diversification of rap music over the years. How can we possibly expect to box something so abstract into such mundane divisions? It’s like asking the fashion world to pick the best outfit between a summer and fall outfit – you’re comparing apples to oranges.
Let’s look at 2016 albums for example. If you’re on the voting panel of an award show how do you compare Kanye’s Life of Pablo, ScHoolboy Q’s Blank Face LP, Travis Scott’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, YG’s Still Brazy, Anderson Paak’s Malibu and Kaytranada’s 99.9%? Now you’re comparing apples to oranges to kale to spinach to grapes. The differences in approach are so glaring that one can’t possibly consider the culmination of these albums just “rap/hip-hop”.
So what’s the result of siloing artistry? Simple. Cannibalism and even a slight disdain amongst artists (especially after the “winner” is announced). I find it somewhat reminiscent of a Mandingo fighting mentality – we’re pitted against each other, one of has to lose and I sure as hell don’t want it to be me – its nothing personal, just business. Both sides feel the impact no matter the victor.
But I say all that to say this; every problem has a potential solution. Mine is oversimplified (go-figure): expand the voting categories to reflect the current landscape. Music is as diverse as the people who create it. Let’s acknowledge, accept and herald those differences with categories that actually highlight them. Conscious rap and gangsta rap should be put in separate voting categories just as alternative rap and trap should be considered distinguishable entities. As the times change so should the music and the voting categories.
I believe this approach begins to fulfill the duty of what awards shows should actually do – award every type and level of professional artistry on all accords. Granted, we also need voting board members to ingratiate themselves more with the culture rather than just commercial metrics in order to appropriately select winners. Imagine how less of a joke we’d take the voting committees if they didn’t make it so transparent that they absolutely suck at their jobs.
Abdris Elba, B.S. in Advertising – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D. in Trolling is a SQL/BI developer, aspiring voiceover actor and living proof that the chicken indeed comes before the egg.