Something weird is happening in hip-hop

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Join me as I explore the transformation of hip-hop, a genre showing signs of fatigue yet simultaneously bubbling with avant-garde experiments.
Timestamps:
0:00 A Genre in Fatigue
2:02 The Commercialization of Hip Hop
4:40 An Avant-Garde Revolution
12:53 Hip Hop’s New Punk
17:41 It Could Be Way Weirder
Music by Epidemic Sound:
www.epidemicsound.com/artists...
www.epidemicsound.com/artists...
#Middle8 #ExperimentalHipHop #OsheagaFestival #jpegmafia

[@thecosmicblueautie]

The best thing to happen to hip hop is that people started to embrace getting experimental (again*).

[@mutedmutiny9542]

I think the so called "experimental" hip hop is cool, but to my ear it's like, not really hip-hop at all. It's experimental music, and what makes it an offshoot genre of hip-hop is often very dubious or questionable, sometimes it just seems like it's "hip hop" in name only. This doesn't really matter in a lot of ways because if it's good then it's good, and whether it's "experimental hip hop" vs. "experimental music" isn't really important to most people, but the reason I bring it up is because it seems like hip-hop has basically been abandoned, no one is making hip-hop anymore - either you have trap which I shudder to call modern rap music, but I will because I don't know what other term to use, or you have "experimental hip hop" which, again often has very little if any connection to hip-hop. But traditional 'hip-hop' barely exists anymore, even the people that people bring up as being old school or whatever, they really don't sound like that to me.

[@jackcrane5711]

I think that’s what is starting to happen with pink tape and utopia that came out.

[@cajflod]

I feel like hip hop after pandemic is less relevant especially for teenagers and especially in Europe. I think hip hop need to reinvent because mainstream hip hop like Drake at this point have nothing to say anymore.

[@lilbatty]

All music is experimental. Music itself is an experiment. People are trying to put music in a box

[@sozeytozey]

That's what you need to really establish a genre. Now subgenres of rap can start to shine and the golden age will be solidified as classic. Just like what we saw rock go through

[@multimusicsam]

The thing about hip hop is now is the perfect time for producers and artists to take back their genre from corporations and screw over predatory labels.

[@easytiger35]

at this point if you are on some big label it is because you chose to be. these days big labels just offer to sign people who already prove they make money. with internet and streaming, all the other stuff went away. so its probably the artist going where they want. they just choose things that suck.

[@sirjairus1615]

The funny thing is, people who are under labels are also being fairly experimental right now

[@DickRobinson-qv8no]

Im gonna cut them out, start my own label, be my own middle man. Collect talented artists like pokemon, then all troops will mobilise.

[@sirjairus1615]

@@DickRobinson-qv8no collecting them like Pokémon is crazy😭😭

[@moggingyou]

What? The label’s control music they always have and always will even punks got signed music without labels = nonexistent

[@dietervmorgan]

For anyone who remembers hip-hop in the 90s, it was never about one particular sound. Good Hip Hop has always been about maximum creativity.

[@maroon9273]

We can't forget about the 80s too

[@kaneel36]

@@maroon9273 give me HH artists from 80s please

[@quincy9908]

Hiphop now is the most creative & experimental it's ever been.

[@servdv]

not creative at all people literally follow the same sound especially the 808 being in like 90% of the beats @@quincy9908

[@ericpivaral4747]

​@@quincy9908no its not

[@BoneappleG]

Thank you so much for giving MIA the recognition she deserves. Her sound was and is ahead of its time.

[@AlexWheely-bx7pk]

when will the time come? bogus

[@BoneappleG]

@@AlexWheely-bx7pk the time is now. If you took a second to open your mind and examine the origins of music today, you might be able to notice it. Hope this helps!

[@CrisPearson]

Piracy funds terrorism was/is a big deal.

[@alw1217]

You do know she is an anti vaccine and defends Alex Jones? She made a song that got popular and that's it.

[@uomodecaduto]

seeing peggy get the recognition he deserves truly warms my heart, I just hope he manages to get a camera over 240p

[@dankbabayyyy]

hopefully he could get his mouse working again

[@linuxricer]

bro is true diy, he even made his own camera 💀

[@jakemamula8067]

Def grip

[@MikeMike.]

I thought the jpeg guy was 2Pacs mom lol

[@xertza]

basil

[@josiahclagett7369]

Man - I've always thought JPEG was super interesting, but after seeing those interview clips, respect goes through the roof. I love where his head is at.

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

Jpeg is the fucking man lol. I love his approach to production and music in general. That dude more than anyone motivated to put my solo stuff out there

[@coldramentpm1013]

jpeg lol

[@_moda-moda_]

Funny thing is he was drunk out of his mind during those interviews

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

@@_moda-moda_ lmao he puked on the floor during one of them. Besides that he had his shit together for being that tanked lol.

[@Return2TheLiving]

Saw JPEG open for TURNSTILE. a Hardcore band (yes Ik they are more than just a hardcore band) like I knew this man was about some real shit when he opened for them

[@solstice2040]

i’m so happy people are finally coming around to MAYA. I’ve always thought M.I.A/ Maya has always been super under appreciated. her sound was so ahead of it’s time. she’s truly a gem

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

It’s so goddamn nasty lol. I love MIA.

[@Blacktears999]

Rap isn’t dead

[@KrunchyMilk_01]

This is a natural change in music genre. Every music genre had it's "golden" era like jazz, blues, rock, etc. they all had their time periods where they were most influential. And it's during these time when artists start changing the style a bit, and bit by bit the genre changes to a whole new one.

[@mainsmain]

​@@AwomensLoveyes

[@tribaltreegoat]

A whole genre isnt gonna become a new genre maybe a sub genre could become its own genre like metal

[@McDudes]

happens with rap every 10 years 😂. 80s rap, 90s rap, 00s rap, 10s rap, and now 20s rap are all so different. Like think about it. Run DMC, 2pac, Eminem, Travis Scott, and I dunno who a new mainstream artist of 2020s are but you get my point.

[@blastfiend7478]

@@McDudes 100% from what I've noticed over my few decades on this earth is the genre gets old then all the trend hoppers jump back and forth between metal and rap, every 5-10yrs it swaps

[@joeydon6702]

I feel like mainstream hiphop is starting to become stale but outside of the mainstream there's so many talented artists experimenting with different styles

[@kyhxx]

. etc- spot on^

[@MrKingkz]

Its like that with all music from every era

[@joeydon6702]

true because usually the hunger and passion from an emerging artist or musician is always better then an artist who already made it and is just trying to get paid again

[@kelechi_77]

​@@MrKingkzexactly bro this has been going on since the 50s and even Classical music, the ppl doing new stuff never get attention, until the mainstream picks it up and waters it down and takes off the edge so it can be commercialized and popular. Watch this happen to industrial hip hop in the coming years.

[@theecharmingbilly]

Congrats on watching the video!

[@ashtmslf2315]

I thought this was going to be another "boo-hoo hip-hop is dead" video from the thumbnail but instead you chose to shine a light on some of my favourite artists in the genre

[@kyhxx]

. etc- clickbait gt m: bt am plsd^

[@HEATSEEKER00]

Hip Hop is going woke ... not weird

[@ashtmslf2315]

@@HEATSEEKER00 yes because of how right-leaning all the early rappers were. clearly.

[@JensenAugustin]

​@@HEATSEEKER00please PLEASE go away just please I'm sick and tired of you people

[@woody_you_want]

I totally fell for the click bait title expecting to disagree but glad I watched this!

[@jonvia]

Danny Brown will always be one of my favorite hip hop artists. His unique voice on the mic as well as the electronic elements in his beats keep me listening for life....I caught him live in Columbus OH around 2016 and he did not disappoint.

[@ethhics]

CHECK!

[@DJL3G3ND]

Ive always loved jpegmafias sampling, he does it insanely well, why should a beat made mostly from some guy shouting sound so good, I dont know but he makes it

[@lmdsn]

the guy shouting is ol' dirty bastard in the song goin down

[@afuckingbasement]

Lol that's the one beat he actually got caught stealing

[@DJL3G3ND]

well one of my favourites is a similar thing in garbage pale kids with the chanting

[@charleswitte3895]

I honestly think hip hop is dying in the mainstream but the underground is absolutely thriving. (Edit: I’m not saying that there isn’t any originality or pushing of boundaries in mainstream hip hop. I think certain artists are much more okay with being commercialized and having their music be more of a vehicle for making money than it being about the art. Obviously this isn’t bad, if you’re good at something don’t do it for free. At times this (to me) diminishes the value of the art and in the underground I see more people chasing something deeper than just money. It’s all love though we all connect to what we connect to.)

[@cinemasquare20]

Yeah, I find it interesting that ppl who are least connected to the roots of hiphop/rap seem to have hip-hop culture under a microscope. Just because it’s becoming less predictable for popular consumption doesn’t mean it’s dying. Jazz, blues, grassroots country, metal, none of these genres are dominating radio past their eras, but I don’t think anyone would jump to call them dead. Meanwhile I’ve been recommended atleast 5 videos speaking on the death of hip-hop from uppity music critics (not trying to be offensive), on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop nonetheless. It makes me hate how rigid the judgement of art and music has become.

[@GuessWhatHappened1]

Its not dying. You just arent interested.

[@SeriousJB]

Hip Hop as we knew it started dying a long time ago. Personally I find it sad, but Hip Hop is developing into something else as time goes. I mean people calling shit like Lil Yacthy - Poland Hip Hop just proves that. Check out UK artists like Leaf Dog or BVA though if you like 90s Hip Hop

[@BigBoxOfMetal]

@@SeriousJB This Lil Yachty you're talking about released the best psychedelic rock album ever done by a hip hop artist

[@SeriousJB]

@@BigBoxOfMetal Good for him, but calling his "Poland" song Hip Hop is still baffling to me. And that was my point. Whatever else he achieves idgaf about

[@GNARical]

Been saying this for a while. It feels like rap is where rock was in the 70s, branching out in every direction experimenting with different sounds and pushing boundaries and I'm here for it

[@GuessWhatHappened1]

Rap been experimenting though. This isnt new

[@caixiuying8901]

eh, rock started in the 50s but was at it's peak in popularity as a new thing in the 70s, then it's subgenres went through the 80s, 90s, 00s, then it's practically dead after that. I'd say even metal just turned into something entirely different by the 10s and took rock's place in terms of what's buzzing with experimentation, but it basically got replaced by metalcore lol with it's traditional roots mostly gone. sort of like rap "replacing" hip-hop. for boombap to start in the 70s and basically turn into hip-hop in the 80s where it starts up, hits it's peak in the 90s, matures into the mainstream in the 00s, then turn into something else entirely by the 10s, the 20s is more like hip-hop possibly pulling back from the mainstream a little to be experiment the same way metal died for a bit but is sort of back albeit not mainstream

[@godloveszaza]

​@@GuessWhatHappened1not only that but these "experiments" yall keep praising hip hop was already doing so its literally just history repeating itself.

[@hastyhawkeye]

​@caixiuying8901 metal got replaced with metalcore. Not really. You don't see a lot of new metalcore bands now it was a fusion of pop and metal. It was very popular that you aren't wrong, but the other dominant genres have larger staying power.

[@MrGriff305]

Rap evolved rapidly every year since 1984. What it's doing now is just random, simplistic, low-quality garbage to make a quick buck streaming

[@amalosoldtheirsoul]

experimental rap has always been the most refreshing and unique sub-genre of hip hop for decades. unfortunately we never see these songs on the billboard charts or any mainstream charts because it's not as "easy" to listen too compared to what we consume.

[@martinlofqvist9405]

good piece! glad you included MIA in this. Missing the current jazz (re)evolution happening in hiphop, artists like Kamasi, Thundercat, Flying Lotus and lesser known like Duval Timothy and up and up and coming like Ezra Collective is really pushing what can be hiphop today.

[@janetuss6496]

Have you heard Yun by korean rapper RM? It features queen of neo soul Erykah Badu, so the song has a hip-hop + soul sound.

[@drae]

I never considered it to be so similar to punk but you're totally right. We are at the golden age for creativity and I'm loving every minute of it.

[@bruhyoulowontime9009]

Funny thing is that people have been saying that since 2015 in the underground but people kept giving us shit for it

[@SleepySamurai]

you're kidding me right? hip hop is currently in the copy/paste era. everyone wants to sound like the next guy it's exhausting.

[@bruhyoulowontime9009]

@@SleepySamurai sounds like you don’t look hard enough for artists And guess what buddy EVERY GENRE OF ANY TIME PERIOD HAS COPY CATS it ain’t just hip hop

[@kurosaki3848]

Drae wth?

[@kurosaki3848]

What are your thoughts on the new travis album ?

[@TheRoseBoy11]

As someone who's a BIG hip hop head, the genre is DEFINITELY in need of an overhaul and it starts with Rap/R&B getting lower sales. I think it'll be like what rock is now with getting all the critical acclaim even though it doesn't sell well to the mainstream. And i think Rap is just another symptom of how the more "bigger" genres are being REALLY oversaturated in general. You would usually hear the same songs all the time from either tiktok or (god forbid) the radio, and most people at this point are just sick of it being so formulaic and actually want something new to the table. BTW, /\/\ /\ Y /\ is a masterpiece and M.I.A. is always ahead of the curve.

[@MW-dd8vk]

I agree, I think mainstream rap is in the same state as rock was in the late 80’s with hair metal. It’s about time that the genre has its own equivalent to the grunge movement of the early 90’s

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

​@@MW-dd8vk It's already happening... in the underground (as always!). People just need to like ACTUAL rapping and know where to look.

[@MW-dd8vk]

@@Jimmy1982PlaylistsOf course it’s the same thing with Rock as well. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve recommended great new bands to those who claim that “Rock Is Dead.” I believe that both genres need to come together to create a large cultural movement in the underground which speaks to the social commentary aspects of society and rebels against mainstream culture.

[@harrylong2796]

can't listen to M.I.A her lyrics are meaningless

[@gmanGman12007]

​@@Jimmy1982Playlistsis there a place somewhere on the net where we could listen to some of that stuff?

[@mikebradlee]

I think a guy like Childish Gambino played a huge part on in that sound, from Camp To Because of the Internet, I think he definitely combined sounds of traditional Atlanta rap with industrialism and even soul.

[@meekad3230]

I’m so obsessed with punk pop and rnb mixed together. Brakence recent album is grounding me this year. Love your vids so much. ❤

[@calebburt180]

This is how music works, a genre is created, it is expanded and other genres are added to it until it doesn't look like how it started

[@stuart6478]

and then it doesn't exist. because it becomes classical music and the rich host parties featuring it in suits.

[@calebburt180]

@stuart6478 can't wait til I am long gone and people are listening to Fetty Wap as if it was Mozart.

[@bernabefernandeztouceda7315]

​@@calebburt180nobody will be listening to no fertty wop, nigga, but Mozart lives forever

[@0912sooli]

​@@stuart6478and then it gets revived in future and then dies again. Everything is going in cycles in life

[@swo8on]

That’s not necessarily true you have to remember. Music IS business. The industry will literally not give a fuck about anything just money. For example like Ice Spice. She shakes ass and that’s it. There is like 1000+ shake ass and then call it a day. There is also 1000+ who go up there on stage and scream with auto tune and call it a die and their fans die in their concerts but no one gives a fuck because it’s all about money. 1000+ go up there and fuck bitches get money I’m off a perk and call it a day. It also does not help that AI is finally being used as Shitpost like using any rappers voice to make songs. Or cover other people songs. The industry won’t even need artist. They will just blend evything together and it will be perfect. The perfect product. That’s why people doing weird shit and rapping and making you feel uncomfortable and saying “yo this shit is ass what the fuck is this beat?” Is actually good. It’s a real person. Trying to break the limits ya know?

[@az0t303]

Fuck. Someone is finally talking about MAYA. MIA IS DEATH GRIPS BEFORE DEATH GRIPS. She never got her flowers for this album and poeople just say that "we just were not ready for this". She needs to be talked about more, prized a lot more.

[@milk_bath]

Yeah, but she went off the deep end though back in 2020.

[@az0t303]

@@milk_bath This doesn't delete her accomplishments. Dali was fascist and one of the brightest creative minds in history of art. People can hold wrong opinion in one subject and be geniuses in other.

[@TheMrShnickers]

@@milk_bath Deep End? MIA is based for what she stood for. At least she wasn't fake making music against the mainstream then kowtowing it. She should more respect for that

[@kriskenard]

​@@TheMrShnickersno friend of Candace Owens is a friend of hip hop

[@milk_bath]

@@TheMrShnickers You believe standing for anti-vax and 5G conspiracies is based? Okay child, please go have a seat and let the adults continue talking.

[@annak4398]

God this video is so well produced and visually interesting.I so aprecciate efforts like this and it really pays off to create a polished and cohesive message

[@ggsd4903]

This video was super dope& informative. Thanks for this yo.

[@joshuaantwi6652]

Thank you for giving M.I.A. her much needed flowers for how progressive she's been during the Maya era and her whole career for that! Great video as always.

[@willpowerbroken]

Yes! She had both the energy and the experimentation. Something a lot of these modern uncharismatic avantgarde rappers can't replicate

[@SHANGO1028]

The genre isn’t dying, hiphop has plenty of subgenres and it’s audience has been growing to explore and appreciate every avenue of it

[@manugangadin1634]

@@twentyzeroone2764alr man rap then

[@NayvadiusWilburn-bz6cj]

It will eventually be the genre/culture of people now or soon to be in their 20s. It is widely known that a culture ages with its audience. But creative potential always lies within the youth, with only very few exceptions (however, the times of superstars creating beyond their 40s are long gone). So, if anyone says that “hip hop is dying”, it’s simply equivalent to the fact (!) that its audience is ageing and will in 10 years from now be seen as outdated and irrelevant by the new, young generation.

[@SHANGO1028]

@@twentyzeroone2764 stop acting like there isn’t genres too music, music has been existing on this planet b4 u were born ( let that sink in too) music has been part of this planet for YEARS and various genres have been created like rock, dance, classical, HIPHOP, dream pop, psychedelic, fuck, trap, r&b, reggae, the list goes on and on

[@muthaflocka8754]

he never said its dying though. if anything he said its evolving. did you listen to the etnire 19 minutes and 30 seconds or did you just comment because of the title?@@SHANGO1028

[@jakobpedersen8475]

I hope you're right, but how would you explain the statistics mentioned in the beginning of the video, then?

[@Nudu]

Great video - Thank you for this! ♥

[@teacat3087]

Learned a lot. Really appreciate your video.

[@ShugaAnims]

Guys like Earl, Mike, Mavi, Navy Blue, Wiki, Boldy James, Al Chemist, etc. Give me hope and assurance hip hop will never truly die. You just have to get past the surface level mainstream to find the gold.

[@Sneednfeedn]

Bro I just listened to "Disco" a couple of days ago. MIKE is underrated af.

[@liltupac1536]

🔥

[@godloveszaza]

Every one of those artist you named blows or is ok yet I must agree very creative some just instrumentally wise. Yall can try turning this into a anti mainstream rant but the truth is 7/10 mainstream is mainstream for a reason and that's simply because it's better. Mainstream artist tend to be better at least for a good while until they get comfortable and the underground artist tend to remain musically inferior when they focus on inheriting the mainstream. 60s 70s 80s and early 90s of music has always been good underground or mainstream because most all had the same rationales and morals. All talented all special all creative and all at an adversity. They're only rationales was LOVE. Today's day you just have money hungry fame worshipping frauds all privileged and nothing more. I dont think today's music suck btw but underground or not for all genres music has tragically relegated.

[@ShugaAnims]

@@godloveszaza If you think these artists suck that's fine, I personally think they are great. But I disagree, just because something is more popular does not make it better lol judging a persons ability based on how well the masses take to them is a bad way to measure one's ability.

[@Chris-yt7hg]

​@ShugaAnims Mavi is 🔥 I fw his shit heavy

[@Madvillain47]

Incredible video, feels like Hip-Hop is hitting a creative peak outside the mainstream recently with so much experimentation.

[@DynastyLuminous46]

It is. Therefore I'd argue it isn't dying at all, the mainstream is just getting stale.

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

It’s really exciting. I love it

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

@@DynastyLuminous46correct

[@para4]

absolutely, never been more motivated to find new artists

[@hellomadet]

I'll be "that guy" and i will say that nowadays rap and hip-hop are often used interchangeably to refer to a musical genre, although the distinction is that hip-hop is a broader culture and phenomenon, and rap is only one (important) part of it. In other words: all rap is hip-hop, but hip-hop is not just rap. So hip-hop has been dead for a long time in terms of being a culture that involves rappers, b-boys, DJs and graffiti artists.

[@Mecler]

This video style is fucking beautiful. I really love the gradient map and typography

[@joshuadurham1257]

Hip hop culture is never forgotten since the early 80's and 90's.

[@ppk2823]

JPEG puts his whole heart and soul into his craft, and that’s what keeps me listening to it, even at times when music is hard to enjoy

[@dundee2858]

same with Danny brown

[@layers3458]

peggy is a top 10 rapper all time

[@Magneticitist]

Mystikal made it sound like a natural delivery. MOP made it sound live as fuck. JPEG sounds like he's trying to squeeze out a constipation brick while rapping.

[@nonow1353]

Was a jpes

[@nonow1353]

Seriously I don’t know JPEG sounds mids or reg im a real head dead sped left em dead. Im just kidding i don’t know who JPeG is. Live hipe hop it goes….J5 ATCQ ROots Cypress Hill Emineminems Nas in that order

[@veence]

I am upset that Danny Brown was left out of this conversation.

[@jonahsmyth1020]

Technically it played ‘really doe’ for a few seconds

[@davidecheverri5764]

I mean, he literally scared the hoes

[@JJJameson.]

Atrocity exhibition appeared in the top

[@Thespeedrap]

Danny Brown is actually better than Kanye and Childish Gambino and it's a shame he's not played enough on airwaves.

[@joesizzle10]

Amazing video, very insightful, loved it

[@DrMontrays]

The editing on this video is amazing

[@AnthologyOfDave]

This is nothing new for hip-hop. As an old school head there have always been experimental artist and those on the outskirts of mainstream. I'm happy to see that it's still going strong in the children of the founders. Groups like The Pharcyde, Heirogliphics, Cunning linguist, Deltron, Kid Koala, ISP, and on and on. This is the new sound and generation of hip-hop as itself is celebrating 50 years. Now the founders kids are having kids and on it goes. Love to all the heads. Love to the 4 elements. Love to the temple. Love to yourself.

[@shaft9000]

Absolutely. _I'll add Kool Kieth/U-MC's, Disposable Heroes of Hip--hoprisy, MF Doom, dubs from Bill Laswell to DJ Krush to Odd Future and on and on thru the breakadawn...._ I admire individual acts and their idiomatic style. Conversely, I am beyond sick to death of this-or-that "genre"; the ever-more categories that tell us nothing. I've been sick of it since 'smooth jazz' called itself jazz...never mind whatever tf a genre name called _acid-jazz_ was going to clue you in advance to, heh.

[@AnthologyOfDave]

Also because of this video, I bought tickets for Jpegmafia and Danny Brown in New Orleans on the 22nd..... two weeks from now. Let's go!!

[@jorgemartinez3600]

4:41 bro did NOT watch the video💀

[@joyfulnoize6958]

Huh, this anniversary of Hip-Hop is it's Jubilee Year 🤔

[@miscellaneouslyric]

Thank you for putting it out there one love

[@Ualrknow]

Any time music starts to bend and change in ways people at first find weird and wrong it always revolutionizes the genre and it truly is the natural progression and evolution of music. Art is all about doing things that are uncomfortable and “weird” because it forces people to think.

[@kyhxx]

. etcx2 spot on^

[@katastrophal_genial]

At the beginning of my music journey experience i listend to more rock and punk but a few years later i slowly switchend more into hiphop and i saw really strong parallels to punk. This Video had me reminded again.

[@x.pescobard3216]

Really fascinating video concept

[@NayvadiusWilburn-bz6cj]

It’s the way life goes. Whenever a genre has reached mainstream success for the first time, it is from that second on that the decline begins.

[@guillll]

I agree. Generaly when a genre is at its highest point commercialy is when it starts to decline artisticaly. The same thing happened to Rock in the 80s : everyone listened to it but it became bland and boring, with most creativity happening in the underground.

[@goldswaggamer4007]

The blending of other sounds and genres and using it for hip hop has created some of my favorite songs ever. Whether it be jazz, punk, rock, R&B, EDM, funk, etc, it creates a new sound that's almost refreshing to hear. The boundaries of experimentation are pushed daily and I'm here for it 100%.

[@Daltonconder]

🫵🏼 what are some of those favorite songs of yours

[@goldswaggamer4007]

@@Daltonconder My opinion on my favorite artists and songs changes almost monthly lol, but I think my absolute favorite *type* of Hip-Hop is when it's infused with jazz. It's one of the reasons why I'm a big Kendrick fan other than his messages and lyricism, and I also love almost every song I've heard so far that samples Bobby Caldwell (Sky's The Limit by Biggie, may they both R.I.P). There are a lot of good songs with a blend of rock and punk that slap, but jazz is euphoric to me.

[@Skurtz901]

@@Daltonconderthe ride by lil yachty, new magic wand by Tyler, confused by kid cudi.

[@jhetgrabis6137]

"Almost refreshing" lol what? Way to undermine your praise...

[@gabriieIl]

@@goldswaggamer4007 have you listened to A Tribe Called Quest? they’re one of the pioneers of jazz rap and their album The Low End Theory is a classic

[@vincentrouillard4528]

keep it up g ! always loved your content

[@seangodsey]

Visually this is your best work ✨

[@Teimo]

Although I love hip-hop, I think it's important for Hip-hop to go through something like this. It really will be a defining moment and force rappers to work hard. I really want to see more than just trap albums come out from major rappers.

[@doejohn4291]

Travis new album isn't trap..completely.

[@GranstaTube]

There are infinite ways to embrace Hip Hop into music, arts and life . Rap is just one element and sometimes the world seems to forget the whole amazing expression of Hip Hopping into music, breaking boundaries is still the most important part of the culture

[@wombwomp2983]

@@doejohn4291 you an npc

[@markp911]

trap is all thats allowed to be popular and trap is not hiphop. Completely different genre it sounds totally different than hiphop. Like rock. Rap music has reached the stage where we now have different genres of rap. Trap is NOT hiphop. Its trap. Both are forms of rap music. Its a damn shame hiphip is not allowed to be popular no matter how large your underground following is. Very few are allowed mainstream plays and exposure. And it it is exposed its tracks that are very commercial and watered down.

[@DarylMCDeath]

Hip Hop died in 2004. And Drake, Kayne West and lil Wayne are the ones who killed it! Since then there only came G A R B A G E ! And then it even got worse with subhumans like Lil uzi vert, Lil Yachty, Snitchnine and xxtentacle...

[@youtubecom32]

Surprised the Low End Theory / beat scene era wasn't mentioned here. It definitely helped set the stage and inspire a whole new generation of rule-breaking producers.

[@cstarcrusher]

💯

[@deadredeyes]

For me, one of the most glaring omissions was no talk of underground labels like Anticon and Mush pushing experimental / avant garde hip-hop 25 years ago. Also no mention of how much Grime has had an influence in mainstream hiphop over the past 23 years. To act like this second wave of experimental hiphop all started with that MIA album is fellacious and extremely misleading.

[@le4chehenry324]

@@deadredeyes true. the m.i.a album had nowhere near the same influence as the author would want us to believe.

[@thehearingaid]

@@le4chehenry324 True true there was loads going on that has helped evolutions - though MIA is still a very significant pioneer for experimental music. Also MAYA was her third record, her first Arular was pretty wild when it came out in 2005.

[@tombtl9720]

Excellent video!

[@chuckyb_]

This is the most optimistic and S tier take I've heard on the overall state of Hip Hop in a minute. GGWP

[@angrybeavers12]

Basically everything I was hoping you'd touch on when the "thesis" of the video was revealed was displayed and handled expertly. Love these videos man, the design choices for the fonts, colors, transitions, audio, all come together so well. Love the respect shown to Peggy too, he's already cemented his place in music history imo

[@VoidSC]

I feel like Mac Miller should have been mentioned somewhere in here, especially Swimming. He produced a lot of his own stuff and honestly got pretty experimental sometimes. RIP.

[@shasmi93]

OMG thank you!!!! This whole video I was SCREAMING, where is mention of Mac!!!! The dude literally used and sampled and changed over the years so much. I’ve been a Mac fan since 2013 and I can’t believe he hasn’t blown up yet. I think IN 20 years people will finally understand how amazing Mac was, the general public. RIP…. The man is missed everyday and I shed tears thinking about him at least once a month… I don’t even like rap much. I’m a Marilyn Manson, NIN, TOOL guy… that’s how good Mac was.

[@paulvitala8367]

On'y white people overratz mac Miller

[@notcomplying]

Mac never got the credit he deserved in the rap scene unfortunately, for several reasons imo. Real fans know how talented he really was and how much his production and lyrics evolved

[@cane870]

@@notcomplyingcause he was white

[@julianolmos9842]

@@shasmi93mac miller was one of the biggest rappers when he was alive, his death was sent around the news like crazy. people call him a legend to this day. he def blew up.

[@rastaphyllis]

I was afraid this would be a run of the mill hip-hop critique video, but damn dude this was so good + now I've got a new album to check out

[@just-a-me1168]

which album?

[@joramgroen9847]

Very fun and informative video, good job!

[@ms4f]

Another big inflow for modern hip-hop change that's not mentioned here (and is always overlooked by US audience) is UK scene of Grime and Drill. When US hip-hop was commercialized massively during 00s, UK scene was a complete opposition: pirate radio stations, underground raves, grime battles - all of these are elements of highly anti-establishment culture. The musical part for the next stage of hip-hop evolution you mention here like MIA JPEGMafia etc is largely owed to the UK scene taking a darker path experimenting with bass and reflecting on desperation in society of Y2K.

[@vivvy6429]

As someone who has been loving weird/experimental/hoe-scaring hip hop since 2010 but have no interest in a lot of mainstream pop/hip hop, I'm thrilled to see guys like Peggy be recognised for being as good as they are. I also love the flowers thrown to MIA and MAYA, but I feel this essay is really stretching out that album's influence on the culture. It was not that foundational and the author's belief that it was seems like a creation of looking at things in retrospect. Odd Future really lit the spark that the author ascribes to the MAYA project, and his omission of how they started, what they did, and their sound is baffling. The experimentation, punk spirit, DIY production, the innovation in soundscapes and subject matter is all there in the early OF collective. Not mentioning them in this context is frankly inexcusable. Hell, Tyler's Bastard mixtape came out months before MAYA and the other OF mixtapes and side projects had been turning heads for a while before then. They were featured in NME, so even the old fogies running legacy magazines were up to speed on them and spreading the word before MAYA dropped. Good video overall but the argument has some shaky foundations/flawed assumptions.

[@TheSkaOreo]

Absolutely agreed that Odd Future is a far better example than MIA's input. I remember picking up Goblin randomly and being blown away by it. Like, rap can actually sound like this? I know that people and Tyler himself tend to be embarrassed by Goblin due to its, um, risky subject matters, but I do think its a damn well hidden classic that likely inspired a shit ton of music we hear today.

[@vivvy6429]

@@TheSkaOreo I can totally see why Tyler distances himself from it - if he was a poet he'd probably consider it his juvenalia - but it was incredibly innovative and ahead of its time and, I would say, deeply influential in soundscapes and discussion of mental health (no matter how obfuscated or deliberately profane and offensive it was). Also crazy to think that he dropped it while in (maybe even leading depending on how you see it) a collective featuring Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, and Syd from The Internet - a diffuse gang who have profoundly influenced hip hop and rnb despite barely being in their thirties.

[@otterdonnelly9959]

Yeah this dude seem like just a M.I.A. fan. Lil B and Roc Marciano have more actual influence of rap today.

[@fortuneaniyi8601]

Well said

[@lawrencelord9777]

Everything you said is so correct it hurts. It’s painful the author of this video over looked this. Goblin Was the first album I ever purchased as a human with his own money.

[@albashir7140]

That was brilliant thank you ❤

[@Ski_mask_the_stir_fry]

Love how you talk about JPEGMAFIA because his sound is something that should be given more recognition

[@shawnnaquin7164]

I hate when people say a genre is dying. They never do. Some person in 8 years will pick it up and innovate it back into existence

[@thedominatior39]

Ya a genre never truly dies

[@relentlesseducator]

There are MANY genres that have died. Disco, Hair Metal, Big Band, RagTime, to name a few over the years

[@lemondrop7305]

that's why a genre in "fatigue" is a better descriptor

[@peachtime]

It already happened as far back as 2018 to now. Yabujin and etc

[@TornaitSuperBird]

@@relentlesseducatorAny genre related to jazz hasn't died. Jazz is not mainstream, yes, but it is far from dead.

[@jv_sux]

I put off watching this cause I was expecting another "hip hop sucks now" type of video, but I'm glad I came back and gave it a shot cause you nailed it with all these great artists who aren't necessarily "commercially" successful.

[@Disisdabeast]

Maya by MIA is an amazing example, but another example that doesn't exactly tick all the boxes Middle 8 put out in the video and came out a year later, was Shabazz Palaces "Black Up". That album is just...an experience. It's a lot more of a clean sound than other artists in this video but the sample work and production is very experimental and wonderful.

[@skela50]

Love the fact that all these people are making their KZbin’s mini informational documentaries or reports

[@wombwomp2983]

And ALL of them are trash lol.

[@travisrawson2837]

I just saw JPEG and Danny Brown live and it was incredible. I’m so glad his talent is being recognized

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

I like when he wiggles around on the floor.

[@yashvardhangaur8547]

man, i friggin' loved this video. not only because of the subject matter, but also for how WELL PRODUCED it is. As someone who edits, i can FEEL the hours you put in this vid. The filters, the overlays, the TYPOGRAPHY- all of it. Amazing job.

[@gottabouncebro447]

I feel the drake & Kendrick beef bringing some life into hip hop now, and there’s a lot of albums dropping tank year so hopefully the rest of the year turns out good.

[@Signalemcee]

Really love this commentary

[@zach9529]

I love when rappers have features from completely outside their genre. Like $NOT and Polyphia or Uzi and BABYMETAL. It makes for such a cool sound.

[@MicahjHunter]

absolutely

[@Starzoh]

I have been a JPEGMAFIA fan since veteran but this year after truly listening to his discography intensely I have seen how revolutionary his music is and become a HUGE fan. Nobody else in the industry (at least that I've heard) is like Peggy when it comes to the out there sample based production, the abrasive lyricism and how outspoken he is against the mainstream rap industry as a whole. He's incredibly MF DOOM inspired yet uniquely and unapologetically himself. His entire discography especially so far is incredibly dynamic and he's progressed his sound so heavily you never know what you can possibly expect from each song and I feel this album run he's on every album sounds entirely different from the next. He's quite honestly ruined the way I think about other rap albums and honestly has become the bar of which I judge rap albums.

[@valentinarmenta4982]

He sucks live tho

[@blaisehinshelwood7916]

Listen Ghais Guevara!!!!

[@notsok22]

I think comparing MF DOOM and Jpegmafia is an insult to them both

[@Starzoh]

@@notsok22 artistically they represent a lot of the same ideas towards rap and shared the same hatred towards the way the rap industry is/was trending. They both took matters into their own hands so to speak. It not a direct comparison of their sounds but a comparison of their approach towards music

[@sebastian597]

The dick riding is wiiiiild

[@k-i-dro]

Wow this vid was amazing 🔥💜

[@beatkitchen]

Great work 🔥🔥🔥

[@adamcool8580]

As an avid hip-hop fan things are def moving underground again which is great. For anyone looking for some great beats and beautiful bars check out West side Gunn, Billy Woods, Mach Homey, Your Old Droog, and other artists in the Griselda fear of influence.

[@davidt009]

@@PaytonMolloa trio including benny the butcher, conway the machine and westside gunn

[@adamcool8580]

@@PaytonMollo Def check out what they have to offer. Griselda is also a label. David gave you the big three, but they have a ton of adjacent acts that are all underground and it's great!

[@coldloner7453]

I’m just hoping for rock to just make a comeback like never before. The underground is having a revival and it’s amazing with the talent that can potentially take off.

[@TheBrianMSnyder]

The main problem is that rock is largely seen as having already done all that it can do. I disagree, but it's a very common view that presents a major obstacle to any sort of resurgence.

[@easytiger35]

@@TheBrianMSnyder thats all music. things come and go and repeat, sometimes with a new spice or two added in. shit has already been done before really

[@Randy-zj6pq]

can you plz share some of these new rock bands. i cant seem to find anything latley

[@MasteRgamer-mk5bp]

@@easytiger35 but with rap and other genres its easier to add spice with rock its way harder to be new and innovative without sounding like Avant-garde garbage.

[@Vdrum1010]

@@Randy-zj6pq Definitely check out the UK post-punk scene (or 'post-Brexit core) with bands like black midi, Black Country New Road, Shame, and Squid. I really do think they are kind of spearheading this new 'era' of rock. The recent South Korean shoegaze scene is another one people should be paying attention more, especially with Parannoul. I would also include bands like Viagra Boys, Turnstile, SOUL GLO, and Otoboke Beaver.

[@user-yh9jj7ux3j]

the way hip hop has inspired other genres like pop and many other genres tells me that hip hop is doing more than well

[@madelineward4371]

i fw your mindset on music. keep talking

[@sleep6837]

We finally reached Peak Trap. Now, to elevate the art of hiphop, people are finally embracing other genres and the idea of creating something unorthadox. Look at Tyler, Peggy, the new Yachty, Travis Scott, Carti, etc..all of them embrace different musical styles and experimentation to make something ore than just rap. Personally, i couldnt be happier

[@raphaelabel]

Also, in design MAYA stands for "Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable" referring to work that is inherently new and experimental, but just recognizable enough to still resonate with people

[@BoneappleG]

maya also means "mirage" or "dream" in Sanskrit which I think also adds to her cerebral and surrealist music style

[@fromcocowithlove]

TEEZO TOUCHDOWN- Impossible is another one!! So so good. I love the shift. It’s time

[@canarywings6080]

M.I.A. has always been on one of my top favorite artists since her first album release. I randomly clicked on this video to have something play in the background, but was so happy and surprised you mentioned M.I.A.'s album M/\Y/\

[@Devananta-Rafiq]

Thank you for making this video fr. What billy woods and JPEGMAFIA doing in the last 4-5 years are absolutely impactful for the experimental/art rap scenes in the 2020s.

[@arthurarellanesiii4297]

And orko elohim/ A7PHA and BIZZART Are some acts from the late 90$

[@lucag.lisickza425]

crop formations,classic

[@gregoryallen0001]

wow.. shocked and happy that MIA is included in any narrative of music.. tbh she is such an artists' artist. her influence is vast ❤️

[@kobainpeep7114]

Yah 😅 ..... I dont think so

[@gregoryallen0001]

@@kobainpeep7114 sorry playeR.. i forgot you were here. your influence is way vaster now go wait for me in the car 😐

[@wombwomp2983]

​​@@gregoryallen0001im personally not impressed with the MIA album but to each there own! Check out Neila - For Whom The Bells Crow. Talented female artist. An artists artist as youd say.

[@royalindiann]

True 🔥

[@shreynoot]

Fr so ahead of her time!! Found out mostly abt MIA in the past year but dang 20 yrs of influential music

[@mayowaiyanda9105]

art imitates life & life influences the art

[@scarvello]

Hip hip will never die it’s only going to keep evolving. It’s the artist who are going through the transitions because if everyone sounds the same then what’s the purpose of that particular artist existing? Some music artist are simply going back to the roots of hip hop and it still sounds fresh because it’s not as over saturated like mostly everything is.

[@neo1053]

It needs to die

[@MitoRequiem]

My take away from this is I should listen to all of Jpegmafia's albums

[@stwish3910]

Yes🫡

[@gamingtime4835]

Do it

[@floatingoliver562]

Don't forget the Devon Hendryx stuff please!!

[@thedon0516]

SCARRING THE HOES is WICKED, and it's DLC pack for it is better than gaming

[@punio9]

Anyone know some more covers from 4:54?

[@baileyenergy1839]

JPEG really does give 100%. I have been to one of his gigs in London in a small venue & it was off the charts. The energy of the crowd was so strong & chaotic, definitely not for the feint of heart.

[@nicolasroche3805]

sooooooo well made

[@mr.Arsene]

That's some SICK edition

[@Sheeporino]

All I have to say is that producers have more power than they really think.

[@gavinstone9983]

This video resonated a lot, as growing up in high school, I listened to a lot of “generic” rap like Drake, Juice, Tecca, etc (not saying they are bad, a lot of their music is formulaic) but over the last year or so, something changed where the music I used to listen to stopped resonating with me. Artists like Peggy and Danny Brown have made me fall back in love with music, specifically rap/hip-hop which has been such an important part of my life since my freshman year of high school

[@gx1tar1er]

Not only you though, i feel like other people in your age have grown out of that SoundCloud era.

[@user-my6vz6bd3q]

​@@gx1tar1erthat soundcloud era was experimental in itself though

[@TheSestren]

I would love to see a video from you about Nujabes - such a hip hop talent, I love his unique and beautiful soundscapes… combining hip hop, electronica and jazz! Metaphorical Music is an epic album - I particularly love the shade throw in the lyrics of Think Different.

[@benwayman2478]

great video

[@Maxatrillion08]

so glad you mentioned MAYA album. thats definitely the blueprint for the future. Especially the content. The internet, the criticism of corporate power, the psyops of the media propaganda machine and the confusion we are experiencing in the information age where we cant discern what is true or false seems like more than enough content to talk about.

[@gregoryallen0001]

her lyrics are so positive but real.. and her lyrics from 10years ago sound like they were made for today.. i'm worried she's right about 5g

[@yibiaowang1]

I remember it being such a divisive album when it first came out, and in hindsight she was... right

[@dannnnydannnn5201]

I’m only about three minutes into the video but I keep seeing people praising MIA in the comments. The album you just described sounds dope. Without actually hearing it, I’d be surprised if your description is accurate. How else could she come to such horrible positions in real life?

[@neznakomet5]

@@gregoryallen0001 Americans trying not to fall for far right wing conspiracy theories moments before understanding the picture (impossible)

[@gregoryallen0001]

@@dannnnydannnn5201 um she's hardly in horrible positions.. her last single was with travis s and young thug and she has a baby by a billionaire

[@jonnuanez7183]

The more things change, the more the song remains the same. I've been hearing variations on this questions for as long as I've been alive. Things always die out when they go mainstream. And Experimental hip hop has been around since De La Soul, Paul's Boutique, Kool Keith, etc. It was always a piece of a huge pie.

[@nycedyme4]

I’m so protective of OUR culture thank you for this comment. MIA being the precursor to any “hip hop” movement seems short sided and disrespectful tbh

[@ThomasJamesScott]

Rad vid! Exciting times now that artist can make money with their music again

[@TheHoneyBadgerDUDE]

Wow, haven't listened to Injury Reserve in a while, cool to see them in the video

[@FallenArtemie]

Im loving this next phase in hip-hop. Most of my favorite rappers are the ones mentioned in this video, doing different kinds of production and talking about topics previously kept silent. And the merge with punk and rock is amazing for creativity and uniqueness.

[@Miistiic]

Love the vid! My boy Kid Cudi definitely deserves recognition he embraces the weird and different, definitely a pioneer.

[@GH0STUN1T]

I'm shocked that mgk ain't being mentioned.

[@dsxa918]

I think more time needs to pass before we can see if he's a industry plant or a actual artist. I wonder if his bothering with or, embracing feuds speaks to being one or the other, because he doesn't seem to start much but I only heard of him because of drama and whatnot - I want to hear a lot more of his music

[@NBALiveGirl]

Absolutely!

[@seth4035]

I'm sick of drill rappers like Lil Durk glorifying murder and then it actually leading to teens committing more violent crimes

[@SamA-ex3ed]

Dude who edits your videos!? So nicely done🔥

[@aaronharrington8658]

I got to see Ol Dirty Bastard (one of my personal favorite rap artists) live in the mid 90s. He came on last in a small club after the rest of Wu Tang did there shit. His performance and energy that night was similar to what Jpegs looked like. And the crowd actually started moshing. Fucking amazing to witness at a rap show that long ago. So to hear a Jpeg song sampling ODB's howling was quite fitting.

[@bazund]

Man, this is some next-level stuff right here ! Rare to stumble upon vids of this quality. The editing is sick, motion design on point, colors and fonts are fire. A true gem uncovered !

[@odemata87]

Hip-hop is the encompassing culture. Rap is the music

[@Jvnebvg]

I love the experimental genres in rap like scream rap, industrial rap, punk rap, trap metal, there’s so many new rap genres it’s crazy so many new artists and sounds this is like one of the best eras in music.