Hip-Hop as we collectively know it to be is at a crossroad. What was once saw as THE voice of the voiceless, the underprivileged, and most importantly, THE Culture is at a pivotal moment in it’s history. Gatekeeping aside, there is a schism that is ever growing within the sub-genres that may or may not be self inflicted. Even though “Rap” as a art form is arguably as big as its ever been, the fact remains that the fibers of rap are seemingly becoming less and less important the more commercial Rap music becomes. It was probably an inevitability all along but to see and feel it happen in real time is jarring nonetheless.

  As it stands now, Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) was posed the question of whether or not Drake would be or should be considered Hip-Hop. His answer is his answer but it sparks more of a discourse that has much of the Hip-Hop community at odds within itself. You have staunch defenders on both sides of the spectrum but the middle ground is much more muddied than it has ever been. The older Hip-Hoppers see this as truly cut and dry, so to them Drake being considered “Pop” is merely a formality to the overall discussion whereas supporters of Drake are trying to have a much more nuanced conversation which to me is overflowing with irony. Once upon a time it was the other way around.

  The muddy part of the is conversation is where I reside. Growing up within the culture, Had Drake been a thing in the early 90’s he would have more than likely been “PM Dawn’d’ and that would have been last we would have heard of him. But as history was allowed to continue, The Drake archetype was allowed to flourish and become the behemoth that it is today. Considering myself a “middle child” of both generations, I feel for the folks that have watched what Hip-Hop has turned into but I also feel for the younger generation that is still trying to find their footing and create the way they want to.

  In ending, there has to come a time where both sides of this proverbial coin find common ground. In order for our genre to survive, there must be a dialog that creates a true space for sub-genres to exist. A place for lyrical rap, a place for conscious, a place for melodic, a place for paraphernalia rap (shout out Pusha and Stove God) and most importantly…a place for us…ALL of us.