The Evolution from Gangsta to Feel Good Rap

I don't know what's better, the fact that either mainstream rap has stopped talking about violence or that now it only talks about drugs, money, and feeling good. I'm talking about mainstream as in Billboard or iTunes top 500. Sure we have Eminem who released his album this year, but his music has become much more mellow as he's started to coming to terms with a lot of things in his life like his wife and drug addiction. But, now the top mainstream rap are songs by artists like Lil' Wayne, Kid Cudi, Black Eyed Peas, and Kanye West. Now, I have nothing against these artists and I love their songs. Yet, it ain't no gangsta rap. Their songs are more limited to feel good type songs, party music, and if they have any more serious songs, they are social criticism. Although we do have some gangsta rappers like 50 Cent and he's more of a joke now than ever. Snoop and Dre are still around, but they also sold out years ago. The fact that Snoop Dogg is in a Katy Perry song already tells it all.

And so, let's be real. There are still those out there, limited mainly to more underground rap like Immortal Technique and Jedi Mind Tricks, who talk about violence and more serious subject matters. Listen to the song below, it's not only violent and shocking, but it's a heart-wrenching story about living in streets.

But is mainstream rap now too mainstream? I think it makes sense that many rap and hip hop artists would sell out for the money. Most of America consider themselves middle class and upper middle class families. Furthermore, I'm sure most of these artists themselves came from these kind of families. So how could they talk about growing up in a violent neighborhood and the streets when they didn't? At the same time, its a shame that as we focus more and more on these feel good type of songs that talk about money, fame, and recreational drugs, we'll begin ignore the more serious problems in society that continue to exist. It's also quite sad that people who listen to this music will crave being wealthy and rich more and more, rather than following their own hearts on what life means.