3 Reasons Why Hip Hop went into 'Rebuilding'

2009 has been the best year in hip hop in a while. From the surfacing of Drake to the mainstream. The Slaughterhouse Machine actually pumpin out a dope album. The return of Eminem. Raekwons return.Kanye rappin again. A Majority of the XXL's 'Freshman Class' Making billboard noise. We can all say, hip hop is starting to feel good again.

That being said, hip hop is just starting to rebuild again. The genre has been in a slump and left for dead for the last 3 years, labels, money, and wack rappers are the obvious things to blame but I've come up with 3 things that actually played a HUGE part in hip hops demise. In no order fyi

1. The cancelation of BET's Rap City.

BET took the staple of hip hop TV off the air, slowly but surly. Going from 2 hours of pure hip hop, to 1 hour, and taking out 'The basement' and flip flopping host like a fish out of water. When finally we thought DJ Q45 was a qualified replacement, BET and its new owner (ran by a caucasian women) decided to pull the plug.

Why was this important in the demise of hip hop? Balance.

Rap City gave you 2 house of pure hip hop videos, it spawned alot of careers. While 106 gave Bow Wow his start, he didnt need Rap City. Field Mobb did. Nelly didnt need rap city. The Clipse did. Every kid would run home, and watch all types of hip hop heaven from 4-6pm until 106 came on. You see its was cycle. The people actually chose the hip hop that became popular. It went from catching your hip hop video on Rap City, to voting for it on 106 (which came on right after Rap City), then if you get lucky.. Itll spill to TRL, which gave you the big checks.

Bottom line is, we had options. East, west, north, south, midwest, because of Rap City, i discovered T.I(during Im Serious), I became a big fan, I usta stay glued to the TV to watch Kardinall Offishals 'Bakardi Slang', these are moments in hip hop I miss. Yes they played Nelly, and Fab, and Diddy but those artist was getting MTV play. I remember rockin too Coo Coo Kal 'In my projects' Clipse 'Grindin' 5 months before is caught fire. Petey Pablo.. Who all ended up getting some airplay on the radio. Artist who wouldnt have gotten anywhere with out Rap City. Why? cause the people had a say of who's hot. Now the people controlling hip hop, are the people who don't listen to it.

Now, we are force fed music by the 'big shots' and the kids like bullsht cause they don't know any better. Who's gunna expose them to Killer Mike? Whos gunna expose them to BOB? Whos gunna expose them to Skyzoo? Who's gunna expose them to Little Brother? Nipsey Hussle? Pac div? Blu? Corey Gunz? Wiz Khalifa? and i could go on forever..

I know who wont.. BET











#2 will posted Next Week. Stay Tuned....