What makes an artist hip-hop?

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

In your view, what make a rapper hip-hop? You have some people who say X artists isn't hip-hop for whatever reason, usually some combination of their music not being played in urban radio markets, the streets not checking for them and how they're marketed and what not. You have some artists who's music is 100% hip-hop stylistically who isn't messed with heavily in the streets or don't fit some other reason listed (Theophilus London, nasir, odd future, gambino, action bronson, joey badass to a lesser degree) then you got cats who are popular shyt and their music sounds mostly hip-hop, but got a poppy vibe(will.i.am macklemore, bieber, flo-rida, etc).

Like some people said Will Smith isn't hip-hop because he's a big pop star actor and his music was different, but even in his big willie days, the man embodied hip-hop.

I would say Will Smith is just as hip-hop as Rick Ross, he just happens to be popular.

I'm gonna go through a list of rappers, tell me which ones you think are hip-hop or not.

Current Eminem
Odd Future
Flo Rida
B.O.B
Will.i.am
Justin Bieber
Macklemore
Childish Gambino
Will Smith
Action Bronson
Theophilus London
Joey Bada$$
Tinie Tempah
Cudi

 

[Yoda]

In your view, what sort of means test do you use to determine whether or not an artist is hip-hop or not? You have some people who say X artists isn't hip-hop for whatever reason, usually some combination of their music not being played in urban radio markets, the streets not checking for them and how they're marketed and what not. You have some artists who's music is 100% hip-hop stylistically who isn't messed with heavily in the streets or don't fit some other reason listed (Theophilus London, nasir, odd future, gambino, action bronson, joey badass to a lesser degree) then you got cats who are popular shyt and their music sounds mostly hip-hop, but got a poppy vibe(will.i.am macklemore, bieber, flo-rida, etc).

Like some people said Will Smith isn't hip-hop because he's a big pop star actor and his music was different, but even in his big willie days, the man embodied hip-hop.

I would say Will Smith is just as hip-hop as Rick Ross, he just happens to be popular.

I'm gonna go through a list of rappers, tell me which ones you think are hip-hop or not.

Current Eminem Naw
Odd Future naw
Flo Rida
Will.i.am
Justin Bieber yup
Macklemore
Childish Gambino
Will Smith legend
Action Bronson i fox wit him
Theophilus London
Joey Bada$$ nope
Tinie Tempah
Cudi

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

Hey, Will.i.am was signed to ruthless records and produced songs off Nas's HHID and prior to black eyed peas he was a well known backpack rapper. He was behind Eazy-E for awhile, I considered the man hip-hop. He's one of the few cats who can switch his style up in any envrionment.

 

[Stepdaddy]

 

[ThaRealness]

hip hop is having a great attitude and not letting the haters get to u.