Off Topic This Is Why Most Rappers Today Suck

They all sound the same.

Obviously the headline to this article is going to get a lot of people talking, but it had to be said. Most rappers today just suck. I can't believe that I'm actually writing about this topic because I never thought it would get to this point, but Rap music today has gone way off course that everyone needs to regroup, refocus, and start from scratch.

Here's why.

Rap Music Is All About Being Unique

One of the greatest things about Rap music and Hip Hop as a whole, is that anyone can be whatever they want to be. If you're a rapper, you can be funny, political, angry, philosophical, or even walk on stage wearing a clown outfit. Producers can take a beat wherever they want, turning it into a hard-hitting track or a mellow jazzy tune. The world is yours. (Nas, 1994).

However, many rappers today forgot about the unique aspect of Rap music and instead focus on other things such as sounding and looking like a popular rapper, and most of it is because of popularity and money.

It doesn't help that the record labels, music fans, and just the music industry overall are pushing a certain style of Rap upon everyone's ears (think Jay-Z and Kanye West), so of course any up and coming rapper will naturally end up sounding like someone else.

Do you remember a Rap group from the early 90's called the UMC's?



Their first album was really good, and their style was fun and uptempo. They wore colorful clothes and rapped about just regular things, and it was that type of style that made me go out and buy their cassette. Unfortunately, they didn't last. Around 1994 they resurfaced with a brand new look, dressed all in black with hoodies and saying they had a street sound.

That was the last anyone heard of the UMC's.

So what went wrong? They were no longer unique.

When they came out with their happy and fun style, it made them unique and they had a style that fit them. When they switched to a hardcore street style, it felt completely forced and they also looked and sounded like every other hardcore group at the time. Wu Tang, Group Home, and Gangstarr were some of the names that came to mind.

It's All About the Influence

Humans are easily influenced. I think it's actually ingrained in our DNA and we're suckers for a shiny new thing from a big advertisement with gold trim. This is why there have been so many times where I heard a rapper sound like someone else.

For example, back in the 90's I had a friend that was a rapper and loved to freestyle. One day we're freestyling and when it was his turn I had to stop him. He was wondering what was going on and I simply said to him, "you sound like DMX". This is because he was heavily into DMX and was so influenced by his style that he blended it into his own.

Now I completely understand if someone gets influenced enough that it becomes part of their everyday life, but it can't happen in Rap music. There are lots of rappers that sound like Jay Z or Kanye, and they most likely do it because they know that style is what is popular and what will sell. You can be inspired by another artist, but don't try to sound like them just because they're popular.

I'm sure there are record labels that have been searching for unsigned acts that sound like Jay Z, this way the label can have their own version of him at a fraction of the cost. I wouldn't be surprised.

What I Miss the Most in Rap

Years ago, Rap music had it all. There was the political rapper (Public Enemy), the funny rapper (Fresh Prince), the philosopher (KRS-One), with the list going on and on.

Why don't we have that today? The sad part about all of this is that I'm not just referring to the mainstream rappers, this mainly applies to the underground ones.

Underground rappers used to always have a certain style, one where they would brag non stop about dominating other emcees. But because of all the influence surrounding them 24/7, it's no longer about that. Yes, there are some underground rappers that are still true, but there are many others that are on the borderline of being underground and rapping about owning a Bentley. This is influence.

Rappers of all levels need to focus solely on themselves. It's the same with beatmaking. I'm always reviewing beats and the same thing applies there too - be unique. Some beatmakers will say that they make Trap beats or whatever, when in fact they should just be saying that they "make beats". That's it.

Don't label yourself because the minute you do, you're not being yourself, instead you're automatically putting yourself into a category and you'll sound like everyone else.

In Closing

Why do you think DMX was so popular? It's because he had a unique look, voice, and style.
Why do you think Rakim is always regarded as one of the best rappers ever? His voice always stood out from the rest.

I can't stress it enough about being yourself and having your own style. There are a million rappers out there today and they're all online trying to be recognized from the rest, so why would you want to sound like someone else? That makes no sense.

Just rap. Do what comes naturally and the rest will fall into place. I guarantee you that if you come out with a style that is different from the rest, you will definitely stand out. Trust me.

 

[Walidank]

What do you think of NWA or Wu-Tang?
These lyrics don't cause you to commit violence. I think these kinds of lyrics are a harsh reality of whats going on in these communities and people like "the real sh*t". If you wanna blame anybody blame humanity.

Groups like NWA or Wu-Tang did a 50/50 where they would give you messages of righteousness wow talking about the garbage behavior of the community in the '80s nwa talking Express Yourself and have positive lyrics then switched it up in the 90s to Straight Outta Compton Wu-Tang Clan had 5% messages and then Street stuff later

No doubt humanity is to blame.
cuz obviously it's the humans Behavior towards each other
I'm just saying that in today's culture it's gotten worse
where in the past there was still some kind of cold of conduct
even in so much is in the hood protecting those who they believed would get out of the hood and contribute back
nowadays they call everybody Ops and they don't care
or have any discernment it's just open fire on anybody
Regardless if they bout that life

 

[JR_]

Groups like NWA or Wu-Tang did a 50/50 where they would give you messages of righteousness wow talking about the garbage behavior of the community in the '80s nwa talking Express Yourself and have positive lyrics then switched it up in the 90s to Straight Outta Compton Wu-Tang Clan had 5% messages and then Street stuff later

No doubt humanity is to blame.
cuz obviously it's the humans Behavior towards each other
I'm just saying that in today's culture it's gotten worse
where in the past there was still some kind of cold of conduct
even in so much is in the hood protecting those who they believed would get out of the hood and contribute back
nowadays they call everybody Ops and they don't care
or have any discernment it's just open fire on anybody
Regardless if they bout that life

The environment is definitely more hostile than ever, especially with a higher availability of stolen guns. But I wouldn’t chalk all that up to “rap lyrics are bad”.

Give me an example of a lyric from today being so much worse and violent than a lyric from the “golden era “ of hip hop

 

[Walidank]

I never said the rap lyrics themselves are bad it's the encouragement of the impressionable who take the actions of those words that they say
and make them a reality
in the past we have a handful of rappers that got deals today we have thousands of so-called Rapers hitting the internet going to stream or some different platforms and people encourage them they don't tell them go work on your lyrics and the art form to make something more sustainable than realistic so you get 10-year-olds and 12-year-olds submitting songs talking about catching bodies and sleeping with their Ops girlfriends or wives and risking their personal lives to take out Ops aka next door neighbor or kid around the corner

 

[Iron Keys]

Yeah I see what you mean. I've taken long breaks from hip hop and jammed to some funk, rock, metal. Mainly because I found myself bored with what was around. But I'm embarrassed to say I've kinda liked some of today's rappers.

I think people just can't get over that it's no longer about having thought provoking lyrics like Tupac or Rakim. You're right today's lyrics suck and are unoriginal. But when I'm vibing to music, my brain registers it as like some funky trombone jammin along and hyping me up.

I love jamming to metal, but you've gotta be honest, those lyrics are corny AF
What genre of music truly has original lyrics?

I was talking unoriginal more in the style and performance of the lyrics as to the content or theme. But even then, everyone just copy the 'skrrrt skrrt skrrt' and whatever dumb sounds people be doing. And the accents are cringey 12yr old youtuber accents 'singing' with out of tune autotune. Sound like they probably got grounded after recording the vocal.

I been listening more to slower tempo stuff, strangely, and slightly acoustic in vibe. Kind of R&B and neo-soulish stuff.

 

[Iron Keys]

nowadays they call everybody Ops and they don't care

ah this one's the worst

these kids be going around saying like 'they're civilians', it's like ey younger, you're a skinny 14 yr old with a rucksack filled with a packed lunch your mommy made, and you get given daily homework.

 

[Iron Keys]

The environment is definitely more hostile than ever

it's hostile out of immaturity and naivity tho.

BAck then, gangs were gangs. And they do deadly shit. But they stay (mostly) smart.

Now it's kids who's real 'gang' dealings is playing gta and getting shitty tattoos scribbled on their face. They go sing/mumble in autotune about 'ops' and being a gangsta then go to some restaurant with their girlfriend posting some deluded insta video and get gunned down.

 

[2GooD Productions]

ngl, I hardly listen to rap anymore.

Most of it is like;
- poor vocal performance
- wonky auto-tune
- saying things that don't actually make sense
- lacking originality in style/flow, etc (the music also follows this a lot too)

There's a few things that pop up now and then that I'm like 'oh this is cool'. But on a real I'm largely kind of just 'getting bored' of it. Particularly because of the above making up like 90+% of the listening experience today.

I dont listen to much music at all any more. The glorification of violence and criminal activity has had an effect on our youth, I think to deny it you must have your head in the sand. A whole subgenre of hip hop (Drill) is based on violence and gangs killing each other. I miss the diversity that hip hop used to bring to the table. But originality died about a decade ago.

 

[Iron Keys]

I dont listen to much music at all any more. The glorification of violence and criminal activity has had an effect on our youth, I think to deny it you must have your head in the sand. A whole subgenre of hip hop (Drill) is based on violence and gangs killing each other. I miss the diversity that hip hop used to bring to the table. But originality died about a decade ago.

I think there was a few known man trying to defend drill saying it 'gave the youth an outlet to stay away from violence' ...

like, are you thick? Drill is literally about;
- saying you're going to stab/shoot/kill someone
- doing it
- recording the details of it / gloating in a song. Often naming the specific individual killed and 'his mum is crying i spit in her face' etc

not to mention originally it came out and people earn 'points', depending on what you did/where you stabbed someone etc.

 

[Iron Keys]

to move into positive talk though,

there are some 'new'(ish) rappers i think are decent.

Conway the Machine
Dave East
Freddie Gibbs

kinda not 'new' new tho, and I guess their 'style' is of an older style of rap. But still, their names seem to pop up relevant today.

There's some others as well but I forget their names.

 

[Iron Keys]

And that's the thing, everytime I find something new or interesting... I'll stop actively listening to their album within a week.

Maybe gets 3 or 4 plays.

Then I'm looking for something new to listen to/explore.

I also think this couples with the fact I'm looking for stuff I don't usually listen to, so when I find new artists in new genres, I don't have much attachment so just keep exploring. And roll with exploring the pathways 'the algorithm' presents me with.

 

[Fade]

I don't really listen to any new stuff because there's nothing that thrills me like there used to be. As some of you guys have mentioned, it's changed a lot and there are some real life consequences, which is stupid and childish.

The most that ever happened in the 80s/90s were a group of rappers would happen to run into each other at an airport or something and they'd maybe throw fists. Nobody was going around actually trying to kill each other. They would murder you in a song!

The lyrics today don't make sense but not just that, there's no one really flowing. Everything just seems flat, and that goes for all these different styles. Then you add in the fact that most of the beats sound the same, it's just boring.

Like the NBA where everyone is just shooting 3s now!

 

[Fade]

And that's the thing, everytime I find something new or interesting... I'll stop actively listening to their album within a week.

Yeah well that's just the internet in general and how everyone's attention spans have dwindled. It's like you'll see all this hype for a movie coming out then it comes out and within a week or two nobody's talking about it.

It's also because of streaming as well. The way I see it is, when you used to actually buy a physical copy of an album you would appreciate it more and read the song names and know them. Now it's "yo I liked tracks 3, 4 and 23".

 

[2GooD Productions]

to move into positive talk though,

there are some 'new'(ish) rappers i think are decent.

Conway the Machine
Dave East
Freddie Gibbs

kinda not 'new' new tho, and I guess their 'style' is of an older style of rap. But still, their names seem to pop up relevant today.

There's some others as well but I forget their names.

add Benny The Butcher to that

 

[2GooD Productions]

I don't really listen to any new stuff because there's nothing that thrills me like there used to be. As some of you guys have mentioned, it's changed a lot and there are some real life consequences, which is stupid and childish.

The most that ever happened in the 80s/90s were a group of rappers would happen to run into each other at an airport or something and they'd maybe throw fists. Nobody was going around actually trying to kill each other. They would murder you in a song!

The lyrics today don't make sense but not just that, there's no one really flowing. Everything just seems flat, and that goes for all these different styles. Then you add in the fact that most of the beats sound the same, it's just boring.

Like the NBA where everyone is just shooting 3s now!

exactly, when everyone sounds the same over the same sounding beats, where is the entertainment value?

 

[Iron Keys]

Yeah well that's just the internet in general and how everyone's attention spans have dwindled. It's like you'll see all this hype for a movie coming out then it comes out and within a week or two nobody's talking about it.

It's also because of streaming as well. The way I see it is, when you used to actually buy a physical copy of an album you would appreciate it more and read the song names and know them. Now it's "yo I liked tracks 3, 4 and 23".

Yeah I agree. Because things weren't accessible immediately at a click of the fingers.

You bought some albums, and had to play them until someone released a new one. Or you'd play and appreciate those ones until you grew bored or discovered tracks on it you usually skipped, that have now grown on you and become your favorite song on the album.

Now, those tracks won't really get the chance to exist. If a song comes in and doesn't immediately grab me, I'll skip it and it wont be favorited so I'll never see/hear it again.

And maybe that's also the point, usually the tracks that first grabbed me on an album, are the ones you can end up getting bored of quickest... so in the streaming world these will also be the tracks that grab you, cause they have immediate sparkle, but similarly you'll get bored of them quick.

So yeah, with streaming etc, i dont have to wait for a store to have stock, invest time in waiting for it, invest time in it, invest money in buying it or having emotional investment in this physical product. You can go "ermm... I'll just type in Ludacris see what pops up click play. Ok cool, moving on"

Even when we were illegally downloading you had to wait for the album drop and then try source the highest quality MP3 download with no bullshit in it, torrent that shit. You invested time in seeking out that product. And often I'd torrent something only to 1) listen to it until i could buy the physical and 2) if it was rubbish i could decide not to buy it and just discard the album.

 

[Fade]

exactly, when everyone sounds the same over the same sounding beats, where is the entertainment value?

Well I think everything has reached its peak pretty much. It's like no matter what industry, someone figured out the winning formula and now everyone does it that way because it works.

So when watching a tutorial on how to make beats with FL Studio, it doesn't mean "do it exactly this way". It should be a starting point and then you get creative on your own. Unfortunately most people would rather copy what's already successful instead of trying to figure it out themselves. It's kind of like reading the manual vs. watching a YT tutorial.

 

[Fade]

Yeah I agree. Because things weren't accessible immediately at a click of the fingers.

You bought some albums, and had to play them until someone released a new one. Or you'd play and appreciate those ones until you grew bored or discovered tracks on it you usually skipped, that have now grown on you and become your favorite song on the album.

Now, those tracks won't really get the chance to exist. If a song comes in and doesn't immediately grab me, I'll skip it and it wont be favorited so I'll never see/hear it again.

And maybe that's also the point, usually the tracks that first grabbed me on an album, are the ones you can end up getting bored of quickest... so in the streaming world these will also be the tracks that grab you, cause they have immediate sparkle, but similarly you'll get bored of them quick.

So yeah, with streaming etc, i dont have to wait for a store to have stock, invest time in waiting for it, invest time in it, invest money in buying it or having emotional investment in this physical product. You can go "ermm... I'll just type in Ludacris see what pops up click play. Ok cool, moving on"

Even when we were illegally downloading you had to wait for the album drop and then try source the highest quality MP3 download with no bullshit in it, torrent that shit. You invested time in seeking out that product. And often I'd torrent something only to 1) listen to it until i could buy the physical and 2) if it was rubbish i could decide not to buy it and just discard the album.

Which brings up a good point about everyone saying "I don't have time to...". Why? We did in the past! I enjoyed going to the record store and if they didn't have what I wanted I would ask them to order it or reserve my copy. I'd be excited to go back and finally get it, and then I cherished that record even more.

 

[2GooD Productions]

Well I think everything has reached its peak pretty much. It's like no matter what industry, someone figured out the winning formula and now everyone does it that way because it works.

So when watching a tutorial on how to make beats with FL Studio, it doesn't mean "do it exactly this way". It should be a starting point and then you get creative on your own. Unfortunately most people would rather copy what's already successful instead of trying to figure it out themselves. It's kind of like reading the manual vs. watching a YT tutorial.

Throughout the whole of the entertainment industry agenda has become more important than financial gains. Many companies have sacrificed financial stability to constantly push the same agenda, I dont see it stopping any time soon.

 

[Fade]

Throughout the whole of the entertainment industry agenda has become more important than financial gains. Many companies have sacrificed financial stability to constantly push the same agenda, I dont see it stopping any time soon.

That's one of the reasons why we keep getting these Marvel movies!

 

[2GooD Productions]

That's one of the reasons why we keep getting these Marvel movies!

I think independent free thought is dead. Its certainly demonised, if you dont tow the line with regards to "the current thing" then you are outcast and blacklisted. Is it any wonder that fresh original ideas are a thing of the past?