One of the biggest conundrums facing the preservation of Hip Hop culture is the reluctance of a percentage of the younger generation of listeners to appreciate — or even acknowledge — the artists that came before them.
Kids, being kids, aren’t interested in having music from an “older generation” shoved down their throats. Many situations, such as Lil Yachty claiming Biggie Smalls was overrated, before retracting his views after actually listening to him, showed that missing element was (non-aggressive) education.
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After all, the new generation didn’t live through the Golden Era we hold so dearly, so they have no nostalgic connection. This ideology is what makes YouTuber Kvng Guap so exciting. The 18-year-old has taken it upon himself create a series of reaction videos as he discovers some of Hip Hop’s most revered classics.
https://youtu.be/HGrSUB1Axao?t=2m34s
“I feel that it is important to educate yourself on the legends of Hip Hop because a lot of kids my age don’t know anything about the music that founded the music that we listen to today,” Kvng Guap tells HipHopDX from his home in Fayetteville, NC. “So I feel it’s like paying respects to the true legends and also getting to hear these amazing songs that I never even knew about.”
Although the info-seeking rap fan isn’t new to the video reaction game, his first foray into the throwback realm was 2Pac’s “Dear Mama” — just over a month ago. As he recalls, It was his first time seeing Pac in action.
“I didn’t expect to get the response I got. Then I began to do more of his songs but then thought to myself, ‘why not go back and educate myself, considering I love music and would like to know where it started or at least the 90s.”
“2Pac was that nigga,” he notes in the video, “I wish he were still alive … I would love to see what he’d be doing today.” He obviously moved reaction to the song is oddly endearing, considering that hating Pac has become an odd right of passage amongst a sect of younger artists who see his legacy as a barrier that needs overcoming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoQTlyjg7xI
To date, his videos have amassed thousands of views and garnered over 30k subscribers. Among his more popular reaction videos are Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. II,” The Notorious B.I.G and Bone Thugs’ “Notorious Thugs,” and Big L “Put It On.”
When asked what have been his most memorable discoveries thus far, his answer includes a bevy of Golden Era icons. “N.W.A was always my favorite after I seen Straight Outta Compton, but in this process of going back in time I have found myself loving artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, 2Pac, Nate Dogg, Big L, Biggie, LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, and Nas,” he says.
For Hip Hop purists, the most exciting thing about Guap’s channel is the new of fans vicariously discovering the legends (and hits) of yesteryear right along with him.
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“I’ve said this before, but I feel like I run the throwback reactions on YouTube just because I am only 18, and I have [really] never seen/heard any of this before,” he says. “You can tell it’s a genuine reaction.” If you’re looking for an example of a genuine reaction, just watch him listen to Kool G Rap for the first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw9L-R4G_hU
“A lot of other people don’t take in the music like I do,” he says, comparing his channel to others doing the same thing. “I am so much wiser then my age and people see that … I always bring the fun with the reaction; I don’t watch and act like I like every song. “I’m honest and break the songs down. That’s what sets me apart.”
You can subscribe to Kvng Guap’s channel here and follow him on Instagram @__kvng_guap__.
Check out some of the recent highlights including JAY-Z and Nas reactions down below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mG4QBmPp8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC6koMC7Wag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whdpGKMe6eM
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Nuff respect bro. I already follow him on youtube…you can tell that he got the same passion/excitement for hip hop that we OGs had when we first listened to the classics. I wish Kvng Guap nothing but success in the future…keep diggin bro
Respect to this young king. Each one teach one.
iFOX with the King. Keep goin!
This kid is the best and proof that if younger people actually opened their ears and eyes they see how much more raw and dope older artists are compared to the new simpletons.
I just discovered him about a few days ago and you can tell he gives genuine reactions to the classics and old school rappers that he’s not familiar with. It’s dope seeing he has an interview with DX. Hope this inspires others his age to check out the classics and helps bridge the generational divide that’s been plaguing hip hop for a while. Kvng Guap got my respect.
This the dumbest shit I ever seen
You’re a fuck ni@@a with nothing to contribute to the culture of THE REAL HIP-HOP CULTURE. Keep doing you kid. I just subscribed. Keep the music alive
I don’t get it. First, you want all the young kids to listen to the “real hip hop” and say shit like “90s is better than today, these skinny jean, mumble rap listening kids won’t get it”. And now you have an 18 year old being open minded and taking his time to listen to the old school and you’re shitting on him for doing so. These bi-polar 90s heads are part of what’s wrong with hip hop.
Nah. The man has over 30k subscribers in like a month. Old heads love what the brother is doing for the most part. I wish more of these young lil rainbow heads would sit they skinny jean ass down and listen to the golden era stuff before taking syrrrrup shots at the legends.
this is a great service this kid is doing. this is preservation of hip hop at its best. somebody this generation had to do it. so glad because the 90’s heads don’t get listened to about how good 90’s hip hop was. they always think we are being so negative about the new shit. so glad this kid can witness it firsthand. the same wonderment we had as youngings to hip hop, this kid has right now
lol I watch this kid all the time.
I really enjoy his reaction on 2pac’s Hit em up.
As someone who grew up on 90s hip hop it makes me sad to hear that those who listen to that pathetic version of rap today don’t know their history. It was a real skill to be a lyricist and to make beats. Now its all a joke, the rhymes today don’t even compare.
Thank you straight up
Lol at dudes in the comment section talking about “the 90s you had to have real rhyme and skills”
Then Nice N Smooth comes on and you realize the hottest shit is always about catchy melodies that people fuck with…
Why White Lines (80s) will be doper then any wordy ass bum ass using the same Issac Haye snare ass long Dj premier scratch hook ass featuring Statik Selekath ass song.
Really confused, because White Lines is a lyric intensive song. Multiple songs that the young man reviewed did not have “catchy melodies”. Even if they did most of the video’s he has reviewed were lyric central. Even those that were anthem’s were lyrical. Of course the 90’s had infectious songs, but as the young man says himself, the 90’s seemed to be an era that you had to have your own style to pop (Hip Hop Horray). I actually feel that this era has even more lyricist that any error in history. The difference is that most of them are not heralded.
Funny I discovered this dude about two weeks ago
I’ve peeped a few of his videos. Great stuff to see. We need more like him today. Anyone who has a true passion for hip hop should be doing this. I’m older than him, but I still go back and check out albums before my time.
Good for you, and hopefully many more young folks will follow suit; it’s to their benefit and they can broaden their music libraries. Of the new artist today who are reminiscent of the rap artist of the 80s-early 90s, I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar comes the closet. I have no idea where artist like Drake and DJ. Khalid came from or why they so admired. Nas, will always be by baby behind Ganggstar, R.I.P. my love. Generations will come and go, but there’s one thing for sure. Music is our life’s foundation, and shall succeed all nation’s to come; Sterling Void remake; Pet Shop Boys original “It’s Gonna Be Alright.”
FINALLY! Someone young enough to understand the significance of research. I have been trying to tell the millennials for years that the rap music they are listening to today cannot compare to their counterparts of decades past. I still think he needs to go back further to the 80s where it really began; along with house music which bought about hip-house. These kids today, claiming to be music lovers and “know it all” are not even aware that their music today contains so many samples. I was at a store sitting in my car listening to Rare Earth “I Know I’m Losing You” and a 22 yr. old thought I was listening to Kanye West because he sampled the song in his TLOP song “Fade.” The first seconds of Rare Earth’s song begins with “Your Love has Fade. I feel it fade.” The 22 yr. old kid was blown away not knowing that Kanye had actually sampled Rare Earth; a white rock band from the 70s. He wrote down the name of the CD I was listening to and said he was going to purchase it. Good for him as he will truly enjoy Rare Earth as I have for years.
This man does his thing I give him props
I love this dude I wish this generation had more like him how he just goes back into the old school days of Hip Hop and educates himself is refreshing as hell keep doing your thing Bro I see why your channel is such a success and I just found this dude a few days ago when I seen his reaction to Brenda’s Got A Baby by Pac this dude is what Hip Hop Needs good job young man you got a supporter for life keep educating yourself and gaining knowledge about the craft of Hip Hop we see you family