What did Rakim meant with this line...

[Noname]

''Before they changed hiphop to rap''

What did he mean with that line?
And im not talkin about the second line when he says something like ''there was always a place to party at''.
I dont remember what song its form. I know its from the album the 18th letter.

[Don Seer]

well you know once upong a time.. rap and hiphop were the same.. if you were into hiphop.. you were into the whole culture..

now people just rap and disrespect the culture.. thats what he meant..

and thats why nas's album is gonna be called hiphop is dead, not rap is dead..

[TraceOneInfinite Flat Earther 96']

Hiphop history 101:

Rap is only one of the 4 elements that make hip-hop.  Hip-hop is a way of life, a culture, that consists of 4 elements.

4 Elements of Hip-Hop

The DJ
Breakdancing
Graffiti
The Rapper

...in fact, back in the day, the DJ was more popular than the rapper, the rapper would just come out and introduce the DJ and keep the crowd hype in between the DJ's set.  Like look at earlier rappers, notice, it was "Erik B. and Rakim", it wasn't just Rakim.  See, the DJ was a star just like the rapper.

...so you see the rapper only makes up one of the 4 elements.  So what you have today is rappers have been commercialized by a media that has no concept of the culture that the rapper came from, and if you don't know where you came from, then you don't know where you are headed, and so now the rap industry is lost and without direction.  It has sold it's soul.  Although the essence is still there to be found somewhere on the underground.

[Diabolical]

That's the only time I've seen Infinite post something worthwhile.

[Narrator]

That's the only time I've seen Infinite post something worthwhile.

Except that he forgot about beatboxing.

[J Bananas]

why did bryan tell us rap was one of the "4 elements" when it obviously isnt one? is there not just 4 elements? are the supposed "elements" a marketing ploy to make people feel more connected to black culture?

[7even]

there was a time when people said hiphop they meant hiphop as a whole, now most people who say hiphop just mean rap which gobbles dick

rakim is right

[big mat]

why did bryan tell us rap was one of the "4 elements" when it obviously isnt one? is there not just 4 elements? are the supposed "elements" a marketing ploy to make people feel more connected to black culture?

nah he's right, zulu nation set the standart and foundation

[AlerG]

Hiphop history 101:

Rap is only one of the 4 elements that make hip-hop.  Hip-hop is a way of life, a culture, that consists of 4 elements.

4 Elements of Hip-Hop

The DJ
Breakdancing
Graffiti
The Rapper

...in fact, back in the day, the DJ was more popular than the rapper, the rapper would just come out and introduce the DJ and keep the crowd hype in between the DJ's set.  Like look at earlier rappers, notice, it was "Erik B. and Rakim", it wasn't just Rakim.  See, the DJ was a star just like the rapper.

...so you see the rapper only makes up one of the 4 elements.  So what you have today is rappers have been commercialized by a media that has no concept of the culture that the rapper came from, and if you don't know where you came from, then you don't know where you are headed, and so now the rap industry is lost and without direction.  It has sold it's soul.  Although the essence is still there to be found somewhere on the underground.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

^just another great example^

and yes you missed beat boxing,

chill

[Minkaveli]

That is from the track Remember That which is song #5 on the 18th Letter.  Everyone is right so far.  It is all about the elements.