S. Samuel
Former Flipmode Squad member Rah Digga recently hit up SOHH to share her thoughts on what changes hip-hop artists need to embark upon in order to affect their audience.
From Rah’s perspective, artists must make a return to the basics, caring most about hip-hop as an art form as opposed to reveling in its glamor.
“I think the females and everyone out just needs to keep making their music and bring it back to the basics,” Rah explained to SOHH. “A big problem with not just females but artists in general is that they think they have to make some kind of grand stand re-entrance or they have to put on some crazy production or something to make it in the industry when the answer is real simple and plain, take it back to basics.” (SOHH)
Despite often being categorized as pop, Black Eyed Peas‘ frontman Will.i.am recently affirmed his contributions to hip-hop.
“If there’s anyone that’s the personification of hip-hop, I’m probably the most hip-hop n*gga out of all these hip-hop n*ggas. But hip-hop editorial and blogs and even some of the hip-hop fans don’t see it that way, which is cool,” he said in an interview. “I’m going to win. I’m going to win and win bigger than all these n*ggas are winning…Hip-Hop is limiting itself and that also goes for editorially. Magazines and websites are the gatekeepers of what people think hip-hop is, but they actually end up limiting what hip-hop can be…If Nas calls me for another track, I can do that. But at the same time, if Usher calls me I can do [an ‘OMG’] as well. Songs like ‘OMG’ are international hits, not just hits on American urban radio. I’m talking about the f*cking world!” (VIBE)
In May, rap veteran Nas stated his observations on hip-hop’s highs and lows.
“It died several times, but I do believe in the heartbeat of it right now,” Nas said in an interview. “There are a lot of new artists, and artists that have been around, who are kicking a** right now. I just wanted to give a boost to people and to myself, to push people to go harder. It’s a different world now.” (Wall Street Journal)
Recently, Digga spoke with SOHH about the perception of a decline in hip-hop female emcees.
“There’s definitely a range of females who are doing things, but the only thing that really bothers me is when people say there are no females and that’s not true,” Digga explained to SOHH. “There are tons of females out there rapping. Everyone seems to look to the glamourous side of the females rapping but I think the media can control what females get exposure and things of that nature and they just don’t. Everybody complains about why aren’t there any females and why aren’t they getting exposure, but it’s because the media isn’t giving it to them. Simple and plain. It’s not rocket science. You know, pick one.” (SOHH)
Check out a recent Rah Digga interview below:
