Lately, rap trends have been repeating the same old stuff, bro. The scene’s flooded with insincere, algorithm-driven banger tracks that lack real substance. Where do you think real rap went, and where’s it headed? Should we bring back the old-school style, or do we need a fresh wave? It feels like originality and storytelling—the core of rap—are getting lost. What’s your take?
What should rappers focus on today, in your opinion?
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Man, I'm going through the exact same situation, bro. I used to listen to classic rap legends like Nas, Kendrick, or Jay-Z, and their storytelling would take me to completely different worlds every time. Now, it feels like they're just going through the motions with "flex" songs—like all that depth is gone. I think real rap isn't about reviving the old style; we need a new wave, but this time with stories and emotions... Like, if someone came out and told a street story with the feeling we actually live through, it wouldn’t get stuck in algorithms, you know?
Man, I totally feel you—the music industry is all about chasing the bag these days, just like YouTube’s algorithm only cares about views. Back in the day, there were so many artists who just told real stories, but now? We need a new wave. Sure, good stuff still pops up now and then, but getting heard is a real struggle.
Last year, on this very platform, I was having a chat with a friend about how "rap is dead." I felt the same way you do, honestly. It used to bother me seeing local MCs just repeating samples from foreign rap and focusing on random tempo changes just for TikTok trends. One evening, while hanging out with an old friend at a bar, we randomly popped in an old CD from the laptop lying around. That’s when Master P’s "Ice Cream Man" started playing, and despite the weak sound system, that old-school grit and raw authenticity transported us back in time. I think we really did lose that authenticity somewhere along the way.
At the end of the day, isn’t rap just the art of storytelling? Back in the day, MCs would turn their street experiences, their pain, and their victories into lyrical hunts. Now, it feels like there’s no story left that hasn’t been tailored to fit the algorithm. Maybe the old style isn’t coming back, but from where I stand, there’s a new wave brewing: ultra-low-budget but completely original projects. For example, the other day, I recorded a track with an intern in the neighborhood using just an old 808 drum kit and two microphones. The sound we captured was so pure that everyone who heard it asked, "Why now?" The key is having real passion—if you mean what you’re saying, listeners feel it instantly. The problem isn’t the trend; it’s the intention behind carrying it forward.