US Billboard chart misses rap song for the first time in 35 years, sparking debate on the evolution of hip-hop music.
The Last Poets, considered the godfathers of hip-hop, recently released an album titled Africanism, which explores themes of Black pride and unity. The group's lead singer Abiodun Oyewole, 77, believes that the current state of hip-hop has become watered down. "Our music has always been a reflection of our living," he says, "but we're dying spiritually." He attributes this to the industry's emphasis on commercial appeal over meaningful messages.
Oyewole recalls how his group was dubbed "jazz poetry" in the 1970s and laid the groundwork for hip-hop. The Last Poets' music emphasized Black consciousness and insurgent message, which would later inspire artists like Melle Mel and KRS One. Oyewole's line from their song When the Revolution Comes has become a hook for Notorious BIG's debut single.
The singer credits David Nelson, another co-founder of The Last Poets, with encouraging him to express his rage in poetry. He references an early poem by Umar Bin Hassan that was revived on the group's latest album, Niggers Are Scared of Revolution. However, Oyewole believes that hip-hop has lost its original purpose and become a platform for selling out.
He points to Kanye West as an example. Oyewole thinks that West got "hooked on the bitches brew" and became strung out. The singer also expresses his disdain for right-wing efforts to recast Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated, as a civil rights martyr. He believes this is embarrassing and that Black people should not sympathize with someone who insulted Black women.
Oyewole's message is one of unity and resistance against oppressive systems. He believes that in times of chaos, there is an opportunity for change. However, he also thinks that the current state of hip-hop is a reflection of the industry's willingness to promote itself over meaningful messages. Oyewole sees this as a form of "promotion" but notes that the person behind it, Donald Trump, "is not smart."
The Last Poets, considered the godfathers of hip-hop, recently released an album titled Africanism, which explores themes of Black pride and unity. The group's lead singer Abiodun Oyewole, 77, believes that the current state of hip-hop has become watered down. "Our music has always been a reflection of our living," he says, "but we're dying spiritually." He attributes this to the industry's emphasis on commercial appeal over meaningful messages.
Oyewole recalls how his group was dubbed "jazz poetry" in the 1970s and laid the groundwork for hip-hop. The Last Poets' music emphasized Black consciousness and insurgent message, which would later inspire artists like Melle Mel and KRS One. Oyewole's line from their song When the Revolution Comes has become a hook for Notorious BIG's debut single.
The singer credits David Nelson, another co-founder of The Last Poets, with encouraging him to express his rage in poetry. He references an early poem by Umar Bin Hassan that was revived on the group's latest album, Niggers Are Scared of Revolution. However, Oyewole believes that hip-hop has lost its original purpose and become a platform for selling out.
He points to Kanye West as an example. Oyewole thinks that West got "hooked on the bitches brew" and became strung out. The singer also expresses his disdain for right-wing efforts to recast Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated, as a civil rights martyr. He believes this is embarrassing and that Black people should not sympathize with someone who insulted Black women.
Oyewole's message is one of unity and resistance against oppressive systems. He believes that in times of chaos, there is an opportunity for change. However, he also thinks that the current state of hip-hop is a reflection of the industry's willingness to promote itself over meaningful messages. Oyewole sees this as a form of "promotion" but notes that the person behind it, Donald Trump, "is not smart."
The thing with Kanye West and his whole "bitches brew" thing is wild... I mean I've heard that guy say some crazy stuff before, but Oyewole's take on it seems kinda harsh? 
And what's up with the Charlie Kirk situation? Can't we just have a nuanced conversation about history without making it a right-wing/Black issues debate? 
The Last Poets are legends, no doubt, but can't we appreciate their influence on hip-hop without getting all worked up about who's "selling out" or not? 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around why Oyewole thinks Donald Trump is the smart one... 
I mean, The Last Poets are the OGs of hip-hop, and to see them sayin' that the industry's lost its way is like, totally valid. They laid the groundwork for all that socially conscious stuff, and it's crazy that we've kinda watered down our messages over time 
Abiodun Oyewole's words about Kanye West get me too - dude got caught up in the fame game and forgot what hip-hop's supposed to be about 
And can we talk about how they're tryin' to use Charlie Kirk's legacy for their own gain? That's just wrong, fam 
. But for real, it's cool to see an older artist like Abiodun Oyewole still speaking truth to power and pushing for change. The whole idea of hip-hop losing its original purpose is something that I can definitely get behind 
. I don't know about the whole "selling out" thing tho... feels like a pretty complex issue to me 
. Still, Oyewole's message of unity and resistance is somethin' we could all learn from 
. It's like, don't get me wrong, I love The Last Poets' legacy, but Kanye's not exactly the poster child for originality either 
. And let's be real, Oyewole's beef with Trump is just a bonus - it's like he's trying to make his point about unity and resistance in hip-hop even more impactful 
. Still, I'm kinda curious what Abiodun Oyewole's definition of "sold out" is... 
. And yeah, if right-wing people want to use Charlie Kirk's legacy for their own gain, that's just gross 
. Their music has always been so powerful and influential. I think Abiodun Oyewole's comments about the current state of hip-hop are spot on - it does feel like the industry is prioritizing commercial appeal over meaningful messages these days 
.
, but also kinda serious. It's like, what happened to artists speaking truth to power and pushing boundaries? I get that hip-hop has evolved, but sometimes I feel like we're losing the essence of it all 
. We need more leaders in the industry who are willing to speak out against systemic oppression and promote real change. It's time for a shift, you know? 
. But seriously, it's wild to think that The Last Poets are still pushing the boundaries of music and Black consciousness, while some people in the industry are more worried about selling out than creating something real.
. We need artists like The Last Poets who are keeping it real and pushing boundaries, not watering them down with watered-down messages 
. And if the industry can't do that, then maybe it's time for a new generation of artists to take over 
.