Mix-tape Phenomenon Essay example -- Music Arts Rap Papers

Mix-tape PhenomenonThis rap game, this rap game / I aint sellin my soul for this rap game... - 50 CentJust 20 geezerhood ago, hip-hop music was thought to be just a simple fad, passing its way through the mainstream of pop music leaving classic dancing hall anthems like Kurtis Blows Basketball and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Fives White Lines (Dont Do It) in its wake. But today, hip-hop is a worldwide phenomenon, marking its influence in the world of fashion design (Jay-Zs Roca-Wear and OutKast clothing lines), product marketing (McDonalds and Sprite), and even television shows and movies (Eminems 8-Mile and most recently, Honey, starring Jessica Alba). Through the past two decades, hip-hop has proved the genre could stand the test of time, scarcely lately, purists say hip-hop is on a steady decline, thanks in part to bubble-gum rap or hip-pop created by artists such as Ja Rule and Nelly. Hip-pop is when an artist focuses on making records that will be accepted in mainstrea m pop radio and gain massive air-play, but sells-out the artists integrity. One way hip-hop is fighting back against the mainstream backlash is the emergence of mix-tapes, albums created by passage DJs featuring exclusive tracks, artist-to-artist disses, and occasionally, unofficial album releases. But before looking into what may be the future of hip-hop music, lets take a trip back in time to South Bronx, New York City, circa 1977.Lets take it back to the cover streets / Original beats with real, live emcees / Playground tactics / No rabbit-in-a-hat tricks / Just that classic rappin from Jurassic. - Jurassic 5Hip-hop pioneer DJ Grand sentience Theodore, then 17 years old, was practicing his craft as usual, when his moth... ...in a positive force in hip-hop music. And now that former street DJs such as Kay Slay and Whoo Kid have released commercial mix-tape albums that, according to McDonald, have sold on par with huge holiday season releases from Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and the G- Unit, the door for other street DJs looking to establish a name for themselves has swung wide open.A lot of times, whether its medicine or mechanics, a lot of people spend their life putting something together and then address it to the public and then sometimes the public might say, Nah, says Grandmaster Flash of the mix-tapes evolution. But thank god this thing has continued to rise up and may it continue to grow. May there be many Ron Gs and many Clues and many more Brucie B.s. Lets keep this thing poppin.Relevant Linkswww.mtv.comwww.allmixtapes.comwww.mcexposition.comwww.ughh.com