Rap Music Sucks Today, Here's Why

[@nyshyn307]

The issue is that everyone in the mainstream is trying to prove themselves by being the same dude: they're all out trying to be sing-rappers, banger-machines, or both at the same time. The greatest artists out right now understand they can just make what they want to and that doesn't have to be everything. I'm sure the cream will rise as we continue forward and push out of this rough patch but I'm unsure how long that will take

[@musermusings]

I hope we do make it out of this rough patch indeed :(

[@amandeepgill978]

Agreed

[@richardlawrence5742]

Might wanna keep hope alive boss 🤔 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4bVhoaBgK2kbq8

[@topbackpodcast2615]

2000s had a similar problem. I will say tho, compared to that era, artists are at least more creative flow wise and even styles. The level of lyricism has dropped down in the past 6 or 7 years tho

[@zyzir]

fr, underground artists on soundcloud are literally making some of the best rap music in 3 decades and people dont even know it!😂

[@YaaaBishhh]

I really wonder if this is just a phase that the culture is going through. For some reason I feel like it's going to last a lot longer than we all first imagined. The music industry has changed so much since I was a kid and teenager. I wanna hear more substantive rap in mainstream. :(

[@RedRypster]

Let the phase phase out already!

[@91toinfinity]

@@RedRypster right?!

[@boeing10000]

There’s no phase this is reality a phase would not of lasted more than 10 years. Once the music industry collapsed in the mid 2000s all you had left was a bunch of people at home trying to push the envelope rappers never really had any major musical talent in the traditional sense, that was left for R&B and Jazz however everything is gone now.

[@alexander13580]

@@boeing10000 It all went downhill with Hip Hop since "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne at the end of 2007!

[@boeing10000]

@@alexander13580 which ironically enough was written by static major, a very talented writer and producer who wrote for Alliyah as well as other great R&B talents of the 90s. I think the problem with the hip hop and gangster culture is that it promotes nothing but inflated egotistical Postures that only look cool but have no value in real society.

[@topbackpodcast2615]

My biggest complaint honestly is that there are a lot of rappers that don’t care to have cohesive lyricism anymore. You have nonsensical rappers that just rap about nothing and make it rhyme, but sound good on a record, than you have these “flow” rappers that cram as many syllables into a bar which makes it sound like one big run-on sentence rap. I’m very lost with this new generation of hip hop tbh lol

[@musermusings]

These are all incisive points. I also mention this lack of lyrical cohesion in the second half of the video. The run on sentences!!! 😂

[@Playboimatrix200]

Maybe because people just want to vibe and have fun not everything gotta be all lyrical and wordplay. I don't wanna listen to a whole album of words I don't understand I'd rather listen to something I can understand and vibe to.

[@pradabears]

@@Playboimatrix200 We know. People just want to vibe, and that’s part of the problem. No one wants to hear music that makes them think anymore and it’s killing hip hop.

[@everett4095]

@@pradabears Kendrick lamars new album was huge this year though

[@Prod-MellowDrama]

@@pradabears sometimes I wanna vibe sometimes I wanna think, it’s not killing the genre

[@KarlNova]

Videos like this are always going to be about mainstream rap music as if the mainstream is the only thing that matters and all that rap is. The roots of hip hop and what made it great came from the underground and many artists are still moving beneath the mainstream making an impact, staying true to roots of the culture and influencing all these visible artists that are mainstream.

[@musermusings]

I'm not saying the mainstream is all that matters. The video is just pointing out that mainstream has degraded. In the end of the video I actually highlight a bunch of new artists who aren't mainstream but are incredible. Did you see that part?

[@albondeb]

Cambatta is GOAT

[@zyzir]

yea the mainstream sucks ass thats the problem people are so naive to the good shit, thats what they get for using fuckin spotify instead of soundcloud😂 idk how anyone can expect to find anything good and unique on a streaming service like that

[@itsnative1746]

@@musermusings did you see your title? Also all the rappers you named have been mainstream before too

[@kydzs]

We need names of these underground rappers i could only name mighty death grips

[@phillinsogood]

I think the reason why it’s considered “dead” amongst music listeners is because of the lack of talent and originality represented in the mainstream. Most rappers today just mumble over a generic trap beat while sampling some song from the early 00’s or 90’s

[@musermusings]

Exactly

[@phillinsogood]

@@musermusings even the music videos are just not fun anymore just the same ole thing. Also can’t wait for more of these videos your content is so good

[@musermusings]

@@phillinsogood Thanks a bunch. Got some new videos coming very shortly. Stay tuned!

[@thompsonjade364]

I agree 💯💯

[@thompsonjade364]

I just support my independence artist's. They have a more unique style originality and they are cohesive with the sound and they lyrics and everything in between.

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

I feel like it’s not just the modern rappers fault that things are the way they are now. I feel like it’s also because of the new fans. Times are different, things feel a lot less meaningful now in my generation compared to what it seems like it was 15 years ago. I have a feeling music as a whole is going to change this decade though, I sure hope it does. I’m sick of where mainstream music has been stuck the last 5 years or so.

[@musermusings]

Things usually work in ebbs and flows. So things can change for the better.

[@thedon0516]

It won't change, the 2020s Era of Hip Hop will sound like this the rest of the decade which sucks

[@baruchdta]

Times are not different,, this is the xyz degenerates born from degenerate females.

[@aimirholmond895]

God I so miss the 90s and 2000s rap specially the 2000s

[@thompsonjade364]

I sure miss my 80's rapper..😔

[@Xx_TopGrade_xX]

Hell nah, both decades of the 80s and 90s blows the 2000s away bro.

[@LosHomiesDre]

@@Xx_TopGrade_xX 90’s???? 90’s arguably easily the best era

[@burhbruhbruhbruhbruh4542]

rap today is much more diverse

[@LosHomiesDre]

@@burhbruhbruhbruhbruh4542 but also lacks a ton of authenticity, the street rappers today Vs the Street rapper back then are way different most lyrical rappers today are pretty corny and doesn’t have a subject matter to keep you entertained

[@keddywang]

Kinda miss when all genres were poppin off at the same time like the 2000s & 2010s now theres no creativity seems like…

[@musermusings]

👏🏽

[@AquaGoose]

I agree, although there are still creative people in the genre including JPEGMAFIA, Tyler the creator, Vince staples and Kendrick Lamar. Those are just a few of them. Although a lot of it sounds the same now.

[@jwood8769]

The 2010’s is the second golden era for Hip Hop. People my age ( 35 ) claim the 2000’s was so great, and don’t get me wrong we got some classics out that era with some genre defining music, but if you look at the albums from back then. It was so formulaic. You can tel the record labels held a tight grip back then. Every album had a ja rule thug need love song , it had a I struggled song, a club song, a braggadocio I’m a better rapper song, I can name so many albums from the 2000’s with this same formula. But in the 2010’s because of the internet artist could make whatever they felt like they were more free to experiment. But people talk about the 2000’s because of the radio hits. We loved the hits back then. But as for artist creativity the 2010’s was almost as good as the 90’s

[@musermusings]

You’re actually right! A lot of the 2000’s rap albums def followed a formula. That still exists today and in the 2010’s but there was more experimentation.

[@RestingCatNipFace]

Facts!!

[@darrenmcgregor4943]

Yeah bang on the money

[@jwood8769]

@The chosen one cap

[@LxckyHandlez]

@The chosen one that IS the golden era tf u talking about 😂😂😂

[@tuynanna]

Love how you're able to discuss a conversational piece, while bringing in different perspectives and noteworthy points. The editing and graphics definitely compliments the writing!

[@musermusings]

😁😁😁

[@richardlawrence5742]

Facts

[@gravegaming2023]

I want to tell myself it's a decade for producers But despite music being older than storytelling, the oldest music we still listen too is 1/4th the age of the oldest stories we read . It will be a forgettable past 12 years minus the top lyricists I'm also really tired of rappers greatness being judged by beat selection and enjoyment and on top of that the same people pretending its always been like this.

[@musermusings]

💯

[@clarissawestbrook2203]

Nas is my all time favorite rapper and Lupe Fiasco, J.Cole , Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass are my favorite current rappers. This was another good breakdown.

[@91toinfinity]

Love Nas too, he is an OG !

[@jeanemlicar]

Y’all can’t forget about the Wu-tang Clan. They definitely represented Hip-Hop to the fullest.​@@91toinfinity

[@buccrewtv]

Great list add some King Los, Stic Man

[@clarissawestbrook2203]

@@91toinfinity What's your top five favorite Nas songs?

[@91toinfinity]

@@clarissawestbrook2203 too many good ones to have a top five

[@darthtroller]

Yall talk about the lack of lyricism, meanwhile I straight up think the songs are sounding too corny and bad for me to even start caring about what they say, and on top of that it just turns out the lyrics are trash anyway

[@musermusings]

Who are some of your fav rappers then?

[@darthtroller]

@@musermusings currently I'm listening to Eminem, 2Pac and Lloyd Banks the most

[@bartonb8982]

#1 problem in rap these days are that guys dont even make the music they release. How tf you gonna say ur an artist when 10 people and autotune made the track?

[@musermusings]

You mean wrote the lyrics?

[@bartonb8982]

@MUSER theres that, but also they didn't make the beat or play any instruments. They didn't record mix or master the track. Theres so many elements to making 1 song that they dont do. They pay everyone else to do the heavy lifting.

[@ghostfrm]

In the early 2010’s rappers still wrote their music… Lil Wayne unknowingly created an entire generation of wannabe clones who don’t even write their music anymore. Punching in took over the industry meaning Substance took a backseat

[@musermusings]

So many of the contemporary rappers are Lil’ Wayne’s sons.

[@BasedEngineer]

The "rap" label is overused. All this new age pop that is wrongly labeled as hip hop is just a trendy sounding beat, load it with a ton of current phrases and buzzwords, catchy hook all written by several other people. This formula sums up Drake and Nicki's careers, which is why I had to dismiss and downvote this video as it gives those two artists way too much credit.

[@NewAgeBarbarian]

Dre released Chronic and Chronic 2001 within 7 years. They sounded radically different to eachother. Rappers from the same era and city didn't sound alike (Nas, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep, Biggie) Now everything sounds the same because creativity is gone.

[@musermusings]

Facts

[@kaelthunderhoof5619]

You must've not been listening to Cornrow Kenny

[@hermanosfernandez1537]

the mainstream hasn't been interesting since 2018, it's less exciting

[@musermusings]

👏🏽

[@alexander13580]

This video is like an essay on the current state of Hip Hop in a video! I was born in the 1990's but I prefer 1990's and 2000's Hip Hop and R&B! Hopefully Hip Hop improves starting this decade!

[@musermusings]

Exactly what I intended on doing!

[@evann5900]

things change youre just stuck in the past

[@brendancroyal3730]

The past paved the way and artists of now need to be reminded of that

[@myboyfriendgonnagetyou97]

I was born in '97

[@Theundisputedelite]

@@evann5900 change isnt always better, you know what they say if it aint broken dont fix it….

[@jennatolls904]

i think rap changed in late 2012 when Chief Keef began popping off and drill music began to take off. then mumble rap became a thing in 2014. followed by rapping and singing. now it’s all trap/drill music. new rappers can’t stop talking about spinning the block and catching they opps lackin’

[@musermusings]

This!!!

[@elianadobbs7603]

Louderrr 👂

[@icealpha1035]

Very true. Sadly there aren't many great rapper in the mainstream. So repetitive and they are ALL the same. There are only a few rappers who are mainstream that have talent. The industry has become a joke. You Don't even have to say words anymore.

[@okentrepreneur3777]

The industry isn’t a joke if you believe rap sucks today, ITS BECAUSE YOU HAVENT LOOKED HARD ENOUGH, you want a list I’ll give it to you, you’re apart of the problem if all You stay on is tik tok or listen to the radio, of course you’re gonna find garbage in the most common places, Spotify, and KZbin are free do your research loll instead of complaining solely out of nostalgia

[@icealpha1035]

@@okentrepreneur3777 I'm talking about the mainstream. I could name many great rap artist today that don't get as much as attention as people who only make music for radio.

[@okentrepreneur3777]

@@icealpha1035 ohhh, then I fully agree with you

[@sethrussell7771]

@@icealpha1035 I guess so. I mean it’s pretty stupid to think that Polo G and Lil Baby aren’t lyrical. The Bigger Picture and plenty of Polo songs prove it.

[@cooper3869]

@@okentrepreneur3777 Could u name a few? I'd like to add some good artist to my playlist😁

[@joewaklatifa]

Start listening to folks like Pink Siifu, Maxo, MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, Navy Blue, etc. then you’ll start to see that this generation of rap is changing and is gonna blow up. There’s more to this than the surface level.

[@musermusings]

I listen to some of those rappers already. As I mentioned at the end of this video, there are plenty of great contemporary hip-hop artists. The main point of this video is that the MAINSTREAM has devolved. Not the genre as a whole.

[@chillrex4309]

Dude pink Siifu , sheeshh

[@NL-fg6it]

I got into hip hop seriously around '94. I saw the change from a variety of styles and flows from artists to B.I.G and Puff bringing the Versace Champagne rap in. I recall the backlash from a lot of fans (and groups like OGC) but these days they make out that everyone loved Biggie. That obsession with money, IMO, was the beginning of the end. We still had great artists after that, but they all grew up in the era of different styles and brought that background knowledge to the bling era. Now we've got aspiring rappers copying rappers with little to no skill or originality.

[@musermusings]

Exactly. It’s the skill and originality that’s missing!

[@paydenmcknight]

In this day in age, the really popular rap is more of a subgenre of pop. Which in my opinion is an amazing thing, cause now with the internet, everybody can find their niches way easier by finding the artists they love without worrying about it being successful. Sure the biggest rap albums and artists as of recent aren't as good as 2010s or 2000s or even 1990s, but we now have WAY more music in these last 2 years because of how easy it is for anybody to make music, so good stuff will always exist.

[@musermusings]

You are absolutely right. There are tons more options now than ever before. However, there is still downsides to none of those brilliant artists being recognized by a wider audience. It just perpetuates all of the mediocrity to be front face and center for everyone. Unfortunately, unlike you and I, most people don't go out of their way to discover music. Shouldn't they also have the privilige of experiencing the music from all of these great artists?

[@datedylan2187]

So glad on how much you included and emphasized Nicki's impact. Idk why other channels speaking on hiphop try to hide her away or get shy about talking about what she did for the culture. Especially when she first came out she didn't rap about the frivolous shit most female rappers are doing now.

[@musermusings]

Nicki def had an indisputably huge impact on Hip-Hop overall. I don’t think there’s as many people trying to hide or deny that as a lot of ppl believe there are.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

You might watch none Black Female Hip hop channels then. 💀

[@datedylan2187]

@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 Nah I only watch the ones made by black men or other races of men talking about hip hop. Can you recommend me some good channels?

[@joshuadurham1257]

Nicki Minaj is the greatest rappers of female atrists and legends classic. She been into this hip hop game in the early 2000's to 2020 experience of drake, Eminem, lil wayne, meek mill, rick ross, migos and especially birdman. She able to embracing her own barbie and grinding styles. She can beat this whole generation and this ultimately genius of the world!!!!

[@coreypope7220]

The way you all have such positive things to say about Nicki makes it obvious where it all went downhill.

[@alexacosta2140]

Thank you for pointing this out, it’s not like there isn’t good artists but damn the genre as a whole is just starting to sound like an imitation of itself…

[@musermusings]

Thanks for actually taking the time to listen and understand my overall point. A lot of people listen to the first few mins and think I’m saying all of Hip-Hop is horrible now, which I don’t believe in the slightest.

[@darrylfoxworth2026]

What happened is the majority of today's rappers sold their souls and joined the illuminati.

[@musermusings]

This is such an antiquated point of view

[@thompsonjade364]

Factual

[@thompsonjade364]

And now they all happy🌈 lmfao

[@MistaDon]

Someone’s going to make rap music the way it used to be

[@musermusings]

You’re right. The tides will turn and circle back… it always works that way.

[@RedRypster]

Great points here. People are going to stay we're old heads for thinking the rappers before were much better but it's just objectively true.

[@musermusings]

Exactly. I’m not an old head, as I stated in the video, there’s so many great new rappers… they’re just not as visible as the ones from the 2000s 2010s.

[@Call_Me_Rio]

You are old heads just cause you dont like it doesnt mean its not good same how your dad probably didnt like the music u listened to

[@musermusings]

@@Call_Me_Rio Oh shut it.

[@zerouk_l]

@@Call_Me_Rio I'm 13 and mumble rap is shit

[@Call_Me_Rio]

@@zerouk_l yeah cause only hear rappers like lil pump, and lil yachty which dont even deserve to up there Listen to haha- yeat or talk- yeat or yungchris or cochise or sky by playboi carti or listen to all types by yeat unreleased

[@daronray7921]

I honestly think the real reason why rap is “dead” because tons of rappers always rap about sex and not about something meaningful I feel like that’s why rap in 80s and 90s and early 00s and early 2010s the verses were meaningful

[@musermusings]

Exactly!

[@joshuadurham1257]

Truest relevant

[@DFG._june]

As a artist this does change my perspective even more. Already knew how the main stream was so I just decided I’ll be a local In WA. Went kinda viral from a duet with Dax nd things changed from there. It’s a money game in the industry along with image. Doesn’t have to be good music because they can pump money into promotions for big name artist to make it seem still valid. In my opinion that’s also why rap is dead even though I do it, money for views and them taking advantage of the trend riding sheep that’s to gullible to see the true shades💯

[@musermusings]

Thanks for the comment and insight. Some say the loss in gatekeepers is the reason any and everybody can release music nowadays. It's a double edged sword... theres good and bad that come as a result of it.

[@amandeepgill978]

This is not old head logic. It's just logic.

[@musermusings]

!!!

[@MrEOM41]

2020s rap era sucks man I’ve never seen so many artists drop the ball on albums .. it drives me nuts that these so called star rappers can’t make a solid listenable album.

[@LaCheleWallace]

I _cain't_ stand today's rap music. There's no variety which threw the genre off balance. Oh, wait a second. "You have to look for it," "Rap has to evolve" and "ANYBODY can do rap." When labels aged out the OG's, didn't let them become gatekeepers, and basically blackballed them, that's when the genre became a free-for-all. Rap music has zero standards for excellence. Rap music used to be sheer excellence. Everybody had they own unique style and flavor. Nasir didn't sound like Snoop Dogg. When you have other groups who just casually come into our community and make lil' funny statements like, "Anybody can do rap," you know you have a major problem. Opera and heavy metal are two genres of music that have very strict standards of excellence. There will be no mumbling on record. There will be no twerking/nakedness on stage. In opera, there is no faking it w/ auto-tune tones. In heavy metal, if you ain't a vocalist then yo' ass gon be on them drums or fuckin' up that guitar. You ain't gon be standin' and lingerin' around lookin' like you stuck on stupid. It's really sad when you just stop and compare the different standards in different genres. We're a fuckin' trash can compared to other genres. There's no more soul in rap music. We'll never get upstanding bands like Brand Nubian anymore. Those days are gone. When you listen to Common Sense or Nasir, you're getting soul music. Public Enemy - soul music. Brand Nubian - soul music. Eh, oh well. At least I have the memories 'cause chile... Oh, and miss me w/ the J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar references. I don't like they music.

[@musermusings]

Why don't you like Kendrick? He's indisputably one of the best Hip-Hop artists of all time!

[@LaCheleWallace]

@@musermusings I just don't feel him. He ain't got no soul or flavor and I don't like his voice.

[@MegaMarvelvsDC]

I like his older albums better. His new albums sound overproduced.

[@neverstar22]

@@musermusings number 1 that’s an opinion and second Kendrick Lamar is overrated he’s not even as good as people says he is the only reason people say he’s nice is because he’s in an era where people see music as mediocrity people think everyone is nice he’s overrated him and Cole ain’t nothing breath taking

[@neverstar22]

@@LaCheleWallacehis voice is the most annoying thing about him I can’t his voice

[@Macross223]

Back during the 80s and 90s, you had so many different styles and most styles went with a specific 'sounds'. East / West Gulf Coast and Up North had they own sounds. Now I can't tell where their from just listening to a beat or lyrics. Overly saturated with materialistic views and whoring-reminds me when all the rappers who were conscious were trying to cross-over to be gangster rappers (around 93-94) sound versus staying original and not falling off. You also notice an odd difference that most Instrument use has been stripped out of hip-hop. No one really pays homage to Classical, Jazz, old Rap or Rock.Nope. No good sampling here folks. I remember a few years back a artist used the lookin 4 da chewin beat by Kingpin Skinny Pimp (and before him 8Ball MJG). It was terrible-I wondered how such a classic dope beat could be butchered. Definitely different times and values.

[@musermusings]

You’re right. Nowadays it’s hard to tell who is who and the distinction of styles.

[@gocpng4699]

This Whole Thing Needs To Be On Tv. Who Can Make It Happen?

[@musermusings]

Haha! I appreciate that. Best compliment I’ve received in a while… especially because so many people think I’m being a hater by making these arguments. 👊🏽

[@2ksteve406]

Hip hop today doesn’t suck, mainstream hip hop does. Underground artists like boldly,Mach-hommy,billy woods,roc Marciano are pushing the genre and even less underground artists like Westside gunn and Freddie Gibbs are putting out S tier albums while mainstream artists like dababy are putting out the worst hip hop records of all time, hip hop doesn’t suck ur just only listening to what’s in rap caviar.

[@musermusings]

Clearly you haven’t listened to the actual points in this video because I mention that this is specifically criticizing mainstream Hip-Hop. In fact, at the end of the video I mention a bunch of awesome current rappers including FREDDIE GIBBS. Listen before speaking buddy.

[@bombguruENT]

The points in this video are spot on! Love the images as well!

[@Catalyst-du3cp]

The modern day youth are too high to listen to actual lyrics! They love the beat and the hook! Hell they don’t want to listen to anyone or anything that requires thinking!! 💯

[@musermusings]

Sadly

[@kiwikiwi2483]

Hey now don't do that. That's not all of us, I love Kendrick cause of his lyricism. I appreciate a good beat as always but I love the lyrics too

[@musermusings]

@@kiwikiwi2483 you’re right, I think there’s a lot of Gen Z’s that have an appetite for meaningful rap music. The labels are probably more to blame than the public.

[@kshep98]

@@musermusings you guys are acting like music isn’t subjective 😂 Many other people and I enjoy listening to music that sounds better than something that tells a story or has more meaningful lyrics. No way you are judging a whole genre based on a few main stream rappers, shows how much of a bias you have to music you grew up with, you won’t go out of your way to see new ideas, sounds and flows people are thinking up of, like sofaygo, Freddie Gibbs, rio, babytron, baby’s world, pink shiifu, slauson Malone, action Bronson, mac, idk, kenny Mason, lol ugly mane, Denzel curry and that’s just a few 😂 even the mainstream rappers out out some good music but I bet you haven’t listened to more than two of their songs. I will say that a lot of new rappers make a lot of music and only a few of their songs are good but they are just putting out any idea they can and seeing what works. I wouldn’t say i have any bias toward what I listen to but obviously music is subjective I love old rap too omg name any artist and I’ve definitely listened to them like guru and pharcyde are amazing. Don’t act like you guys have a more elite music taste than anyone who listens to new music because nobody has an objectively better music taste than anyone else. I bet you can’t even name the album on my profile pic 😂

[@musermusings]

@@kshep98 Next time you should watch the video in it's entirety and use some Q-tips before listening because I did actually mention rappers including Freddie Gibbs, IDK and Denzel Curry during the end as examples of rappers who are immensely talented. JID, Anderson Paak and Tierra Whack are some others that were named. This video is making an argument about mainstream rap and how it has degraded in recent times buddy.

[@Theundisputedelite]

Hip hop talks about culture but the rappers that they be idolizing are the same ones that are destroying the minds of the youth and keeping them in that ghetto mindset and valuing materialism and validation over everything, what happened to poets that actually told stories and tried to better us? What happened to MCs that focused on lyricsm and wordplay instead mumble mouthing and pill popping, the music just hasnt been the same…..

[@musermusings]

We need BALANCE!

[@Theundisputedelite]

@@musermusings “while silly niggas argue over who gone snatch the crown, look around my nigga white people have snatched the sound” J Cole…..

[@alsanchez3256]

Rip rap and hip hop don't get me wrong there is some good young rappers out there but come on man this is my opinion but the people who suck almost all Mumble rappers

[@musermusings]

Yup, mumble rap and the rappers who lack identity.

[@polcumaku3546]

Having “lil” in your rap name screams originality

[@musermusings]

😭

[@phillinsogood]

So happy I grew up on outkast, Kanye, Missy Elliot, ludachris etc

[@musermusings]

!!!

[@KEYBEATZ]

The problem is the record labels whether they're independent or major don't push lyricism anymore, only images, they don't insist on rappers really being able to rap. The 90s all the rappers were different unique, none of them sounded the same.(you can tell the difference between Ice cube, ice T Tupac, Biggie, Wu Tang, and Scarface,) and they were very distinguishable these days they're not distinguishable. Some of the more modern rappers like Nicki Minaj cardi B meg tha stallion, Lil Wayne Jay Cole, they can rap.

[@musermusings]

Exactly, all of which I mentioned in this video. The problem also with a lot of rappers who can rap contemporarily is that they tend to rap about the same subject over and over again, especially with their commercial singles.

[@joshuadurham1257]

Truest relevant!!!! 100%.

[@tree1214]

honestly this is more of a problem with mainstream music in general rather than just rap, the underground is thriving rn y’all just gotta branch out and find new artists

[@musermusings]

You obviously didn’t listen to the video, all of that which you mentioned is highlighted if you just took a Q-tip and cleaned out your ears.

[@lucidjamesofficial]

They focus more on acting cool and sounding cool not building a legacy that's why it sucks

[@musermusings]

Why do you think that is?

[@lucidjamesofficial]

@MUSER Because they lack Creativity lil baby is one of the Rappers I've ever heard

[@jasonmassplayingmusic5533]

Artistically, Hip-Hop music as a genre has been in decline since the late 90s…

[@musermusings]

This is true, however we still had a bunch of great rappers in he first two decades of the 2000s. Not so much in recent years… in terms of mainstream at least.

[@youngjayvin]

u left out so many great contemporary artists. if ur into rap nowadays, there’s really too great artists many to even name. (edit) id even say more meaningful & intricate Hip Hop is more alive today than it EVER has been.

[@musermusings]

I’m aware that there are many great artists contemporarily, I’ve mentioned some of them at the end of this video. However, as I’ve told many others, this video is focusing on mainstream/popular rap. Who are some of the rappers you’re referring to?

[@youngjayvin]

@@musermusings i feel like with the internet age, “mainstream” exists in an entirely different context now. mainstream rap in the past was more varied and rich sure, but that’s all that most people even had access to. in a certain way, that’s all there rlly was to a lot of ppl. nowadays, every single Hip Hop head u meet could sit and list dozens of their favorite underground artists. idk. ppl talk abt the mainstream as if it’s so important and critical for the culture. it is important, but if u dive into the wealth of independent artists out there, it becomes quickly apparent that the “mainstream” is such a small part of Hip Hop. imo

[@yaten4644]

I think this an irreversible consequence of the expansion of the music industry. Having a stranglehold on the mainstream is no longer as important because of the Internet and how all genres have become more niche. In the past, only the best of the best would receive attention, mainstream or not. In my opinion, hip hop and music in general is more diverse than ever, it's just that an artist you will like will be more hard to find nowadays. Even then, liking mumble rappers or whatnot is perfectly fine. Also, it pisses me off when people say hip hop is built around lyricism, when it wasn't.

[@musermusings]

You're right. There's tons of artists out there that are making incredible music. If you're a music enthusiast or someone who enjoys discovering new music on your own accord than finding the talent is not so difficult. The problem is a lot of people rely on what's popular for their consumption. So while very few appreciate the quality, the masses are inundated by mediocrity.

[@DanGeezyPresents]

Rap music is fire. People just love to bitch and think they’re “cool” saying something is lame

[@musermusings]

Rap music is fire but some ppl are too dumb to understand nuance

[@youthofyesterdayrecords]

The 90s were the best. Where's the time machine?

[@musermusings]

The Time Machine is the music!

[@91toinfinity]

Oh how I miss the good old days :(

[@aimirholmond895]

I damn sho do too rap ain't shit now

[@musermusings]

:(

[@TSDB100]

they're all still on streaming services, they havent gone anywhere lol

[@R-Mc]

HIP HOP IS DOOMED IT'S IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY I MAKE MUSIC THAT'S UPLIFTING AND POSITIVE THAT'S JUST ME NO VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING NO DEGRADING WOMAN NO CURSING I DON'T JUDGE NO ONE ON HOW THEY EXPRESS THERE ART IN MUSIC IT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED FOR SURE ALOT OF DEATH NOW BACK THEN ARTIST WASN'T GETTING KILLED LIKE THAT BACK THEN IN HIP HOP NEW GENRE OF RAP ALOT OF ARTIST BEING KILLED WHICH IS VERY SAD I PRAY FOR HIP HOP WE DEFINITELY NEED BALANCE

[@musermusings]

Cool, I will check out your music. Thanks for the comment!

[@ZZ-rc1yw]

Oldheads

[@R-Mc]

@@ZZ-rc1yw thank you for the compliment

[@ZZ-rc1yw]

@@R-Mc that's an insult Yall the ones who ruining music rn with yall ignorant ass takes

[@Unholygamewinner]

Today shits on the 80s. Ppl love nostalgia. The variety and choice you have now is unparalleled. We love shitting on current music (well I don’t) but In 20 years we’ll be hounding the current music and hailing the old

[@musermusings]

That’s not necessarily true. I pointed out a bunch of new rappers at the end of this video who are excellent, so I’m not against current music, I just think a lot of the mainstream artists are mediocre at best. And of course the 80s were not as good as modern rap, the genre was literally in its inception phase. Everything evolves and becomes better from the prototype.

[@atlntcostv7293]

Best era of Rap 1996 - 2005

[@musermusings]

That was a time

[@elijahheart9103]

This generation of hip hop all sounds the same. The 90s had Eminem,DMX, Tupac snoop dog, Dr.dre, 50cent, Nelly, Nas. Everyone was unique and different but now everyone sounds the same, nothing but TRASH

[@musermusings]

Exactly, now so many artists sound derivative.

[@Bballin8103]

I appreciate the time and effort u put into this. Well thought out and thought provoking. And it makes sense. Rap was just better 20 years ago. There are a few rappers who give me hope, but the masses don’t listen to these.

[@musermusings]

Exactly. My favourite rappers today are successful, millions of listeners on the streaming platforms but in terms of mainstream success, they are invisible.

[@chefvonsean4057]

It’s very unfortunate that this video is so true. Music has went completely downhill and so have their videos. There is no social commentary or substance to them. The real problem is that people are getting significant based on their social media status as opposed to their actual talent!

[@musermusings]

The only way you’re gonna get social commentary is you listen to Kendrick, Cole or any of the rappers I mentioned at the end of the video. Thanks for the compliment. You should check out the rest of my videos Chef! 🙏🏽

[@chefvonsean4057]

@@musermusings I definitely will. Thought you did a great job on your research and made some valid points. I just finished a video for a client and I would love if you checked it out as well. I would appreciate your opinion as well. I’ll send the link once I post it.

[@stolenmemesfromdiscord]

So now I'm a boomer for thinking rappers who use a shit ton of autotune aren't talented! There are still some great rappers out there, but the whole genre feels like its being overrun with crap.

[@musermusings]

Exactly!

[@blckbutterfly]

Ya as a music artist it’s been so hard to shine through the over population of all this new generation trends but we keep pushing. Great video!!

[@musermusings]

Thanks! You should check out my other videos, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as well!

[@blckbutterfly]

@@musermusings already subscribed and plan to look at more as I find free time! 🕊️🫶💪

[@filmusichris]

rap listeners nowadays just care about the beat, instrumental, background

[@musermusings]

😫

[@filmusichris]

@@musermusings All of the Lights vs Love the way you Lie

[@fudgemonkey5504]

Good video. A lot of the artists you listed at the end our rappers I love. What’s your opinion on uzi and carti?

[@musermusings]

I’m glad others appreciate them too! I think Uzi and Carti have good songs here and there but they also suffer from lacking substance in their music.

[@gamefanatic4106]

Today is more about sound and flow and some substance

[@musermusings]

Which era do you prefer?

[@gamefanatic4106]

@@musermusings the one where “FNO SMOKEY” takes over

[@earthWaxer]

I get what you mean but music is art it goes through phases and motions and you can say that the 90’s is the best or the worst. But it doesn’t really matter as long as artists can creat the art they enjoy and listeners are able to have the opportunity to enjoy it then there is no problem with what u define as “bad” music. Trash like da baby and Jack Harlow are failing by every metric rn and great rappers like 21, Yeat and others are pioneering a new way to look into the genre and it’s vastness. You can say that it’s not for you but saying that it’s bad for the hip hop landscape just shows blatant gatekeeping, immaturity and misunderstanding of what art is. But I will give props this is the most balanced take I’ve seen in a while👌🏿

[@musermusings]

I agree that it does through phases. I just believe the most visible rappers today aren’t as talented and charismatic as their predecessors. I try to be balanced. I enjoy a lot of the new rap music too, however a lot of the most popular guys don’t deserve to be the ones most listened to.

[@earthWaxer]

@@musermusings I agree with that to an extent but I feel that the reason that there were a heavier concentration of good rappers back then was because it was harder to become an artist cause there was no internet but overall it’s prolly a good thing that’s e can have more artist spit on larger platforms now

[@angelozicarelli541]

I tried to listen to a few rap songs of today and I couldn't take it 😩😫🤢. You can't even understand what they are saying nowadays. Just like everything else, music was by far way better in the 90s when we were all growing up.

[@musermusings]

Did you try any of the rappers I mentioned at the end of this video? They’re actually really talented.

[@dankbabayyyy]

hip hop is becoming more underground as these artists are passing away, the 90s and mid-late 2010s were undoubtedly the golden ages of hip hop

[@musermusings]

Maybe there will be a renaissance?

[@dankbabayyyy]

@@musermusings i’m looking at the real underground right now, and it seems there will be a renaissance but more chill and raw, then screaming or energy

[@neverstar22]

2010s is not apart of the golden era tf you talking……. The only golden era is 90s not even mid 2010s comes close

[@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253]

Good luck with your channel bro, this video was nicely done.

[@musermusings]

Thanks! I appreciate that.

[@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253]

@@musermusings I don't have a successful KZbin channel of my own but it seems that regular uploads with a similar amount of time between each upload is one of the most important things along with involving your subscribers with community posts / polls, (The Facebook style posts now available) I'm not 100% how to go about that but I've seen others asking questions and informing people when and what the next video is going to be, just don't post an overwhelming amount as some will be put off. I might have added nothing you didn't already know but the couple of minutes it's taken is the least I can do to contribute towards your time spent on the video.

[@musermusings]

@@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253 Thanks for all the tips. I’m going to try my best and stay consistent. Hopefully get a new quality video out once or twice a month. I appreciate the love!

[@saxshton]

Kendrick and Tyler are single-handedly carrying the entire rap scene rn, change my mind

[@musermusings]

Kendrick is.

[@saxshton]

@@musermusings and Tyler.

[@bashash6013]

America has had it's time in rap. I grew up listening to American rap artists but that's no longer the case here in the UK. Most of the youth are listening to UK rappers. The same is true in a lot of countries around the world. So all that's happened is rap has gone global and the best artists are no longer in America but in other parts of the world.

[@musermusings]

This is spot on, it’s true hip-hop has become an international sensation and there’s so many insulated pockets now.

[@thompsonjade364]

I agree 💯

[@rackss1661]

We’ll always run a culture that’s ours and something we’ve created. Can’t compare a country with 65 million to 340 million and something started by Black Americans and it’s almost 50 million of us. Foreign hip hop isn’t popular here besides in NYC.

[@specialk864]

honestly, I’ve always felt like hip-hop/rap was more about what was said than how it was said. both are extremely important, though. that bein said, I feel like today’s music is more “style over substance”, for a lack uva better term, than ever before and, maybe, it’s just me, but sayin whatever ain’t the move. like, as a rapper, you ain’t finna say sum shit, like, “I suck dick for drugs” and expect me, as a listener/audience, to think that shit is 🔥

[@musermusings]

Haha, who is saying they suck dick for drugs? 😂

[@joshuadurham1257]

Lol

[@specialk864]

@@musermusings awl, idk, man. lol, I was just tryna give an example of how what is said is more important than how it’s said. give it time, though. w the direction rap music’s headed in, I’m sure it won’t be long before someone says sumn like that, or worse.

[@AndrewDuncan602]

As a Jazz/neoclassical musician and someone who is majoring in music. I try to look at the positives of each and every song I listen to. Rap or hip-hop is difficult for me to find something. It could just be me being oversaturated with bizarre time signatures, key changes and a lot of the other fancy things jazz/metal has to offer. To me there is just no emotion I feel in the lyrics. It makes me feel. as if they are nearly A.I. generated. The extensive use of sampling other songs or just using the same exact music from one song and calling it their own. A lot of it gets really boring and repetitive. I do recognize that music is subjective and each person has the right to disagree with me or state how they feel. But, to me it's become rather bland when you compare it to old school hip-hop (80s/90s).

[@musermusings]

Have you checked out any of the rappers I mention at the end of this video?

[@kaelthunderhoof5619]

Just listen to Kendrick, Ab-Soul and Lupe.

[@forfun7058]

Mainstream is ass but that’s not real rap

[@musermusings]

That's my point!

[@brownhornet5031]

I'll say this as a dj, breakdancer, graffiti artist and mc: rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live. I like that most posters are using the proper term of 'rap' to describe New wave. In hindsight and watching the video, the 2016 XXL Freshman class was a true tell of what was to come. The comments on that video are a true example of a generation gap graduating to a black hole.

[@musermusings]

This did take a turn in 2016… my whole point for making this video

[@mackenzielabar1982]

we’ve had one of the best years in hiphop this year in a long time, wym. jid, kendrick, joey, denzel, pusha t, saba, vince staples, logic all dropped great albums and there may be more to come

[@musermusings]

Most of the artists you named are not popular in the mainstream which is the overall point of this video. I mentioned a lot of them in the end of this video as examples of contemporary rappers who are continuing to push the envelope. So my point has been proven yet again. Popular rap has degraded.

[@Link________]

@@musermusings there are like 3 kinds of mainstream rappers

[@zzzzzzz2601]

Mainstream rap sucks, If you look further into hip-hop music you will find underrated gets, there was a ton of experimental, or differently produced 8+/10 albums you probably missed in 2022 or even to this day

[@musermusings]

I agree with you. The best artists are not mainstream, which is why I mentioned some of them in the very end of this video. Who are some of your favs? I’ll check them out.

[@dgamer1654]

80s and 90s hip hop is the best

[@musermusings]

I think 2000s and 2010s Hip-Hop is up there too

[@mrblackman1992_]

It’s no nostalgia in rap music no more cause every rapper does the same thing from the most obvious to the most small things from mainstream to underground.

[@musermusings]

Yes a lot of it is derivative at this point.

[@manishsubba7313]

Thank you for the insight. Keep shining

[@musermusings]

Much appreciated! What a beautiful comment.

[@stolenmemesfromdiscord]

I like how some peoples main rebuttal is that this guy sounds kinda white. Thats pretty racist and it makes it sound like black people want to gatekeep hip-hop.

[@musermusings]

Best part about it is that I’m not white 😂

[@8greateight8]

Finally an ad I wanted to click on 😂😂

[@musermusings]

And how was it? :P

[@FATMAN162x]

The problem with rap is how soft we are nowadays. I mean there’s just shit you can’t even say anymore, rap is wordy. People also don’t wanna talk about themselves no more. It’s all about pussy, drugs, shooting people, etc. it gets boring after every single song.

[@musermusings]

Do you listen to any of the artists I mentioned at the end of this video?

[@BCRSkrapper]

Wiz Khalifa had a big influence on Hip Hop in the 2010s - Good Video

[@musermusings]

He sure did

[@waedjradi]

At 4:13, those albums, during that time - that's the last time when Rap music was fun. Now I don't even follow it anymore

[@musermusings]

Seeing them all lined up like that really a makes it obvious what a bad state were in now.

[@waedjradi]

@@musermusings Indeed. A part II on this subject would be great. Thanks for this essay 👍

[@musermusings]

@@waedjradi Thanks. I originally intended to also cover the 90s, however because I’m a new channel I didn’t want to make the video so long as it would’ve detracted viewers. Subscribe and check out my other videos. I have new content coming out soon as well! ☺️

[@waedjradi]

@@musermusings Oh! Yep, that makes sense. I'll stay in tune, brother 🤝🤓

[@georgiaagw1618]

This is 100% spot on!!!

[@musermusings]

Thanks!

[@_onorange_]

From what I seen and hear so far I always wondered why people my age or older people tend to completely ignore or look over artist that have a genuine impact on this generation as a whole. I’m continuously trying to see both sides and I can understand that a lot of these newer artist often fall into mediocrity with rap cause of the song that are out and blow up and those who prefer to listen to old school rap think it’s overrated. The same thing can said about newer artist that don’t mess with old rap at all. And I’ll admit that it’s hard to defend the newer artists because either their songs will sound the same and there no messages that relates to ordinary people, the expression of awareness to what’s going on in the world or they rare show any creativity/unique aspects of their music. It’s hard for underground people to stay genuine since what they talk about is corny according to a lot of younger people and artists don’t have something that becomes a hit. Sometimes to us as kids, teenagers, and young adults, the beat is all that we care about. But my conclusion is to not completely look over actually talent and expression of old or new rap and it’s ok to have a preference over the old or new, but if you didn’t take the time out your day to see both sides don’t be quick to judge.

[@musermusings]

You’re right there’s good and bad in both the past and present. That’s the reason I ended the video with naming some great contemporary rappers. Who are some your fav rappers of all time?

[@_onorange_]

@@musermusings Juice WRLD, Polo G, XXXTENTACION, Lil Durk, Ski Mask The Slump God, Chief Keef, NLE Choppa, Dababy, NBA Youngboy, Ice Cube, DMX, and Kanye West. I know all those big names sound basic, but 5 people out of this list touched me emotionally and the others are entertaining or motivating.

[@leewightman8619]

I hate what has happened to hip-hop

[@musermusings]

Be specific

[@michaelbme1983]

The most common response to this sort of video or sentiment for that matter is that you need to listen to The underground for Great rap instead of the mainstream. The problem with that sentiment is that the money is in the mainstream and if the mainstream does not improve rap music will go away like jazz. Jazz music never quite disappeared but it's way less relevant than it was decades ago and the same will happen to rap if rap music in the mainstream does not improve

[@musermusings]

I don’t see Hip-Hop fizzling out the way Jazz has. Hip-Hop has been around for decades now and it’s bigger than ever.

[@michaelbme1983]

​@@musermusings jazz was pretty big in the 1940s and 1950s as well. At that point it had been around for decades as well. It still declined in popularity decades after that

[@certainpeople159]

To be fair, a lot of rap that transcends the genre as a whole, from now and before, goes overlooked by the masses as well. Although you can’t really pinpoint a time when something is known by the masses, it’s safe to say a lot of rappers that came out in the 1990s/2000s are still waiting to get recognition.

[@musermusings]

That’s absolutely true but this video is specifically about popular rap music.

[@joshuadurham1257]

Truest relevant OG!!!! 100%

[@DADON99]

Peep how most of the music he covered in the 2010s were early 2010s music…2010-2014 was the last great era of hip-hop. That era of Drake, Kendrick, Nicki, Eminem, Wayne, Jay, Kanye and Cole beats anything that’s being played today

[@musermusings]

Exactly! Things started to change for the worst post 2014.

[@ghetty78]

This new era fucking sucks. Shit is overhyped pop music

[@musermusings]

Check out the rappers I mention at the end of the video. They’re actually making incredible music… just not mainstream.

[@shawnwiggins728]

Absolute cap there are so many singles, songs, and features you have not heard of. Not all songs are like that dumbass

[@musermusings]

@@shawnwiggins728 I agree

[@abbanjo13]

I feel like this video falls into the nostalgia trap. Being able to remember both decades, to say that there weren't the same complaints about lack originality/creativity is to miss so much of the culture at those points.

[@musermusings]

You clearly didn’t watch the video properly because I do address those exact points you bring up. Use your ears buddy.

[@codsquad3819]

@@musermusings wow what a rude response lol

[@Hakimrprod]

We need 90s music back this music now is just all about killing and other stuff

[@musermusings]

Did you stick around to the end of the video where I listed a bunch of contemporary rappers that are worth checking out?

[@thompsonjade364]

Yes your right is all about killing one other, and materialistic things. And who can afford better things. Shit is whack and sad 😭

[@richardlawrence5742]

Let me point you into the right direction sir kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4bVhoaBgK2kbq8

[@sandycheeks1580]

The only ones that hold up are Kendrick, j Cole, yo gotta, lil Wayne, Gucci, and drake.

[@musermusings]

No female rappers?

[@truemperahzentertainment6133]

They sign anybody!

[@musermusings]

At this point, they really do.

[@thompsonjade364]

Yes! even if they sound like💩. With no GED.. lol

[@Tygahz]

To be honest the newer SoundCloud rappers from the 2020 wave (not the OG ones) are not unique at all. People are making nonsense lyrics, men simping over untalented female rappers, and tiktok killing rappers careers making the line “one verse wonder”.

[@musermusings]

What era is your fav?

[@Tygahz]

@@musermusings I like the SoundCloud 2017 era as it brought legends we know today and some I still love today.

[@user-hs3zl2pp5f]

Cus all these new modleic rapper sucks

[@musermusings]

!!!

[@ouemi6177]

People are blinded by nostalgia and we need to move topics. 2000’ and 2010’ music is over and rappers need to change the moods in each album or else it will get redondant

[@musermusings]

This has nothing to do with being blinded by nostalgia. You obviously didn’t listen the number of points I made to back up the argument that popular rap music has degraded in quality. The main ones include: originality, lyracism, substance. There are ways to evolve and still have these checkpoints.

[@user-ph5yc6jj6w]

Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West are the ones who watered down Hip-Hop by making songs that appealed to casuals. They started a whole wave of mediocrity in the early 2000s.

[@musermusings]

You're a fool, those three are some of the best rappers of all time.

[@EricCartmanProductions3410]

Rap music used to be so good before 2010s nowadays all i hear is mumbling lyrics 😔

[@musermusings]

Most of the 2010s were solid too

[@EricCartmanProductions3410]

@@musermusings yeah

[@TheDominicKellmanPodcast]

It really is trash nowdays I hate my life

[@musermusings]

You don’t gotta hate your life. There’s plenty of great rappers that are making awesome music, just not mainstream. Did you stick it out to the end of the video where I listed some rappers to look out for?

[@phil1353]

Let’s be honest. The future is just energy the artist brings to the track. Not so much about the lyrics

[@musermusings]

Energy is so vague.

[@phil1353]

@@musermusings it’s what we are. We’re all energy. Nothing vague about facts.