What Has Conscious Rap Done?

[Agnapostate]

There are mainstream rappers like Common and Ice Cube over the past few years that can be said to be "conscious," even while we focus on the underground emcees like Immortal Technique, but I wonder what the effects of the popularization of conscious rap actually are.

Two major songs that became hit singles and received constant radio play jump to mind. The first was Nas's "I Can," released in 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUqLGRMrFAg

The one that's still hot right now is Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmp6zIr5y4U

I'm sure there are others that I'm just forgetting, probably something from will.i.am.

Changes in "culture" and all are imperceptible, but are there any tangible examples of what conscious rap has done?

[Stand Your Ground]

Since I heard that Lupe song he's become one of my favorite rappers.

[Agnapostate]

He also called Barack Obama a terrorist (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b246054_lupe_fiasco_barack_obama_terrorist.html). :D

[Pirate Utopian]

I was kinda dissapointed with Lasers myself. I like Lupe and his rapping was good but I wasnt feeling the music. Lots of meddling by the record label.

[Stand Your Ground]

I was kinda dissapointed with Lasers myself. I like Lupe and his rapping was good but I wasnt feeling the music. Lots of meddling by the record label.
I thought Lasers was the best yet, didn't care too much for his first couple. Check out his mixtapes too, some good stuff on there.

[#FF0000]

I thought Lasers was the best yet, didn't care too much for his first couple.

Oh man, not by a long-shot. On top of the actual music itself being kinda garbage, the lyrics are far from Lupe's best. Too much preaching, p. much.

That said I love "The Show Goes On"

[Ocean Seal]

There are mainstream rappers like Common and Ice Cube over the past few years that can be said to be "conscious," even while we focus on the underground emcees like Immortal Technique, but I wonder what the effects of the popularization of conscious rap actually are.

Two major songs that became hit singles and received constant radio play jump to mind. The first was Nas's "I Can," released in 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUqLGRMrFAg

The one that's still hot right now is Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmp6zIr5y4U

I'm sure there are others that I'm just forgetting, probably something from will.i.am.

Changes in "culture" and all are imperceptible, but are there any tangible examples of what conscious rap has done?


Start at 00:46 for some examples of conscious rap in action

tYUv3QSN3CU

[Stand Your Ground]

Oh man, not by a long-shot. On top of the actual music itself being kinda garbage, the lyrics are far from Lupe's best. Too much preaching, p. much.

That said I love "The Show Goes On"
All a matter of opinion I guess. Did you listen to State Run Radio?