ADDICTION – A look at drugs and hip-hop

Some critics have said that rap music has turned from rapping about selling drugs to them expressing how they take the drugs.

The problem is when people write off hip hop’s history with drugs as just a product of ‘mumble rap’.

Yes it’s true that early records like Grandmaster Flash’s The Message were cultural conscious this was also when many thought of cocaine as a party drug which gave way to ‘ready rock’ or ‘crack’.

I feel this is the same with ecstasy or better know in the community as molly.

Historically this was also seen as a party drug and now it’s moved from the clubs to the hip hop airwaves.  

 

Price Of Fame – Lil Bow Wow to Shad Moss

Shad Moss, better known as Bow Wow, is an anomaly. Sometimes he confesses his desire to be the next Will Smith then other times he’s caught faking the funk leading to hilarity (#BowWowChallenge).

In hip hop it’s a very ‘what have you done for me lately’ culture. Artists can be recognized as legends but dismissed as washed after a few lackluster releases. 

For Grammy nominated stars like The Game & Snoop Dogg have moved to independent labels to make up for recently released albums failing to receive Platinum or Gold certifications.

Are CD’s Dead?

Many top tier artists are moving from just physical discs to digital content.

This is no longer the days of old where boy band acts and pop princesses would battle over who can sell a million copies in a week.

With piracy fears and record sales decreasing there is more of a reliance on streaming. 

According to Bloomberg Technology U.S. streaming revenue accounted for almost half of the music industry’s sales.

 

In a singles dominated market fans are expecting faster releases and engulfing experiences.