In reality hip hop is crazy and people can anything and everybody’s all like ‘awesome!’

Back to the KRS interview though…

You listen to that yet?

I’m interested to hear what someone like Rupture has to say about the KRS interview in question. I found it rather cringe-worthy in a lot of areas. Definitely not saying anything new, and as far as his estimation that “hip-hop” is 10 years behind in somewhere like the UK, I seriously disagree (and I’m American). If he means the (small) pockets of people trying to imitate US hip-hop culture, maybe. But as far as music is concerned, not a chance.

I’m an American, living in East London. Shout out to K. Respect. But I gotta say, the comments about the UK (although socially they are, perhaps, semi-accurate), are WAY OFF. The music industry in the UK is light years ahead of the US in terms of progressive attitudes toward music and styles of production. In the US, cultural cross-pollination of musical styles is slow at best. And forget about a club scene anywhere near that of London ANYWHERE in the USA. It just doesn’t exist. Different cities and music scenes are not as pigeon-holed, and separated (segregated) as they are in the States (Bay Area one noteworthy exception). It just isn’t geographically possible to keep scenes apart. And different cultural influences within the sonic landscape are much more immediate in a place like London (African, Jamaican, and European music styles for starters), than in the US. This happens ALL OVER in the UK, not just in one or two cities.

MC’s here (in London) are better on the whole, bling is mostly laughed at (or taken off you). Dudes here be wearing dark hoodies ’cause they’re always on camera. Bling only serves to make you a target in London. Guns is nothin’ new here. Maybe with cops, but that’s about it.

I think K needs to back up a lil’ bit. Shit is next-level in London. 10 years behind? Hardly. Hip-hop (or street culture derived by the same means) splintered long ago here, crossing with other movements and starting completely fresh (urban) music styles. I think K himself is about 10 years behind, to be honest. Hip-hop, as a mentality, is so mch more than just a genre of music (or even the “5 elements” K preaches). It’s all about the modes of production and how we interact with our surroundings. It’s a discipline, a method, and all about how you flip it (art). There are so many artists within underground music (across so many styles) that are far more “hip-hop” than half of the genre’s finest in th mighty US of A. Straight up.

Producing, rapping, talking. The man is so on it.

Caddilacs on 22s (slowed down) is still exquisite.

http://themegatrondon2.com/JBTV/wannabedj.jpg

I only just got my turntables!

Hiphop producer extraordinaire Just Blaze’s blog (http://themegatrondon2.com/) has some really insightful interviews with the legendary KRS Uno –in two parts. You have to scroll down a little for the first part. He’s not just talking about the “glory days.” He talked about the current state of the music industry –”Death to the music industry!” and he insinuated that he has been waiting for the death of the music industry for over 20 years!