Tasha Mack Guest Blog: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It! Synergies In Producer-Artist Relationships0
Posted In Guest Blogs
Hip Hop began in Bronx, NY with a cipher, b-boy (also known by the media-term ‘breakdancer’) and a boom box. One of the pioneers of the art, Dougie Fresh, would argue there are 5 elements in Hip Hop: (1) Emcee (2) DJ (3) Dancer (4) Graffiti artist (5) Beat boxer.
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Each element was necessary to properly capture Hip Hop. Likewise, the producer-artist exchange is most important for creating timeless classics.
This past year has hosted artists who have practiced this phenomenon; such as, Big K.R.I.T, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West. These artists have gained major reception from label executives, established peers, and fans. Moreover, artist-producer relationships; such as, Outkast-Organized Noize, Common-J Dilla and Dr. Dre-Eminem are arguably responsible for classics. Why is it important for the art today?
Preservation. It has never been conducive to bite the hand that feeds you. If not for the love and respect of the hip hop pioneers then for the love and respect for yourself. Reiterating the opening statement: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – inspiration in Hip Hop has always flowed with the fluidity of water. Rapper icons have never tried to make a hit; they have just tried to make sense. Not dollars. Let’s get back to making change.
Hip Hop Unplugged, Associate Editor
