r/hiphop101 1d ago

Do you think music critics are harsher on rap albums today than they were in the past?

Or are the bad albums today just worse than the bad albums of let’s say 2001.

5 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

18

u/The_Chef_Raekwon 🔥 1d ago

I think it’s the opposite, at least in public discussion. Roll along with the forced positivity or risk being framed as a bitter hater.

1

u/TJMcConnellFanClub 1d ago

Yep, for example last year we were told we had to accept Doechii as a huge star or else we were hating/sexist/etc

4

u/TheChillestVibes 1d ago

Doechii is hot right now for sure, though. Although, I do agree that we need some more projects from her before she join rap royalty, but with the track record she has so far, she's well on her way. And yes, she WAS a star when Alligator Bites Never heal.

2

u/Haunting-Orchid-4628 1d ago

At first I thought she was ass because all i heard was "Anxiety" but she straight spits on her other tracks

0

u/Mermaiven 1d ago

Proving my point. Doechii is incredible talented and spits better than anyone right now.

3

u/TheChillestVibes 1d ago

She's straight gas, I think she has the potential and Star power to be one of the greatest if she maintains course! We'll have to see though, hip hop is full of certified sputters that release one album, and then fall off, so I'm cautiously optimistic over here

1

u/drewp_73 1d ago

She's the female Tyler the creator, she ain't flawless but she unique

-1

u/p90love 1d ago

Better than anyone?? That is bonkers.

16

u/UnderTheCurrents 1d ago

It's the exact opposite actually. Music critics have lost their bite and can't call shit by it's name anymore.

4

u/ProbstMalone 1d ago

💯 There are plenty of modern "classics" that are actually unlistenable dreck.

10

u/TheQuestionsAglet 1d ago

Hell fucking no. Rolling Stone used to literally hate hip hop. They labeled Public Enemy all sorts of shit, and now I feel like if you wanna write there you have to love PE.

8

u/Heatherjjjjjjjj 1d ago

That's a big negative, ghostrider.

5

u/UNOTHENAME200 1d ago

I remember "Midnight Mauraders" getting 2 and 1/2 starts.

I also remember them trashing "Blowout Comb" by Digable Planets.

Black music has never been appreciated by mainstream American publications.

Today is no different.

They reward the least innovative artists and the ones who are least likely to be remembered.

Thats why the Source was so important back in the day. Other than Made Men mistakes, it was almost always right.

11

u/Mermaiven 1d ago

lol whut? Male “rappers” out now don’t even have to rap or have any talent. And women rappers are KILLLLLLING IT and still getting shit. I’d say the opposite!

2

u/thaneros2 1d ago

As far as mainstream, yes I agree.

-1

u/crabll 1d ago

This is just wrong and a little sexist

4

u/Mermaiven 1d ago

The real “sexism” is that women rappers have to work WAY harder than men to even get recognized. They also have to be hot, pay for surgeries, dance, rap, sing, and fit into the narrowest molds AND they get constant hate for it. I love pussy rap but damn let them expand. Calling criticism of underperforming men sexism is wild. Also that is not how sexism works. It’s like talking about “reverse racism”. It’s not real.

0

u/crabll 1d ago

First of all, there’s way less female rappers than male. Just like how pop is a female led genre, and it would be harder for men to become popular in pop. You don’t have to be hot to be popular, and you don’t have to pay for surgeries. Women don’t have to rap like sexy red, but it just so happens that a lot of women do rap like that, which is a very unlikable style of rap to the normal enjoyer. The fact of the matter is that men just simply make better rap music than most women. And what about Lauryn Hill? Or little simz? Or Nicki Minaj? There’s plenty of fantastic rappers who get their flowers, but the amount of men in the rap industry out number the amount of women, simple facts. Progressive liberals like you will try to put a woman in every place a man is, while simultaneously tearing down every man’s achievement. Rap was literally created by a bunch of men! Also male rappers now DO have to have talent, and so so many rappers have talent, and talentless rappers are shit on by the community. That’s the sexism. Assuming that a man has a spot just because he’s a man, and that he doesn’t deserve the spot. I could say the same thing about all the female pop stars being talentless auto tuning abusers who write the same shitty pop song over and over and over but I don’t, because that’s sexism.

-1

u/Mermaiven 1d ago

Nicki is literally a Barbie doll, Lauren Hill is a rare exception to reach that level, and I’m talking about CURRENT rappers. Though I looooove Little SIMZ shes not what I’d consider mainstream. You’re missing the point entirely and know nothing about women “like me” (damn sure as shit not a liberal… and that stereotyping is sexist af, ironically).

u/crabll 2h ago

I was just guessing a party based on what you were saying, not actually who you are. Also Nicki is one of the highest selling and most popular, if not most popular, female rappers, which is exactly what you said you wanted

3

u/Electoriad 1d ago

Back in the day before rap and hip hop was insanely commercial they still considered it a black art and NEVER took it seriously. Now with the climate having changed, it’s definitely better. The ONLY issue with modern criticism is so many of them are stuck in their own chambers and have tons of yes men there waiting on them to form their opinion to regurgitate it. Almost taking their words as gospel.

3

u/Important_Yard_6809 12h ago

Yes and rightfully so.

2

u/Pusher026 1d ago

Ludacris and Redman. I only know of Future Thugz, but the beat is kinda wack.

1

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1

u/tweekinleanin420 1d ago

Have u ever heard of 2 slimey? Have yourself a listen. Jorjiana. It's rough out there, man.

1

u/Correct-Cantaloupe39 1d ago

I think it’s just easier access to any music you could want to hear, so there’s more opinions made public.

1

u/LegitimateMall8614 1d ago

i think there a lot harsher but hip hop has changed so much don't know if its for the better or worse

1

u/MemphisApollo 21h ago

As much as people say they are pro-change, they hate it.

-3

u/Wrong-Bowl-4681 1d ago

Depends on the outlet. I think too many of the people reviewing rap albums, especially writing about rap albums, are old heads and don't get much of the new stuff. I say that as an old head.