the all time greats. Is he as dope as Jordan? Fuck no. But he's great. Is J Cole as great as Pac? Fuck no. But he's great. Kendrick, Big Krit, Big Sean, Drake, Wale, Joey Badass all spit.. then on top of that you got older niggaz still in the game doing they thing like Nas, Jay, Kanye, Game, Wayne, Tip, sometimes Andre 3000 comes in and slays a verse. Keep it real Kane fucking with Kendrick lyrically? In all honesty you can put an argument that J Cole's a more lyrical Nas. Naw, never mind, lol. But these niggaz is dope nonetheless. Don't miss out.

[@Angel-mo5pk]

B. Simmons Em isnt even on the list with j cole or none of these rappers. Eminem is already considered a hip hop legend. One of the bests all time or maybe the best

[@BSimmonslfguapboi]

***** you tellin me 80's even early 90s flows were as complex as they aer now?

[@neverstar22]

Nicholas Gibson J cole ain't no where near Nas just because Nas likes him that doesn't make j cole Nas or a legend.

[@jefferySuperstar]

Golden Era Look At It 80's & 90's & 2000's That was The Best Ear Of All Time 🐐🎤

[@elisaroundtree]

I usually agree with him but it's far from any golden era

[@Canedude08]

I wouldn't call it a golden era right now, but the guys out there that are keeping the artform alive are all we have. We've started to emerge from the dark era that was the middle part of the 2000s, which was a sad time for authentic hip hop.

[@dawgman09]

It's one thing to say its a new era, or a changing of the musical landscape, but don't call it a new 'golden era'. Golden Era is should be reserved for the epic beginning of a genre and the era that takes the genre to a new level. And that for me is only the OG's of hip-hop like Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, and Run-DMC. And then you can include the early to late 90s gangsta/lyrical period that upped the level of hip-hops acknowledgement with NWA, 2Pac, Biggie, Snoop, Nas, Jay-Z, and even Eminem Outside of that trying to call this new age in hip-hop, which I both like and loathe depending on the artist or song we're talking about, a "new golden era" is just dumb to me. Sorry but I just can't agree with you this round Char

[@FromTheHuts]

Thank you for this comment. I still bump Wu Tang Clan's 90s albums. The internet made them so accessible than they were back then.

[@commentsCONTENTteeShirts]

Wow, I actually disagree with him for once.

[@pettyboo07]

Pro Era, Kendrick, J.Cole, Hopsin, Talib, Lupe, Gambino, Pusha, All examples of this golden era

[@TempzMuzik]

I will never be able to fuck with Big Sean

[@killua1293]

how about now?

[@JihiTheMusicGeek]

***** Why not?? I think ppl hear his goofy delivery and don't hear the lyricism he actually possesses...

[@death4827]

Listen to his dark sky paradise album his hall of fame album and his Detroit mixtape you might change your mind about him

[@comicmaker0]

listen to i decided too lmao

[@CRUNKJOOSE2]

Its always a treat watching a Charlemagne interiew

[@GhostMikey0]

Kanye West, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, A$AP Mob, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, Tyler the Creator, Logic, Chance the Rapper, etc

[@kingkhalid7638]

kanye west is not from the new school

[@GhostMikey0]

dj Dope He's transcended between both eras to be fair.

[@kingkhalid7638]

But the college dropout was released in 2004 12 years ago

[@kingkhalid7638]

And also kanye is a legend in the game I don't think he will fit with the new school rappers

[@GhostMikey0]

dj Dope He has so far, his features with Chance, Schoolboy, Tyler, and A$AP Rocky are some of his best verses in years. And it depends on your definition of old school. Jay Z came out in 1995 and Eminem came out in 1996 so they're old school, but they weren't in the same era as Kanye.

[@MrEOM41]

This is so true you had the emergence of J Cole Kendrick Drake Big Sean Wale Meek Mill Big Krit as the leaders of the new school all were on a mission to prove they were the truth while carving out they own lanes the early 2010s was hip hops new golden era...this is also the year Kendrick dropped the Control verse shaking the hip hop world up and asking for competitions between peers because everyone was becoming too buddy buddy.

[@AbrahamPalmer-wj5cb]

Exactly tbh the Early 2010s was a very beautiful era in hip hop in general it was so much more balanced and variety than it is now but people do be over exaggerating about how bad was the 2010s was. Yes a lot of it sucked but a lot of it had many dope and great artists and music that we overlooked in general. I just cannot listen to 90s music all day everyday it gets boring after a while

[@lamakicker69]

This guy isn't completely wrong, guys like Kendrick, j-Cole and logic are killing it, they are all have the talent to be legends of hip hop but people like future and young thug are so bad(and people eat that shit up) that it overshadows the greatness that is here and now

[@thugger2176]

lamakicker69 future is winning now he just fucked Scotty pippens wife causing them to get a divorce that's a w for future and a L for a thot

[@lamakicker69]

+Thugger21 what the does that have to do with anything that I said and why are you telling me this?

[@thugger2176]

lamakicker69 cuz you talking bout future like he some bitch and don't deserve the fame he gettin even tho future winning he may not be as lyrical as j Cole and Kendrick but he making good music and you gotta respect what he doin

[@lamakicker69]

+Thugger21 if people would consider guys like future and young thug not rappers but some other type of musics I would be fine with it. If people just called them like "trap artists" that would be fine but calling them rappers is just flat out insulting to real rappers. All he does is have a hard beat with lots of auto tune and he just mumbles into the mic about dumb shit. What he does takes no talent, why do you think him and young thug can put out so many albums and mix tapes out in such short amount of time but it takes guys like Kendrick and logic at least over a year to put out and album or mixtape? What future does doesn't take any time at all to put together, he doesn't try to have cleaver lyrics, good punchlines, tell a story or any of that. All he's has to do is make sure it rhymes because no one is gonna know what he is saying anyways but if it rhymes then at least its sounds like he's doing something right.

[@lamakicker69]

+Thugger21 with that being said, I don't think he's a bitch I can see how some people like that kind of music. I'm not saying future doesn't deserve what he has because there is clearly an audience for what he's doing in just saying that people shouldn't even think about putting a guy like future in the same conversation as a guy like Kendrick when it comes to hip hop.

[@KILLARAYMAN1]

You also got a nice bit of street artist that bring a nice lil bit of lyrical flow to them like lil herb, bibby, shy glizzy (law 1 and 2, and streets hottest youngin), and many more on that I just don't feel like naming all of them rite now.

[@thikblk9]

Most of the artists he named won't be remembered in ten months let alone ten years. Their impact won't be as great because many rappers don't make impactful music. They make songs that will make them show money. Songs that you can nod your head to for twenty minutes and then forget about in a year.

[@187killa01]

speak it my brotha!

[@strongforce79]

This was a good interview, especially the party about being a good kid surrounded by the madness od crime culture, I definitely can relate.

[@death4827]

Hip hop is having another golden era people need to stop comparing hip hop now to hip hop in the 90s and hip hop is not dead it is 100 percent alive.j Cole Kendrick Lamar wale big Sean even Drake are all today's top rappers

[@hiphop80sjungle92]

checkout out my channel for all the artist i have lined up for hip hops golden era!and nah this aint spam lol but stop by

[@TheKingofmat]

m

[@TheKingofmat]

+Richard Rivers

[@anthonymccommons6271]

I agree with everything your saying

[@anthonymccommons6271]

No they are not trash

[@pimpinnevaslipin]

I will say. for the underground rap. . its been pretty solid too for the past few years during this era. . . Vinnie Paz (doing more solo projects than the JMT era) Vado,Elzhi,Sean Price(coming back for more solo's rather than doing stuff with Bootcamp Click & Buckshot), Big Krit, Curren$y,Freddie Gibbs,Diabolic,Chief Kamachi, Reek Da Villian, Nitty Scott, Gavlyn, Skyzoo, and Statik Selektah still pushing out solid mixtapes and albums with many high quality underground artist

[@Daniro00001]

Schoolboy and ab-soul Are the only dope rapper i agree with, but this is era of mostly wackness, if you want that real dope hip hop is the underground hip hop

[@jermainetlennon0121]

Try j Cole and kendrick lamar

[@MozeleyTribe]

It's not just the 90s. In the 90s people were nostalgic for the 80s/70s. There willl always be nostalgia.

[@elephantwomen]

he saying move forward..quit crying about the oldskool ...he even said it..if you gon be classic you will..anything else we know whats real and whats not

[@alfred76445]

FuckingHateTwilight fact

[@kurtk7521]

How you gonna move forward if the quality of the music keeps going backwards?

[@kurtk7521]

FuckingHateTwilight I dont know if I understood your reply wrong or maybe you misunderstood me. What I meant to say is, today's mainstream music keeps going backwards in quality, so how you gonna move forward? And I agree, the classics never get old!

[@kurtk7521]

FuckingHateTwilight Definitely agree. That's why I laughed when the person I replied to originally said move forward as if hip hop itself is moving forward. And let's not forget. Lots of hip hop artists underground are trying new things and taking their times writing songs. I'm not even against new hip hop. I mean I am personally. I just dont listen to it. But I wont hate on anyone who does listen to it. But to say today's rappers have more skill is just bullshit. If you got skill the mainstream labels will not sign you unless you dumb down your lyrics. People have personally come out and explained the mainstream stance on hip hop today. So you can listen to whatever you want, but if some nigga gonna make a comment like todays rappers are better, then they gotta back it up. It is obvious they never listened to anything else.

[@elephantwomen]

NAS IS CLASSIC ….Kool moe dee.. XCLAN …he's saying move on…I'm 23 and been listening to all that since i was 13..im ready for some new music

[@mindyabi]

Glad somebody besides me said this.. People never appreciate good shit while its happening

[@Dilson9307]

If you honestly believe we are not in a golden era or that we are in a "bad" era you are not listening. The game is the most diverse it has ever been and its pretty insulting, to the great artist that we have now, to have people say "hip hop is dead" and all that bullshit. stop being stuck in the 90's. stop being lazy, and look up some artists that are relevant.

[@Dilson9307]

not everyone dresses like that in hip hop..again dont stay in that one lane that you 90's heads are so obsessed with hating on. there so many different styles in hip hop now that its ridiculous. and lets no act like some of the clothing in 90's wasnt god-awful. from kriss kross with the backwards pants to these crazy colored patterned shirts, some of those clothes were atrocious. and mainstream hip hop has always been "bad" hence vanilla ice, gerardo, and mc hammer...these ppl sold more than the better mc of their days..sounds familiar dont it..

[@Dilson9307]

FuckingHateTwilight even though their success was short lived, their hits were known more nationaionally thats why i said those names. Think about it..their music was wayy more commercialized and popular within the nation as a whole. NOT THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY. and thats the same case im making right now with todays mainstream rappers. although they are an specific aspect of todays hip hop they dont represent it in its entirety (just like Ice and Hammer). notice the difference in clothing and music form guys like k Lamar, chance the rapper, tyler the creator, school boy q, joey badass, mac miller to young thug and wayne. completely different. and

[@Dilson9307]

once again the same goes for today's rappers... look at the criticism of "real" hip hop albums today. none of that commercial stuff gets props form music critics and "real" hip hop fans in todays music. so again generalizing is the issue here. youre really not understating what im saying here. from a GENERAL standpoint. (not just hip hop) those crap rappers IN THAT TIME PERIOD were recognized alot more by pop culture OVERALL (not just hip hop fans but listeners of music in general). of course the rappers u mentioned got props from true hip hop heads but thats as far as it went. theres ppl today that never even heard wu tang or public enemy but they sure as hell know "ice ice baby" or "baby got back" (hence the billboard and commercial success from their crappy singles, it reached a further audience.) you honestly cant tell me nwa from any one of their 3 albums made more money than "you cant touch this" when it came out. they werent even getting half the exposure that hammer did that time. im talking about success, recognition, and impact in music overall not just hip hop. if both ppl from both ends of the spectrum (hip hop fans and non hip hop fans) know of these rappers and their one hit wonders, what is that telling you....

[@Dilson9307]

you keep talking from the perspective of a hip hop head. you really think anybody from beverly hills or some other high class city in the US know any biggie songs? theres only a selected few. also u keep talking from the perspective of someone looking back many many years later and seeing the impact. we dont know how well these artists of today will be doing 20+ yrs from now, and like i said already, everyone from NON-HIP HOP LISTENERS to hip hop listeners know the one hit wonder jams from back in the day. the same cant be said about rap legends like nas or big L. THATS THE POINT IM TRYNA MAKE, just in case your wondering. think a bit more broadly. believe it or not theres ppl who dont even know what wu tang is or what songs big and pac released unfortunately. we do, but they (who dont listen to hip hop ) dont. plus the game is far more different now than it was then. the presence of internet age and the boom of the hip hop industry has to do with why u think there are more crappy rappers nowadays. either way. commercialization of rap (in any era) = "shit music"= more exposure. its sad but true. but honestly all of this is irrelevant to the point that i was originally tryna make. all i was saying is the game is the most diverse now than its ever been. and its a shame that alot of ppl (especially old heads) wont take some time out and listen to some good current music rather than the same shit on the radio..

[@Dilson9307]

youre really not getting it.. there is a clear difference between dropping a classic album and an album being commercially successful. and the fact that u said more ppl knew of nwa than vanilla ice back then proves to me that you are completely indenial, talking from the perspective of just a hip hop head instead of looking at the overall picture. "straight out of compton" was a classic album but it debuted #37 on billboard selling 3 million copies while Vanilla ice's first album was number 1 for 16 WEEKS selling 11 MILLION,becoming the fastest selling hip hop album at the time. that itself proves my point! again, just so you know, im not talking about impact, obviously NWA and artist from the late 80's/90's are better and their music lasts longer in impact in its own respective genre, i would be stupid not to agree. but im talking about about instant commercial success.and the success that allows the crap artists to reach boundaries that the well received artists in the hip hop community do not get to reach. nor do they get recognized by ppl who dont even listen to the genre. believe it or not not everyone listens to hip hop, THAT WHO IM TALKING ABOUT because thats how far u can tell a music really goes; when ppl who dont listen to the genre know of the songs(and those songs tend to be the commercial ones).thats why i say those one hit wonders reach more ppl because both hip hop heads and non hip hop listeners know of these commercial songs. unlike some non hip hop listeners who dont know what wu tang is or never even heard of eazy e for that matter.. its hurts me to even say this but no wu tang song has ever even reached the commercial success or catchy taste of those one hit wonders.. and thats a fact. its sad but its true. Hell, if you look at all the great rap artists, the first single they release from an albu. is nowhere near as good as some songs they have on the album. (examples: the real sim shady -MMLP, Juciy- ready to die, California love, all eyes on me) even though they were good songs they were not the best.. WHY?? because the songs with MORE TALENT DO NOT SELL AS MUCH. and it never did in any era, with exception of the 80's maybe. and that proves YET AGAIN that commercialization of rap (in any era) = "shit music" (in comparison to what artist are really capable of)= more exposure.

[@latinomusic954]

to the old school weirdos down in the comments stuck in the 90s. to you guys hip hop golden era justs means that everyone is lyrical and lyrical content. i think a golden era is how it is now there so many diverse subgenres with in the genre of hip hop its a beautiful thing yo

[@187killa01]

in ten years this era of hip hp will be the one known for destroying it! gangsta rap is what put rap on the map nation wide. its such a shame that its mostly a dead genre.

[@andrewdayton3914]

Agreed!

[@andrewdayton3914]

man...you ain't fucking lying! everything is gay now. That's why i don't even listen to it anymore like i use to. & also Macklemore is promoting that gay shit in Hip-Hop to..

[@benja303]

Good. Gangster rap is holding our people back and encouraging us to kill each other. Our kids are dying for nothing. Look at Chicago.

[@1oneguythat]

Chris Oyewole i agree, chicagos always been bad, so some people started raping about the daily crazy shit they see. so i think this "gangster rap" is more about representing your neighborhood and homies more than lyrical content. but i wouldnt say rap is the reason for the violence, its a reflection of the artists society/community

[@HiImRawr]

people who just become underground fans always say that shit, but how did he almost destroy it? I haven't liked anything he's made in years, but you cant deny that he's made a pretty big contribution in more ways that just making music for himself.

[@EvilEvil66]

I still don't understand how people put Wale anywhere near the top 10 or even being one of the best rappers. I think he is incredibly mediocre.

[@Engel2live]

Listen to mixtape about nothing and more about nothing and come back to this comment

[@SamEdits02]

alot of wale's barz can easily go over your head i said the same thing till i listened to his album on rap genius a lot of barz went over my head

[@187killa01]

i think hes garbage.

[@rockylan4596]

wale doesn't act like something hes not, he just makes good music plus the gifted is a good album.

[@CGAlfonso4]

"I'm trying to raise capital like I'm through punctuating" --- Wale. Thats insane.

[@Supa6263]

the new hip-hop golden era is trashy

[@thisir0nb3ast]

David Prewitt kinda always was though. most rappers brag about being lowlife criminals. one of the only rappers to make positive music was 2 pac.

[@BlackDynamite1983]

J Cole never said the older rappers need to move out the way. He said people today need to embrace the new generation and stop living in the past.

[@moneygetta1650]

it's not another golden era😂😂😂

[@omegawicked1]

u damn right.

[@moneygetta1650]

+KXNG VZS that was ignorant. Keep in mind i wasnt only talking about emcees. Thr golden era wasnt even predominantly in the 90s son it was in the 80s- early 90s. hip hop as a culture, us not practiced like it used to be practiced. aresol writing, b boying and djing and also elements too (dont forget about the knowledge) are not even consider to be an equal partnership with emceeing in most places. groups (unity) have been destroyed and now everybody is a solo act doing it on their own. no doubt this is a dope generation, but there aint nobody fucking with rakim, grand puba, big daddy kane, GZA etc... its just not happening. Hip hip IS the best its been in a while, its just no where near what it was in the mid 80s to the early 90s

[@moneygetta1650]

+KXNG VZS its the record companies fault for the destruction of the culture, they some of teh real devils

[@deezeehollins950]

@JUST VIBES.. No No No No No.. lmao The 90''s had so many LYRICAL JUGGANAUTS That its a shame.. Its had got to a point that you wouldn't get no love or no shine if you wasn't a real MC with intelligent RHYMES or Not Really Lyrical ... Trust me Kendrick Lamar is great for this generation but its TOO MANY MC's from the 90's that would make him look like a SHRIMP CAKE !! TRUST me BRO...

[@nuclearconscious]

Charlemagne hit it right on the head. everything he said was right. damn...he just might be a genius. he's definitely a Crown of the culture with an excellent ear.

[@TheNadroj10]

Lol no.

[@whereuwannabe7796]

Not one of these new rappers gonna be legends. Fuckn throwaway music.

[@hkbessieford851]

When u say new rappers, what do u mean? Cuz there's a few soon to be legends imo. Kendrick, KRIT, RTJ, Earl, Soulo, I mean tde by themselves are becoming legends in their own right, Cole. There's a number out rn that are putting together a great enough catalog to be considered legends. He'll even drake with how he's revolutionized hip-hop as a genre

[@whereuwannabe7796]

+Nduati Macharia yea there's a couple decent lyricists in that list u named but please remove Drake he's not hip hop at all. Half a singer ass nigga with auto tune

[@hkbessieford851]

+where u wanna be listen I don't really consider drake a rapper myself and I'm not really a big time fan of his but subjectivity aside even I can see his impact

[@whereuwannabe7796]

+Nduati Macharia yea I don't care much about impact I'm into talent and skill and he's subpar imo. The most underrated artists never make a mainstream impact but have alot more skill than guys like Drake and Future. These days people base who's the best off record sales when that has little to do with actual talent.

[@hkbessieford851]

+where u wanna be well I can see ur pov as far as talent and skill preference over impact but we unfortunately dont recognize elzhi as much as we do kendrick due to how much impact kemdrick has as an artist even though they're skill level is the same. Or at least close. Drake and future and thug while they don't appeal to most hip hop heads, appeal to the masses as a whole because they have a melodic, distinct sound. But again if I'm too prefer any artist that dominates the waves I'm going with drake because he has at times shown he can be conscious, introspective, and basic level lyrical. Thug and future i cannot listen to because they're just not appealing at all because anybody can do what they've done, theyve just happened to perfect it first as far as melody and cadence

[@madara6267]

I agree with u, We do have a lil bit today. But it's just not enough, plus I still can't listen to the radio. So although there are a few good artist I can listen to I gotta go out of my way to find them.

[@djslimm74]

People are "focusing" on the bad in this era because there's so much of it. There was no more maligned era in Hip-Hop than the 1 we're currently in. Hip Hop has been around since the late 70s and no other era has been seen in a more negative light culturally or musically within it's own community;there wasn't the "old bashing the young" ever before or @ the very least not nearly as much. (cont'd)

[@mr_obnoxiouss6738]

He makes the right point, you go on a new artists music video or lyric videos and there always those people who bring up back when rakim, or BIG were rappin and how they miss old rap, this is a new era, this is new hip hop and rap. The thing that gets me is most of the people who say that are my age, who weren't even born until after tupac died, we didn't grow up listening to pac. They probably didn't even know about any of them until the internet and youtube came out.

[@PUNKSPANK]

charlamagne gets on ppls nerves sometimes... but hes always speakin truth

[@Jack1uptone]

He wasn't speaking truth with this comment.

[@Stevaside]

Yep, those were the 1st rappers I got into as well..Run DMC,LL,Fat Boys,Beastie Boys,Rakim,MC Shan,etc were my introduction to Hip Hop as a little kid. Looking back the violent gangster/thug shit really plagued the 90's & I even tho I still listen to some of it now & then I agree those dudes did help to break it in. I'm SO fed up with people from my era dissing Wayne. He isn't as good lately but he was killing it in the mid-late 2000's IMO..

[@jayslay1000]

90s will always be the greatest era of hiphop. 2pac, biggie, big pun, big L, wu, lox, jay z nothing today can compare to da level of talent.

[@Jvodoff318]

thats just the nostalgia talking. You may like the music overall but rappers nowadays have more lyrical talent then the golden era kings. Still tho, your opinion, respect

[@car9melo]

Jason Vodoff they can have all the lyrical talent in the world most of their music sounds shit

[@maoriking312]

Jason Vodoff haha aint NOBODY more lyrical than Big Pun !

[@kuruptzZz]

yeah I remember in like 94 doggystyle was my first hustle as a kid because I was the only one in my hood with a tape recorder and dubbed copies of that were selling like crack lol...illmatic I picked up years later when I actually started listening to lyrics. The 90s in general will never be matched...shit in 96 alone there was so much good music that even jayz's best album of his career went generally unnoticed.

[@WR3cklez]

Yeah, I agree. I feel as though Hip Hop is becoming more and more like Rock music. Remember how Rock was popular back in the day? Then years later, it faded away because there were SOO many genres and variations of it? I think Hip Hop is shifting in that direction. With so many sub-genres of it, Hip Hop itself loses its focus and dies a slow death.

[@jgip64]

I agree he has the Outkast/Goodie Mobb influence in his music and on top of that, his consistency can't be ignored. He's not bad at singing either lol.

[@MA3POLO]

"Most people I know are the ones saying he's part of the group bringing lyrics back. " MY POINT exactly, there's a HUGE group of them bringing lyrics back, many of them r even more proficient than Joey B. Hence the reason why folks like me and charlamnge feel like we're in new golden era. Folks just rather focus on whats whack, and whine bout that. then they get mad for challenging their complaints. there's a new crop of rappers, and producers bringing in a NEW golden era.

[@sammccartney262]

You may be right that right now this is not a pure golden era right now. But we're certainly shifting into a golden era. Rap is changing and evolving in a great way.

[@decside]

I haven't heard much of Mac Millers stuff but I have to agree with supermanttgame. J Cole, Wale, Kanye (hit or miss but still holds his influential share) Kendrick, Joey Badass and his whole team, Drake etc. While some may not consider them special in comparison to nonmainstream hip hop, these will be the guys that set the bar and allow for more light to be shinned on those who share the same style, a style that's more about the craft rather than a quick buck. This is definitely a crucial era.

[@alexishughes362]

I think he right. In the mix of are through all the party rap, their are actually dude that are lyrical. Drake, Kendrick, J.Cole to me can become legends. I think there are a lot of others who are lyrical like he named, but they just have something special to me.

[@Stevaside]

I think a big part of it comes down to people being bias to the era they grew up in & refusing to let go of it,because I grew up in the 90's&that's exactly what I keep saying.Most of Hip Hop's subject matter was DEFINITELY repetitive for a while,everybody becoming hardcore overnight rapping about how "real"or "gangsta"they were. It was SO much more violent then compared to now.&The sad thing is from the comments I see, some ppl still stuck in that timewarp feel Hip Hop is supposed to be that way

[@arringtonbret]

I think now a days one of the highest compliments an upcoming rapper can receive is getting talked about positively by CTG. Dude knows what he is talking about, contrary to what all you people think.

[@vStreetStruckv]

I'm glad someone said this...Hiphop isn't just rap...its the 4 elements....

[@MA3POLO]

Every rapper I named is lyrical, and its not like Hip-Hop hasn't evolved, its just the folks who only listen 2 the old stuff, don't like new stuff. Hence why someone like Joey Badass is popular among the old-head fans. Partly because he's nice, and partly because of the beats he raps over.

[@donutboy2497]

only good thing about todays rap is pro era. joey and his crew know how to deliver with flow and lyrics. each member is so unique. once everybody drops their own project we bouta get like 10 new artist in the rap game

[@Romagical]

Wayne from 02-08 was nice. plus we still got jay, ye, pusha t, j cole, kendrick, wale, big sean, game, etc. were in a good spot again.

[@maximus1318able]

I'm more than happy to admit I'm stuck in the 90s. Maybe a handful of these new ones could even hang with any artist during the golden era. East or west. True hip hop heads no which ones I'm talking about.

[@thirdshift47]

If you notice,everyone that Charlamagne mentioned as being representative of this new golden era of hip hop was both male and a soloist. Those simple facts in themselves underscore the absurdity of his position for anyone that grew up on hip hop in the 80s and 90s. Take any single year of the late 80s and early 90s and although you had a lesser quantity of talent you had much more quality than today.What's more was the diversity of talent;soloists,duos,trios,quartets,etc.,both male and female.

[@TheProverbialHater]

He makes a valid points.. I've just outgrowned current state of rappers so I see what he's saying.

[@kuruptzZz]

exactly...and now anything jay puts out goes platinum

[@romeycash]

Listening to Krit for the first time is like having "24" being your favorite TV show ever, then discovering that "The Wire" exists...

[@7brjones]

Pro Era, Black Hippy, J Cole, Astro, Bishop Nehru, Boldy James, Fashawn, Elzhi, Danny Brown, Jon Connor, Clear Soul Forces, Killer Mike, El-p, Odissee, Vic Mensa, Odd Future, Atmosphere, Dillon Cooper,MGK, Yelawolf, SlaughterHouse, Kanye West, Mick Jenkins and alot more. Golden Era Of the UnderGround!!!

[@fredguy2]

I'm from Canada and I personally believe the U.K. is going through a Renaissance with artists like mic righteous, Lowkey and Akala.

[@PhillyO1983]

Keep in mind, a lot of heads back in the mid-90s said you couldn't compare Biggie, Mobb Deep, Nas, Chino, etc... to PE, Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Brand Nubian, KRS-One, etc..., I get what Charlamagne is saying, he's saying that the way it looks, history could look back on this as high point in hip-hop, just like the original Golden Era and then the mid-90's.

[@SS-cp1gb]

You may not agree that the music is "good" but it is a new era. A lot of faces are hot that would not have had a chance before and the musicians are now instead of falling off and dying in poverty they are becoming moguls. So arguably it is a golden age in a lot of respects.

[@nomad13ify]

there is always space for legends thats why its legends

[@JJohnson313]

I feel you but people dont really listen to the radio like that anymore. What i mean by that is a lot of people have they iphone/ipods and phones connected while in the car. I find new music on the internet vs the radio now like i assume most people. Times have changed over the last 20 years.

[@VlaDiDaDiY]

2000 to around 2004 was when "underground" artists like Murs, Atmosphere, Jedi Mind Tricks, Non-Phixion, etc were stirring shit up. Good times.

[@decside]

I somewhat agree but he's about the only one who pushes that poetic style of delivery in hip hop, and in a sea of the same ol same, he has his own niche.

[@ismokereefer]

Wayne isn't bad...I get sick of hearing people say that Wayne is shit without even listening to him, but he has his hits and misses. There are numerous rappers who can run circles around him.

[@harvident]

I agree with you partially...we a have a handful of good artist but its a beginning to something other than the bs that we normally hear. People are tired of the dope, money, and arrogant rap and are looking for and listening to the new artist who music sounds like everyday people. I think hip hop is on and upswing, and its becoming good once again.

[@Mattwashere2013]

It's true. Rap in the 80s was nice and innovative but very basic until Rakim and Kane rolled through. Today the best rappers (not the hottest) rap over (imo) better and more varied beats, they sound very different from each other, you have guy's like J. Cole, Ab Soul, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I, who are masters of the double entendre, and then guys like Kendrick, Royce, and Yelawolf who have technically appealing flows which consist of complex rhyme styles that have really evolved since the 80s.

[@personal3314]

Hip Hop is having another golden era, but it doesn't touch the golden era of 92'-95'

[@augustusr1278]

stop living in the past. nostalgia does not equal good.

[@deanivan3951]

Augustus R what are you talking about people have been going on about the beatles and stevie,marvin gaye and many more for years ,nobody says stop living in the past then,you know why,because it was some of the greatest music the shit was recorded so we can listen to it anytime we want and be NOSTALGIC,now the simple fact is the 90's era hiphop was the greatest musically and for flows but it's nice to see that if you look hard enough you can still find alot of dope mc's on the underground with that same boom bap sound

[@wilsanchez78]

In a few years I can see it go to about 60% percent commercial, 40% grime and that's as balance as people can hope for it to get and I'm ok with that. I will say this as far as sound is concerned I do believe we are in a golden era. Production wise what producers are coming up with these days is incredible.

[@JustKenExisting]

It will be a golden era when a gold record isn't treated like a platinum one.

[@marqusbullard3225]

Nuff said. This needs to be shared, needs to be heard. The first most important thing he spoke on was that this is a melting pot, I remember when hiphop was a way to hear about things from a different perspective. I'm from Jersey if I wanted to know about a different region I listened to that cities ambassador ( kurupt & the dogg pound for cali. 8ball & mjg for the Midwest. Trick daddy for the south) Hip hop has always been a melting pot I was good for him to acknowledge that.