To think rappers are getting away with 1:30-2:00 minute songs today is crazy. But it’s due to these young/new internet/social media rap fans. But it’s not just them alone, because it’s really how the internet has changed the way people think and their perception of what’s good or bad by the sheep mentality, add on the short attention span that social media creates in people’s minds from the overdose of material rapidly pushed on a daily basis, then I understood it. When I noticed the 2 minute formula with 1:25 being nothing but a hook. I knew then that rap music was on the decline. It only seems that rappers are doing this format. It’s better for the artists because they don’t have to work as hard at the craft. Imagine if we only received 1:30-2:00 songs from the 1990,s/2000,s rappers.
We expected more from a skill/product point of view compared to now. Everything is quick and microwaved up as a fast cheaper product. Plus, due to the internet, it’s more about an artist selling a lifestyle with their story, compared to if their music is quality like the old days. Everything is about the visuals now because of social media. That’s what the older people fail to recognize. A new artist has to want to do a lot videos/interviews off the rip before the music is really being pushed. Back in the day, your skill level had be up to par to even get connected to the game. The criteria of today, is to be a side show visually with a storyline to intrigue the youngsters, with a lot of visuals, on ig and YouTube, etc. The more antics/drama, the better of a following you can get, the music can be trash, but people will eat it up if it’s catchy, because they’ve bought in to your image/story first, not the music.
The music use to be consumed first, after your music got hot, the visuals came on t.v. Afterwards, then interviews and then your life story. The internet reversed how artist get popular today, and how we consume music. If more people realized this, They wouldn’t hate so much. Cats like 69 recognize this loophole in the game and flourish because of it. This is also why older rappers like Nas don’t release as much material as they use to, and when they do, it’s just a couple of songs. It’s a smart business move. Why would he release a full album with (14-20) 3:00-4:00 songs, when young people don’t even appreciate that (skill level/length of songs) of rap today. If I was a rapper of the caliber of say a Nas/Jay/Ross/Wayne, I would have to be garaunteed $ from the jump to even consider making a full length traditional rap album.
Like the fans would have to pre order at certain percentage for me to even consider it. Because the younger artists are out here caking up with 2:00 minute songs filled with nothing but a hook. While would sit down and pin thought provoking lyrics, when it’s not even appreciated anymore, and the pay for it isn’t even close to what I use to get paid for it. So you have to change with the times. It’s not yesterday, and you can’t think like it’s yesterday.
