WHERES THE HIP-HOP??

From what I have read, it appears that the Hip-Hop DJs are probably the least receptive to digital (other than DVS) which would probably explain why the focus on this site in particular is not on Hip-Hop. I do agree with you that the focus on Hip-Hop on this site is pretty much non-existant.

Dj iceman, post: 10757 wrote: I noticed that every time i pick up a dj publication or go to a dj website or forum, the main focus is on edm music. im not bitter but we need to see more hip-hop djs. i know in the last 5-9 years the creativity in hip-hop music seemed to be at a standstill but there are still a lot of creative things going on in the underground!! and as long as they are still having hip-hop at the dmcs i think we’ll be ok lol whats you guys take on the lack of hip-hop djs in the mainstream media?? (i know most of you dont care but humor me)

I hear you, but the problem is for over a decade hip-hop has been shunned to the underground as poppy easy-to-digest crap has dominated the scene and even tried to call itself “hip-hop”. We might have respect for KRS-One or Common or artists like that, but the industry has been only pushing BEP, Rihanna, etc. as “hip-hop”.

I go into venues and that’s all I hear. Pop tunes with rap music beats and mashups with rap music beats.

I agree that many hip-hop DJs have been anti-digital, but that’s slowly changing with many getting on Serato. However, the issue still is how the sound is controlled by the record industry, and they’re defining it as the cheese.

Dj iceman, post: 10757 wrote: I noticed that every time i pick up a dj publication or go to a dj website or forum, the main focus is on edm music. im not bitter but we need to see more hip-hop djs. i know in the last 5-9 years the creativity in hip-hop music seemed to be at a standstill but there are still a lot of creative things going on in the underground!! and as long as they are still having hip-hop at the dmcs i think we’ll be ok lol whats you guys take on the lack of hip-hop djs in the mainstream media?? (i know most of you dont care but humor me)

IMHO Hip Hop had a good 10 years in the mainstream spotlight, don’t really miss it at all. Not coming from a hater perspective, i think there are a lot of people like myself who are simply just passionate about “EDM” in its various forms (even the pop variety) and are just glad its having its turn in the spotlight, especially after enduring a long time when it wasn’t welcome during the mainstream hip hop era.

Just to add to this…the word DJ isnt what it used to be, now a days in order for you to be a mainstream DJ you usually area already producing your own music…and lets face it…producing Hip Hop beats is about as boring as watching paint dry compared to producing EDM

Hey Iceman, I’ve always been puzzled by the split between hip-hop and EDM. I’ve lost interest in hip-hop for reasons everybody here has mentioned, but before then, I loved both types of music equally. However, I’m a pretty rare bird.

I think the split has always been there, long before Digital DJing. Around 20 years ago, I DJ’ed a small hip-hop club in Minneapolis. I was the only white guy in the place. It was the best DJ gig I ever had: every Friday night, 6 hours straight, in the golden age of hip-hop, new jack swing, Prince, and fantastic stuff. People loved my mixing. I had to bust out the Jodeci when people were getting tired from dancing too much! Then I’d start it up again. Awwww yeah.

Back then (as you probably know, but younger readers might not) music was more segregated: There was top 40 hits and black “urban” hits. Unfortunately, my social world was also segregated. All my white friends who were into the EDM of the times (Nitzer Ebb, Depeche Mode, Acid House, etc.) But never ONCE did any of them come in there to see me spin, having a good time, rocking out the crowd. Sometimes they would mention they were scared, and there were definitely gang-bangers at this place, but all my friends prided themselves on how tough and urban (i.e., not suburban) they were.

It was sad but also an eye-opener. My friends guys were pretty artsy and liberal, you’d think they’d want to try something new. But they really refused to see this scene with any credibility. I definitely got a whiff of “Guess who’s coming to dinner” with music taste. They embraced soul, but at a safe social distance. Seems to be an element of the EDM scene for a long time. But I’ve been out of the scene, and I’m in Hong Kong now, so I can’t really judge whether its true any more.

Sounds like you’ve got a niche you can exploit, though, Iceman. One of the things I’m planning to do with my new Tacktor S4 is set up loops on old hip-hop and soul jams for crazy mixes and re-edits. Do the kinds of mixes I couldn’t do in that old hip hop club. Those old soul and hip-hop tracks had killer loops but they were always too short!

its not that there are still 1000X more Hip Hop DJs then EDM but most of them dont like digital.. and A LOT of them dont use forums

Where I live alot of bars dont want Hip Hop because of the “element that it draws.” Thats the new code phrase

Actually DJPossess, its not a new code phrase or tactic.
Sad to read that 20 years later people are saying the same old shit and using “white” EDM to push away black/latino people from clubs.

2 years ago, the graduating class from my college went to Chicago for their senior trip. At one spot (Mother’s Bar), the bouncers and management refused to let in the black members of the class because “their jeans were too baggy.” Some non-african american members of the class protested, stating that their pants were baggier, but the management refused to allow any of the black students there into the bar.

Is urban nightlife color-blind? Hell no.
On another note, they love their well-dressed asians (in my experience).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/26/students-denied-by-mother_n_334588.html