The Knowledge, The Movement I


A few years ago I ceased listening to Hip-Hop as it was becoming an annoying fodder to my ears. If I so wished to become a purveyor of narcotics, survive in the prison system, or spend currency irresponsibly, Hip-Hop was becoming The Idiot's Guide To.

It is not my intention to couple every Hip-Hop act into this description because there are or could be some positive artists who participate in this form of music and represent the meaning well. In my experience though, this genre is overrun with just the opposite. It is prevalent in the violence, the degradation and abuse of women, and the lost youth of today as this is becoming their perspective and/or reality of their future and life.

Nas, who is arguably one of the greatest Hip-Hop artists, released Hip Hop Is Dead in 2006. There are no longer messages and the wordplay and creativity is in decline as the use of derogatory terms is utterly ridiculous and shameful, while the number of new ways to look like an ass dances are in surplus. Its embarrassing to witness .

While browsing through XM Radio I fell on XMU while there was a 30 minute Underground Hip-Hop session playing. One of the first songs was rap veteran KRS-One along with Marley Marl with Hip-Hop Lives. I was completely blown away. KRS-One states Hip is being knowledgeable and the Hop is the movement.

With that being said, I'm not back in the fold of Hip-Hop, KRS-One's definition referring to the knowledge and the movement only sparked my mind to think of all of the double meanings. I must pose the following question while changing the pace of this post. Is it responsible if one is aware of an issue or would like change but does not take action for a desired result? Such as a slow leak in a tire, a dead end career, a crappy relationship? Homelessness (here in Atlanta), AIDS, Healthcare, Immigration, Darfur?

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