Rap Is The New Rock ‘n’ Roll

Kanye West is no stranger to making grandiose, and often shocking, statements, which seem to fire off in all directions at once, and which occasionally seem crafted with the specific purpose of shaking up the status quo, and challenging even his most ardent fans. However, it was perhaps his annunciation that rappers and hip hop stars were, and are ‘the new rock stars,’ which still sends ripples through the music industry today, and which continues to be the subject of plenty of fiery debates on both sides of the musical spectrum.

Whether you are a fan of Kanye’s, or not (and, let’s be fair, his fan base has been pretty heavily pushed to the limits in recent years thanks to his rather unexpected political affiliations), it’s increasingly difficult to disagree with his statements about rap being the new rock ‘n’ roll. Even the most dedicated rocker has to admit that the old guard of guitar-led music is struggling in the 21st century, and the glorious excesses of rock ‘n’ roll in decades past has failed to maintain itself in the era of digital downloads, and increasingly nebulous and the unstable music industry.

Today, we’re going to be looking at Kanye’s big claim in a little more detail, and considering five points that strongly support his claim. If you’re still on the fence about rap being the new rock ‘n’ roll, prepare to think again!

Rap thrives on grassroots talent.

This is probably the most important point of them all, which is precisely why it’s flying straight to the very top of this list. Rock ‘n’ roll–when it was most relevant, back in the late 70s and mid 60s–shared this particular attribute, but has long since lost its relevance when it comes to this point. Back then, angry punks with no discernible musical talent (but a hell of a lot to say to the world) were thrashing out simple chords on a beaten-up old electric guitar, and the airwaves sat up and took notice. Today, rap stars are born in their bedrooms, creating homemade loops and beats on their laptops, and telling their listeners about their real lives, their real struggles, and their real aspirations.

When rock ‘n’ roll stopped being about railing against the system, and stopped being made by frustrated youngsters with very little else to do with their lives, it stopped being the vanguard of popular music. Rap rose up from the streets, and possessed a new and potent voice, and a new style of music, which could potentially be made by anybody with an ear for a tune. This is the formula for whole new worlds of sound and vision… and this is why rap has more than overtaken rock in a number of different ways.

It’s driven by youth.

Take a look at the top acts and line ups at all the world’s major rock music festivals, and you’ll notice one particular trend that speaks volumes about the state of rock ‘n’ roll as a musical genre: the headliners are almost all ‘heritage’ acts… which essentially means that they are bands made up of fairly old men. The Rolling Stones have a combined age of over 350 years, and similar things can be said of Pink Floyd, The Cure, Iron Maiden, and most of the big-name rockers doing the rounds nowadays.

While there are plenty of hip-hop and rap stars who are heading quickly towards retirement age, too (Run DMC, De La Soul, and Grandmaster Flash all spring to mind), the genre is undoubtedly driven by a constantly changing rota of new, fresh, and exciting talent. This in itself puts it streets ahead of rock ‘n’ roll when it comes to its ability to excite and intrigue.

The world is currently full of young songwriters and rappers penning verses and laying down bars, and it’s a really thrilling time to be getting in on the scene. Even for those experiencing songwriting struggles, there are plenty of companies providing essay writing service out there, which take the headache out of producing fantastic lyrics, and do all the hard work for you. Simply put, it’s never been easier to become the kind of rapper who can really make a difference on the scene!

It celebrates authenticity.

Rap is all about keeping it real, and portraying the real lives, the real backstories, and the real scenes of its stars. That’s why there are so many rap songs about growing up and surviving in some of the world’s toughest places, and why rappers are so keen to celebrate their ability to make it in the industry. Rock ‘n’ roll once celebrated authenticity in the same way… but it feels like centuries ago that this was the case. At some point over the past decade or two, rock stars have lost their ability to tell convincing stories, instead retreading the same tired ground walked a hundred times before.

It’s always re-inventing itself.

It’s always incredibly exciting to discover the latest sub-genres (and sub-sub-genres etc.) of hip hop and rap, and to see how new technology, new ideas, and new approaches to the scene are shaping its soundscapes. It feels as if each country, and each city has its own interpretation of what rap is and can be, and that each year brings with it fresh sounds and rhythms for its stars to find new rhymes.

From the hard and electronic edge of a trap to the floaty soundscapes of dream and cloud rap, and from the old-school beats of original hip hop to the buzzed-out sounds of trip-hop and grime, there’s always something new to discover. Can we say the same about rock ‘n’ roll? It feels increasingly unlikely.

It maintains an edge.

Rock ‘n’ roll used to be dangerous, edgy, and filled with potential. It used to drive your parents wild with rage and confusion, and provide the soundtrack to teenage rebellion and escapism.

Today? Well, it’s the music your dad plays in his car on the way to work. Hip hop and rap manage to maintain that sense of edge and rebellion, and this is something to celebrate. After all, music can’t change the world if it merely provides safety, and Kanye’s point probably comes across most powerfully from this particular perspective. To those about to rap… I salute to you!