Who's to Blame?

In class this week during our discussion of hip-hop and Diasporas, it was mentioned that Nas declared that hip-hop is dead. There are no longer messages about growing up in the ghetto and other cultural issues; it’s about bitches and poppin’ Cristal champagne. Although the meanings of the lyrics of the current hip-hop scene are nothing compared to those from the golden age of hip-hop, this new sound to hip-hop, with all the sampling and what not, could this in a way be a different kind of Diaspora? Could it be that the current hip-hop stars think they have nothing to say and just want to make bank on a catchy beat? Are today’s rappers afraid to push the buttons of society and ask the riveting questions that were asked in the golden age? Or is it genuinely only about the “Benjamin’s” now?

In my opinion, I think that the current hip-hop music should be called something different, because I don't think that hip-hop is the same as it was during the golden age. It's more of a hip-pop genre, between all the collaborations and auto-tune, the new face of hip-hop can be played on different formats of radio. I found out today through CNN.com, that apparently on the Vatican's myspace (looking beyond the point of why the Vatican actually has a myspace that a clergyman actually updates) published its new playlist and on that list is none other than Tupac and his song, "Changes." Maybe I have to reconsider my questions before and really pose them on our society. Are we ignoring the expletives, the male chauvinism, and all other derogatory messages, just to "get down" at a club?