What’s next in the rap game? This was an outstanding year, giving us Tekashi 69, Juice Wrld, Smokepurpp, Lil Pump, Key Glock… the list goes on and on. Some of the names I’ve labeled above I wouldn’t quite put them in the history books… but they do have some hits, according to websites such as Youtube, Billboard Top 100, Spotify, and iTunes.

When I first saw the Freshman XXL magazine this summer, I was astounded; not only because they didn’t include the people that were truly for the spot, but  there were some people I have never heard of. As a young listener myself, I didn’t think it was right to put some artists over others based only on their quality of work.

When Freshman XXL first started, they were moving in a great direction. Nowadays I think it’s just all about the money, fancy cars and the lavish lifestyle we all see on TV. I know we are moving in a new direction of music, but artists shouldn’t take it for granted. Continue to put your “all” into your work, so it symbolizes who you are as an artist.

I remember waiting for artists back in the early 2000’s to release something because I knew they actually took the time to lay something on a track. Others were making songs that sounded good when working with top producers in the game. Through all of the commotion, I think those that love hip-hop are losing what it really means to be an artist (or MC as they use to call it).

Now artists are trying to hook up with their ex’s, damn near posting there every move on social media, and it seems like all the fans see is it destroying people. ‘Trolling’ is on another whole level of pathetic- as people are turning the rap game into a “get-rich-quick” kind of scheme, and we all know how some of those rappers are…(yes Tekashi 69 I’m talking to you). We’ve also encountered those new artists who have ‘beef’ with veteran rappers. There have been lots of controversy with the new school and the old school artists clashing. Some of the biggest beef’s this year were between MGK and Eminem, Tekashi and Chief Keef, Tekashi and Trippie Redd, Tekashi and YG, Drake, and Kanye, Drake and Pusha T, and Nicki and Cardi B!

Jay-Z and P Diddy are prime examples of what artists should aspire to be like. I see these dudes as idols because of where they are now in their lives. They are more about business, rather than being close minded on beefing with the other artists around you (and probably making money from it).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaXHG40AmdI

(Drake and Pusha/Kanye video link above)