When and why did lyricism stop advancing?

[FreshAIG]

From the 70s to the 80s there was a big shift in rap skills, then from the early 80s to the mid late 80s there was another. Then by the mid 90s rappers got even more advanced lyrically up until the late 90s.

I seems to me over the last 10 years lyricism hasn't advanced at all in the mainstream. It can't simply be just because the south took over because a lot of these NY rappers are weak lyrically too (west coast as well). So why are the popular rap songs from 1995 more lyrical than popular rap songs from 2014? It literally makes no sense

 

[JuvenileHell]

The south made creating catchy not so lyrical party music hot, and everyone followed suit.

 

[kingdizzy01]

From the 70s to the 80s there was a big shift in rap skills, then from the early 80s to the mid late 80s there was another. Then by the mid 90s rappers got even more advanced lyrically up until the late 90s.

I seems to me over the last 10 years lyricism hasn't advanced at all in the mainstream. It can't simply be just because the south took over because a lot of these NY rappers are weak lyrically too (west coast as well). So why are the popular rap songs from 1995 more lyrical than popular rap songs from 2014? It literally makes no sense

1997, master p, no limit records takeover. made it cool to copy the next man's formula without putting any thought into it. people (females in particular) like what they are told to like and males follow that formula.

 

[director_of_bands]

you can't avoid conspiracy talk if you want your answer, but everyone on here wants to avoid conspiracy talk so............

 

[FreshAIG]

you can't avoid conspiracy talk if you want your answer, but everyone on here wants to avoid conspiracy talk so............

I don't

 

[NoHalfWay]

Lupe was the last mainstream artist to take that lyrical shyt to the next level

Other than him everbody else

 

[Long Live The Kane]

In the late 90's...there were a class of "superlyrical pseudo battle rappers" that were on the come up that had "next"...imo they were the last in the "the more lyrically complex, the better" lineage in hip hop...Canibus was their champion and he had that "next big star" hype building up around the same as DMX did, Bis flopping and X turning into a superstar was a watershed moment in the same way that Ye beating 50 in their sales battle was...guys like Canibus had reached the peak of the whole "how lyrically complex can something be and have the music still be enjoyable dynamic", and after that point it stopped being about that and being more just making sh!t that sounds good...it's sort of the same thing that lead to Jay's "dumbed down to double my dollars" philosophy... Eminem was birthed out of that scene, but his success was kinda of an outlier

 

[CrimsonTider]

Because fans have always known lyricism doesn't = great music.

shyt is something peddled by hiphop heads that is simply untrue.

Non lyricist have always thrived even in the 90s

 

[CrimsonTider]

1997, master p, no limit records takeover. made it cool to copy the next man's formula without putting any thought into it. people (females in particular) like what they are told to like and males follow that formula.

bullshyt

 

[zerozero]

I don't think it makes sense to dismiss the southern musical influence... complex lyricism takes a very specific musical setting to listen to ... put on your average It Was Written track and a lot of people aren't really bumping "Take It In Blood" or "Shootouts" in most general settings.. it's headphone, dark outside, cold weather music--very east coast

Even west coast lyricism like Ras Kass , the tempo in his music in Soul on Ice is very slow and chill

Oddly, the main people I can think of who mix really good lyricism and loud, hyped instrumentals are like Eminem, Royce 5'9", Elzhi... Detroit artists. Lupe too to some degree.

 

[mozichrome]

so is this another undercover shiit on the south to big up the east thread

 

[FreshAIG]

In the late 90's...there were a class of "superlyrical pseudo battle rappers" that were on the come up that had "next"...imo they were the last in the "the more lyrically complex, the better" lineage in hip hop...Canibus was their champion and he had that "next big star" hype building up around the same as DMX did, Bis flopping and X turning into a superstar was a watershed moment in the same way that Ye beating 50 in their sales battle was...guys like Canibus had reached the peak of the whole "how lyrically complex can something be and have the music still be enjoyable dynamic", and after that point it stopped being about that and being more just making sh!t that sounds good...it's sort of the same thing that lead to Jay's "dumbed down to double my dollars" philosophy... Eminem was birthed out of that scene, but his success was kinda of an outlier

What about Pun? He went super duper lyrical that same year and went Platinum. In fact, his singles were more lyrical than Canibus honestly. But he made them catchy.

 

[FreshAIG]

so is this another undercover shiit on the south to big up the east thread

Not at all

Definitely not my intention

 

[LandryFieldsDad]

Because fans have always known lyricism doesn't = great music.

shyt is something peddled by hiphop heads that is simply untrue.

Non lyricist have always thrived even in the 90s

Being the total package though...
That leads to music being created that people listen to ten twenty thirty years from now

 

[CrimsonTider]

Being the total package though...
That leads to music being created that people listen to ten twenty thirty years from now

it doesn't I will never listen to wu tang and many think they're the total package.

I will always listen to 400 degreez