Hip-hop is still cool at a party. But to me, hip-hop has never been strictly a party; it is also there to elevate consciousness.
Сommercial hip-hop is not youth rebellion, not when the heroes of hip-hop like Puffy are taking pictures with Donald Trump and the heroes of capitalism - you know that's not rebellion. That's not "the street" - that's Wall Street.
The only reason I've been so critical of hip-hop is because I've always been aware of the effect that it has, and the reflection that it gives of the African-American community.
I have a very family-like connection to hip-hop, which is why it frustrates me so much.
I was fed by the music I listened to as a kid. Hip-hop fed me psychologically, spiritually, politically. I learned from that music.
What's wrong with hip-hop is the system that controls the definition of it. There needs to be more balance on the airwaves.
Hip-hop is too young to put a definition on it
What I'm aiming to do within hip-hop is to point out that the music itself is powerful; it reaches so many people.
I remember back in the day when Chuck D called hip-hop the "black people's CNN." Well now, hip-hop is more like Fox News. It's biased, and highly suspect.
