Hip-Hop cries exploitation and prepares to kill the record labels

July 9, 2:31 PMNY Hip-Hop Music ExaminerSamantha Greaves

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Is it time to take out the record labels? Photo: Killtherecordlabels.com

Hip-Hop has come a long way from the street corners and project hallways of New York. The genre has evolved into one of the most popular genre's in music with people from all walks of life calling themselves fans. It has brought forth more than just music but has introduced a brand new culture. Everything from slang to clothing has been influenced by Hip-Hop's presence.

Now appearing in TV shows, commercials and even movies, Hip-Hop is accepted in more ways than before.

Though this would seem as an amazement and would leave those who are the pioneers of the genre proud, there are the some in the business that feel that Hip-Hop has been exploited by the entertainment industry and because of this the genre has been stripped of all the things that birth it in the first place.

Hip-Hop is no longer expected to come only from the East or West coast regions; it now reigns supreme in the South and the Midwest in fact, the South has started their own movement in Hip-Hop called "Crunk".

With all of the success Hip-Hop has seen, it has been blamed for the skewed mindsets of today's youth, notably those that are members of the African-American community.

In a new documentary titled Business As Usual: The Exploitation Of Hip-Hop, that features appearances from KRS-One, Kanye West, MC Lyte, dead prez, and DMC to name a very few, traces the origins of Hip-Hop in the inner cities of America and asks the question: "Has Hip-Hop been exploited for economic gain, to the detriment of the masses of urban youth who embrace it? Who's really making the money, controlling the systems and influencing the youth?"
 

The documentary--that will be narrated by actor Mekhi Phifer--is due for release in the Fall of this year and will open up the on-going discussion of if Hip-Hop's commercial appeal has hurt the genre. It will also explore the positives and negative effects it has on the youth of America today.

Another documentary titled "Kill The Record Labels", explore's Hip-Hop but on a more deeper level in comparison to the entertainment industry. The documentary that is in stores now, explores how rappers and producers are cutting out the middle man like the record labels and CD production companies to take on multiple titles to keep their money in-house. With appearances from DJ Green Lantern, Lil Scrappy, and 50 Cent, the documentary shows how artists today are surely but truly learning how to enterprise without the help from the big business' simply by investing in and funding themselves.

Both of these documentaries bring Hip-Hop lovers and the occasional listeners deeper into the entity known as Hip-Hop. Away from the glitz and glamor you will see that all things that glimmer may not be gold. Visit BusinessAsUsualHipHop.com for more information about Business As Usual: The Exploitation of Hip-Hop and KillTheRecordLabels.com for more information regarding getting your copy of Kill The Record Labels.

In the meantime, what are your thoughts about the current state of Hip-Hop, is it better off global or has it's commercial appeal taken away from it's essence?