I think hip-hop has been saved and is better now than ever. Those who know me won’t be surprised when I say I’m the daughter of hip-hop. Although I love all music, hip-hop is where my heart is. In fact, 90 percent of the time when I’m writing, I’m listening to hip-hop music. It puts me in the creative element I need when writing. Around 2005-2006, the phrase “hip-hop is dead” floated around endlessly. Nas’ 2006 single, “Hip Hop Is Dead” gave confirmation to the statement at the time because he’s a legend of the genre. This proverb issued a call to action to all the pioneers of hip-hop and all rappers. It challenged those in the industry and held them accountable for “dropping the ball” on the music and culture they had created and made relevant. After all, we had become mesmerized by the smoothness of R&B and love songs during this time and no one really wanted to hear real rap. I must say, I almost fell victim to the Southern crunk music trend myself. It was catchy and popular, but when I would recite the lyrics, I thought they were so artless and empty. It had me thinking I could be a rapper if all I had to come up with was a hook similar to “In My White Tee” or remix a nursery rhyme like “Do Your Chain Hang Low?” Then our born again millennial saviors of hip-hop came to the rescue, and I would like to personally thank my top six that are saving the genre.

1. J. Cole is gracing the number 1 spot on my list simply because, he was the first to acknowledge that he “Let Nas Down” on his 2013, album, Born Sinner. J. Cole speaks TO the people. He is a cognizant rapper who speaks about the reality of my life and your life in a way that everyone is able to understand. He gets it! If I can apply your lyrics to real life being a college graduate and growing up in the suburbs, you will forever be in my rotation. From rapping about college life to telling us about his first time, J. Cole gives us what we have longed for from a rapper.

2. Drake. This might surprise a few people because I would normally put Drake as number 1, but for the purpose of saving hip-hop, he comes in at number 2. He absolutely rejuvenated hip hop for me with his Canadian confidence. He might not have been the first to both sing and rap on a track, but he definitely made it cool again. Not only that, but he isn’t afraid to talk about his feelings that both women and men can relate to but would never want to admit. His So Far Gone mixtape had everyone singing about the best they ever had and being “Successful.” From speaking from the heart on many of his songs came the term “Drakin’ and Drivin,’” which they say is a dangerous thing.

3. Kendrick Lamar. Now if I must be completely honest and transparent, I never listened to a Kendrick Lamar album until he won a Grammy. I am not claiming to be the ultimate Kendrick Lamar fan, but I will acknowledge and give credit when it is due. I listened to To Pimp a Butterfly and thought, “WOW! That’s why he won a he won Best Rap Album at the 2015 58th Grammy Awards.” Another cognizant rapper, Kendrick Lamar speaks FOR the people, our modern day Tupac Shakur. His music is not only conscious and imaginative, but it acknowledges the black and hip-hop culture unlike any other rapper in this moment. I feel him when he speaks. I thank the West Coast for giving us Kendrick Lamar.

When one puts these top 3 together, we have the MIND, BODY, AND SOUL of Hip Hop today.

4. I would like to give special thanks to Kanye West. Yeezy, thank you for returning to the game and making an effort to push the culture forward with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus. However, I thank you even more for The Life of Pablo. We waited three years for this album, and if you allow the “old Kanye” fans to tell the story, it’s been since the 2007 album, Graduation. Nevertheless, you delivered and you didn’t let us down. Kanye brought the soulfulness to hip-hop with his 2004 album, College Dropout, and he is never afraid to flirt with a new sound. He is our baking soda in the refrigerator, keeping hip-hop fresh. Some of us like it and some of don’t, but his artistic ability is something none of us can deny.

5. Lil Wayne. We can’t refute or disregard what Lil’ Wayne has done for the genre. His work ethic and quality of music that he gave us for FREE with his mixtapes, The Dedication 1-5, No Ceilings and Sorry for the Wait is indisputable. Lil Wayne gave us and hip-hop what we needed exactly when we needed it. Then he gave us Drake and Nicki Minaj. (With that said, let us have a moment of silence for Nicki Minaj, who made women rappers not only relevant again, but respected again. *Pauses and bows head.*) Lil Wayne has shown us countless times that he has the ability to shift the culture.

6. Big Sean is my sixth man that came off the bench with Finally Famous but proved he was here to stay with Dark Sky Paradise. His flow is irrefutably unlike any other rappers and you always hear him before you see him. He is the new face of Detroit and has mastered the play on words like no other rapper has as of yet. His latest collaboration with Jhené Aiko, Twenty88, gave us more of what we loved on “Win Some, Lose Some” and “I Know.” This duo together is phenomenal, and Big Sean continues to prove himself worthy of accolades and musical nominations. I absolutely see awards in his future.

I heard them say hip-hop is alive and well, and with this starting line-up, it can be immortal. This thrills me because we once again have the voices we need to shift the culture.

“Hip and hop is more than music, hip is the knowledge, hop is the movement” – KRS-One

hip-hop has been saved

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