How the Music Game has changed

Well Hip Hop, to be prercise. See no other genre, thrives on competition, like this genre. There are so many up and coming capable contenders at every turn. That the established guard have to come up with avant garde ways of getting their product out there and stayinng relevant. It's also one of the only genres, besides pop who's fan base continually gets younger. It's difficult to ascertain why this is, but it's also why we don't see old rap acts like RUN DMC, pack the world stage on tour like say your Rolling Stones and your U2's. Rap is no old mans game. The lyrical content is cutthroat, and changes so ofteen that I feel the older heads have no choice but to pass the baton. As a somewhat older fan, I see myself going to the archives more often, as I nostalgically stroll down memory lane. I can't get with this Wacka Flakka Flame stuff. Bare with me as i rant. There is a point to all my ramblings. Ageing in rap is a problem that has yet to be sufficiently figured out. By the time most popular rappers hit 35 or so, they get put out to pasture in one of three ways. If they’re bankable enough they get shuffled off to the old folks home of rap – shitty acting careers (LL Cool J). If they’re particularly curmudgeonly they settle comfortably into their high-waisted grandpa pants and favorite rocking chair while they scream about how the kids are fucking up everything for everyone (KRS-ONE). Lastly, if they don’t have a large enough personae or fanbase they just disappear completely into the ether of irrelevance (Kool Moe Dee). As much as Hip Hop wants credit for originality, everybody is a slightly bad copy of someone else. You just have to look at the average rappers business ventures. Jay-Z comes out with Rocawear, then everbody has some sort of clothing line, I see you guys with your G-unit jackets. Dr.Dre has headphones now everyone is hopping on that too(50 CENT).

There are only that many pioneers in the industry, the rest follow.So last year, in his build up to his first public appearance since the Taylor Swift incident, Kanye West changed the game, with his G.O.O.D Friday tracks. Releasing one track a week till the release of his album. As a means of marketing himself Kanye West, was onto something, his name rang on the lips of all Hip Hop fans for months prior to the release of his album. A formula so good we all knew it would be replicated. However not to the same buzz as experienced with Kanye. First was Swizz beats and his Monster Mondays. Snoop Dogg and his Puff Puff Pass Tuesdays. RZA, with his WU Wednesdays, and now Timbaland with this Timbaland Thursdays.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with delivering music in this format, I view it as an evolution of mixtape culture. Instead of giving fans the wholle mix ration them weekly, they'll appreciate it more when they have to savour the taste, unlike when they engorge themselves at one go and tell the cheff the hors de ouvre, were shit. I for one appreciate the amount of free music i've been getting, but I notice the good people are not aware of the music out there, So consider this the spotlight, putting your favourite artist in the limelight. Get out there and download. It took one man to change the face of the game.

Here's this week's picks:

Timbalad-Round da way:



Snoop Dogg x Pilot - Gangbang Rookie:



RZA- Insomnia:




L.G