All supporters of Hip Hip music are well aware of what’s become of the genre. There are rappers out there who have staked their claim as superior MC’s without offering the product to back it up. Some of these self proclaimed greats might enter the game with a street buzz achieved from the mixtape circuit, a hot single, or endorsements from already well know artists, but one thing is missing once these artists establish themselves—–improvement. Why don’t we hold these rappers accountable for their lack of advancement of their skills? The usual experience has been once an MC enters the game and is successful, they lose their hunger and drive for progress. Obviously there are many factors involved in keeping an artist from reaching the pinnacle of their talents, especially when it comes to rap music and the conditions pushing most artists into the business. But should we just accept those circumstances and give these MCs a pass, or should we expect more from the people representing the genre of music we love?

Hip Hop has become a lucrative venture , and due to its global popularity, there are those who enter the the business with the intention of eventually getting a large pay day. The majority of the MCs in that category don’t have much talent, but might’ve come up with a catchy chorus or a popular theme that will surely thrive in the current market. In that instance, what would be the reason driving someone to improve upon their craft? They’ve already achieved what they set out to do, got paid, and will continue to milk the same formula that got them there until it is no longer appealing to consumers. I can’t get upset with anyone who climbed out of the gutter to the top of the mountain and decided to relax until they fell off. I can’t blame these artists for taking advantage of a fatal flaw in the Hip Hop genre, it is a money driven business that values currency over substance. What bothers me is those rappers that have potential to be great and make no effort to live up to it. There are those who start their careers with albums or mixtapes that leave the listeners yearning for more, but sadly fans are usually disappointed when the second and third efforts are no different or even worse than the first.

In all aspects of life we’re always looking for ways to improve things; the whole cell phone craze for example is the epitome of our efforts to enhance what we use on a regular basis. The same values apply to other forms of technology, school, work, and sports. We should place the same accountability on these rappers. MCs who made a name for themselves shouldn’t be able to just continue to get by off reputation. We should demand a product that’s worth the $15 cost of the cds we spend our money on. Granted a lot of music is illegally downloaded nowadays which might contribute to the lack of motivation of the artists, but people still buy albums and rappers are a lot more marketable than they were in the past due to the overwhelming use of the Internet. We want to to expect more from our favorite MCs so everyone can continue to be provided with good music. I don’t want to be the one to judge, I have plenty of my own shortcomings that I need to address. I could never know how it feels to go from broke to rich in a matter of months and how I would react afterwards. What I do know is that I have integrity and I am always looking to get better at what I do. I want to see these young and up and coming artists passionate about their music so they can live in eternity in the minds of  listeners no matter how much time has passed. There are many timeless classics that I listened to over a decade ago that I still bump today. Current MCs should want to create that same longevity and they could continue to make money of their creations. If these rappers don’t make any effort elevate themselves and their music, a couple years from now they’ll be right back where they started without a second chance forthcoming.

M. Motif