The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author and in no way shape or form does it express the views of the Coli and Breh & Brehs associates.
On September 9th, 2007, two of the biggest rappers of the moment, Kanye West and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, went head to head on a sales battle as both rappers were pending their upcoming albums. This announcement would be made on stage at the annual MTV Video Music Awards.
This battle represented many things, but more than anything, this battle would come to shape a changing of the tide for hip-hop and hip-hop culture that would resonate years later.
In one corner stood 50 Cent, a Queens born rapper who shot to fame under the wing of Dr. Dre and Eminem in 2003. A muscle clad figure who's album and mixtape covers often featured him holding guns to the camera, his notoriety and legend would come from taking 9 bullets from Darryl Hommo Baum one night in 2000 in front of his home. His debut album aptly entitled "Get Rich or Die Trying" was an homage to the hustle that made the man who he is today. To this date, he is still considered one of the highest selling rappers of all time.
In the other corner stood Kanye West, a native to the city of Chicago. In comparison to 50, his image and style was a stark contrast. His debut album "College Dropout" was heralded by media and critics alike in an atmosphere of rap that was clouded by the gangsta image. He came from a middle class background and rose to fame after being signed to Roc-A-Fella records in the early 00s. Before that very moment, he would provide his production to artists such as Jay-Z and Scarface. Needless to say, Kanye never presented himself as "gangsta". He fancied high fashion and fast cars. His style would become one of the most imitated of the period.
As "Graduation" and "Curtis" were released to the music buying public on September 11th, 2007, Kanye West would come out as triumphant. In the years passing a shift in the direction of rap would become evident.
2010.
THEY KILLED THE IMAGE OF PAC AND GAVE YOU KANYE- Hell Razah
In 2010, Kanye West would release his magnum opus "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". An extravagant art-directed album that transcended the current landscape of hip-hop and would set many trends for the following years.
Fast forward to 2016. Today, Kanye West is arguably the biggest rapper in the world. While Curtis Jackson as 50 Cent is shadow of his former self and a relic of a bygone era of rap. West has spawned many artists, producers, and rappers who credit him as an influence. But quite possibly the biggest influence of all was a noticeably less threatening form of masculinity that would be presented in hip-hop. More focused towards fashion, more focused towards consumerism and mindless drug consumption, more effeminate, more surburban, more self-aware, and less dangerous.
Rap as an art and hip-hop as an artform has often been criticized as being violent, criminal, misogynistic, sexist, homophobic, and any and every negative term that could be conjured. At the same time it has been exploited, colonized, and watched like a hawk because of how much money it has been able to generate for labels and artists alike. Another criticism of hip-hop has come from people who could simply not relate to the subject matter of black men from the streets...most notably black men themselves who did not come from the streets.
The internet allowed these individuals to finally have a voice and create music they could relate to.
In the process, the image of rap changed....
However, with this change came a looming question. Has this altered what we see as "masculine" in hip-hop?
On September 9th, 2007, two of the biggest rappers of the moment, Kanye West and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, went head to head on a sales battle as both rappers were pending their upcoming albums. This announcement would be made on stage at the annual MTV Video Music Awards.
This battle represented many things, but more than anything, this battle would come to shape a changing of the tide for hip-hop and hip-hop culture that would resonate years later.
In one corner stood 50 Cent, a Queens born rapper who shot to fame under the wing of Dr. Dre and Eminem in 2003. A muscle clad figure who's album and mixtape covers often featured him holding guns to the camera, his notoriety and legend would come from taking 9 bullets from Darryl Hommo Baum one night in 2000 in front of his home. His debut album aptly entitled "Get Rich or Die Trying" was an homage to the hustle that made the man who he is today. To this date, he is still considered one of the highest selling rappers of all time.
In the other corner stood Kanye West, a native to the city of Chicago. In comparison to 50, his image and style was a stark contrast. His debut album "College Dropout" was heralded by media and critics alike in an atmosphere of rap that was clouded by the gangsta image. He came from a middle class background and rose to fame after being signed to Roc-A-Fella records in the early 00s. Before that very moment, he would provide his production to artists such as Jay-Z and Scarface. Needless to say, Kanye never presented himself as "gangsta". He fancied high fashion and fast cars. His style would become one of the most imitated of the period.
As "Graduation" and "Curtis" were released to the music buying public on September 11th, 2007, Kanye West would come out as triumphant. In the years passing a shift in the direction of rap would become evident.
2010.
THEY KILLED THE IMAGE OF PAC AND GAVE YOU KANYE- Hell Razah
In 2010, Kanye West would release his magnum opus "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". An extravagant art-directed album that transcended the current landscape of hip-hop and would set many trends for the following years.
Fast forward to 2016. Today, Kanye West is arguably the biggest rapper in the world. While Curtis Jackson as 50 Cent is shadow of his former self and a relic of a bygone era of rap. West has spawned many artists, producers, and rappers who credit him as an influence. But quite possibly the biggest influence of all was a noticeably less threatening form of masculinity that would be presented in hip-hop. More focused towards fashion, more focused towards consumerism and mindless drug consumption, more effeminate, more surburban, more self-aware, and less dangerous.
Rap as an art and hip-hop as an artform has often been criticized as being violent, criminal, misogynistic, sexist, homophobic, and any and every negative term that could be conjured. At the same time it has been exploited, colonized, and watched like a hawk because of how much money it has been able to generate for labels and artists alike. Another criticism of hip-hop has come from people who could simply not relate to the subject matter of black men from the streets...most notably black men themselves who did not come from the streets.
The internet allowed these individuals to finally have a voice and create music they could relate to.
In the process, the image of rap changed....
However, with this change came a looming question. Has this altered what we see as "masculine" in hip-hop?
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, and they came from super goon brehs of Generation X. 
If this article was written by OP, pardon the language. I generally like your post on most issues.
