At A Glance
| Section Title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Artists we grow up with, influence us | Different generations have iconic artists shaping their culture, influencing behavior and music. |
| Roddy Ricch’s Influences and Controversy | Rapper Roddy Ricch discusses his influences, facing criticism for not emulating older legends. |
| New Artists’ Relationship with Legacy | New wave artists have distinct sounds due to evolving times, but still contribute iconically. |
| Music as a Reflection of Society | Rap/Hip Hop reflects societal changes, messages evolve while the genre’s essence remains. |
| Roddy Ricch’s Comments and Discussion | Discussion on whether new artists should pay homage to legends and how age affects perspective. |
Artists we grow up with, influence us
Each generation has an iconic artist that adds a little more into the culture of Hip Hop. If you were born in the 80’s you had The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, and Dr. Dre. Those born in the ’90s, artists like Lil Wayne, Future, and Drake might have made an impact in your life. If you’re apart of this new generation you had artists like the late Juice Wrld, Lil Uzi Vert, and Travis Scott. All of these artists have an influence on your life today. Whether by how you act or what you listen to.
Lately, rapper Roddy Ricch has gotten some heat from the Hip Hop community for who he states as his influences in the rap game. He stated “I was born in ‘98. I was born after Tupac and Biggie died. What do you expect me to rap like? Who do you expect me to look up to? These n***** was the soundtrack to my life at one point, when I was in the trenches doing bad, and crying, and really going through it. These were my n***** getting me through this s***.” These remarks came after Roddy named artist like Future and Young Thug as his influences
Are these new artists supposed to look up to artists because of their legacy or because of their relatability?
This new wave of artists will sound less and less like some of the legends in the game. This is due to their lives in the 2000s-2010s being different than someone living in the ’80s-’90s.
There should always be a level of respect that the legends should receive for paving the way for current generations to prosper, but just because you don’t understand this new wave of music and the artists that are a product of it, doesn’t mean that they are any less iconic to those growing up with them.
Music is a representation of the world that we live in.
Rap/Hip Hop was born in a generation where people felt oppressed and unable to express themselves in a way that felt safe. This is something that holds true to this day, but what has changed is the message.
What do you guys think about Roddy Ricch’s comments? Do the new rappers have to pay homage? Or do they get a pass because of their age?
Lastly, let us know your thoughts in the comments.
F.A.Q
A: Some of the most iconic artists that have influenced hip hop include The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Future, Drake, Juice Wrld, Lil Uzi Vert, and Travis Scott.
A: Roddy Ricch got some heat from the hip hop community for stating that his influences were Future and Young Thug, rather than more legendary artists like Tupac and Biggie. Some people felt that he was disrespecting the legends of the genre.
A: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Some new artists may choose to look up to legends of the genre because of their legacy and influence, while others may find more relatability with newer artists who are closer to their age and experiences.
A: There is no obligation for new rappers to pay homage to the legends of hip hop, but it is certainly appreciated. Many new rappers do pay homage to their influences in their music and lyrics.
A: I think Roddy Ricch’s comments were fair. He was simply stating that he was influenced by the artists who were popular when he was growing up, which happened to be Future and Young Thug. He is not disrespecting the legends of hip hop, but he is simply expressing his own personal influences.
