Hip Hop Taking Criticism While Sales Tank
Posted March 2, 2007 — in KOAR Rants, Music News
In May of last year, KOAR posted an article pointing out the negative influence of trends in Rap, the whoring taking place, and the dark future Hip Hop was facing. Compared to songs on Rock formats, Rap and Hip Hop can be heard on 6 times as many radio stations, with a rotation giving songs 10 times as many spins in a given week. The Urban visibility on MTV outnumbers Rock nearly 2 to 1, not to mention BET, MTV2, MTV Hits and MTV Jams. And yet, despite the massive amounts of exposure, Hip Hop record sales have plummeted 21% from 2005 to 2006. Even though music sales are down, in general, for the first time in 12 years the Top 10 Best Selling Albums of the Year did not include a Hip Hop record.
A recent poll of black Americans by The Associated Press and AOL-Black Voices last year revealed 50 percent of respondents said Hip Hop was a negative force in American society. As criticism increases from African Americans about rap artist’s negative influence on their culture and the perpetuation of stereotypes, Hip Hop fans are starting to question the ethical irresponsibility of the genres biggest players. Additionally, the recent news coverage surrounding the enslavement and murders taking place in Africa to procure the diamonds these artists put in their teeth has been raising long-ignored ethical questions within the Hip Hop community.
While the decline in sales is a dark sign of things to come for the huge industry surrounding Hip Hop, it is also signaling the end of the abhorrent lifestyle that’s been celebrated for too long.
“Similar to what grunge did to glam metal, its going to take a unified movement of musical ingenuity combined with a clear message to overthrow the reigning hedonistic empire.“
