Contrary to popular belief, all college students don’t just listen to the Hip-Hop you can dance too. I know as far as I’m concerned, I enjoy Hip-Hop that digs deeper and taps into your soul. When I’m straight vibing and feigning some classic Hip-Hop joints I turn to those great emcees like Black Thought of The Roots, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Jean Grae, Asheru, Pharoahe Monch and Bahamadia. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the sounds of Jay-Z, Nas, DMX, Biggie and Pac (just to name a few) as well, but it gets frustrating when people assume that because I’m a product of Generation X, I have no true understanding of what real Hip-Hop is. With this editorial, I thought it would be a good idea to bring the thoughts and ideas of college students to the forefront of the media when it comes to our views on quality Hip-Hop and the state it is currently in.

I visited various sites geared towards college-age students such as myself (Facebook) and I also went around on my own campus (Florida A&M University) to talk with some of the other students about how Hip-Hop has impacted their own lives. With me music, especially Hip-Hop, plays a great role in everything that I do, so I sought out like-minded individuals to share their opinions on this beautiful movement we like to call Hip-Hop.

“Everybody sound the same, commercialize the game
Reminscin’ when it wasn’t all business
it forgot where it started
so we all gather here for the dearly departed”

The major theme that I wanted to feature stems from these lyrics included in Nas’ 2006 single “Hip Hop Is Dead.” This single was featured on his studio album by the same name which was released on December 19th 2006. This LP was Nas’ eighth album containing all original material and also served as his first album under Def Jam Recordings. This album became his third studio album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling approximately 355,880 copies in its first week.  In an interview on 106&Park, a music television show on the BET network directed towards high school and college-age music fans, Nas admitted that he chose “Hip Hop Is Dead” as the title of his album in order to spark a reaction among fellow Hip Hop artists. Well it sure did work, as he got major reactions from artists such as Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and even Kanye West.  Nas had this to say,

“When I say ‘hip-hop is dead’, basically America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead … Our way of thinking is dead, our commerce is dead. Everything in this society has been done. It’s like a slingshot, where you throw the muthafucka back and it starts losing speed and is about to fall down. That’s where we are as a country … what I mean by ‘hip-hop is dead’ is we’re at a vulnerable state. If we don’t change, we gonna disappear like Rome. I think hip-hop could help rebuild America, once hip-hoppers own hip-hop … We are our own politicians, our own government, we have something to say.”

Regardless if Nas simply stated this because he truly felt that Hip Hop is dead or because he wanted to get a reaction, this question alone has become a huge controversial topic amongst the Hip Hop Community. So is Hip-Hop truly dead? Yes, this is a topic that has been covered ad nauseum but I wanted to go deep inside the minds of the people actually buying and listening to this music, my peers. We are the ones who simply make or break the stigma of what Hip-Hop is or isn’t because we have been raised at a time when Hip-Hop has flourished the most. I was surprised to hear exactly what the college students had to say about this, shockingly, not everyone had the same opinion. These are some of the answers to this never-ending question.


“I wouldn’t go as far as to its completely dead. But it’s definitely on life support. Right now music is stuck in a rut where nothing new is coming out. Its all recycled bullshit. No matter how many times you spray trash with perfume…. That shit is gonna stink.” Rayve (University of Cincinnati)


“No, it is morphing and finding new paths to travel as it grows and evolves, as all things do over time” Catalina B. (University of Maryland)

“Hip-hop is not dead. You can’t kill art.” Georgia D. (Florida A&M University)

“Hip Hop is on the verge of death, will it ever die i doubt it.” Gerald C. (Florida A&M University)

“I mean truth be told I could write a damn book on the state of hip hop today how good it used to be and where I feel its going lol. The irony about hip hop is as a whole the best hip hop was being made when it wasnt the exactly the trendiest and most profitable music out now with all the bullshit thats out there u can’t keep a hip hop cd on the shelves well unless its course its some authentic intelligent hip hop like mos def or Talib Kweli lol” Tru-In-Deed (Gs Poetry)

“Hip hop aint dead, dude. Its thriving underground. Turn your station or pull out your tapes. Some good shit, right?” Blakfiya (Gs Poetry)

“Hmmm.. I agree the state of Hip Hop is now a billion industry to create these fake over night thug robots that anyone under 21 swallow like their 1st alcoholic drink…but I still dig in the crates & listen to the old school or stay with the underground..” The Fortitude (Gs Poetry)

“Seeeee…if people stopped talkin bout Hip Hop & was bein bout Hip Hop….then Hip Hop wouldn’t be dead…Shit…all niggas gotta do is support they own artists…*Shrug…” One (Gs Poetry)

“Hip hop wouldnt be dead if they follow what Rah just said.. there are many artist who dont see the light of day because we dont support them… we dont demand them.. we demand more bottles popped and fat asses with chains hanging low and bullshit like that….” Candice T. (Gs Poetry)

“Hip-Hop aint dead…itz jus needs a movement to bring it out tha sickness…Underground, Old school, and very few real talk artists keep it alive but we need more than that to keep tha nation thriving instead of bubblegum shyt ya hear all the time on tha radio.” Icy Ma (Gs Poetry)


“Hmm.. im not going to say hip hop is dead.. I think it has been transformed… its a different game now… im not saying that I dig all of it… im jus not going to say its dead tho…”Abz Bunny (Gs Poetry)

“I dont think hip hop dead, just alot of whack rappers killing it unintentionally.” B.Rose (Gs Poetry)

“I think that if Lil Wayne just happened 2 trip and puncture his vocal chords that it would be much better!! Lmaooo..It’s just that these people today are too fucking lazy to sit, interpret, and enjoy good lyrics…as long as u got a donk and u can uuuuuuuu then all then all the sudden u better than Rakim???? Wow” Roxie (Gs Poetry)

“I think hip hop is in a serious state of dispear alot of the social conscience rappers arent around anymore and the ones that are, are gettin seriously overshadowed by all the bullshyt hip hoppers….the newbies arent rapping about what matters or what young ppl need to do to succeed in life they all want exotic women and superhead kinda freaks..money cars and mansions smh” Blacberri Molasses (Daemen College)

“I think the state of hip hop is a mockery. Back when it was about lyrics and story tellin, shit was good. Now all you have to do is impersonate a ganster or dealer, or have a dance and a catchphrase and your good. HipHop has become the music biz’s Minstrel Show. Its just a bunch of coons, shoe shufflin to entertain these white folks.lol” BlakkStar (Gs Poetry)

“No. Hip hop could never die. In my opinion it’s just that the industry is giving the wrong people the type of spotlight that the real, fresh, and geniune hip hop artists.” Red Dragon (Jackson State University)

“Nah I dont think its dead.. I truly dont think hip hop could die.. I do think that we have hideous impersonators…. trying to kill it… but u cant kill what is unable to die….. I think its because people cant determine the difference between RAPPERS and HIP HOP ARTISTS.. there is a difference…. once we get a TRUE understanding and people LEARN the history of HIP HOP…and RESPECT it…things could be better” Sheena W. (Florida  A&M University)