Thug Life Army

Hip hop columnist, hip hop activist, radio personality and hip hop historian Davey D writes a column for many publications and his column in the Mercury News is published biweekly in Eye.

This column looks at “Why commerce is killing the true spirit of hip-hop”.

Here is an excerpt from Davey D’s Mercury News column for this week. Please click the ‘source’ tab at the end to finish reading this article.

Hip-hop icon Nas made the provocative statement, ``Hip-hop is dead,'''' in September and set off a firestorm of controversy. It was intensified by the January release of his album bearing the same title.

Many questioned why Nas would say hip-hop -- a worldwide phenomenon that has generated billions of dollars -- could be “dead.'''' After all, more hip-hop albums are being released then ever before, and the music's influence extends to movies, corporate marketing and theater. That it's dead seems absurd -- until you realize Nas was looking beneath the surface.

He was speaking of the corporate side of the music and the mentality of executives more interested in turning a quick buck than nurturing rap culture. Nas realized sex, violence and bling, as themes for the music, had pretty much run their course.

Also check out the web site of Davey D at http://www.daveyd.com/