Erick Sermon has expressed his qualms about the current state of Hip Hop, dismissing today’s dominant trends as being uncharacteristic of the craft he helped to pioneer.
During an interview with Say Word! Podcast on Monday (November 13), the EPMD co-founder didn’t hold back when he was asked his thoughts on the genre as it stands today.
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“I just think that Hip Hop is just not Hip Hop,” he began. “I just think that they should change the name. No disrespect, but that’s not what that is […] Hip Hop can evolve, but this is not evolving. Evolving is Melle Mel to Rakim stage to the whole nine, to Wu-Tang [Clan] to Murder Inc., DMX — that’s evolving. Y’know, Cam’ron. Y’know, Dipset — that’s evolving.”
After shouting out several other artists such as Ludacris, Migos and Soulja Boy for their originality, he added: “Music is in somewhat of a bind because it’s stuck in one place.”
Watch the rap veteran talk about the culture at the 6:49 mark below:
Contrarily, Charlamagne Tha God believes that Hip Hop is thriving, and that those criticizing the genre are “stuck in an era” that’s come and gone.
Earlier this year, C Tha God and his Breakfast Club co-host DJ Envy stopped by Million Dollaz Worth of Game for an interview, during which they shared their thoughts on the genre in 2023.
“I think Hip Hop is in a great place,” Charlamagne said. “I think people that don’t like Hip Hop now are just mad that it’s not what it used to be. They’re stuck in an era. I love all these new dudes.
“My favorite dude is Kodak Black right now. I love LaRussell, I love Symba. I love Rapsody. I love fucking 21 Savage.”
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DJ Envy then chimed in: “I love it not only for that, musically, the music is great. I love the fact that these brothers get money. They’re keeping themselves out of the hood, they’re paying for their families. Paying for their mama’s cribs and all that.”
