This might surprise some readers, but I'm a massive fan of rap and hip-hop. Well, I enjoy all music genres really, but yeah, I love hip-hop, whether its the likes of Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne, or old school Notorious B.I.G. I think this might surprise people because I'm a feminist, and lets face it, hip-hop is notorious as a genre filled with misogyny. This post isn't going to bang on about that, but the thing is, I don't see that as a contradiction. I think I can still actively be a feminist and listen to Nelly, and for me feminism is about being able to make that choice. More on that later.
Back to my main point... The thing is lately, there's been a massive change in hip-hops sound. Of course, the sounds Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem create will (hopefully) still be relevant for years to come. But for the past couple of years a new sound has been developing in hip-hop. It started by bubbling under the surface, and now it's exploded, like a volcano. And it's likely the trend for new, alternative hip-hop will continue to grow from strength to strength. As someone who is always looking for new trends in the music world this is an exciting prospect for me.
I think this trend can be best exemplified with (slightly extreme) example of hip-hop collective OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All), along with leader of the crews own solo work - Tyler, The Creator. With their aggressive, unapologetic lyrics, this group will take you down like a tornado diminishes all in its path. They've been around for a couple of years now, but they are definitely the best rap artists to illustrate hip-hops new trend, because they are the ones who can be quite clearly seen as doing it first, and doing it right... Doing it successfully. They're fan base is loyal and niche, yet vast at the same time, as both hardcore metal heads and 14 year old hipsters count themselves as fans. Just listen to Tyler, the Creator's Radical, or watch the video for Rella, and you'll see what I mean. Controversy is of the utmost importance.
The Odd Future Gang.
One of the arguably most well known artists to come out of Odd Future is Frank Ocean, who produces mellow, relaxed works of art. His music sounds strangely urban and exotic all at the same time. Maybe that's his hometown of New Orleans influencing his sound. An American city, yes, yet also home to the fabulous, and the fantastical. The colours of carnival. Frank Oceans sound can also be heard in The Weeknd. A solo project which, despite having been producing music for years, is only now getting serious recognition by the likes of Radio 1. The Weeknd and Frank Ocean produce the kind of sounds people get high to. Plus with The Weeknd doing collabs with the likes of Drake, he’s only gonna get bigger, and better.
Frank Ocean
The Weeknd
These artists have all been around for a while now, but lately, yet more hip-hop artists are coming out of New York, L.A, and elsewhere, with a new and distinct sound. Take A$AP Rocky. His fast paced rap screams talent. In fact, I think it could be far enough to say A$AP is the NEW Odd Future (and as a massive OFWGKTA fan, I don’t say this lightly). All you have to do is listen to his awesome collaborative song with Skrillex, Wild For The Night, and you know A$AP is gonna go far.
A$AP Rocky
But now, to take you back to the beginning of this post, when I was chatting about how feminist I am. Because the main thing that’s most exciting to me in the hip-hop world is the rise of new, influential, fab, female rap artists. Obviously female rap artists have always been present, whether we’re talking about Lil’ Kim or Nicki Minaj. But the difference with these girls is they’re not female artists rapping in a male dominated world. They’re doing it in their own right. Ok so I’m a massive Nicki fan and I can’t deny that, but something magical has happened since. Something magical happened the day Azealia Banks posted her 212 video on Youtube.
Azealia Banks is totally demonstrative of the waves new Hip-Hop is making in the world of female rap. Her music is controversial AND empowering. What more could you want? The only problem with Azealia Banks, is on twitter, she can be a bit of a bitch towards her fellow female rappers. Yet I believe that gals gotta stick together, and some of the people she has bitched at are gonna go far.... Angel Haze, and Iggy Azalea are the two girls I’m thinking of specifically.
Angel Haze’s EP is one of the first EP’s I’ve ever given one listen to and then immediately bought. New York is a work of lyrical genius, but so is every other song on the EP, such as Supreme and Werkin’ Girls.Her music is truly real, with a no holding back attitude, she allows her troubled past of growing up in a religious cult to speak in her music.
Angel Haze
Azealia Banks bitched at A$AP Rocky's ex girlfriend Iggy Azalea most notably however, for slagging her off for being white. Apparently white girls ‘can’t rap’. Well just give Iggy a listen, because that’s clearly bullshit. She may be white, blonde, and Australian, but she’s incredibly talented. She gained a lot of notice with song Pu$$y and the video for it (because any song that repeatedly says pussy, especially when it’s from a female artist, is gonna get attention), but her real talent lies in songs such as My World, and Work, and Hello.
Iggy Azeala
So there you have it, the world of hip-hop is changing. It’s becoming more creative, more infused with different types of talent, more fearless, and more female friendly. It’s allowing more and more rap artists to create music and have a platform, and is allowing women to empower themselves lyrically in a way they never could before. And about time.
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