There have always been oddballs in hip-hop. Rappers like MF DOOM, Kool Keith, Shock G have represented the left-field and still managed to carve out their own niche in the music world. But today we’ve got Lil B, Odd Future, and Kreayshawn, three of the most out-there acts to ever hit the scene, all on the brink of serious mainstream success. What’s going on in hip-hop?
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The rules used to be simple – if you had a superior way of using language and delivery, you were better than the next guy. Win over your neighborhood, work your way up among the ranks, prove yourself to enough people, and you’re gonna be on top.
Slowly but surely, as they always do, things have changed. The rap game has always been competitive, and hopefully it always will be – it’s one of the things that drives rappers to develop new styles and come up with ways to stand out. But these days, the criteria is different. It’s no longer just about delivery, rhyme scheme, flow, or any of those old-school words that heads use when dissecting an emcee. These days it’s just as much about image, style, charisma, and some “it” factor that always seems to pop up.
There’s a million ways to talk about the “it” factor, but anyone who claims to have it fully figured out is just an asshole. “It” is the kind of thing you can never put your finger on. That’s why, for years, people have described it simply as “it.” There are too many variables that have come into play to make artists like Lil B and Tyler, The Creator, and Kreayshawn popular. What it boils down to is an individuality (like it or not, you have to admit they all stand out) and an ability to rally the troops (anyone can be weird, but to get people to follow you is an entirely different game).
While traditional rappers have placed an emphasis on “keeping it real,” insisting that their raps are a reflection of their reality, the hip-hop oddballs embrace a larger-than-life image fueled by viral videos and internet memes. Tyler approaches his music like a film-director of some horror movie, and if you’ve only heard one Lil B song, you might think he’s a murderous, blasphemous, womanizing criminal or a crusader for world peace and absolute positivity, depending on which song you’ve heard.
Then we’ve got Kreayshawn. Her appearance alone is enough to inspire curiosity, and once she opens her mouth, most peoples’ heads start bubbling with question marks and exclamation points. Her emergence (and that of her friends, such as V-Nasty) into the spotlight has raised issues of appropriation and authenticity, and whether you think it’s quality entertainment or an offensive gimmick, you most likely have an opinion.
Instrumental to the rise of the hip-hop oddball is the rise of the ironic fan. I don’t know when this all started, but it seems to be one of those new things that old people know nothing about, like planking, silly bandz, and fun. I didn’t realize what an ironic fan was until dirty hipsters started taking a liking to Gucci Mane, but shit has gotten serious. The line between ironically enjoying something and being a genuine fan is becoming increasingly blurry, and I’m not going to try to explain it, but you know it when you see it. Any artist can win over genuine fans, but if you can attract the ironic ones, your potential market grows exponentially.
It doesn’t matter what’s “good” anymore. Go ahead, test it out for yourself. Try to start an argument with an Odd Future fan that Tyler, The Creator isn’t good. Base your argument on production, lyricism, whatever. I can already tell you what the first two words (and probably the third) you’ll hear back will be. Try to debate that Lil B can’t rap, and see if your opinion matters to the kid screaming “thank you Based God!” and offering up all his bitches. The allegiance to artists runs deeper than logic. If you don’t like it, you don’t “get” it. In the mind of fans, it’s as simple as that.
For the first time in a while, there is no shortage of diversity in hip-hop. The club hits are still topping the charts, college rap is now a certifiable category of its own, and there are pockets of sub-genres filling up everywhere, from the lyrically inclined traditionalists to the electro-inspired alternative-minded. In a musical atmosphere where the mainstream is often dominated by cookie-cutter hits and same-sounding stars, maybe the rise of the oddball is a good thing. Just as punk rock forever changed rock & roll, maybe this brand of don’t-give-a-fuck rappers, who could not care less about the conventional ways of approaching hip-hop, are going to be the unlikely ones who change the direction of the genre.
Great read. I agree with the whole irony thing. It’s partly due to the fact that the internet is turning into this ironic ball of yarn. It was only a matter of time that rappers using Twitter would be using the internet for everything and anything like videos, merchandise, slogans, freestyles, ustreams, fan connection etc. Nothing against it though. People are just having more fun with it. It’s like a worldwide party, where artists can get in touch with other artists and other fans. And also like a party, the most funny and outrageous people get all the attention.
But I have to say though, I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole music scene collapsed on itself in the next decade or so. There’s just too many blogs out there, tracks and tracks of music pumping by the minute, leaving more and more strainers out there frantically trying to basket all the great tunes that the whole idea of an artist grabbing your attention, let alone grabbing a “summer hit” will likely feel more oddball, attention-whoring, and disposable by the minute.
It’d be best to stick close to the scene you enjoy the most.
Another thing about the internet though is that it provides a window into so many different scenes that you’d normally never see. Personally, I couldn’t ever stick to one scene. I think it’s just a matter of filtering stuff out. But I agree, that is getting harder to do with so much music out there coming in from so many different sources.
We’ll figure it out though. The music industry and music consumption as a whole will continuously go through some serious changes, but it’s never going to die.
And keep in mind, people that listen to the radio probably hear the same 40 songs every day, and there are still a lot of those people. This whole internet-scouring, blog-reading music fanatic is a whole other extreme, but I think there’s a healthy balance somewhere in between.
After YEARS of terrible radio and videos, this is just the next step.
There have been plenty of dog shit artists/acts with tons of exposure & a solid fan-base – I don’t believe this is anything new.
Lil B & Kreayshawn are really just taking horrible to the next level, and people have been programmed to love horrible music.
I would refrain from throwing Tyler into that category as the kid can rap and he’s actually capable of playing an instrument or two.
@LH – People being “programmed” to like terrible music really does nothing to explain Lil B. If anyone’s programmed to like anything it’s major chords and big melodies, neither which he employs but you’ll hear at the top of the charts every day. I love Lil B, and it’s definitely not because I thought “oh hey, this sounds terrible, count me in!”
I agree, the major chords and melodies are what draws the majority of listeners in, but that doesn’t mean the bar can’t be lowered.
If you want to listen to verses that consist of “Fittin’ hit this lick, suck my fuckin’ dick SWAG”, then have at it. That doesn’t take away from the fact that that’s some terrible ish. :x
This was definetly a good read and I do think its true about ironic fans and ironically enjoying stuff, you never can be too sure. And getting into an argument about what good rap is when it comes to these guys is like getting into a land war in Asia, classic blunder.
This is a great mini-article. It is impossible to rationalize with a fan of any of these three camps, and theres no reason to. I no longer try to knock their music, instead embracing it from a holistic standpoint. By claiming your different, you instantaneously create an “its us against them” mentality and droves of people will immediately join the bandwagon. I think it just further drives home the point that opinions are just that. Opinions, and nothing more. GREAT READ.
HIPSTER HOP. “Instrumental to the rise of the hip-hop oddball is the rise of the ironic fan.”
Great read. I think in the end it just comes down to the reason why people have different tastes in music; if you convince yourself that something is enjoyable to listen to, then that’s exactly what is, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
Ps.. you should write more of these type of posts. You’re pretty insightful
I think that pointing out the ironic fan is spot on, that’s the reason that these acts have seen so much success. I also think that the ADD Internet environment is what’s caused America’s love of irony.
We retweet an internet meme picture because it’s funny. That act says nothing about our taste in pictures, just that we thought something was funny and wanted to share it. Now, that attitude’s bleeding over into the real world and people are jamming to “Bitch Suck Dick,” not because it’s good in any classical sense, but because it’s entertaining. It’s meme music; people pass it along like they would a funny picture online.
Honestly, my attitude to it is “why not?” It’s entertaining, free and not harmful to other industries. Ever hear anybody say “nah, my favorite band used to be Wilco but I’m a Lil B guy now. I just really connect with the way that he’s always got hos on his dick.”? It can seem like it’s unfair for someone to get paid for shouting SWAG for three minutes on a song, but if they’re entertaining, why not? There’s an art here too, even if not a traditionally musical one. Not every internet meme catches on.
And here’s a great article on irony in culture outside of music: http://www.cracked.com/blog/i-cant-tell-if-world-being-serious-anymore/
Great read Con.
Interesting read. My take on this is that the internet is working to transform the borders of music, culture, entertainment, communication, etc. in ways that weren’t anticipated. Sure, we knew that the computer and the internet would allow us to have access to every range of music, but did we anticipate the the same technology creating a mutant child of culture and music? That’s what I relate artists such Lil B, Odd Future, and Kreayshawn to. They’re simply byproducts of this culture-music hybrid and the need for this social phenomenon to invest in itself. Odd Future, for example, are more cultural icons (imo) than anything (fuck everything attitude, revitalizing the Supreme brand/pushing hipster gear to the mainstream, the “anti-establishment” choice), yet they make music. The gray space between the two segments has become a segment all its own.
Wow, great, great article by Con (as usual). Especially liked the points about ironic fans, arguing against the fans of those 3 artists, and the diversity/direction of hip hop overall. The comments on here are fantastic as well. I’d like to add to the discussion the following:
There are definitely a contingent of people I feel that listen to these controversial artists because they feel that in some way it makes them “cool” (a la the latest South Park episode about Tweenwave). While I firmly believe that most people who visit P&P (esp. those who comment on this blog) are so passionate about music that they would never listen to something just to be “cool,” there are thousands, if not more, of people who are way more concerned with their perceived popularity than they are with music. You know, those people who, when you ask them what kind of music they like, they go “I dunno everything . . . Oh, except for country, haha.” If you’re lazy enough to answer “everything” in response to a question about music with elaborating, then you’re probably not passionate about the art.
I love arguing about Tyler, the Creator, but don’t know enough about Lil B or Kreayshawn to have a real opinion about them. Just noting that while I’m a big TtC fan, I’m definitely willing to have a completely civil, fact-based argument/discussion about him, haha.
The biggest point that stuck out to me from Con’s original post was bringing up punk rock in relation to these hip hop oddballs. Odd Future DEFINITELY reminds me of punk rock, what with their anarchism, DIY ethics, youth, and willingness to say “fuck that” to literally everything, even going so far as to say “fuck that” ABOUT saying “fuck that,” if that makes sense (there’s irony again). Other parallels that interest me: Punk rock was in some ways a backlash to “regular” rock that appeased the masses, I guess Top 40 rock waaay back in the day. They said “fuck that” to regular rock, made short angry songs about injustices in the world. To a certain extent, there’s been a backlash to punk rock (itself a backlash), with people pointing out that playing 3 chords over and over again for 3 minutes and yelling angry things over it does not music make. So, in light of history repeating itself, will there be an even-bigger backlash to OFWGKTA/others? There has obviously already been a bit of backlash against them, but I’m talking about an eventual mainstream backlash. And will this backlash be ironic? In essense, this would be people (hipsters?) ironically pretending to ironically like weird hip hop in order to make fun of people who ironically listen to weird hip hop (not sure this makes sense ethier). Sorry to be wordy, but this is a really interesting/important discussion IMO.
*about music withOUT elaborating (hate typos)
I think its an unintended consequence of what the rappers that were ‘keeping’ it real created. The next generation will always be influenced by the previous. They took things too literal, like I don’t give a fuck, and made it cool. I dig it though, it increases the acceptance of people to not only look at what is aesthetically in front of you but forces you to interact more. Unfortunately, this interaction primarily takes place through the internets and some taking place in person/at concerts. I like it!
I suppose if it fills a niche it fills a niche, in my opinion Odd Future certainly has a place in hip hop just like Eminem did but Lil B and Kreayshawn are an abomination to music. I can’t believe that anyone ever handed them a microphone let them mumble stupid ass lyrics over good beat and ever let them do it again. Cheers to the ironic fans and the dilution of hip hop
But BIGchris, would you say the same thing about punk rock? Because most of those dudes could not (or maybe just didn’t want to) show any kind of musical skill when it came to playing their instruments or singing. It was more about the attitude and the image.
All in all, i think that this will continue to happen and only the genre in which it happens will change. It’s just a result of cultural development. The same thing applies with fashion. In the 80′s and 90′s people had a certain sense of style and as the years passed, styles changed and now the current generations thinks that what they wore at the time was stupid. It also applies with internet culture. At first myspace was EVERYTHING, now it’s facebook and now even facebook is starting to lose it’s cool to twitter and tumble.
It’s just cultural growth. The category in which it happens isn’t of much concern.
However, i still think this was a good article.
I don’t understand how ppl package Tyler in this whole ‘not good famous rappers’ thing. Tyler’s entire package is on lyricism Goblin was a interlude away from Marshall Mathers LP (yall heard Ken Kaniff rite).
Great article. With the rise of artists like Lil B and Kreashawn you have to keep in mind where they come from and what niche they appeal to. They’re from the bay, and just 10 years ago we were obsessed with the hyphy movement. I feel like Lil B really is just a byproduct of the hyphy movement, just instead of yelling stupid, dumb, hyphy, 18 dummy he’s yelling swag and about all the bitches on his dick (thats what he’s famous for at least, personally I like the stuff where he actually raps about real stuff).
Most fans will agree that these oddball artists aren’t as advanced lyrically as more “famous original rappers” but music isn’t all about the lyrics. What sounds good and what you wanna play at high volumes with your friends matters as well.
^btw i know i wrote that poorly but i gotta go!
Haha, ditto SK’s points on the bay/hyphy (though I still love hyphy, I bump The Pack and others every now and then). Kreayshawn is pure shit IMO, but I will always have love for Lil B/The Pack, no matter how ridiculous he acts. Just listened to “I’m Gay” in full and liked it way more than I thought it would. Deserves more listens for sure.
I like what your doing.