When I imagine being asked a question from somebody who has either never heard of 'Hip Hop ' or in a truly hypothetical sense such as an Alien from another world asking me " What is Hip Hop? " then I would have a barrage of tracks to show them what defined the essence of what ' Hip Hop ' is.
You see for me to avoid talking too much about things I would rather just let the music do the talking instead because after all thats what ' Hip Hop ' is about primarily?
One track that would definitely be in the playlist is ' Future Years ' by Braintax who hails from the UK and this is because everything about it embodies 'Hip Hop '. It sounds like ' Hip Hop ' and it feels like 'Hip Hop ' and if anybody feels different well lets agree to disagree.
The track was recorded way back in 1997 so thats now 20 years old yet it still feels modern and timeless and has a subject topic that was almost prophetic as the things Braintax touches on are in my opinion totally relevant in 2018.
He talks about the future years ahead and the corruption of money and values in ' Hip Hop ' and the lack of Creativity that stems from a complete disregard for the true values of this revolutionary Art form. The beat is haunting with a horn wailing over the chorus with an almost robotic female voice repeating the word ' Time ' and Braintax himself lays the lyrics down beautifully being honest and delivering the message on point without being aggressive whilst being assertive.
" So we say and we say it money talks we obey it - I want to innovate but I'm scared they won't play it -In 1999 who cares about the Ryhme the attitudes fashion so the sales do fine - And Hip Hop splits apart the revolution ever starts theres a tiny group of people making beats from the hearts - For arts sake while the rest find fame, music half hearted concepts and lyrics that are lame - Plus the same old phrase engraved in a Ryhme I can only form the future if I think about time "
( Braintax - Future Years - Lyrics )
Hope that you will enjoy the track as much as I do
One10%
Mannnn I haven't listened to Braintax in agessss.. Thanks for bringing me back!