Are Rappers The New Rock Stars?
As time goes by and music becomes equally progressive and genre defying, we begin to see artists that encapsulate traits from across a wide range of music and incorporate them into their own personal style.
Rappers like Lil Uzi Vert, Post Malone, Kanye West, Lil Yachty and Playboi Carti are all bonafide stars that don’t fit into the thugged out, loose jean wearing rapper that your Mum thinks of, leading many people — and the artists themselves — to label themselves as this generations rock stars.
And you know what? They’re absolutely bloody right.
The term “Rock star” used to only be associated with old white dudes that had insane hair, a fondness for drugs and destruction and were pretty damn solid at plucking a guitar. Now, that term has evolved to incorporate something much bigger, a rock star can be any artist if they can incite disruption and capture the attention of millions.
So, when exactly did raps transformation from blood thirsty gangsters trying to escape the ghetto to world renowned superstars that sell out stadiums actually happen?
In the video below, Gene Simmons of Kiss delivers some very interesting and thought provoking points that illustrate how rap got where it is today. The braggadocios behaviour that has attracted much criticism from those not familiar with the genre is part and parcel of what a rock star was — and is — today.
Flexing with huge stacks of cash on social media, taking photos with gorgeous women who belong on racy posters found in a 12 year old’s masturbation dungeon and wearing lavish and expensive clothing are all basic tenets of the rock star.
While some have been labelling rappers as this generations rock stars for a few years, Kanye famously told Zane Lowe in a 2013 interview that he is the biggest one of them all, it’s only recently that this claim has really started to become more substantial.
This year’s Nielsen Music annual mid-year report revealed that rap had overtaken rock as the most listened to genre in the United States for the first time ever. On top of rap being the most popular genre in the world, its also dominating the charts. At any given time, you can expect the Billboard Top 100 to be packed full of rap songs. Currently, 11 songs featuring rap artists make up the top 25, with the top 3 completely consisting of songs from raps biggest superstars.
Another aspect of rock stardom that rappers have been able to replicate fantastically is having the charisma and stage presence to put on an excellent show. We’ve all seen rock and roll legends tear up the guitar in front of thousands of screaming fans, but the way rappers are able to whip the crowd into a frenzy is nothing short of breath taking.
While I can agree that some rappers in the new school might not necessarily be gifted lyricists, any live show by a hype rapper is guaranteed to set the venue alight. Whether it’s Travis Scott jumping on top of a truck at Listen Out 2016, Lil Uzi Vert flipping and twisting like he’s at a school acrobatics competition, or Lil Yachty headbanging his iconic cherry-red hair along to his most electrifying hits, the new school of rock stars have the crowd right in the palm of their hands.
It’s not that rappers are comparing themselves to Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix or Mick Jagger and saying that they’re better than them. They’re just this generations rock stars that are able to pull influence from the culture their currently building as well as iconic moments from history. Resulting in a fusion of rock star and rapper that the world has never seen before.
With no signs of rap’s domination of the musical landscape slowing down any time soon and a whole generation of eager young artists ready to take to the stage and flex, it looks like we’re going to keep seeing an abundance of colourful dreads, death defying stage deaths and literal piles of money on social media.
And I for one can’t wait.
