Hip-Hop Is Dead?

Young Jeezy vs. Monie Luv

Ok, I am sick of people telling me "Hip-Hop Is Dead" and "The South Killed Hip-Hop." That is the most baseless, asinine, elitist claim I have ever heard in my life. In the interview above, Hip-Hop veteran (I refuse to call her a legend after this interview) Monie Luv ATTACKS Young Jeezy verbally. They discuss Lil' Wayne's most recent comments about Jay-Z (Which is an entirely new blog) and then she baits him into a conversation about whether or not hip-hop is truly dead.

While I don't necessarily like the way Jeezy handled it, I respect him for holding it down as a Southern Artist and a Man.

ATTENTION:Hip-Hop is NOT Dead!

The South is NOT responsible for any sort of negative shift in Hip-Hop and I'm tired of Northern Hip-Hop heads claiming that we are. As an artist I feel personally slighted. I don't have a record deal, I'm not making millions. I spit for the love. I MC. I am a rapper. When you say Southern rappers suck, by association I am lumped in.

I am a hip-hop purist. I long for the days of Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, Schooly D, a young LL Cool J, and Run DMC.

I am also a Southern Hip-Hop Purist. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is STILL in my heavy rotation. I still listen to Comin' Out Hard and get that tingly feeling in my spine. UGK is still my favorite Texas group!

Do I like everything that comes out of FYE with a "Hip-Hop" label on it? Hell No! I don't really care for snap music, trap music is very cliche', and crunk is on the verge of crap at times. Think about it though, those are three very distinct genres simply within southern hip-hop though! Rapper Big Pooh from Little Brother said it better than most. He said that the rappers from the south are the most versatile artists because we grew up listening to everything.

We have some of the BEST and BRIGHTEST in the game. Seriously. I know now why a lot of West Coast cats still don't really fool with Northern Hip Hop. When the West Coast began to reign in the 90's, a war sparked off! Mainly because a few cats from the North and some of the "Hip Hop Purists" didn't like the direction. I think it's ridiculous.

I find it amazing that the main critics of southern hip-hop are people who have never paid attention to it. It's SUPER hypocritical. They hate our snap dances, our "Walk It Out", and our "Poole Palace". We embraced their "Harlem Shake" and "Chicken Noodle Soup." They have Wu-Tang. We have the Dungeon Family. The South has ALWAYS been underrated in terms of lyricism and skill because of the Northern bias of the hip-hop media. We know New York is the birthplace, but damn can we shine too?!?!?!?!

Cee-Lo, Andre 3000, Big Boi, T.I., Lil' Wayne (after he stops feeling himself so much), Young Buck, Ludacris, Bun-B, Little Brother, Killa Mike.

All Southern Artists. All could hold their own in a cypher with anyone, anywhere. Jeezy was right about one thing he said in his interview. It's a new day, a new movement.

Take some cues from Fat Joe and show some love.

Give me your top 5 Southern Hip Hop Albums:
1. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
2. Comin' Out Hard
3. Soul Food
4. 400 Degreez
5. Da' Pimp and Da Gangsta