My name is Tracey, and I am hip hop. My love affair with hip hop began in the 1980s. Yes, I was a b-girl. I had a rap alias (which I refuse to divulge) and I used to break dance with the fellas from my neighborhood on wood paneling and cardboard. When I wasn’t dancing or rapping, I watched Friday Night Videos, one of the only video shows on at the time. I remember taping videos and practicing whole routines with my girlfriends. My fashion choices reflected the popular songs of the decade. Salt-n-Pepa introduced me to biker shorts. I couldn’t afford the satin Adidas track suits that Run D.M.C. wore, but I did save up and buy some shell toes eventually! I had an African medallion and wore red, black, and green Cross Color outfits. I had at least two pair of bamboo earrings. You get the picture…
There was so much diversity in hip hop back then. You had music to break dance to, fun rap, straight lyricists, beat boxing, bravado rhymes, etc. Several conscious artists and songs also emerged in the ’80s calling for unity, black pride, and putting an end to senseless violence.
More artists came up in the ’90s and hip hop solidified its place in American pop culture. The jit was the dance of the decade. Hip hop and R&B joined together to create hip-hop soul, and showcased artists like Mary J. Blige, TLC, and Guy. The West Coast also made their stake in hip hop, with the beginnings of gangster rap.
Hip hop is always evolving and has definitely changed over the years. Maybe I’m just getting old, but to me, it has become more one-dimensional. The South has made a strong showing in the new century, but not much else new has come about. Meaningful lyrics and substance have been replaced with simple hooks, dances, disrespectful lyrics, violence, and bragging rights. Some of it is fun, but I miss the mix of artists we had back in the day. You still have a few conscious, substantive artists and lyricists reminiscent of old school, but only a few get airplay. A lot of these artists go underground because their sound isn’t “hot” right now (more about this topic at a later date). Don’t get me wrong, I still have love for hip hop. I’m guess I’m just waiting for the “next movement.”
