10 years ago, there was this stuff known as Hip Hop. Hip Hop was “The Street.” It was a time before Chutney Spears and NSTINK, when men were men (and not pathetic men) and women were women who didn’t wear catholic schoolgirl wear in music videos. It was the days of Coolio and Westside Connection, the days of Exscape and TLC. Yes, it was a pleasant time, with hits such as “Bow Down” by Westside Connection, and most appropriately, “If I ruled the world,” by Nas. Nas himself is significant, because he just released a rather interesting album: “Hip Hop is dead.” And I truly believe the man is right.

Look around. Back in the day, The Beat, KISS, Power 106 (Although on 105.9, for some odd reason,) were playing Hip Hop all day and all night. Hip hop then varied, from professing love to someone, to taking one’s turf (As was most of Westside Connections songs.) I was only 12 at the time, so I didn’t get the concepts of how West and East were fighting on the Hip Hop turf. I only thought saying “WESTSIDE!” was cool. But the message was clear, that Hip Hop was in. Power 106 declared 1997 “The year Hip Hip rules the world”

Now, fast forward to 2006. We have 50 Cent, and other artists who basically blow their songs on the same damn scheme: “Bling, cars and hoes.” Sexism aside, Though there are some who still fight the good fight (Eminem, Usher, and a few,) Hip hop has gotten stale, paving the way for new variants of Piano Pop like Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” or The Fray’s “How to save a life.” Plus, now it’s materialistic, when it used to be so good. Yes, you can claim that the underground is true to the word of Hip Hop, but the thing is, it’s called the underground for a reason: NOBODY LISTENS TO IT!!!!!

So yeah, Hip Hop really is done. 1997 was the year Hip Hop lived, now 2007 is the year Hip Hop will die. Rest in Peace, and one final “WESTSIDE!!!” for all who need it.