Vladimir Putin says the rising popularity of hip-hop in Russian youths should be “controlled” if it can’t be stopped. Following meetings with his cultural advisers it appears that rather than trying to put an outright ban on hip-hop music, Putin plans to put plans in place to control the content and output of hip-hop produced in Russia.

This is unsurprising given Russia’s track record when it comes to suppressing  the freedoms of it’s people – an act that would certainly put Putin’s government at odds with it’s hip-hop scene; a genre built on free speech and freedom of expression.

“If it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it”, the leader said Saturday at a St. Petersburg meeting with his cultural advisers. According to his logic, attempts to ban artists from performing only has an adverse effect and increases the popularity of hip-hop.

He added that rap is based on three pillars: “sex, drugs and protest,” voicing his concern with the “drugs” aspect, citing such themes as a “path to the degradation of the nation.

source:https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/vladimir-putin-says-rap-should-be-controlled-not-banned-in-russia-news.66908.html

While the Russian leader claims to want to act for the good of Russia, it’s worth noting that his interpretation of hip-hop at it’s core isn’t coherent. It’s a common misconception to those with only a surface knowledge or interest in hip-hop music that it’s all about violence, misogyny, money, and drugs – sure, lots of  popular artists visit these themes in their music, but it’s widely accepted that “real” hip-hop should be an expression and reflection of the life you live; so many artists refer to these themes in their music (Mobb Deep, Immortal Technique, N.W.A.) because that’s what they experience in their realities. The problem arises when these themes and attitudes become something perceived as a prerequisite to make (money in) rap music.

Putin does have one thing on the money: “protest”. Hip-hop has often been used as a vehicle for protest; from police brutality in the black community to media bias in the news and in the papers. The initial conception of commercial hip-hop was arguably built on the back of Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message“. This track highlighted the stresses of inner-city life in poor black neighborhoods in the 80s – it was   a protest of the social & economical conditions of the times.

This new revelation arrives on the heels of a recent string of events in which contemporary artists were targetted in Russia. Last month, popular rapper Husky was jailed after launching a pop-up performance when his official show was shut down in the Russian city of Krasnodar. With lyrics that focus on poverty, police brutality, and corruption, local prosecutors told the venue that Husky’s music had elements of “extremism.”

source:https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/vladimir-putin-says-rap-should-be-controlled-not-banned-in-russia-news.66908.html

Clear comparisons can be drawn between the content of Husky’s music and content of West Coast rappers in the 80s – however it seems that wanting to motivate positive change is extremism in the eyes of the Kremlin. Whilst this may seem a fairly trivial issue compared to other struggles of Russia’s liberal population, it’s certainly one to watch if you have an interest in world hip-hop, or just plain freedom of expression.

 

 

The 61st Grammy Awards took place last week, and it seems that hip-hop is taking its place as the “dominant musical form” of 2019.  Over half the nominees for ‘Record of the Year’ were hip-hop acts; Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Anderson .Paak, Travis Scott, and Eminem all received nominations for their work this year.

With more mainstream hip-hop work getting attention in the end-of-the-night categories, two hip-hop artists got some pop music attention. Post Malone is up for best pop solo performance with “Better Now” and Cardi B is up for best pop duo performance for her feature on Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You.” Several hip-hop acts also got attention in the tangential R&B genre with Jay-Z and Beyonce, as The Carters, receiving a nomination for best R&B performance for “Summer,” as well as best urban contemporary album for EVERYTHING IS LOVE. Childish Gambino also got R&B recognition with “Feels Like Summer” nominated for best R&B song.

While some of the acts mentioned above have been affiliated with the hip-hop scene – and some artists having previously released hip-hop records (Jay-Z, Childish Gambino) – others often have a more disputed place on the genre spectrum. Post Malone, for example, has had a constant affiliation with the hip-hop scene – probably for the fact that Soundcloud was the platform with which he established his initial popularity (like many of the currently popular rappers). Whatever your definition of the hip-hop genre it’s generally none-disputed fact that rapping, break-dancing,  DJing,  and graffiti art are the four pillars of the culture – not singing. So it makes sense that the academy opted to pull Posty from the hip-hop nominees and put him up alongside other pop singers.

The artists who got attention in the larger categories, Cardi B, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar, took the lion’s share of slots for rap awards.

Now, ignoring any argument or opinion regarding the claim to hip-hop any of these 3 artists have, they certainly are rappers – and their success certainly indicates that hip-hop has once again become the commercial and cultural genre of the 2010s. Kendrick and Drake alone took 15 nominations between them, with the former leading with 8 overall nominations.

Grammy success is not new territory for Kendrick Lamar; his albums To Pimp A Butterfly and DAMN. were both commercially acclaimed, and both received nominations and awards at the 2016 and 2018 Grammy awards respectively. However, this years achievements may have less to do with the music and more to do with the political statement associated with it. Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By had a phenomenal ensemble of artist features to match the fantastic cast from the motion picture it was put together for; but it’s hard to say if the success of the record is directly related to the musical content or just riding the tail-coats of one of the biggest super-hero box office block busters ever. 

Whatever the verdict, it’s clear that hip-hop (in some way, shape, or form) is still at the forefront of popular music and culture. Whether this is a good thing for fans of “real” hip-hop or evidence that more pop artists are jumping on the bandwagon is still up for debate.

source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbisnoff/2018/12/08/grammy-nominations-give-significant-attention-to-hip-hop/#1b045561854d

Anderson .Paak has made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The release of his third studio album Oxnard last month has seen the rapper/singer/multi-instrumentalist going from strength to strength. The record sold a career-high 39,807 units in the first week of release and earned him place number 11 of that weeks Billboard Top 200. In addition to the charts, taking a spot on one of the most popular variety shows currently on air in the US is an achievement that speaks for itself – even to those of us that aren’t hip hop heads… but bringing along one of the biggest names (Kung-Fu Kenny a.k.a. K. Dot a.k.a. Kendrick Lamar) working in commercial rap? That’s an indication that you’re on the right track to mainstream success.

In addition to singing the laid-back R&B-funk cut, .Paak showcased his drumming skills throughout – opening with some jazzy hi-hat flourishes before settling into a simple, grooving backbeat. Lamar joined to add his nimble boasts midway through the song, rapping, “Bitch, I’m Kendrick Lamar; respect me from afar / I was made in His image; you can call me a god”

source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-anderson-paak-perform-tints-snl-762300/

There’s something to be said about watching an artist perform (arguably) in there prime, but Anderson .Paak brings something new to this experience. In an age where rappers are known for the beats they didn’t produce and lyrics they didn’t write here we have .Paak. A multi-instrumentalist – quite comfortable singing or playing drums or both. At the same time, which – as a singer and a drummer myself – I can attest is not an easy task; and .Paak makes it look easy. The man takes to the stage like a fish in water.

A televised performance is the cherry on the cake after year packed with headline and festival shows performed both solo and with his band, the Free Nationals.

Anderson .Paak has made notable progress since the release of Malibu in 2016 on the Billboard Top 200 at the time. Although the album was well received by critics and fans alike, this success wasn’t entirely reflected in commercial success with modest sales. However, 2 years on and .Paak’s first record on Dr. Dre’s label Aftermath Entertainment has been reviewed well with the sales figures to match.

Hip is to know, it’s a form of intelligence

To be hip is to be update and relevant

Hop is a form of movement, you can’t just observe a hop, you gotta hop up and do it

Hip and hop is more than music  

Hip is the knowledge, hop is the movement

Hip and Hop is intelligent movement

(“Hip-Hop Lives” by KRS-One, 2007)

I can’t remember exactly when hip-hop became my favourite music genre. I remember dipping my toe with Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits (2005) in 2011 during my final year of secondary school; up until that point I’d pretty faithfully stuck to rock and it’s subsequent genres as my preferred choice in music. It wasn’t until I started Sixth Form College that my interest in the culture really began to take off.

It began with the rise of the rap group Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (Odd Future); I became a fan having seen them perform at Reading Festival in 2011, and although I enjoyed the shows and the community that associated with the group, what I really wanted to hear was good lyricism. The logical next step, then, was to explore the Golden Age, and my interest with hip hop only increased from there.

This blog will be updated weekly with news writings regarding music releases, choice lyricism, and general interest within the hip hop culture.