Is Hip-Hop Growing Up?

Is Hip-Hop Growing Up?

Justin McWilson

Feb. 18, 2012

Recently we as fans of this ever-evolving culture were exposed to yet another beef. This time from seasoned Hip Hop veteran Common and pop sensation Drake. While conflicts over vernacular and verbal dexterity are nothing new, method by which these disputes are being handle has begun to grow in maturity with each new case. Naturally in any male driven field testosterone is bound to run ramped. However, we have finally taken a page from the high power boardroom executives and found more civilized ways to handle our complications.

While the turmoil between Tupac and Biggie Smalls (along with their perspective crews) may have been an extreme case, the sentiments from that situation remained consistent throughout the years “when at war nothing is off limits”. This was never more evident, than in the case of “Gucci Mane vs. Young Jeezy”. Both emerging talents at time (2005) allowed something as petty as royalties and song credits divert their focus from the “Industry” to handling their conflict “In-The-Street”.

While serving a six-month jail term for assault in late 2005, Davis (Gucci Mane) was charged with murder, though the charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence. In 2009, he served a year-long county jail sentence for violating probation for his 2005 aggravated assault conviction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gucci_Mane).

Referring back to the case of Common vs. Drake, to serve as an example as to how much the philosophy has changed in just a short period time. In late January 2012 after nearly two months of speculation Aubrey Graham (Drake) finally responded to a dis record aimed at him by Hip-Hopper Lonnie “Common Sense” Rashid. However, rather than taking the skirmish to an unnecessary level involving violence, both emcees elected to keep it on wax. None-the-less emotions took center stage as the two finally came face to face (at the Grammy Awards) for the first time since their quarrel had begun. Read more about the incident here… http://www.sohh.com/2012/02/drake_common_squashed_beef_not_each_othe.html.

While this situation does nothing to stimulate the economy, mend gender relations or create world peace. It does represent a more neutral zone for looking to invest in the culture. As well as those that make a living within it…