Hip hop Music and culture have influenced so many musical genres and fashion trends that its value to the world is unquestioned. However, the origin of Hip-Hop is currently under debate after a user on X suggested that it was not born out of competition.
Breaking the wall a bit here, hip-hop wasn't always something I saw as a competitive sport. I was too busy being fascinated by the concept of rhyming words over beats, scratching, breaking and graffiti – the mainstays of the culture itself. It wasn't until much later that I saw value in competition when I started participating in rap battles as a young MC. During this time of my journey, I wanted absolutely nothing more than to rip another rapper's head off in battle, in the spirit of wanting to be the best.
Social media is currently in serious discussion over J. Cole's decision to back out of his battle with Kendrick Lamar after the Compton rapper seemingly took shots at his North Carolina counterpart on the track “Like That.” by Future and Metro Boomin. Surprisingly, many listeners believe the Dreamville honcho let the culture down by not getting further involved in the fray and said he plans to drop “7 Minute Drill” from his song. It may be deleted later work.
If you want my opinion, I see no need to discuss Cole's choice to step aside because I don't know these people well enough to question their motives. My real life has much more of my focus and concern than some battle of the super MCs debate that social media can't seem to let go. The fact that people are calling each other names and getting digitally bashed for it is more convenient for me than what J. Cole did.
Twitter user @RonObasi had a thought in the wake of these recent events that garnered some passionate and even irreverent responses.
“[S]That hip hop was born out of competition is a crazy narrative and a lie. Let's do our homework please,” @RonObasi tweeted on Tuesday (April 9). “Also, saying hip hop is at it's best and 'healthy' when n*ggas using their beef platforms and influences was/is crazy. He sounds like the white men we claim to hate.”
Since posting the response, fans from all sides of the debate have chimed in and decried the claim that Hip-Hop wasn't meant to be a clash of talent. The way I see it, every rapper, producer, DJ, and graffiti writer should feel like they're the best, even if they feel like they're only competing against themselves.
I agree that music and culture aren't necessarily healthier when the top names are blaming each other. I feel as a culture we could do more for all under the banner of unity and oneness. It all seems like a dream at this point considering how people are approaching J. Cole's decision. And if you don't like what I'm saying here, we can fight if you want.
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