Is backpacking dead?

[tiger2325]

Me and my boy got into this discussion today.  He says there is no such thing as a backpacker now because of the internet, I disagree though because there's still so much

 *&#$ out there that's comin everyday! What do you guys think?

 

[wade187]

Depends what you mean by backpacking. Actually it doesn't, weather you mean conscious hip hop or you mean underground/independent hip hop. Artist expand a lot faster now, but I don't think it's because of the internet. Now some artist start out as backpackers, and most just choose to expand soon after if they get shown love locally. Then you have those dudes who jump on myspace immediately after recording their first track tryna get a deal. 

 

[ham city]

The internet has completely reconstructed what it means to be a backpack rapper imo, backpack rap however I don't think has changed much.

 

[tiger2325]

^^^how do you think the net has changed backpack rappers? just how they find fans? or how they distribute their work?

 

[tiger2325]

^^^how do you think the net has changed backpack rappers? just how they find fans? or how they distribute their work?

 

[ham city]

i said the net has reconstructed backpack rappers, i should have said the internet has reconstructed the rap game, i'm sure it's had similar affects on other forms of popular music too. this is more or less obvious but the primary affect it's had on backpack rappers is that it's given them a platform to display, voice, and distribute their music in ways that simply weren't possible when underground exposure was basically limited to word of mouth. the internet has had a much more positive affect on underground rap in general where as it's had a predominantly negative affect on it's mainstream counterpart imo.

 

[0cks]

I kinda agree. With the demise of Rawkus and the hyphy movement in like 05-06 the two bastions of backpack rap, NY & Norcal don't really put out that conscious type of music. The "enlightened" hip hop fan is now part of the blogosphere/hipster movement. Those shaggy earthy 4/20 365 backpackers are a relic of the 90's early 00's.

 

[backpacker23]

Nah, I don't think backpacking is dead. I also think it has a lot to with where you stay at. In florida there really isn't much backpackers, your lucky to find one. Dudes out here are on that ignorant crap

. They think backpacking hip-hop is boring. I really wish that there would be a larger crowd of backpackers here in Florida, a crowd like lets say NY.

 

[eddiehouse5]

Originally Posted by 0cks

 Those shaggy earthy 4/20 365 backpackers are a relic of the 90's early 00's.

I agree. People grew up and out of the genre I think. If you were a 20 something backpacker in the 90's, you're now in your 30's, probably with a family and a career.

 

[0cks]

That's what I'm thinking it kind of had its time, every generation has it's own thing.

I can see how the Internet has changed things alot with the underground. Do ya'll consider Lupe or Cudi underground? I mean I don't but their whole style and approach isn't really any different than Blu or Pac Div etc. IMO the lines are so blurred now that I couldn't even tell you where it begins or ends...

 

[ham city]

Neither Lupe or Cudi are underground, they may have been at one point, Lupe more so than Cudi but they're both highly successful mainstream artist. I'd still consider them both backpack though.