Hip Hop Matters: Pages 50-84

Summary:

In 1997 a major music magazine was published representing the upcoming genre, hip hop. This magazine was names Axle .As hip hop popularity grew, XXL’s selling rate increased, leading o it being one of the fastest growing magazines ever. By 2003, it was only second behind Rolling Stone. In 1998, during a meeting, someone at XXl mentions re- creating the famous 1958 Esquire magazine “A Great Day in Harlem” photo of jazz legends. They asked Gordon Parks to take the picture but he refused three times until they made it admit that he was the best one for the job. He was world renowned photographers who capture pure racism in his shots. Some of the people involved were Grandmaster Flash, Deborah Harry, and Shaquille O’Neal, all who represented Hip Hop in a different way

This photo shoot was one of the many things that made 98’ the greatest year for hip hop. This was the year that flirtatious music became real and undeniable. This type of rap is still present into day’s society when you think of Lil Wayne, Drake and Snoop Dog. 98’ was the year the albums sold in multiples at a time and singles were # 1 on the Billboards. You could tell 98’ would be a good year because in the last week in May during this year, DMX went platinum, the first time a rap album ever did. Three weeks later, Mater P’S album sold 495, ooo units in its first week. Master P became a rapper when he realized that the music he was stocking on his selves in his music store were not that good. He felt like he could make better music that represented the streets, being that he grew up in the street of New Orleans. When Dave Weiner, a west cost sales manager seen him selling records out the trunk of his care, Mater P’s career took off. He wasn’t like any other rapper who didn’t have a house or car, he made sure that he and his lawyers negotiated a plan in which he received 85% of his total profit.

During that same year, FUBU signed rappers to be the face of their clothing, not only increasing FUBU’s profit but the rappers as well. Other companies such as AT&T and Wal-Mart did the same. While the hip hop popularity increased, so did the love for rap. 5 albums came out from the same label on the same day and did really well, but the most anticipated album was Lauryn Hill’s solo album. She sold 422,500 UN the first week alone. Due to her success it allowed other female artist to do the same. She allowed for women to express themselves through rap and prove to the world that hip hop is not a man's genre only. This was also the year that Jay- Z expanded as a rapper. From that point on Jay-Z has always been looked upon as one of the best. Jay- Z took the already created gangster theme and amplified it. He aloud rappers like 50 cent, JA rule, and even Lil Wayne to have a career as rappers. He also made raunchy lyrics okay.


Quotation:

" The streets have spoken."( Def Jam Records 55).

Reflection:

This quote is significant because it refers to the type of genre that was created in 1998. This quote somewhat foreshadows what to come in the rap game. It was giving us a heads up to the up and coming albulms created by Jay-Z and Master P. It was introducing us to the way of life which Lauryn Hill rapped about. It foreshadow the acceptance of sexual comments from 50 Cents and Ja Rule. This quote not only acceted as a warning but it also allowed the readers to understand the history of rapping. That rapping and Hip Hop actually came from the streets.