After the eras of the 50’s and 60’s, when the mass community of white people realized that we were the kings and queens of entertainment, there was still a fear of losing a deal or audience by the content produced. The 70’s allowed for more comfortability, but as African Americans eased their way into control, nothing came full force, noting that it wasn’t time for the full takeover because we weren’t the ones owning the businesses that kept the music in rotation. Then, they fucked around and signed N.W.A as rap music became a part of everyone’s playlists. Suddenly, the businesses were no longer in control. So following, artists in the 80’s and 90’s could say what they wanted, to who they wanted, with no repercussions because the only people who controlled the releases of the music or its content, was us. Through the music, we were able to prevail. Then the 2000’s came and as dance music started to take over, as did the struggle for maintaining a high status. Music was now made for party scenes and if it wasn’t made for a party, then it was made to drive video content through dance crazes. No one talked about the job of the
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president, the power of unity, the consequences of ignorance and racism,etc. Now the business aspect of music took precedent once again and instead of artists having their true freedom, they were once again restrained to abiding by the demand of executives and sales. So the era lived on and suddenly in the early 2010’s, the class of new school rappers decided to ride a different wave. As each demographic steadily built upon their own army, each had a leader: Kendrick from the West Coast, Chance from Chicago, Joey Badass from New York, and Waka Flocka Flame from Atlanta who were all willing to make the music uncensored and satisfactory to their desire. We could now note an environment where music was made not for people to dance, not to be or remained signed, but for fans to simply enjoy. It seems like the power was lost because, like most of our culture, people on the outside just don’t understand. There has been a constant battle with regaining this power and as a community, we definitely took a hit back in 2014 when Kendrick lost his well-deserved Grammy for Good Kid M.A.A.D. City to Macklemore’s The Heist. Once 2016 hit, Chance the Rapper became a household name. Our stance was solidified and we now hold the torch once again through the music we were able to make for ourselves, with pure artistic freedom. From an era where you had zero to no chance of getting signed to a label, to an independent artist like Chance taking home three Grammy’s, comfortability now sits within control. The resurge of power came within the realization that we can and will do whatever we aspire to when it comes to the art of our music because the industry will constantly continue to challenge that. But where our music and its artists are headed now, you can’t tell us shit.
As Hip-Hop becomes more commercialized, black artists must finds ways to take back their power and control of their vision and presence in the industry
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usic is an outlet that has allowed for us as black people to speak in volume over the crowds of rejection. As the battle for power and authority has constantly fluctuated, one place where one could prevail despite the challenges was in the studio. Yes, my parents are in their mid-sixties so I know a little about growing through the troubling eras of the mid to late 1900s, but that’s not my story. I found the power in music when I was about 7 years old. I know y’all remember Like Mike. My favorite scene was when Calvin and Murph went to Tracy’s house for geometry lessons, which eventually turned into a paint fight. I know, this sounds a little insignificant but the song that played in the background of that scene was “Rule” by Nas. Being so young, I was attracted to the smooth melody and lyrics but as I got older, I recognized the raw content portrayed in the track. Looking at the broader picture, the 80’, 90’s, and early 2000s provided a comfortable platform for artists to speak up about, simply put, what they didn’t fuck with.
By Kemet High