Ja Rule Says Hip-Hop Needs An Adult Contemporary Category, And He’s Right
Ja Rule has a really great idea for hip-hop.
And shockingly, it doesn’t involve J. Lo or Ashanti.
The R.U.L.E. recently had a really good interview with BlogXilla, mostly speaking on his new MTV realty show, Follow the Rules. But you’ll want to skip to the 10:40 mark for some real jewels.:
For those of you who have videos blocked at your job and can’t watch this (the struggle is so real sometimes), here’s what you missed: BlogXilla laments the fact that hip-hop has a very hard time respecting its legends, which often means veteran artists are put out to pasture in favor of new blood. In the realm of rock, The Eagles can sell out arenas until their bones turn to dust. In hip-hop, we’re ready to throw any artist over the age of 30 in a retirement home.
It’s pretty unfair.
Ja’s solution? Hip-hop needs an adult contemporary category, sort of like R&B radio formats.
HOLLA HOLLA that’s a brilliant idea.
That would give seasoned artists like Nas, Rakim and Ja himself a platform to showcase new music, since current urban stations are solely focused on younger generation. Think of the possibilities:
— More airplay for rap’s pioneers is always a good thing.
— Veterans wouldn’t feel pressured into putting out music that caters to young’ns if they had their own lane to thrive in, helping to stay true to their own sound.
— We’d be more likely to see collaborations between generations without one side feel like they’re abandoning their core base.
— Best of all, a “rap contemporary” category at the Grammys would be the perfect solution to all the awards show drama we’ve seen in recent years. Artists with a more traditional sound like Kendrick Lamar and Lupe Fiasco could finally get the notoriety they’re due in the contemporary category while the Pitbulls and Macklemores and Flo Ridas and Iguana Australias are judged separately.
Like Ja said, hip-hop is growing and that growth requires new rules. So to speak.
What do y’all think? Would an adult contemporary rap category work or nah?
While, the idea has merit for the artist and industry, it is disconcerting in that it may proliferate the demoralizing and destructive behavior associated with hip hop that so many of our young people embrace today. It is so sad that talented singers have to behave poorly; act ignorant; or maintain a “thug-like”; poverty stricken; drug induced; profane image to appear cool or real or to be accepted and thought relevant in today’s society.
With so much money being tossed at artists, talented and untalented, these days it is easy to see why so many of the “veterans”, talented and untalented want to extend the life of their careers. Especially since like so many people; they wasted the millions they earned while they were on top and are now desperately seeking a second chance to shine again and to recoup what they lost.
Unfortunately, the music industry is one that thrives off of the indiscriminate taste, innocence and naivety of the young; so many of them are too being pimped and will either crash or burn or be moved to the back of the line as a new wave of fans, genre and fads enter the arena. Also, you must also consider that your fans from your hey day have grown up and they are in need of music that meets the needs of a more mature responsible listener with real issues like raising children to avoid the destructive traps and images glorified in the music, videos, lyrics and lifestyles of their hip hop genre idols; or the heartbreak and chaos so famously displayed by celebrities and wanna be celebrities in reality TV. Perhaps, the “veterans” in all genres should band together and create a WHOLE, NEW way of entertainment that is meaningful, respectable, honest and affordable and stem the tide of this mess that is ruining the lives and dignity of society and threatening the future of the young. I suggest that you start with assessing your own performance, “Am I really talented?”;
hone your skills; own your mistakes instead of rationalizing them; expose the evils of the industry; and use your knowledge resources, and creativity to start a label; radio station; TV station; etc. to produce, broadcast and market your collective offerings rather than to demand that a category be created to allow you to compete with younger generations in the folly of hip hop. How about “American Legends” as a start in television. Until then, I for one could care less if your careers take a dive; it happens to all working people; who have never had the blessing of financial success that you were given. Furthermore, it is pathetic to see a older artist trying to be relative by walking a stage with bad feet; in juvenile clothing; spitting slurred rhymes through false teeth… it just ain’t cool!
Peace be still!
What Sis said! Those artists need to come out with good music, period. Those of us that have been supporting Jill Scott since 2000(same year he came out) don’t go to Rihanna concerts.
I was in undergrad when Ja Rule was poppin, and he was wack then. Not to say he doesn’t have a point…I barely tolerate the hip hop of today…but where would he fit into all this? He’s no KRS, Rakim. He ain’t Kid or Play. Though his music wasn’t as ridiculous as what we hear today, I just don’t feel he’s a good enough MC to feel like this. His songs were hits b/c of the hooks, just like the kids today.