The Far Left
CA, all day, reppin’ it/party time, excellent (c) Evidence
The past month or so, I have been bumping Left Coast hip-hop as if I was from Oxnard. I don’t know what it is, but lately, and by lately I mean, years, the hip-hop scene in California has usurped the power from New York City(east coast, period). You might ask, how is this possible? Well here is your answer. New York City is New York City, it always has been and always will be, meaning that when you are great, you don’t consider anything less than great. By this definition the world has always looked to New York City to be that, because that’s what New York gives off. If New York was a person, they would be that jerk that everybody hates, but what to be cool with because of his connections, but New York would play you and string you along until he could take credit for your talents or creditability. Then use your talents as his own, to make himself seem more gifted.
How does this pertain to hip-hop music?
Hip-hop music is the most evolving entity in the world, it strives off of being cutting edge and brand spanking new, whether for the good or the bad; lately more bad than good. For such a evolution to take place, you would need a successful underground scene that promises a ticket to the mainstream, if artist wants the mainstream limelight. This upper mobility should also afford the underground artist the chance to remain themselves and not have to conform to the music that is popular in the mainstream, unless the artist has a sound similar to the popular music, which in return would not be conforming. Because of the success that the underground artist as being underground, proves that he could reach people, the mainstream would just give them a better chance at that reaching. New York City doesn’t have an underground with that type of system, anymore. If we were talking about this in the mid-late 90s/early 00, then yes, NYC had the underground on lock, but as time when on and underground artist from NYC became mainstream(with the collapse of certain labels), it became harder to be the artist you choose and be mainstream. Those in the power look towards what made one artist successful and use that mode for every artist, which is a defeatist attitude.
Is it the fault of the labels, artist, or location?
The answer is all the above, not to mention timing, but the concept of time goes further into the artist and even deeply into society. Sometimes as we know, the people aren’t necessarily ready for what a certain sound. I have to say when it comes to location NYC seem to be one of the only places where their sound is the upper echelon of music, so everyone that is an artist copies that sound, which harked on previously about labels and radio looking only for the next artist that sounds equivalent. The problem with radio is a whole different bag of inopportune/idiotic goings on in music, LA plays West Coast artist only on Wednesday…bugged out, right? But what the Left has that the East doesn’t is underground artist that are known as if they were mainstream. What I am saying is that NYC underground artist are popular here in NYC, but an underground artist on the Left is known all over. The “melting pot” that is New York City can be a very close minded place, where, as aforementioned the “monkey see, monkey do” ideology rules. You don’t get that feeling any other place that has a had a hold on hip-hop. New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, etc have all held the hip-hop title, and have all displayed diversity within their sound; always.
Can these issues be changed?
I would like to believe so, but music on the mainstream seem to be happy with its current position and the people themselves aren’t very much upset with the fact that he aren’t getting a high quality as well as variety. This is more than a eastcoast problem, because I am very much sure that a lot of the aforementioned westcoast artist aren’t being celebrated in there own backyards either. But until that day happens, Left Coast I got your back!
