BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Hip Hop Is Still Number 1
September 17th, 2007
A strange thing happened in the music industry recently, Common’s album went to number 1 on the charts.
Sure Common’s a great artist but since when does the mass public usually buy great artist? To the contrary, they’re often left to struggle for sales, supported by a niche audience; while creatively devoid, content lacking singers and rappers who sale their souls to the devil for a catchy pop tune, usually reign supreme in the teen driven music market.
You may not really understand the significance here. This is Commons first number 1 album out of 7. First, it’s not that often that someone has a number 1 album this late in their career; even less likely so with fickle hip hop audiences in a culture that’s based on youth culture. If some does have a number one this deep in, its usually because they’ve had mass appeal throughout, and they’ve built a repeat audience that sends them to number 1 time and time again. So, even more rare than having a number one this late in ones career is having a first number 1 this late. Third, hardly anyone in Hip Hop has a number 1 in their mid-30s in the rap industry, again, it’s a youth based culture that relatively hasn’t been around that long to have masses of older audience. And the finally anomaly here is, a socially conscious rapper taking the top of the charts, while Hip Hop is tirelessly painted as a one trick gangsta-rap/misogynist pony. Not the first time it’s ever happen; but we can count all the other times on one hand.
Common to number 1 actually illuminates some important factors of the evolving industry:
1. When we make a stand for good music (movies, tv, ect.) and back our words with our dollars, we’ll get it.
2. The music industry which has long depended on teenagers as it’s base is changing. Most of the under 25 crowded simply rips music via the net and doesn’t bother to buy it. Much more of the over 25 crowd still wants their liner notes, and likes the ingrained feel of ripping the plastic off of a new cd.
Also I believe that while many over 25 may rip individual songs, from albums that they believe will otherwise not be that good, when they want an entire album they’ll go buy it. I especially think in this aspect that they are more aware and interested in the fact that if it’s an artist outside of the norm that they want to support, they know they have to spend money to show that support.
I think that this is a lesson to the industry that will eventually be headed, especially if we take heed to capitalize on it. That is, no longer can the industry singularly be driven towards a teenage demographic if you want to be profitable. There’s lots of money to be gotten from grown folks who continue to listen to new music.
Two other MCs of the same vein have dropped recent albums: Talib Kweli and KRS-One with DJ Marley Marl
If you care about Hip Hop music and are inclined to any of their albums, I think we should all go out and purchase at least 2 out of the three. You vote for the music that is made and mass marketed with your dollars. Nobody is producing music (or at least not distributing it nation wide) for free. Hit the record store and let the industry know what’s up.
And in old school Hip Hop fashion,
I’m outty 5,000
Popularity: 4% [?]
posted in Cultural, Social Commentary, Action Alert | | | View blog reactions | Print This Post
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7 Responses to “Hip Hop Is Still Number 1”
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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Common definately deserved it. You’re right about it being long time over due…
What they do now to figure out who is popular amongst teenagers is monitor ringtone downloads. Which I believe to be kind of weird, but I guess that’s how music can be judged nowadays….
Yeah, that’s crazy that now you have to make music inustry money off of telephones rather than albums.
The album is instant vintage, and it sparks any lagging hope I may have had, that quality music can be recognized in the mainstream. You speak the truth when you make the point that there is much power in putting our wallets in the direction we want to see art take.
I hate for people to bitch and complain about the type of entertainment that’s out there, and then when the type they say they want is out, they won’t go spend no money on it to support it.
If you’re not buying what’s good, you’re just as much at fault as those who buy what’s bad.
It is Ironic, I have Common’s prior cd on as i read your review. I heard it is commercial and not the energy of the 7 previous. If that is true, A brother gotta eat!! The jazz and blues community found out, the money is in radio play and cross over sounds, hip hop is here to stay and is no longer the music of rebels or controvesity, it is now mainstream. Excellent post
As far as I can tell, Common’s not even getting any radio play.
I haven’t heard it myself. Of the three I mentioned here I have the KRS-Marley Marl one, and I’ll be getting Talib’s soon enough. But I have a number of all their albums already.
I have to knock him for that punk ass gap commercial he did though.
This is right in line with ABA’s Accurate Image Campaign at HERE But your information about the changes that are going on adds even more hope. Maybe you’re right that younger people are buying less music than older people who want something more positive like the original hip hop.