As Hip Hop continues to grow, so does the gap between the generations. The debate between old and new has been going on for a while, and thanks to DDG, the argument has been reignited all over again.
On Wednesday (April 27), the 2021 HipHopDX Rising Star took to Twitter with a controversial take on modern-day rappers. According to DDG, the current generation of MCs are on another level compared to their predecessors.
“Today’s rappers are 10x better than the rappers back in the today.. Respectfully,” he declared. “I respect the older generation of hiphop, but this generation creativity on another level fr. Hip Hop ain’t never been the number 1 genre until NOW.”
The Die 4 Respect rapper doubled down on his statement when one fan argued none of his rap peers can hold a candle to the late Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. “On some real shit.. when the last time u listened to either in the car.. BE TRUTHFUL,” he replied.
DDG’s tweet sparked a wave of passionate responses from fans who were quick to remind the 24-year-old of the rap icons who came before him — including those from the ’80s and ’90s, as well as more recent decades.
“Todays rappers do not compare to MF DOOM, Quasimoto, Common, GZA. Wu Tang, Eazy-E, Pac, Biggie, Nas, Mobb Deep, J Dilla, Jay Z and so on,” one fan argued. “I do like the new rappers, don’t get me wrong, but they just don’t compare to what the ‘rappers back in the day’ brought to the table.”
Another wrote, “Ion know if unpopular opinion or not but the 2010s was the best decade for hip hop imo. Mac Miller, Drake, Kendrick, J.Cole, Kanye, Tyler etc. made consistently great albums throughout the decade + the later half gave us some completely new sounds with the soundcloud era.”
The debate got even more interesting over on DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page, where fans were split down the middle on DDG’s statement. Some agreed with him, while others felt he was just talking out of his backside.
“The rapping is worse, but the music is better and more versatile if that makes any sense,” one person commented, while another wrote, “Rappers today are inspired by rapper back then sooooo no not really.”
One particularly thoughtful comment read, “Facts but hip hop as a whole had grown into something beautiful to where it feels like you cannot even compare the two eras from how different the sound is.”
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When he isn’t starting a generational rap debate, DDG is enjoying life with his new girlfriend, Halle Bailey. The rapper made their relationship official in an Instagram post celebrating Halle’s 22nd birthday in March.
“Happy Birthday to the beautifulest, the flyest, the sweetest love you forever @hallebailey,” he captioned the post.
Check out more reactions to DDG’s hot take below.
Today’s rappers wear skirts, carry handbags, twerk like females, don’t rap but sing using auto tune, make bubblegum music which can’t even last a week it’s already forgotten, got no word play nor punchline what so ever just talking about drugs, broads and killing each other over stupid shit can’t compare this whack shit to nothing but doodoo
What they gone say about their music in ten years! I’ll wait!?
This fool thinks HIP HOP went from zero to #1 in the last couple of years. What a dumb ass comment. Stop reinforcing generational divide in rap music. Do your fucking homework next time you fix ya self to put out a tweet. 140 characters in these streets!
oop- but yu speakin da facts tho!!!
No, today’s rappers are 1000X gayer and wacker than the previous generation I’ll say that. And sadly I’m not joking either, seriously check the statistics.
To be honest…..This year in 2022, is crumbling! Most rappers are now just wild N out just for fame, entertainment, or just because. The music back then (1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s-2010s) was EVERYTHING to us. It was OUR nostalgia, OUR CHILDHOOD…And now, it’s getting ruined by these back to back rappers who rap about gang, violence, drugs/alcohol, s3x, and so forth. What happen to the real reality of music where we just vibe, chill, and be in the zone? We already have other shit going on in this world…So why take away the music too…..I rather listen to NF, Alec Benjamin, older HipHop/RNB/Pop/EDM/and oldschool throwbacks, who actually left a meaning in there songs, and left memories in our childhoods..Than to the ones that just leave toxic in their music in this generation. I’m just saying…
Your “nostalgia” and “childhood” rappers rapped about the same shit as todays rappers do. Like you guys didn’t have Dre, Snoop, Pac, Too Short, etc, rapping about all that. Why is that everyone’s go to argument to justify that old school rap is better when they’re one in the same?
That’s not what i meant bro…I was speaking on the nostalgic part and relating it to modern music. And I wasn’t even arguing, can I express my opinion just like everyone else without being so offensive, and being myself for once? In my own words, I was saying that I SPEcifically like older music than the MODern ones. I never said I liked it better than the other, I was saying that I rather be in the music I was raised on because of memories, and that’s my background preference. than to listen to remixes of everything else. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong…besides expressing how I feel. So I apologize (sincerely) for the misunderstanding. But next time, if you want people to express themselves better, at least have a convo with them…Or ask questions. Thanks!!!
The fact that all these new rapper have to use the annoying voice altertering device tells you a lot. Todays rap is a popularity contest
Who the fuck is this guy? What’s his best song? Respectfully, KYS
This youngsta have a lot of schooling to do!! Educated yourself before making and posting stupid comments!! I will listen to the station Rock Tha Bells’ / LL Cool J all freakin day long with the old school rap!! At least they’re not rapping about eating groceries, sex, sex and more sex, calling women bum b*tches!! Not to mention killing each other over a few rap bars. Some of y’all are just straight up stupid!
What old school hip hop do you listen to? They did the same shit you critique the new school rappers for. FOH!
New rappers are weaker lyrically. Often the production sounds like other rappers. There are no real “stars” now. Some of the older rappers had more charisma and star quality. You can be a rapper now but it does not mean you have star quality.
Meh, we live in an era where it’s becoming trendy to say dumb shit for attention. Rappers, actors, sports media, etc. It feels like there always some clown coming with some ridiculous “hot take”. Disregard these trolls and keep it moving.
STFU stupid retard.
Yeah that’s all attention grabbing. Lame for saying it and lame if he get any cosign.
Most if not all of today’s “rappers” rap over their own vocal track when “performing” and it’s accepted by their fans! Let that sink in…
This topic is completely subjective as well, when you say hip-hop is ‘worse’ or ‘better’ you gotta define that. What does better or worse mean? It depends on what you value. If you’re talking old vs new hip hop in terms of lyrical ability, flow, word play, etc. Old hip hop got that on lock. Even if hip hop is the number 1 genre now, you can’t credit that just to new hip hop, that older stuff go you to a point where it can be number 1, it was already trending in that direction since the 90s. I don’t like most new stuff but that’s because I’m older and bias to the older stuff.