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.
“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.”
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.”
It’s been been stuck like this for years but nobody is willing to admit it without being called a ole head. Look what happened when Nas said Hip Hop is dead. The sad thing is that there is nobody or group who can fix it. Carry on!!!
The audio was only on one side. If podcasts want to be taken serious, hire an audio guy. Don’t let your cousin Peanut wire shit up. Erick Sermon deserves the best since he gave us his best.
The audio was only on one side. If podcasts want to be taken serious, hire an audio guy. Don’t let your cousin Peanut wire shit up. Erick Sermon deserves the best since he gave us his best.
It’s Because hiphop is the only genre that has an age limit in place rock country and others don’t have those restrictions and you don’t have to be a lyricist someone e can make a beat on the computer and some cornball can just talk bout how many people they killed or talk bout being rachet
That why it’s at a stand still no creativity somebody has to come in a make a change or this genre doomed
I don’t agree hip hop has no age limit. I think as you grow older you just need to get more creative with the content like redman nas big Boi Wayne they still have relevant tracks that sounds great
He is talking about mass media and the establishment has placed an age limit on hip hop. Elders are being disrespected instead of celebrated or collaborated with or placed on mainstream unlike other other genres.
Of course the breakfast club will say they love it. If they say otherwise, they won’t have a show
Its true. Rap sounds the same now as it did in 2011. So much for evolving lol 😆
I disagree with Erik Sermon. Rap has definitely evolved to a place where there is enough music for every generation. If I do not like new artists then I do not listen to them. It just means that particular music wasn’t made for me. Everything in rap that comes out ain’t for everybody. That doesn’t mean the genre is stuck. Young people do not relate to Erik Sermon. That doesn’t mean Erik’s music is bad. It simply wasn’t made for a certain audience and that is ok.
On the one part I agree. There are thousands of copycats. On the other hand there were thousands of copycats in the 90s and 2000s, too. If you dig a little deeper, you can find these unoriginal rappers with one album, or one EP. If we had Internet, they would’ve gone viral as well, just like the untalented, unoriginal idiots of these days. The only question for me is why’s trap still this popular. G-funk, that was the most popular subgenre of 90s hiphop, had 5 good years. I agree with Erick, they should name it something else. Especially when they’re whining with autotune – that has nothing to do with hiphop. It’s the responsibility of journalists and bloggers.