The Blackshakespeare Chronicles - Is Hip Hop dead?

“I was told to my face by a white radio announcer that the only reason why our songs are not getting airplay on CCM radio is because we’re black.” – Christian hip hop artist Bonafied of The Grits

According to Nielson Soundscan, Geffen Records rap artist Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. a.k.a. Snoop Dog has established a career that has resulted in the sale of more than 18.5 million albums to date. Snoop, who emerged from the gangsta rap ashes of NWA, quickly became the West Coast’s spokesperson for smokin ‘the chronic’ and pimpin from a catalogue of women that strolled, in his words, “from southern California’s 10 freeway to the 101.” Absolutely the Doctor’s Advocate ( a reference to Dr. Dre), the Long Beach Crip christened the red light house party with his four time platinum Doggystyle debut. “What’s My Name” branded Snoop while his second single “Gin and Juice”, which was nominated for a Grammy in 1995, branded the leisure exploits of the Dog’s lifestyle. “Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice. Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.]”

There was no question whether or not hip hop was alive back then. It was America’s lucrative yet defiant runaway child prodigy that had a mouth as boisterous as a southern Pentecostal preacher in a tent revival. The music was representative of what was happening in the streets. And everyone from Compton to Brooklyn was jockeying for ear space.

Fast forward to 2007, and the maturation of hip hop is etched in stone like the thirteenth commandment with the release of Jay Z’s Kingdom Come. Def Jam’s presidents’ “30 Something” sharpens the lens of the genre’s most humbling critics. The patriarchs, minus slain disciples Biggie and Tupac, have upgraded their corner boy hustle. Snoop publicly retired from pimpin in 2003 for a more family-oriented Commissioner post with his much publicized Youth Football League. Russell Simmons, lauded for his early pioneering of the hip hop movement, sold his stake in Def Jam to Universal Music Group in 1999 for $100 million and through his Rush Communication s, parlayed the clothing lines Phat Farm and Baby Phat into major million dollar success stories.