Grandmaster Flash. Wha’d it do nephew? Put ‘em up, or shut up. These colloquial's have infiltrated into our mainstream vernacular to the extent that many can dawn this as the of “Age of Slang.” When we first hear the words Hip/Hop, images of gangster’ mo’ money, capped out teeth, gunslinging thugs exude our minds. The beginning of the Hip/Hop nation, actually bloomed in West African and African music; but became a force in the 70’s, when disco reigned with its tiara. People were looking for an escape of go-go boots and flashing disco balls. The streets of New York spoke from dance hall reggae and block parties. The HHN, only became popular as DJing began to take a foothold in Americana. Pionneers such as DJ Kool Here and Grandmaster Flash began to extend the breaks of funk music, which lead to improvisations and spoken words breaking into genres of Neo-Soul, Spoken Word and rap. It was a glorious, disjointed, nation.

Hip Hop voice has been a fragmented message since its popularized debut of artist RUN DMC [ Raising Hell ]. With Reganomnics,in play; there was a feeding ground for the displaced subjects to be part of a movement or expression that voiced their concerns and opinions. The Hip Hop nation, soon faced whether to be labelled an art from for the outspoken; or just a trend. With the globalization of RUN DMC album Raising Hell, a new light was shined on music and a Reformation commenced . The trend, tight jeans, Adiddas with no shoe strings and iridescent shirts that you would have to give sunglasses to the sun; spoke to the disco rebels of the seventies. This fad was the new face of the HHN and soon a following ensued. Run took the idea of the street and put it to the doorsteps of Americana, by taking Aerosmith “Walk This Way,” and fusing rock and rap together to become the first rap video to play in heavy rotation on MTV. Raising Hell was a beacon for Will Smith, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G, Beastie Boys and Jay-Z to now take this nation of a few hundred into the millions.

Beastie Boys and Jay-Z both ushered in the Golden Age of Hip Hop. The HHN seemed to have a clear focus, on its way to “Intergalactic” heights. This new trend of baggy pants, oversized shirts and baseball caps represetn’ where ya from?, seemed to become a staple in the music industry, until a “civil war,” that would cripple the HHN and create a backlash of fury and criticism. Hip Hop was beginning to stray away from its roots of dance hall beats, into hard rap that burst into an EasT-West feud claiming the lives of two of its most prolific soldiers; Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. The East and the West sides were fighting for mic supremacy, neglecting to see that they were being looked to as roll models of hope, strength and power. With the proliferation of sex, money, and enough flesh to feed any carnivorous fiend, the fall from grace seemed inevitable.

The move from Hip Hop groups into Hip Hop soulstas birthed a new genre; deemed “gansta rap.”
N.W.A. , Dr. Dre, Mobb Depp became staples in trying to push this new facet of Hip Hop, with their albums dropping Straight Out of Compton, and The Chronic, the massive following sent chills through governments, leading to over-censorship. This censorship began to cry back to the 50’s of values, morals, a more gentler time. This style hit a roadblock, with the re-emergence of the New York scene of a more palatable version. The mafioso charmer began clicking on Dre and Mobb Depps heels. This new feudal power was under the direction of Sean Combs, better known as Puff Daddy; his charismatic style and now fame, distorted the HHN focus and the “throat” of the street genre, became an empty vessel gutted with sexual overtones, gyrating hips; that unequivocally left the HHN falling back to humble beginnings, with broken leadership.

Today the HHN is viewed as a trend that will eventually fade. Though Hip Hop’s impact has been a force in the music industry, its indecisiveness over the decades has left the music power in shambles. If we look at the HHN now, the subjects want change. The subjects are calling for its leaders and voice back, but without violence and hate. I ask: “Wha’d it do baby boo?” Get back to the heart of Hip Hop, which was about
change, a clear message that truly inspired. Though you are wanting everyone else to put ‘em up, the HHN subjects will eventually say shut up.

By: Jonathan Reed