Ok people...I have a bone to pick. Yeah, that's right – I'm gonna just put it out there. I have to speak up. Enough is enough. It is my duty as a fellow hip-hop head to bring this issue to the forefront and confront it. Since when did biting become acceptable in hip-hop?! Since when did it become cool to blatantly copy someone's style, fashion or business move?
Remember in middle school when you copped those new pair of sneakers and you rocked them on the first day of school? Couldn't nobody tell you nothin! You knew you were the freshest one in your class! What made it more special was that you were the only one with them, so naturally, people wanted to know where you got em. A week later, you see that same kid sporting the exact same shoes as you, same colors and all. Then they had the nerve to run to you saying, “Hey look, I got the same shoes! We can be twins!” Either that, or they wouldn't say anything all, rocking them as if they were the first ones with them. Regardless, didn't we consider those kids lame, then?
Recently, rapper Consequence came out publicly and accused ex-labelmate Pusha T of biting a line of his on Pusha's song “My God”. Whether or not it is true is debatable, but part of me is happy for Consequence speaking up, if only because it lets me know what school of thought he comes from. There was a time up until about the early 2000's when copying someone's style was off-limits in hip-hop. It was the ultimate no-no. And if you did steal someone's style, you would get called out immediately and most times shunned away. The name of the game was originality. Sure, there is a difference between being inspired by someone and just flat out stealing – but where do we draw that line? Many people accuse Jay-Z of stealing lines earlier in his career. He has used lines from everyone ranging from Biggie to Slick Rick, but he considers it paying homage. Again, where do we draw the line?
I think the straw that broke the camel's back was hearing about Jazzy Pha jumping on the headphone bandwagon. Originally it was Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine's creation with the “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones, then Diddy followed suit with “Diddy beats”...then 50 Cent with “Sheek”...now Jazzy Pha. C'MON SON. We've seen this time and time again – whether it be rappers starting clothing lines, coming out with alcohol brands, incorporating the song-a-week marketing scheme, using autotune, wearing pink, incorporating Bangledesh's “A Millie” snare breakdown in beats, etc. Where do we draw the line?
My fellow hip-hop heads...what up? What's good?! What's crackin?! What it do?! I know, I know - it's been a minute since I've written and I apologize for that. What can I say? Taking over the world is quite time consuming – ask Pinky and The Brain. Anywho, there are important matters to be discussed in the world of hip-hop. As we've all recently seen just a couple of weeks ago, The Black Eyed Peas performed at the halftime show for Super Bowl XLV, going thru a slew of their hits including “I Got A Feeling”, “Boom Boom Pow”, “Pump It”, “Let's Get It Started”, amongst others. They even brought out Slash from Guns and Roses to play guitar while Fergie sang a cover of their late 1980's smash “Sweet Child of Mine”. If this performance made any statement whatsoever, it was simply that we're living in the age of The Black Eyed Peas – in terms of commercial music. Hate it or love it, they are the poster children for pop/commercial hip-hop music in 2011.
With that said, I found it interesting that there were a wide range of mixed emotions about their performance from the hip-hop community:
"Maaaaaan Black Eyed Peas & Usher Kiiiiiillllleeed the Halftime performance!!!!!! Best one I have seen," Chamillionaire declared.
"My ni99 from the black eye peas outfit was LIT.COM!!! dat ni99a s**t had its own light show..LOL!! #WTFMoment!" tweeted Yukmouth.
"Hate if u want but Black Eye Peas SHUT THAT S**T DOWN!!!!!!!!" Busta Rhymes tweeted.
"Regardless what people wanna say @william is a rapper, thats rap music with a pop feel, so go head and say it was the best eva I LOVE IT !!!" Jermaine Dupri tweeted.
Youtube, facebook and other social media outlets were no different. Many positive, many negative, but regardless of what was said – it is clear that The Black Eyed Peas are in their prime right now.
My question is this: Would you consider The Black Eyed Peas hip-hop? By hip-hop, I'm asking if they're credible? Worthy of our respect as hip-hop artists who have taken the game a step further? Do they deserve recognition for all the number one hits, all of the sold out arenas, all of the Grammy awards, etc.?
Many argue that they are absolutely not hip-hop, they are simply a manufactured group created by a major label to appeal to the masses – in other words, they're sell-outs. Their subject matter go no further than the clubs and the dance floor and their song structure is based off of more sing-songy melodic hooks, than 16 tough bars – which is taboo in hip-hop! Many say that they've sold out by adding Fergie to the group – and argue that “They were hot back when they did 'Joints and Jams'”.
Again...are the Black Eyed Peas hip-hop?
Allow me to play devil's advocate just for a minute. Last time I checked, the clubs were a key part of hip-hop's culture. Where ever the party is, it is the MC's job to move the crowd, right? They have to be the one to keep the party moving when no one else can't. It seems like The Black Eyed Peas are doing a great job of that at the moment. Also, there are four elements in our hip-hop culture: Djing, graffiti, b-boying/breaking, and rapping. How many rap groups have you heard of that also have break-dancers? If you watch their video for “Pump It”, you can see the hip-hop influence in that the entire concept of the video is a b-boy battle. What's the subject matter of the song? “We're the best, we're the shit, etc. - and you're not”. That's hip-hop at its essence. Is there something I'm missing?
Let's look at their biggest hit to date, “I Got A Feeling” which is more sing songy and melodic, and definitely more of a pop feel because of the beat – which caters to the club-scene instantly. And although, Wil.i.am uses the over-exhausted autotune, the only thing that makes The Black Eyed Peas different from when they recorded “Joints and Jams” (without Fergie, of course) is their image and their choice of beats - but in terms of content and song structure, they've always incorporated melody/singing and their lyrics have always been about getting the party started, getting the crowd hyped, and being dope at it. Check out “Joints and Jams”:
Yes, I agree that The Black Eyed Peas changed their style up for commercial purposes when they acquired Fergie and changed their sound from their first album, the more hip-hop soul sounding Behind the Front. They saw they had potential to reach a larger demographic, and ran with it. But are we upset with Black Eyed Peas because they're catering to the clubs and not speaking on the plight of the world (even though one of their biggest hits “Where Is The Love” speaks on that exact issue ironically)? Are we upset that they're using autotune, like so many other countless hip-hop artists? Are we upset that Fergie is clearly the difference-maker in their sales and without her they'll always be the “Joints and Jams” guys? Everyone wants hip-hop to be one way, and the fact is that it's not. Black Eyed Peas may not be what you're into, but to say they're not hip-hop is blasphemy, especially when they're the one group who incorporates a little more of the four elements than most other hardcore rappers we champion. They are probably the most well-rounded and talented group that is out right now if for only the fact that they're also gifted dancers and freestyle rappers. Are they intricate lyricists with metaphors, stories and wordplay? No. Are they activists? No. But if you wanna get the party started, you can count on BEP – and there is and always has been a place for that in hip-hop. So stop acting like ya'll don't like dancing! We're living in a time where hip-hop is no longer underground – it's universal. People are influenced by our hip-hop culture all over the world – The Black Eyed Peas are symbolic of that unity.
Again, I was playing devil's advocate – so let the hate begin!!!
Remember in middle school when you copped those new pair of sneakers and you rocked them on the first day of school? Couldn't nobody tell you nothin! You knew you were the freshest one in your class! What made it more special was that you were the only one with them, so naturally, people wanted to know where you got em. A week later, you see that same kid sporting the exact same shoes as you, same colors and all. Then they had the nerve to run to you saying, “Hey look, I got the same shoes! We can be twins!” Either that, or they wouldn't say anything all, rocking them as if they were the first ones with them. Regardless, didn't we consider those kids lame, then? 
I think the straw that broke the camel's back was hearing about Jazzy Pha jumping on the headphone bandwagon. Originally it was Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine's creation with the “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones, then Diddy followed suit with “Diddy beats”...then 50 Cent with “Sheek”...now Jazzy Pha. C'MON SON. We've seen this time and time again – whether it be rappers starting clothing lines, coming out with alcohol brands, incorporating the song-a-week marketing scheme, using autotune, wearing pink, incorporating Bangledesh's “A Millie” snare breakdown in beats, etc. Where do we draw the line? 
