If you were to redefine the 4 elements of hip hop for the modern generation...

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

....what would they be? The four elements are emceeing, djing, bboying and graffiti. If you look at what hip hop represents today, would you change any of the elements and if so what 4 elements would you pick?

[weedhead]

....what would they be? The four elements are emceeing, djing, bboying and graffiti. If you look at what hip hop represents today, would you change any of the elements and if so what 4 elements would you pick?

aint no redefining shit...cause the rappers of the new generation don't have the og four memorized yet...nice try rookie.

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

....what would they be? The four elements are emceeing, djing, bboying and graffiti. If you look at what hip hop represents today, would you change any of the elements and if so what 4 elements would you pick?

aint no redefining shit...cause the rappers of the new generation don't have the og four memorized yet...nice try rookie.

That doesn't have to do with what I'm asking. I'm asking people if they could pick 4 defining parts of hip hop culture today what they would be. If you believe that the 4 elements that Afrika Bambaataa originally defined are still as culturally relevant today then please say that instead of being an ass. In other words, if you're not going to take part in the discussion, fuck off.

[Chamillitary Click]

Are there even four? Seems like swagging is the only one.

[BOX5 the best poster on this site yell]

rap'n (mainstream acceptance only), got to have chipper jones or what you do doesn't matter (money), swag you got to have that, features (cause nothing says you really can rap/mc without having others feature on 90% of your album).
so the 4 elements today are :
mainstream accepted rap lyrics
got to have money
swag
features
those are the elements now yell

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

Emceeing
Producing
Trendsetting
Paper stackin


Emceeing- I think that what was considered an Emcee 25 years ago is far different than now.  Its sad that the bar could actually be LOWERED. But thats what big money being thrown around and marketing being more important than substance will do. Regardless, Emceeing will be a major part of hip hop as long as rap music exists.

Producing- Back in the day, the DJ was the star. Then it became the rapper who was most important. The lyrics were what mattered. Now, its just the beat. A good beat, and you have a hit single no matter how good or bad the rapper is. The best rapper in the world cant make a hit, without a tight beat.

Trendsetting- Nowadays, it seems like EVERYone is trying to set a trend. Its one of the easiest ways to blow up. Its annoying to a point because when EVERYONE is trying to be different, they are all being the same. I think this constant attempt by "artists" to create a new trend is actually damaging to hip hop as a culture.

Paper Stackin- Now, more than ever, its all about the paper. It seems like there is nothin more important in hip hop now than..."I got more money than you do!". Bragging has always been part of rap music, and therefor part of hip hop culture. But now its almost a must. Another reason IMO that rap music itself has gone down hill.

[weedhead]

so this is all we have today that redefines hiphop(money,swagg)...wow how sad. ...i think dead prez said it better(ITS BIGGER THAN HIPHOP).

[Chamillitary Click]

so this is all we have today that redefines hiphop(money,swagg)...wow how sad. ...i think dead prez said it better(ITS BIGGER THAN HIPHOP).

Mainstream wise, it was an art form that went south (no pun intended lol) after rappers realized they just have to make some flakey shit to sell & then who gives a fuck?

I'm not going to lie, I'd make a Soulja Boy song in a SECOND, take my millions & laugh that nobody else thought of it first.

I'm not saying Hip Hop is dead though, because there is still PLENTY of great shit, but only a couple thousand people ever hear it lol.

& because of that, you can't have the elements of Hip Hop be related to the underground side of rap, because not everybody hears that side. So if it goes by how mainstream defines the game, it's swag, bitches & money.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

so this is all we have today that redefines hiphop(money,swagg)...wow how sad. ...i think dead prez said it better(ITS BIGGER THAN HIPHOP).

Mainstream wise, it was an art form that went south (no pun intended lol) after rappers realized they just have to make some flakey shit to sell & then who gives a fuck?

I'm not going to lie, I'd make a Soulja Boy song in a SECOND, take my millions & laugh that nobody else thought of it first.

I'm not saying Hip Hop is dead though, because there is still PLENTY of great shit, but only a couple thousand people ever hear it lol.

& because of that, you can't have the elements of Hip Hop be related to the underground side of rap, because not everybody hears that side. So if it goes by how mainstream defines the game, it's swag, bitches & money.

Its funny how a lot of the aspects of underground rap now, is what rap itself USED to be. Does that mean this cupcake shit we hear on the radio now, will be underground rap 15 years from now? Wow lol

[Dre-Day]

Emceeing
Producing
Trendsetting
Paper stackin


Emceeing- I think that what was considered an Emcee 25 years ago is far different than now.  Its sad that the bar could actually be LOWERED. But thats what big money being thrown around and marketing being more important than substance will do. Regardless, Emceeing will be a major part of hip hop as long as rap music exists.

Producing- Back in the day, the DJ was the star. Then it became the rapper who was most important. The lyrics were what mattered. Now, its just the beat. A good beat, and you have a hit single no matter how good or bad the rapper is. The best rapper in the world cant make a hit, without a tight beat.

Trendsetting- Nowadays, it seems like EVERYone is trying to set a trend. Its one of the easiest ways to blow up. Its annoying to a point because when EVERYONE is trying to be different, they are all being the same. I think this constant attempt by "artists" to create a new trend is actually damaging to hip hop as a culture.

Paper Stackin- Now, more than ever, its all about the paper. It seems like there is nothin more important in hip hop now than..."I got more money than you do!". Bragging has always been part of rap music, and therefor part of hip hop culture. But now its almost a must. Another reason IMO that rap music itself has gone down hill.

isn't it actually the other way around?
too many bandwagon hoppers

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

Emceeing
Producing
Trendsetting
Paper stackin


Emceeing- I think that what was considered an Emcee 25 years ago is far different than now.  Its sad that the bar could actually be LOWERED. But thats what big money being thrown around and marketing being more important than substance will do. Regardless, Emceeing will be a major part of hip hop as long as rap music exists.

Producing- Back in the day, the DJ was the star. Then it became the rapper who was most important. The lyrics were what mattered. Now, its just the beat. A good beat, and you have a hit single no matter how good or bad the rapper is. The best rapper in the world cant make a hit, without a tight beat.

Trendsetting- Nowadays, it seems like EVERYone is trying to set a trend. Its one of the easiest ways to blow up. Its annoying to a point because when EVERYONE is trying to be different, they are all being the same. I think this constant attempt by "artists" to create a new trend is actually damaging to hip hop as a culture.

Paper Stackin- Now, more than ever, its all about the paper. It seems like there is nothin more important in hip hop now than..."I got more money than you do!". Bragging has always been part of rap music, and therefor part of hip hop culture. But now its almost a must. Another reason IMO that rap music itself has gone down hill.

isn't it actually the other way around?
too many bandwagon hoppers

It seems like most of the bandwagon hopping is on major aspects of hip hop now. Like talkin about your money, bitches, etc. Im talkin about how every rapper (especially younger rappers) tries to create a new dance...and new clothing style...a new slang word...etc.  It gets old.

[BOX5 the best poster on this site yell]

Emceeing
Producing
Trendsetting
Paper stackin


Emceeing- I think that what was considered an Emcee 25 years ago is far different than now.  Its sad that the bar could actually be LOWERED. But thats what big money being thrown around and marketing being more important than substance will do. Regardless, Emceeing will be a major part of hip hop as long as rap music exists.

Producing- Back in the day, the DJ was the star. Then it became the rapper who was most important. The lyrics were what mattered. Now, its just the beat. A good beat, and you have a hit single no matter how good or bad the rapper is. The best rapper in the world cant make a hit, without a tight beat.

Trendsetting- Nowadays, it seems like EVERYone is trying to set a trend. Its one of the easiest ways to blow up. Its annoying to a point because when EVERYONE is trying to be different, they are all being the same. I think this constant attempt by "artists" to create a new trend is actually damaging to hip hop as a culture.

Paper Stackin- Now, more than ever, its all about the paper. It seems like there is nothin more important in hip hop now than..."I got more money than you do!". Bragging has always been part of rap music, and therefor part of hip hop culture. But now its almost a must. Another reason IMO that rap music itself has gone down hill.

on point except for the trendsetting cause it's ride the wave now, cause everybody created bacc in the day so i ain't mad at that,but features and following takes place more then trendsetting, take fat joe for instance whatever is hot he does it,raekwon blew up with a older guy doing ny street rap, fat joe is going bacc to that,and he will mix in some ross shit, and alot of others do it, that paper staccin and producing is on point tho yell

[Action!]

Emceeing is alive and relevant.

DJing is alive and relevant (especially if you consider many dope producers started as DJs)

bboying is alive and relevant (look at the dances that's happened)

graffiti is probably the most dead element but I see that shit everywhere (though I don't assume it's related to hip-hop)  but I think this shifted into having dope clothing (kicks are especially reflective of that)


Swag is not an element as much it as how you rule the 4 elements.  It's a style, a quality leve

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

If I were to redefine them I'd go:

1) emceeing (obviously)

2) producing (djing is still alive, but beatmaking is the main focus now)

3) hip hop dance (yes, bboying is still alive but its not the only thing going on. This element needs to be expanded to encompass other types of dancing)

4) style/fashion (A big aspect of hip hop, I guess "swag" could go under here as well)

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

so this is all we have today that redefines hiphop(money,swagg)...wow how sad. ...i think dead prez said it better(ITS BIGGER THAN HIPHOP).

Mainstream wise, it was an art form that went south (no pun intended lol) after rappers realized they just have to make some flakey shit to sell & then who gives a fuck?

I'm not going to lie, I'd make a Soulja Boy song in a SECOND, take my millions & laugh that nobody else thought of it first.

I'm not saying Hip Hop is dead though, because there is still PLENTY of great shit, but only a couple thousand people ever hear it lol.

& because of that, you can't have the elements of Hip Hop be related to the underground side of rap, because not everybody hears that side. So if it goes by how mainstream defines the game, it's swag, bitches & money.

Well the music from the 90s sounds better to me, but that's probably because I was raised on that. Was it really any more "alive" then than it is now?