Brad

Rap is just not as relevant as it was 10-15 years ago. I think the subject matter that is discussed in most of the popular songs alienates much of the audience. In general, pop Rap over the past 10 years has mostly glorified violence and the American dream while totally ignoring all other subject matter that pertains to kids. Further, Rap is a Youthful pursuit; you can't expect to see a 45 year old 50 cent take the stage at Madison square. There is a reason that a band like Green Day can still act like 20 year olds and get away with it (and sell a lot of albums in the process)...because they are relevant and write about issues that the youth are interested in. Busting Caps and being a Baller are all feelings that pass with time. The older people get the more they start to care about what is actually going on in the world around them and in some case want to contribute to making it a better place. Rap for the most part has failed to cross that line, and that is why Rap as a genre is beginning to slowly fall in my opinion.

Having said that there are many artists that are trying to transcend these boundaries and will probably bring Rap back a decade or so from now. Rap remains and will continue to be an important outlet for youth in the decades to come as regardless of message it is music you can move to and dance to and has that aggressive feeling that many kids gravitate towards when they are first getting into music.

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