Are we ever going to see another Golden Era in Hip-Hop?

Topic ^...

It's been a good decade since what is considered Hip-Hop's golden era came to an end. Do you think there has been another? That we are in one? That one is coming? Or that we will never again see that kind of period again - never see albums like The Chronic, Illmatic, The Score, LS, 36 Chambers, etc... be released consecutively?

I think it can happen again. There is tons of potential in Hip-Hop right now. I think if anybody is going to be involved, it will be the following: CH, Saigon, Black Milk, Royce, Crooked I, Joe Budden (with really good production, he could have an incredible album), Joell Ortiz (an album full of Hip-Hops = epic... if he can do that, I will officially call him one of the best rappers out right now. Hip-Hop is one of the best written and executed songs of the 2000s), Common (he is still one of the best lyricists out there, he just needs to get back to what he was great at and release another "Can I Borrow A Dollar?"), Kanye , Drake, Weezy (if he would just STFU with the singing, rock, and pop and go back to his C2/D2 days, and then step his game up some more, he could drop something amazing), Wale, Colin Munroe (as a producer), Dre (if Detox proves he is still capable of constructing a classic... if it's anything under a 9/10, I'm going to be convinced that nothing classic will ever come from him again), Andre (he has never disappointed, ever. if any of the vets is going to come back and make something amazing, I'm convinced that it will be him), and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Jay Electronica. There are probably more (especially in the category of production) that I'm not thinking of...

CH and Jay Electronica are really the ones standing out for me, mainly because they are innovative, and that is what most people in the Golden Era were - original and daring. Jay uses loops of movie soundtrack samples, and CH has turned sounds of Sonic and Windows into dope ass beats... If anyone is going to drop something that is both dope AND innovative, I see it being one of these two.

not at the mainstream level, but the amount of dope stuff that's gonna be coming out the underground/internet level is gonna be dope for the next 10 years...and the maintream rappers are not too bad...btw, Common is not going back to CIBAD...like ever...we'll be lucky if he goes back to One Day It'll All Make Sense...fat_rob

I thought the same until I heard The Game. That track really convinced me that he can still create something that lyrically genius... It is unlikely, but he has put out good work for most of his career so I still have some faith in him. That and the fact that he can come out of no where and completely surprise us with greatly written tracks like The Game and Gladiator... I wouldn't quite put them up there with CIBAD, but it shows that he still has it, so I keep my faith in him and his ability to drop this innovative flopping he has been doing lately (Be was dope, FF wasnt as good but still pretty good, and then his last album was just plain meh), and head back to what made him a lyricist to respect...

In the future everything is possible but say anytime soon I don't think so. Imo for there to be a new golden era a good amount of timeless classics would have to drop first. Don't get me wrong or anything but right now I don't see how that would be possible sure there are a lot of dope artists out but how many of them would actually drop a classic disc with their next album?

I see a lot of the artists you mentioned maybe dropping a near classic or a dope album but classic material nah. Then again maybe its just me being pessimistic after being dissapointed by so many albums the last years but I would love to see another golden era somewhere along the lines right now though I don't believe it would happen.

Probably not especially mainstream, but I'll just keep enjoying the music. I'm not worried about it.-Halftime-

Exactly, just listen to what is good. The golden era set a high standard and will always be used in an argument of comparisons which is all good but people need to look what is infront of them NOW and move forward.

CIBAD isn't even that good though, he's a much more complete artist on his later works...plus him doing that CIBAD style today would just sound...out dated as hell imo...I'd much rather he retire or get some production from cats like Jay Electronica, Charles Hamilton, or the many other dudes making new and interesting beats. The problem I see with a new golden age coming is that the production in rap is stale and leads to boring and formulaic songs...Common needs a new approach, rather than going back to his old ones...grow...don't regress...fat_rob

I think there is plenty of dope **** being dropped right now.

The problem with rap is that as the music has progressed in the last 15 years, the listeners haven't. We still want dope beats, and dope rhymes, because that's what we received during the "Golden Era" and it's what we'd expect the "Golden Era" of today to sound like. To me though, when does rap stop being just rap, and become music? When do we start putting a smaller emphasis on beats, and rhymes, and more on mic prescence, and flow and the ability to make a GOOD song? When does rap become who can make a good song, not who can make a nice beat, or write a nice song. In rock, a well written song =/= a good song, and in many cases, average writing could mean a classic song....so why are rap fans so caught up with A-grade lyrics defining who is, and isn't capable of dropping a classic?

IMO, rap fans are too caught up with A-grade lyrics to call anything a classic nowadays. We expect Illmatic, and when we get anything less lyrically [even if everything else is on par with Illmatic] we overlook it, call it a near classic, or say it's dope but nothing special because of the lyrics. I think if more people stopped looking at rap as just a lyrical contest, or [to a lesser extent] a production contest, and more on who can make the best music, we'd all realize that there are a lot more classics being dropped today than people give it credit for.

I think there is plenty of dope **** being dropped right now.

The problem with rap is that as the music has progressed in the last 15 years, the listeners haven't. We still want dope beats, and dope rhymes, because that's what we received during the "Golden Era" and it's what we'd expect the "Golden Era" of today to sound like. To me though, when does rap stop being just rap, and become music? When do we start putting a smaller emphasis on beats, and rhymes, and more on mic prescence, and flow and the ability to make a GOOD song? When does rap become who can make a good song, not who can make a nice beat, or write a nice song. In rock, a well written song =/= a good song, and in many cases, average writing could mean a classic song....so why are rap fans so caught up with A-grade lyrics defining who is, and isn't capable of dropping a classic?

IMO, rap fans are too caught up with A-grade lyrics to call anything a classic nowadays. We expect Illmatic, and when we get anything less lyrically [even if everything else is on par with Illmatic] we overlook it, call it a near classic, or say it's dope but nothing special because of the lyrics. I think if more people stopped looking at rap as just a lyrical contest, or [to a lesser extent] a production contest, and more on who can make the best music, we'd all realize that there are a lot more classics being dropped today than people give it credit for.

Colt45fool

I pretty much agree with that... however surprising that is :P.

I think way too many people sit down with an album and say "well, it didn't have Illmatic lyrics or Illmatic beats. Didn't have the innovation of OB4CL... Not a classic".But that doesn't make any sense. No album will ever match Illmatic lyric wise, and only a good 10 touch it on beats. No album will ever be as innovative as OB4CL (or others of that time), Raekwon created a whole new GENRE with that. 

Honestly, if CH dropped an album with good guest features, no skippables, good replay value, and the innovation in beats he has used so far, I'd call it a classic, considering that he rapped like he usually does. What more would you want from an album :? ? The lyrics are good, the beats are good and innovative, you don't feel like skipping any tracks, you can listen to it a year or two or 3 later and still love it, and the guests worked well. But I know tons of people here would laugh at that and just be like "lol no" to a classic thread on it maybe 4 years from now. I just don't get it... What has to be in an album today for it to be classic, if it's not that ^?

[QUOTE="fat_rob"]CIBAD isn't even that good though, he's a much more complete artist on his later works...plus him doing that CIBAD style today would just sound...out dated as hell imo...I'd much rather he retire or get some production from cats like Jay Electronica, Charles Hamilton, or the many other dudes making new and interesting beats. The problem I see with a new golden age coming is that the production in rap is stale and leads to boring and formulaic songs...Common needs a new approach, rather than going back to his old ones...grow...don't regress...Colt45fool

Hell Yea

Honestly, if CH dropped an album with good guest features, no skippables, good replay value, and the innovation in beats he has used so far, I'd call it a classic, considering that he rapped like he usually does. elpooz

You could say that for just about anybody tho lol

I think there is plenty of dope **** being dropped right now.

The problem with rap is that as the music has progressed in the last 15 years, the listeners haven't. We still want dope beats, and dope rhymes, because that's what we received during the "Golden Era" and it's what we'd expect the "Golden Era" of today to sound like. To me though, when does rap stop being just rap, and become music? When do we start putting a smaller emphasis on beats, and rhymes, and more on mic prescence, and flow and the ability to make a GOOD song? When does rap become who can make a good song, not who can make a nice beat, or write a nice song. In rock, a well written song =/= a good song, and in many cases, average writing could mean a classic song....so why are rap fans so caught up with A-grade lyrics defining who is, and isn't capable of dropping a classic?

IMO, rap fans are too caught up with A-grade lyrics to call anything a classic nowadays. We expect Illmatic, and when we get anything less lyrically [even if everything else is on par with Illmatic] we overlook it, call it a near classic, or say it's dope but nothing special because of the lyrics. I think if more people stopped looking at rap as just a lyrical contest, or [to a lesser extent] a production contest, and more on who can make the best music, we'd all realize that there are a lot more classics being dropped today than people give it credit for.

Colt45fool

So you're saying we should lower our standards? :P

Honestly, though, I do think rap is changing rather than necessarily just getting worse and is moving away from what it used to be, so definition of a cIassic will probably change slowly as well. I also think this Hip hop is dead BS is just a fad.

I completely agree with Colt on this. All music genres progress and change. It takes fans or listeners longer to get used to it. We need to judge the hip hop we hear as music and not just for lyrical content and how it compares to old hip hop.

I took a class the semester called 'the music of African Americans' and it gave me a whole new perception on how I view music. We basically covered everything from pre-1900s to now. Music changes with the times. Production styles, lyrical content, musical composition, etc. all changes throughout the different eras. We may never see a hip-hop era like the 90s again, but I have no doubt that when we look back on some of the hip hop music that has been put out in this decade later on we will be able recognize some truly good hip hop that was put out as classic like we view the golden era of the 90s.

As far as hip hop making it back in the mainstream, I just don't know. I'm sure it will eventually, but not to the extent it once was. 

Chuck been MIA since that whole Dilla situationdamelokidd124

yea I know man, what happened to his album? I thought It was supposed to Drop yesterday

[QUOTE="elpooz"]

Honestly, if CH dropped an album with good guest features, no skippables, good replay value, and the innovation in beats he has used so far, I'd call it a classic, considering that he rapped like he usually does. tmac200913

You could say that for just about anybody tho lol

Well I guess. I just chose CH because he is dope and innovative, rather than just dope. I'd rather have an album like that from him, than from Elzhi. They are both dope, but Elzhi isn't making amazing beats out of random sounds :P

[QUOTE="damelokidd124"]Chuck been MIA since that whole Dilla situationtmac200913

yea I know man, what happened to his album? I thought It was supposed to Drop yesterday

the early-mid 90's was the golden era because rappers were saying things that haven't been said before over beats that haven't been heard before. rappers stuck in those days fail today because we've heard those stories and beats a million times now. the reason why all the wu members fell off except for ghost who reinvents his music.

i would consider now a golden era to a lesser extent music from the bay and the south have been pushing people's perception of what rap is and taking it to new places.
rubbersouI

except that bay area rap is only popular to people who are already big fans of it. :? I could say Australian death metal is experiencing a golden era but how would anyone else know that or care...

right..rubbersouI

I'm not trying to knock bay area rap but I'm saying that it isn't that popular that anyone would know if it really is "pushing people's perception of what rap is" except the hardcore fans of it.

[QUOTE="tmac200913"]

[QUOTE="elpooz"]

Honestly, if CH dropped an album with good guest features, no skippables, good replay value, and the innovation in beats he has used so far, I'd call it a classic, considering that he rapped like he usually does. elpooz

You could say that for just about anybody tho lol

Well I guess. I just chose CH because he is dope and innovative, rather than just dope. I'd rather have an album like that from him, than from Elzhi. They are both dope, but Elzhi isn't making amazing beats out of random sounds :P

CH > Blu in pretty much every way... I really won't get into that though. CH is just on another level of rapping and producing right now. I really don't think a lot of people see it, but the dude is just above a lot of artists today. Listen to a good 5 or 6 of his mixtapes and you will understand, maybe (I expanded past My Brain is Alive, Pink Lavalamp and Death of the Mixtape Rapper and copped more of him... and now I really understand that this guy is something special). Go ahead and hate, whoever, but CH is that ****ing dude and if anyone is dropping a classic soon, my money is on it being him.

CH > Blu in pretty much every way... I really won't get into that though. CH is just on another level of rapping and producing right now. I really don't think a lot of people see it, but the dude is just above a lot of artists today. Listen to a good 5 or 6 of his mixtapes and you will understand, maybe (I expanded past My Brain is Alive, Pink Lavalamp and Death of the Mixtape Rapper and copped more of him... and now I really understand that this guy is something special). Go ahead and hate, whoever, but CH is that ****ing dude and if anyone is dropping a classic soon, my money is on it being him.

elpooz

lol you love everyone. how sweet elpooz. *heart*

[QUOTE="elpooz"]

CH > Blu in pretty much every way... I really won't get into that though. CH is just on another level of rapping and producing right now. I really don't think a lot of people see it, but the dude is just above a lot of artists today. Listen to a good 5 or 6 of his mixtapes and you will understand, maybe (I expanded past My Brain is Alive, Pink Lavalamp and Death of the Mixtape Rapper and copped more of him... and now I really understand that this guy is something special). Go ahead and hate, whoever, but CH is that ****ing dude and if anyone is dropping a classic soon, my money is on it being him.

TheHimura

lol you love everyone. how sweet elpooz. *heart*

Lol no, the only dudes I have liked this much ^ are Pac, Weezy, Lupe (kinda...) and Nas... 

Wtf is up with all these Charles Hamilton stans in OTB recently? :| 

Wtf is up with all these Charles Hamilton stans in OTB recently? :| 

-PuLse

[QUOTE="-PuLse"]

Wtf is up with all these Charles Hamilton stans in OTB recently? :| 

fat_rob

Hopefully OTB isn't suffering from the "Papoose Syndrome". 

[QUOTE="fat_rob"][QUOTE="-PuLse"]

Wtf is up with all these Charles Hamilton stans in OTB recently? :| 

-PuLse

Hopefully OTB isn't suffering from the "Papoose Syndrome". 

yeah, but it's digital. I wouldn't call it an album album, but it's close enough. Get that, Death of the Mixtape Rapper, My Brain is Alive, The L Word, Sonic the Hamilton, and Crash Landed. That's what I've heard, and a few of the smaller ones, and they all own... I really need to get the rest but I'm still trying to take in what I've got... dude has an overwhelming catalogue....elpooz

[QUOTE="elpooz"]yeah, but it's digital. I wouldn't call it an album album, but it's close enough. Get that, Death of the Mixtape Rapper, My Brain is Alive, The L Word, Sonic the Hamilton, and Crash Landed. That's what I've heard, and a few of the smaller ones, and they all own... I really need to get the rest but I'm still trying to take in what I've got... dude has an overwhelming catalogue....fat_rob

Haven't gotten around to it yet... i'll dl that one next I guess. I haven't really heard any praise for it either... i think the first time I've even seen that title outside of Wikipedia, when I go there for his mixtape names... maybe Colt mentioned it but I doubt it. 

I got all of CH's tapes on my iTunes (even those 2 lazy 3-song mixtapes) and I would say his best ish is as follows:

Pink Lavalamp
Crash Landed/Outside Looking (easily his best tape, i mean you dont get alot of his sick production b/c he uses instrumentals on about half of it but his rapping is insane)
Well Isn't This Awkward (amazing samples)
The Binge Vol. 1 (Staring at the Lavalamp)
Sonic the Hamilton
Every Charles Hamilton Ex-Girlfriend's Worse Nightmare
It's Charles Hamilton

Wtf is up with all these Charles Hamilton stans in OTB recently? :| 

-PuLse

Dude can rap.. No matter how many dumb mistakes he makes or how horrible his personality seems, dude can rap..

Haven't gotten around to it yet... i'll dl that one next I guess. I haven't really heard any praise for it either... i think the first time I've even seen that title outside of Wikipedia, when I go there for his mixtape names... maybe Colt mentioned it but I doubt it. 

elpooz

I've mentioned it plenty of times on OTB...  you even had multiple people recommend it to you in that Drake/Cool Kids/CH thread you made like two days ago.

[QUOTE="elpooz"]

Haven't gotten around to it yet... i'll dl that one next I guess. I haven't really heard any praise for it either... i think the first time I've even seen that title outside of Wikipedia, when I go there for his mixtape names... maybe Colt mentioned it but I doubt it. 

Orlando_Magic

I've mentioned it plenty of times on OTB...  you even had multiple people recommend it to you in that Drake/Cool Kids/CH thread you made like two days ago.

Must not have noticed it then...

What the hell happened to Jay Electronica? I downloaded like 10 random tracks from him, and then got What the **** Is a Jay Electronica? and haven't really heard of him since....

[QUOTE="Orlando_Magic"][QUOTE="elpooz"]

Haven't gotten around to it yet... i'll dl that one next I guess. I haven't really heard any praise for it either... i think the first time I've even seen that title outside of Wikipedia, when I go there for his mixtape names... maybe Colt mentioned it but I doubt it. 

elpooz

I've mentioned it plenty of times on OTB...  you even had multiple people recommend it to you in that Drake/Cool Kids/CH thread you made like two days ago.

Must not have noticed it then...

What the hell happened to Jay Electronica? I downloaded like 10 random tracks from him, and then got What the **** Is a Jay Electronica? and haven't really heard of him since....

He came out with an Attack of The Clones mixtape awhile back,  but it's not as good as Style Wars EP or What The **** Is  A Jay Electronica. Retro Electro is an awesome track, though.

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"]

I think there is plenty of dope **** being dropped right now.

The problem with rap is that as the music has progressed in the last 15 years, the listeners haven't. We still want dope beats, and dope rhymes, because that's what we received during the "Golden Era" and it's what we'd expect the "Golden Era" of today to sound like. To me though, when does rap stop being just rap, and become music? When do we start putting a smaller emphasis on beats, and rhymes, and more on mic prescence, and flow and the ability to make a GOOD song? When does rap become who can make a good song, not who can make a nice beat, or write a nice song. In rock, a well written song =/= a good song, and in many cases, average writing could mean a classic song....so why are rap fans so caught up with A-grade lyrics defining who is, and isn't capable of dropping a classic?

IMO, rap fans are too caught up with A-grade lyrics to call anything a classic nowadays. We expect Illmatic, and when we get anything less lyrically [even if everything else is on par with Illmatic] we overlook it, call it a near classic, or say it's dope but nothing special because of the lyrics. I think if more people stopped looking at rap as just a lyrical contest, or [to a lesser extent] a production contest, and more on who can make the best music, we'd all realize that there are a lot more classics being dropped today than people give it credit for.

Foolz3h

So you're saying we should lower our standards? :P

Honestly, though, I do think rap is changing rather than necessarily just getting worse and is moving away from what it used to be, so definition of a cIassic will probably change slowly as well. I also think this Hip hop is dead BS is just a fad.

Beats from the early 90's sound wack compared to today...but nobody's complaining about lowering their standards to listen to old hip hop, are they?