KRS-ONE Chooses 50 Over Kanye

A Few things:

Who decides what is hip hop?

Why can't hip hop grow and change?

Are video hoes hip hop? (50 cent)

Why can't hip hop be fashionable? Hip hop was born in urban areas, I dunno my peeps they always are fashionable. Hip Hop is fashionable.

Do you have to come from the streets to be hip hop?

a few more things...

He goes from saying he wouldn't honor "rappers" but then chooses 50 Cent (today's quintessential rapper) over kanYe West.

He says 50 Cent is growing while every review I came across criticized 50 Cent for not expanding his sound and instead doing the same thing he has always done (while the same reviewers pointed to the fact that kanYe definitely did grow and incorporate different sounds beyond his traditional sped up samples of old school jams).

As for the fashion stuff, funny for him to hate on Ye when he's wearing a colorful polo...wasn't it kanYe who brought the polo to hip-hop? Ye was all about the preppy look. also, back in the day, adidas track suits were fly (and they still are)...how is that hip-hop not being fashionable? hip-hop has set all kinds of fashion trends ablaze.

And most importantly, I like kanYe West. So there!

To be honest, and slightly more intelligible and serious, it seems to me that KRS-One is trapped in the idea that because he is old school one of the OGs, one of the pioneers, he has a definitive say on what is hip-hop. But all things grow and progress (except for 50's musical stylings). You can't stay trapped in the past searching for some ideal that quite possibly no longer exists to the extent it did in previous days. The entire foundation of hip-hop came from pioneering uncharted territory...creating a new music that did not fit in with any other previous category. If Ye (or any other artist) is taking what is now the traditional hip-hop and expanding upon it, isn't that being about as hip-hop as one could be?

And to answer your first questions Swiyyah, I decide what is hip-hop.

yo,
first thing, when KRS is talkin about not honoring the "rappers," he's speakin purely in the context of the award show he is attending, "Hip Hop Honors." The question was who he thinks should be honored at the next show. When he says "not rappers," he just means since the award show is called "Hip Hop Honors," it would be cool to see other aspects of the "hip hop" culture recognized (ie: graffiti, breaking, dj'ing etc.). he's not hating on rappers as much as he is just saying "hey, let's give props to the other elements of hip hop too." KRS caught a lot of puzzled looks and flak for his comments about 50 vs. Kanye. So much so, that he penned a follow-up article to clarify and delve deeper to what he was talkin bout...peep:

http://allhiphop.com/blogs/editorial/archive/2007/10/09/18707533.aspx

i think KRS is caught up in his own words and so called hip hop world. he comes off a bit arrogant when stating what is and is not real hip hop, why try an put the genre into a box. i thought he would be one of the people to understand the many different sides and styles of hip hop, in an ever changing world the music that is most true should also reflect those changes.

the teacha krs-1...still schoolin 'em.....

50's album sucked. It was a Xerox of "The Massacre," which was itself a Xerox of "Get Rich or Die Trying." Half the choruses on the album were some variation of "I'm going to kill you with my gun." It was made in a focus-grouped factory deep in the heart of Gangsta Cliche World.

Could not disagree more with the teacha...but at least the P is still free.

"I'm not saying I'm number one,
uh sorry, I lied,
I'm number one, two, three, four AND five"

KRS will forever be the don in my books!

Good to see & hear some proper light being shed on what some of the OG's think of the new 'kids'

"Now your children grow up prisoners,
All their life, RADIO LISTENERS!!!!!!!!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

"I'm not the run of the mill 'cause from the mill I don't run"

:)

Well not to name drop or anything...ok im name droppin so what! i've me the man KRS and he is the realist. and im not even going to comment on what he really had to say since he can say whatever the hell he wants as can anyone else...but personally, not a fan of 50, and used to like Kanye...but i find it hard to respect a man who whines and complains soooo much for not getting the "deserved" respect??? please man if you love what ur banging then whats it matter? ok im done

"not a fan of 50, and used to like Kanye...but i find it hard to respect a man who whines and complains soooo much for not getting the "deserved" respect???"

My sentiments EXACTLY dude!

0fcourse record sales has SOMETHING to do with artistic excellence.. He jus T0TTALLY dissed people with good taste in music A.K.A people who bought Kanyes album. gosh, ignorance & i bet hes never even heard kanye's album yet.. haha, &wtf? 50's album was weak.. its unfortunate that he was on the track with Nas/Rakim/Kanye/ "Classic" which i LOVE!

He was one of the 5 people who went out and bought the 50 album

this idiot krs-NO ONE is stuck in the past.

personally, i feel that too much time and energy is wasted on defining "hip-hop". just let it be what it is and and let it grow into something new if it wants to. and true enough, there are many facets of hip-hop, but the most popular, by far, is rapping. hip-hop may have started out as a culture, but now it is also a category of music. just look in your local record store. krs made some pretty ignorant comments about hip-hop in general. fashion has always been a part of the culture. he also commented on the fact that he could not relate to some of kanye's material. so what? not everyone that buys a hip-hop album that talks about the streets can relate, but you appreciate hearing about a different perspective. thats the beauty of music and art in general.

hiphop is innovative today in different ways. I think we should take a look at Russel Simmons and his passion for fashion and hiphop. He speaks about it extensively in his book.

I love KRS-1, but I think he kind of contradicted himself. Digital Agers are NEW upcomers, and bring Innovation.

You're hurting the movement if you can't regognize it's progression. Rap/Hip-Hop does not always have to be about/made by or even recognized by the "Street Cats." Hip-Hop is a movement that has it's origins in the streets and ghettos, but has become an identity to a generation, and should not be limited to one single social class, lifestyle or ethinicity as far as contributers to the movement.

But I do agree with the comment of Sales not being synonomous with Artistic Value.

KRS one has been making alot of contradictions as of late....just like after he got hit over the head with a bottle all of a sudden he says he values peace over...violence...I guess he never threw PM dawn off the stage in the 90's...he makes alot of statements like this,...he had his day and he was good...but now a days Kanye has 50 artisticly...those who bought his album know whats up...Kanye is miles above 50...He raps, produces, and writes fascinating material...and tells the truth something 50 never did and KRS one used to do.

Kanye tells the truth about Racism in the business, Katrina, nd fake a$$ MTV...I love it...he should have one all those awards not Justin Timerbefake.

"since when did sales become the benchmark of artistic excellence" GREAT POINT

the more ppl who bought it? gimme a break, lots of ppl buy music with no idea of its deep artistic value...most ppl wouldn't see 50 or Kanye as art, point blank.

me myself, i see Kanye as more of an artist and an innovator than 50...i mean, lots of ppl can say hardcore rhymes over a hip hop beat...its actually been done plenty of times by many who are better than him...Kanye changes and invents and his lyrics are thought provoking, i think he brough hip hop to those who didn't think they liked hip hop! people that are like, 'i can't stand that rap music! i hate hip hop it so aggressive..blah blah blah' they like Kanye...mind you I like Kanye's music, but as a person, i think his attitude sucks and we'd probably have a bro/sis relationship where we'd always be fightin and tellin each other 'you're not all that' lol...but i DO think he is hip hop...WHO DECIDES WHAT IS HIP HOP? WE DO!! hip hop is a culture and as the people in that cultures community evolve, grow, learn and change, so does the culture...

Tiana J