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pRhymetime: What Did Hip Hop Learn In 2017?

Antixx

"Hip Hop is not going to flip flop"

I remember when I was in early high school, some years ago now, kids used to tell me that “hip hop was going to flip flop.” A pointy accusation, suggesting it’s a flimsy genre with no longevity in its continued method of recycling music. After all, there’s only so much you can recycle before the music lost its originality entirely. But that’s like saying, “Soon there will be no new food dishes because there’s only so much food on the planet to recreate.”

Isn’t imagination a weird and wonderful thing?

What I’ve learned is that like life, music is cyclical. Its conception comes from a personal experience, then is developed and altered by others, gets muddy and complex in its ambitions only to eventually simplify and finally starts all over again. pRhymetime has played host to an incredibly broad range of artists over 2017, each with their own talents, experiences and views on the world. What I put to you is that in review; some of us seem to follow this cycle, adhering and following the pattern before us while others turn around, swim upstream and make their own cycle. It seems kind of obvious but I suppose what I’m hoping pRhymetime did this year is challenge you, if only for a moment, to question which way you’re headed.

2017 was kind of a shitty year, we lost a lot of incredible musicians (again!), saw horrible people find power in politics and uncovered that inequality, sexism, abuse and misogyny are more prevalent than ever all over the world. I spoke to 360 about drug abuse, L Fresh the Lion about protest and compassion, Joelistics about family, Grieves about vulnerability and depression, Michelle Grace Hunder about the gender gap... the list goes on. Racism, Misogyny, drugs, violence, mental health, abuse in all its forms, these are not new topics that came about in 2017. These are ongoing issues that have been present and relevant far longer than you or I’ve been alive. So how is it that the beautiful music we love, allows this cycle to continue?

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(This isn’t a gloomy piece, trust me I’m getting there!)

What pRhymetime taught me this year is that musicians are everyday people like you and me that take it upon themselves to share their world view. Not because they have to, because they want to. None of us are consciously allowing any of these negative issues to continue...

I think retrospect has a beautiful connection to introspect when you really think about it. For example, someone said to me recently that “New Year’s resolutions are the worst time of year for behaviour alteration.” I couldn’t agree more! I don’t think for a second that on January 1 I’m going to wake up and be the self I’ve longed to be all year! But what the statement doesn’t lend itself to is that New Year’s is the only time of year we as a community, reflect on ourselves and say “How can I be better?” Now maybe that won't alter our behaviours but it certainly changes an attitude and perspective and maybe, that's a good place to start.

I wanted to insert quotes here from each and every artist I’ve spoken to this year. The one catchy punch line that promised hope whilst provoking self-reflection but honestly, there were just too many. Each and every artist shared some of their most personal and heartfelt beliefs with us, encouraging us, to help make this world a better place.

This isn’t a ‘retrospective piece’ nor is this a ‘year in review’. Instead, I’d like to get behind all of the artists I was privileged enough to speak to this year and endorse their message; don't wait for the cycle. Where are you going? How can you be better? Are you in a position to use your voice for positive change?  Maybe you just want to vibe out to the new Kendrick jam and I get that! But do it critically, thoughtfully and respectfully. Hip Hop is not going to flip flop.

From the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank each and every one of the artists for making pRhymetime what it is today and to you the readers; thank you for supporting the need I have to support the music that supports me, championing the artists that get us through our daily storms.

See you in the next cycle,

Antixx