Xzibit call out AGEISM in Hip hop

[MajesticLion]

Put the music aside

Core problem identified.

 

[Amo Husserl]

Aight, drop a hot album. Bar up.

 

[Awesome Wells]

He's right but I don't see media or labels making any effort to promote legacy acts instead of focusing on the younger demographic who wants to feel like their music matters and is relevant. That's where the money is being made, and what's moving the needle in terms of influence

Old heads need to be honest here lol are we generating any type of meaningful revenue or influence worth the potential ad-spend? Or do we just like what we like and support the stuff we grew up on

That's the thing though. Labels will literally tell legends that they're "too old".

Def Jam told Redman that what he did for the label was "great", but that they wanted to move in another direction, which is younger. So he had to request to be released. They're not focused on the quality. They focus on how old the acts are now. Labels will speak about the age of artists and tell new artists that they're the focus, and that the other artists are less valuable. So that narrative isn't something that the people came up with on their own. These companies make sure to use that as a way to stop investing in the legacy acts.

 

[BlackMajik]

Didn't we just have a thread about how Big Daddy Kane was looked at as washed up at like 24

 

[Mr. Manhattan]

Hip Hop is the only genre where it's fans openly mocks the old school

Not Rock and Roll, Not Pop music, definitely not Latin music
but Hip Hop, I wonder why that is

 

[I love Latina women]

That's the thing though. Labels will literally tell legends that they're "too old".

Def Jam told Redman that what he did for the label was "great", but that they wanted to move in another direction. So he had to request to be released. Labels will speak about the age of artists and tell new artists that they're the focus, and that the other artists are less valuable. So that narrative isn't something that the people came up with on their own. These companies make sure to use that as a way to stop investing in the legacy acts.

And I hated when he had to drop that Reggie album and was doing the auto tune thing


They should’ve just let him go and then he could’ve signed with Shady and even tho he was well beyond his prime by that, I’m sure because Eminem thinks the world of him, him nor the label heads would’ve interrupted his creativity and tried to have him make music that doesn’t align with his vision

 

[Buckeye Fever]

I'm split on this ageism in hip hop deal.

On 1 hand, there shouldn't be an age limit on how you'd like to get your message across

On the other hand, I damn sure don't wanna hear a 45/50 yr old rapper talkin' bout opps, bítches & switches.

Regardless, the old school should always be respected.

 

[King Static X]

Hip Hop is the only genre where it's fans openly mocks the old school

Not Rock and Roll, Not Pop music, definitely not Latin music
but Hip Hop, I wonder why that is

Rap music has become more intertwined with "youth culture" than those genres.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

That's the thing though. Labels will literally tell legends that they're "too old".

Def Jam told Redman that what he did for the label was "great", but that they wanted to move in another direction, which is younger. So he had to request to be released. They're not focused on the quality. They focus on how old the acts are now. Labels will speak about the age of artists and tell new artists that they're the focus, and that the other artists are less valuable. So that narrative isn't something that the people came up with on their own. These companies make sure to use that as a way to stop investing in the legacy acts.

Agreed, and I think it comes down to a "conflict of interest" to promote old over new and that's sad to see. They instilled these behaviors in the consumer. Rap has the cultural power to be more, but maybe its capitalism doing it's thing here lol

 

[Ziggiy]

Nas is one rapper. There's way more rappers in his peer group who either aren't releasing music or the music they're releasing is sub par. The rappers older than them aren't being being checked for at all or retired.

Don't be mad at Andre for verbalizing what most old rappers feel. They either have nothing more to say or have outgrown the industry.



Nah. Rap was always about the younger guys pushing the old guys out or they changed things to where the older generation couldn't keep up.

Kool Moe Dee ended the Busy Bee, simple party chant rap era.

Kane admitted he couldn't adapt from the 80's sound to the 90's sound.

Put the music aside and just look at appearance. How many times have we clowned old rappers for dressing half their age or following trends. It's hard to be cool in the rap game once you age.

The best way to do it is to avoid the mainstream and just release music on your own terms the way Roc Marci does or Ka and DOOM did. It's just tough for artists who were used to having the machine behind them and mainstream success to go to being a niche underground artist. You were going gold and platinum now you're looking at selling 20k.

It's hard to keep a young audience. They outgrow you and vice versa.

Nas literally has Raekwon, Ghostface, De La Soul, and muthafukking SLICK RICK about to drop albums on his label. Ice Cube dropped a dope album last year. LL dropped a phenomenal album last year, Common dropped a pristine project last year with Pete Rock and helped Pete get his first Grammy nomination almost 40 years into his career. Killer Mike won his first lead artist Grammy two years ago at the age of 51. Black Thought is 50 and showing no signs of slowing down.

Rap isn’t a young man’s game. Its a dope artist’s game and as long as there is craft, focus, and passion put into the work, age is no barrier to quality. And the audience will be there in some form or fashion.

 

[Awesome Wells]

And I hated when he had to drop that Reggie album and was doing the auto tune thing


They should’ve just let him go and then he could’ve signed with Shady and even tho he was well beyond his prime by that, I’m sure because Eminem thinks the world of him, him nor the label heads would’ve interrupted his creativity and tried to recommend his creativity or artistry

Exactly.

Because labels will tell you to switch to what younger artists are doing to stay afloat. GFK said he had the same issue with them. Telling him to make certain kinds of records, that he would never make on his own. Once he refused, he had trouble getting in the building and security was stopping him, lol. Labels will seriously ruin your career and its direction and then make you out to be the issue.

 

[BK The Great]

There’s only a select few older rappers I listen to, and that’s if they can make good music that isn’t the same boring stuff over and over again. Their music needs to grow just like them.

 

[Yehuda]

Xzibit was never popping like that in his 20s and he damn sure won't be the man in his 50s

 

[Pop123]

Ageism is warranted in hip hop when you got a bunch of 50 year olds acting and behaving like 20 year olds, they should be condemned and clowned and ridiculed mercilessly. In terms of skills/talent tho, yeah, it's a dumb thing...but hip hop is youth-culture, what do you expect?

 

[I love Latina women]

Exactly.

Because labels will tell you to switch to what younger artists are doing to stay afloat. GFK said he had the same issue with them. Telling him to make certain kinds of records, that he would never make on his own. Once he refused, he had trouble getting in the building and security was stopping him, lol. Labels will seriously ruin your career and its direction and then make you out to be the issue.

Exactly you know how they do

The labels always and only want what’s current and trendy

They don’t want an artist to be the first to think outside of the box

They just like to ride the waves