Hip-Hop's Evolution: from political empowerment to commercial

The years spanning 1990 to 1993 are widely recognized as the peak of golden age Hip-Hop. This title has been rightfully earned due to the creativity and diversity present within the music produced at the time. But what about what came after? Hip-Hop’s evolution and growth in popularity during this period led to the dilution of its creative impact and what I would consider to be a stale placeholder of what once was. By no means do I intend to assert that the artform has no value now, but rather that this diverse and complicated genre has found itself riddled with stereotypes. To understand how it reached this point, we must dissect the evolution of Hip-Hop. Originally a creative tool of expression used by and for Black people, it has transformed into a commercial beast that dominates the way we, as Black people, perceive ourselves.

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