 "Photo: Photo Courtesy of MCT Campus")
With fresh new sounds on the hip-hop scenes these days, anything that sounds exclusive or deviates from the norms of 90's rap music, including relations with model women, hustling hard for the big bucks, diamond studded Jesus pieces, Maybach cars, and personal jet flights, is being put on the forefront of the mainstream music that is dominating the iPods of all ages.
Backpack rap artists such as Wale, Cudi, B.O.B., Blu, Drake, and all other Internet-based artists are always looking for new looks to their artistic expressions. The answer is not found in remaking songs of classic Jay-Z beats, nor is the answer found in getting Weezy F. Baby to feature in a song.
The answer is:
A- Looking stupid and having grown men make a dance for kids. B- Name-dropping by dissing some of the greatest rappers. C- Being Yourself. D- Being fashionable.
While all these answers may seem correct when analyzing the state of hip-hop culture today, the best possible answer is C- being yourself.
Those who stand out are always the ones who are themselves. For example, Caesar was a unique man. Jesus was a man one-of-one, known before him and none to come after. Even Kanye is a distinct individual. No matter how much he made himself look like a complete idiot at this year's VMAs, he is still the only entertainer who would probably ever pull a stunt like that. But new to the hip-hop scene comes a new voice. The princess of pop, leading the world in a new experience not only through her music but also through her performances, is Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986. The international pop star released her debut album, "The Fame" in August 2008. With two straight No. 1 selling singles, she was nominated for 9 VMAs this year, but won an exceptional three.
A songwriter at heart, Gaga is the pinnacle and paragon of what the premiere artist of 2009 should represent. Not only does she do her thing vocally, but she brings musical theatre to the stage every time she performs, resembling an Andy Warhol adaptation of one of your favorite Shakespeare plays.
Warhol was pop culture. He invented pop culture. Gaga is extending what the definition of pop culture is from all hemispheres on the globe. But as any struggling musician will tell you, it wasn't easy.
She accredits much of her early success to her gay fans as well as God. She, being openly bisexual, relates to all the facets of music listeners one can imagine. Teaming up with Kanye West for a concert seemed like a good idea, but what type of fan base would they bring? Sad to say, after tickets went on sale and tour dates were released, as of Oct. 1st, the tour was canceled and money refunded. (So much for a clash of music consisting of a genre-bending act that could have possibly created a new genre in itself).
However, Gaga has made her presence known on the scene of hip-hop.
"Lookin at, lookin at, lookin' at me. Look at that, look how they lookin 'at me. Eyes all sticky like honey on bees, look at that, look how they lookin' at me." Gaga finds herself on the hook of Wale's debut single for his up and coming album, "Attention Deficit." Doing a song with Gaga is a smart move; therefore, Wale's fans are more likely to increase in numbers as they hear the pop diva's voice.
Yes, Lady G, they are going to look at you. How can you not look at yourself? Gaga says, "Sound is fashion." That sound is vibrating worldwide.
Other rappers also mention Gaga in their songs whether it is a diss to someone who has her on his or her song or whether they have her on their songs. Either way Gaga is highly prized in the hip-hop industry. Gaga, with her Madonna mixed with her Boy George influence, has also been sampled by Kanye West in the song "Poker Face" for Kid Cudi. This song is a sexual innuendo/play on words. So, if you're up for a cross-genre mixing of Common, Kanye, Cudi, and Gaga then instead of poking faces, let's poke some ears.
She is also on the scene with her new line of earphones that have been released on by Dr. Dre. If Gaga isn't in the ears, iPods, Zunes, Macs, PCs, or in your hearts then you don't like good music. Period. ~Keep Hip-Hop Alive~ (GaGa is)!
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