Since most of us agree that there should be respect for the innovators in hip hop?
Why isn't there more respect for turntablism and breakdancing?
These two elements were what basically started hip hop in the first place - the isolation of the breakbeat took off the way it did because the b-boy crews loved it.
So why isn't there more love for these things, especially breakdancing?
Can we really talk about innovators in hip hop without mentioning them - why or why not? And at what point did these elements start to be left behind (I know they're still out there and some people love them, but I'm talking in general)?
I hate to be simplistic and somewhat pessimistic but I think the lack of respect is due to the fact that both turntablism and breaking are extremely hard to master. I think most people don’t like to try too hard at things…the easy way out is always what’s poppin for most people. And since it’s hard, less people do it, and thus it’s obscured.
Anyone can be a rapper (see: most new mainstream) and making beats is basically dumbed down to a simple computer program.
You see the same thing with Graffiti as with turntablism and breaking. It’s hard, so the Asians mastered it (j/k but you get my point!)
dj q-bert is the man but sadly it’s been turned into a gimmick like everything else that requires money to gain the knowledge and kissing a$$holes a$$es. b-boys died when the gays took it over. LIFE IS SAD.
Dj’s made Hip hop, underground hip hop artist Always have Dj’s, but i know Lil wayne and other trash artist don’t have dj’s.
Because they’re not music.
99.7% of people who are into hip hop do not give a rats ass about breakdancing, graffiti and turntablism. Hip Hop is a commercial music genre first, and a subculture second.
Like it or not, that’s really how it is.
With that said I do respect and appreciate turntablists, and cringe when I see questions about who are the top 5 DJs and people list a bunch of producers, or people with DJ in their name who can’t do scratch on the 1s and 2s (pun intended).
But then again, turntablism is a form of MUSIC. And being a hip hop music fanatic it’s part of my collection. Which is why I know about it. But I’ll freely admit I don’t know anything about influential breakdancers or graff artists.
Even if people still break and write today, the original culture and unity of the 4 elements faded in the 90s.
LOL @ Full of Hate, but I agree, nobody gives a rat ass this generation. All the good DJs (like Q-bert, Premier, Fat Boy Slim) and all the really cool whacky asian kids and acrobatic black kids who could break dance faded after the 90s (except some whacky asian break dancers, they’re still around just not in America really.) But I have seen some pretty good break dancers on youtube only thing is they’re all international compititions, so not so many Americans. As far as graffiti artists are concerned there’s very few REAL graffiti artists that are American, but I do have a friend who studies Graffiti art and does it in the Art Institute of Atlanta, so there is still some pretty good graffiti artists around.
Edit: DJ Premier is still making tracks (grant it they aren’t the best), but he’s still turn tabling for artists like ill Bill, Necro, I think Dr. Dre, and a few others.
Yeah breaking should get more recognition.
@Chris
You talk about modern hip hop being fake
This coming from a "Graffiti head". You’re friend isn’t doing graffiti. Graffiti is in the street not in an institution and it’s not something you study at school!
Because ni99as can’t dance anymore and most of the ones who can are fags. Turntablism is cool but just like breakdancing you can’t find many cats who f*ck with that shyt. I mean I personally only know like one DJ. And breakdancing is played out, most of the cats who were dope breakdancers at my high school got made fun of more than praised. That just isn’t the style of dance anymore. But even MCing isn’t as dope as it use to be. Again like the other two elements there are a couple of people who I personally know are in that shyt. I don’t know anyone who writes graffiti. I don’t live in a big city like NY or LA where my experience might give me more credibilty to speak on the subject of hip hop elements, but just through my experience hip hop isn’t cool and everyone now days is just a part of the cool.
Cause folks don’t care about anything until the Media says it’s ok to enjoy it…Thanks MTV
Breaking is played out. Dancing, in general, is played out. Slow dancing is straight, like at prom, but not really interested. And prom is overrated as well. I’m, like Fat Joe or DJ Paul, I lean back and twist from side to side. That jerkin’ stuff looks lame too. The Lady Gaga/Beyonce type dancing is cool for females and homosexuals, but that’s it and it’s only shown off in clubs. Raves are the worst. Seriously, people don’t dance there, they’re just spazzing out from the ecstasy.
Grafiting is still cool. I know some dudes who write and there’s a few spots in town that are legit for spraying. A lot of it, though, generally, got blended into gang writings and what not. Plus tickets for graffiti are out of control ($1,000+ fines and sometimes can result in felonies where I’m at).
And like BkS said, hip-hop is the actual music. It’s a genre first, then sub-culture second.
Most of the DJ’s I know, don’t even scratch or listen to much hip-hop. DJ’s, I know, are into techno/drum&bass/the rave scene.
This section is called ‘Rap & Hip-Hop’ under ‘Music’ which means it’s a section about rap & hip-hop music. The ‘hip-hop’ section isn’t under ‘cultures’, so yeah, maybe that’s why no one cares about the culture that hip-hop is or was.
Just my two cents.
People do have respect for turntablism. Maybe it’s not talked about on this site because everyone talks about the same sh*t, (My top 5 rappers, who is the goat rapper, rhh survey). But, it is still very much a part of the culture and part of the music (at least in the underground). I think the people who said that breakdancing isn’t cool anymore hit the nail on the head. For some reason breakdancing is thought of as corny and played out. Probably because of sh*t like "You Got Served" in the media that made it look gay. It’s a shame really, because I personally have a lot of respect for the pioneers of b-boying and the style in general. I think in order for breakdancing to come back people have to associate it with good music again, but no one is doing that so, I don’t see it happening.
The new breed of fan is dumbed down. Everything is too easy for them. Hip hop is not about the streets anymore, its about money, power and boot-ay. Turntablism and breakin’ went the way of the do-do bird. Its a shame really.