All the Glitter is Not Gold

Bling, Bling Killed Rap?
Many question how this phrase and object took over a genre along with the entire industry and whether or not it killed rap. Bling did indeed blur reality. It obscured the ultimate intention of true hip-hop. But I do not believe it killed rap, rather rappers who bought into it too much maimed themselves. An object and a way of life can have an effect. But we saw this coming. The gold chains in early years, liquor aplenty and a smorgasbord of cars held down the rappers of the 90s. So with rap being introduced to pop culture status, the extra zeros could only buy so much more. It was only natural. Thus it was only natural then too, that as the rapper’s morals eroded, their material, flow and style would follow suit and deteriorate beyond belief. The roller coaster effect seems to be true: what goes up eventually comes crashing down.
Cash Money started the onslaught of the new age arrogance and most every act had to outshine. Bragging is inherent as a rapper. To be the best, the flyest and have the newest objects is a duty, not an ideal. Cars, foreign estates followed the ice. From simple necklaces and bracelets, the bling changed rapidly to glimmering chalice and to hilarious teeth.
Rappers are hollow in their rhymes; it as if we are hearing Xanadu, rather than seeing it. By just obtaining such bling a rapper seems to be enlightened enough to rap. But rapping about bling, women and cars just gets tiring after a while. Bling is pop now, so it sells. If you bring no bling, you’re not taken seriously, especially on the radio.The good news: the tide will go back up eventually. I do not think people will care too much for this nonsense rap anymore. The only problem with getting the pendulum swinging is that there is a lack of actual rappers with talent. It will take those with talent coupled with heavy, hitting production teams to wound the Bling era. People need to be wooed back and not necessarily with conscious rap. There needs to be a mixture of bling-consciousness and it needs be used in such a way to wean those bling whores off of that mess.