DJ Enuff sat down with Black Thought and Qustlove for an in depth chat about the state of the group, their relationship with Def Jam, and where the record industry is headed.
One thing I found interesting about the interview, was the discussion on hip hop culture in Europe. Enuff and The Roots say the fans still have the ideals that Americans held in 1992, which is a time period everyone views fondly. People still took lyrics seriously, it was less about commercial appeal and more about the love of the music.
Posted on 06/18/2008
Comments
Comment on this Post
Login using email and password below.
Latest Posts on The Roots
Posted on 08/28/2008
Posted on 08/13/2008
Posted on 08/12/2008
Posted on 08/05/2008
Posted on 07/31/2008
My Trusted MOGs
I think the difficulty with US citizens as opposed to our European counter-parts comes from a lack of education and social resources coupled with marketing strategies that mis-educate masses. In Europe (and most other parts of the world) there is a tendency to be more socially educated as thus have higher expectations for the quality of life. Music, being a very integral cultural component, must of course meet or exceed that quality as well, otherwise like most wackness, it goes into the trash bins.
Now I am not saying that Europeans don't listen to bullsh!t like many other people around the world, I just think they have a better handle on differentiating good shit from the bullshit.
I am in awe with the way music has run its course in the US. Never would I think that hip hop, especially hip hop, would become so dumbed down. When is that last time you heard a hip hop verse on the radio and thought, "damn! He crushed that rhyme!"? It has been a minute I imagine. To some the 90's are considered the "good ol' days of hip hop". How can that be when it was just last decade? Maybe after we finish off this silly little 80's retro we can move on to 90's retro and get lyrics that say something, smooth jazzy or funk lain beats that sampled some ill disco track by Roy Ayers, and have everyone wearing Timbo's, rockin Hilfiger and Polo (not that I don't love white Tee's), and kickin freestyle sessions.
Damn. Remember when puttin' MC's on blast was about rippin them in a verse and not about recording them crying on the phone about their financial issues and posting it all over your site because you music is lacking? I miss those days.
My Trusted MOGs
"Damn. Remember when puttin' MC's on blast was about rippin them in a verse and not about recording them crying on the phone about their financial issues and posting it all over your site because you music is lacking? I miss those days."
Thats real right there.....
My Trusted MOGs
I love hip hop, man, and I think part of the problem is what Black was talkin about; there's no real frame of reference for new cats. Plus, a lot more people are rapping to be famous, to make cash, and get out the hood. That's all good, but man, a love for the music is so essential to an artist (at least to me).
Brother Los was talkin' about the last time we heard a hot verse on the radio: The last time, I heard somebody on the radio (that I never heard before) spitting nice rhymes that didn't have anything to do with gunplay, murder, drugs, hoes, or rims was the very first time I heard Lupe Fiasco's "Kick, Push". Even though that was 2006, I can't really remember anybody after that or before it (unless I go back to the 90's).
I think the worst part about hip hop is the fact that you have to literally dig every day to find new artists who are not affiliated with Okaypayer. People like Strange Fruit Project, School of Beats, K'Naan, Shad, and Tumi and The Volume don't just drop into your lap. Sometimes you find out about a nice group like The Procussions, and their group's broken up before you've even listened to all three of their CD's. Meanwhile, some people get tons of promotion and have very little imagination, passion, and skill. We hear a lot of okay music, but there should be more exposure for the Dela's, Mac Lethal's, and Hezekiah's.
Dope post, especially since BT hates doin' interviews. Thanks, man