Today, Vogue Magazine released their latest spring issue cover, featuring Kanye West and Kim Khardashian, who sports a wedding gown referencing their approaching nuptials. This isn’t the first time that some one in hip hop was able to grace Vogue’s illustrious cover, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Diddy have had their face’s front and center on the magazine. However, this time around seems to hold a much greater significance and brings about tangible proof of something far greater. In the ever fiercely growing cultural war being waged online and in the streets, hip hop has come out, a little scarred and slightly different, the clear victor.
“Hip hop glorifies violence, drug use, and misogynistic stereotypes,” can be heard from many of critics of the genre. “It will only be fad, its not going to be here in twenty years,” said almost everyone during the 70’s, 80’s, and even during the 90’s. It has been incorrectly deemed dead multiple times or said to have lost sight of the traditional roots from which it came, and therefore, just a commercialized shell of its former self. Asides for the content found in the second hypothetical quote, most of these concerns are still very much present in our beloved genre, especially the distrust of corporate interest meddling with artistic progression. However, still hip hop remains; larger than life and seemingly growing exponentially each year. It is a giant that can’t be stopped, won’t be stopped.
It wasn’t that long ago that hip hop was associated with almost every negative aspect of society, causing panic and fear whenever it was brought up in certain circles. There were no magazine covers, very little mainstream awareness, and apathetic interest from those outside its musical reach. However, it didn’t take too much time for some forward thinking rap fans, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to seize the moment and attempt to archive all of the happenings in this small genre. For those reason and more, The Source began, 25 years later it continues to bring you an inside look into the world of hip hop.
Slowly, but surely, the field we created has become larger and larger, growing with rap music itself. There are now a plethora of publications and websites to find information on the latest hip hop news; some with editors whose parents were the championing the anti-rap flag way back when, times are definitely changing.
There is something about its raw counter cultural message that appeals to the masses, which was originally at the root of its perceived danger. As the young fans matured into full fledged adults, they brought their love of hip hop with them, slowly raising it stake in the mainstream. With shows like Yo MTV Raps and Video Music Box, an increase in the number of publications on the new stand, the rise of radio stations and record labels, millions of fans, and celebrities spring up everyday, society at large could no longer ignore the behemoth that it had ultimately become. Hip hop was everywhere and in everything.
Now, it isn’t a surprise to see Jay Z on Forbes, Beyonce on GQ, and Kanye on the cover of Vogue. This isn’t an article trying to restate the obvious, but to just celebrate the victory that we have achieved. Through all of the terrible adversities, hip hop remains and is now the culture. If you look at pop culture itself right now, its hard to deny that rap music hasn’t had a huge influence. To sell things or to look cool, companies have to go through hip hop or incorporate its perspective. It doesn’t always lead to authentic uses, but its impressive that they have to try.
It is incredible, hip hop has taken over the world. No matter how conservative you are or how liberal you think you are, you still have to quote Jay Z to get bills passed. Our President quotes rap songs, and his wife feuds with Kanye. This was never supposed to happen, but it did. We got the last laugh, the counter culture has become the culture that jakes need. We get the last laugh. #Winning.
