West vs Swift: Kanye IS Hip-Hop
I’m having a chuckle reading the various online pundits *gasp* with shock as they report on Kanye’s latest outburst at a televised awards program. The comments can be best summarized this way: poor victim Taylor Swift gets blindsided by pompous autotune rapper having a temper tantrum on stage.
Besides the fact that I don’t give a hot damn about Ms. Swift, or the fact that it could have very well all been staged by the good folks at MTV, I actually appreciate Kanye even more after watching the goings on last night. Let me explain it thusly: right now, at this moment, Kanye West IS hip-hop. Or at least he embodies the spirit of hip-hop.
Back before most of you remember (so, more than 5 years ago), rap music wasn’t about fitting in or being nice. It was about fighting against the system; about being a Rebel Without A Pause, about being Tougher Than Leather. Back then, you wore your anti-establishment ethos with pride. Raised fist. Arms folded. Hat down. Not giving a f–k. Hip. Hop.
Sure, artists (and even fans) all wanted to gain popular and corporate acceptance, because that meant hip-hop wouldn’t have to struggle anymore. We wouldn’t have to go down to the underground record spot to pick up the latest (limited) release from our favorite artist. But there was a description for that back in the day: selling out.
You say hip-hop has lost its way? It has no heart? A shell of its former angry, principled self? Then you, my friend, should be standing up and applauding Kanye for living life as an artist on his own terms and not giving a sweet damn. Being unafraid to walk out on stage surrounded by corporate music suits and lay into them. Repeatedly. Kanye got on the mic and spoke truth to power.
He was a true rap MC last night, in the mold of KRS-One or Rakim. Sure, the forum and subject matter matter may have made him look more like ODB than Chuck D, but few have the guts and/or the balls to do what Kanye did.
Last night, Kanye was hip-hop.
UPDATE: Apparently, Kanye is less going for the temporary insanity defense.
Tags: Kanye West, MTV Awards, Taylor Swift
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