Rap and Hip-Hop still struggle to be taken seriously. It sounds like a crazy statement like I’m completely out of touch with the pulse of the culture. But it’s true. Rock has grown up and is finally being universally accepted as a relevant art form. Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Bono are as respected and appreciated as much as stodgy elder statesmen and unlearned politicians. Hip-Hop still has a way to go. Jay-Z may own all the money in world…and may even have the ear of the President… but by most people he’s still not revered as anything more than a rap mogul. Rap may dominate the dance charts, the sales charts, and line the MP3 playlists of every teenager in America…but there’s a giant part of country…who still thinks it’s nothing more than a passing fad. They’re wrong…but they’re the ones who are still in charge. It will change. Eazy-E may have hung out with President Bush Sr. (but that was the exception…not the rule) Rap will take over…and it will be them who are thumbing their noses at electronica music. Just you wait. Until then…
Here are the 11 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012…so far:
- Schoolboy Q – Habits and Contradictions
- Joey Bada$$ – 1999
- El-P – Cancer 4 Cure
- Killer Mike – R.A.P.
- Chiddy Bang – Breakfast
- Big K.R.I.T. – Live From The Underground/4Eva N A Day
- Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2
- Plug 1 & Plug 2 – First Serve
- Wiz Khalifa – Taylor Allderdice
- Oh No – Ohnomite
- Nicki Minaj – Roman Reloaded