| In the 80s, Hip-hop was a remedy for Black people or victims of racism. Legendary Hip-hop acts like Public Enemy did not promote objectification of women or materialism. Their lyrics reflected the condition of their lives in the ghettos and racism in general...
Hip-hop played a political role, just as Black poetry in apartheid South Africa. It gave their people hope and something to enjoy.
However, the US government did not like political or revolutionary rap, which could mobilise Black people. That is why, all these distribution labels (all owned by Whites) started commercialising the music, replacing political rap with gangsta rap. You may blame Black artists for selling themselves out like that, however, what it meant for them is economic improvement.
...and the Sage said, "Oh Ibn_Sina, I give thy the Legendary Sword of Righteousness. Remember, if thy fail, Dark Beast Mogilla will be unstopable"... |