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 old age ago, belt music was apprehension to be just a simple fad, passing its way through the mainstream of pop music leaving classic dance hall anthems like Kurtis Blows hoops 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 figure of speech (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 proven the genre could stand the tally of time, but 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 master and Nelly. Hip-pop is when an artist focuses on making records that will be accepted in mainstr eam 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 street DJs featuring exclusive tracks, artist-to-artist disses, and occasionally, unofficial album releases. But before looking into what may be the proximo 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 concrete streets / Original beats with real, get emcees / Playground tactics / No rabbit-in-a-hat tricks / Just that classic rappin from Jurassic. - Jurassic 5Hip-hop pioneer DJ Grand Wizard 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 wee-wee 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 talking to 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 grow 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