Butane Lights

I don't think Hip Hop is dead, but in critical condition. It has been beaten, mutilated, pimped out, reshaped and simply packaged into a CD for $18.99. Answer this, when did Hip Hop just become "Rap"? Maybe thats what's killing it. Where the fuck is the culture? Where is the foundation? At one point, an emcee had to know how to move a crowd, a DJ made people dance, a B-boy had to know how to dance to the music, a writer had to have real letter structure in his piece and not some three dimentional computerized looking shapes. Most importantly, all these genuine elements were unified under one umbrella simply to express yourself for the love and passion for something we all understood that was ours. Today's "ballin" types have missed the whole point of this shit. They have taken the integrity from it.Don't get it twisted, there are tons of ill artist; From MC's to B-boys, there are many still carrying on with tradition and practice what we consider to be the essence of Hip Hop.To me, Hip Hop is very much alive, but I think the word HIP HOP has been too easily claimed and misinterpreted by a new audience.Either the vast majority dont know any better, or we're never educated on what Hip Hop really is....hell....knowledge is king. Don't be a fool. Go educate yourself and not just on Hip Hop.