The music of hip-hop can mean a lot of different things for lots of different people. For some, it’s poetry. Or, it’s a unique way of bringing the atrocities of everyday life to the table for people to hear. For others, it’s a lifestyle, a livelihood.

Over the span of just over 40 years, hip-hop has continued to evolve since its beginnings in the late 1970s. From sampling old James Brown tunes, to embellishing the latest audio technology with thunderous 808s and rolling hi-hats, hip-hop has continuously changed the way listeners and musicians alike approach music.

However, it seems that with the exception of a handful of gifted rappers, modern day hip-hop is losing its edge. Beats are being recycled, flows are being imitated, and the lyrics are becoming increasingly nihilistic. What I mean is the difference between originality and depth you hear if you pay attention to the music and lyrics in a Kendrick Lamar song, next to that of a Lil Yachty song. If you play another Kendrick tune, you’ll hear different voices/characters (all played by Kendrick), new instruments, and the passion within his words and his tone. You may hardly hear anything new if you play another Lil Yachty song.

I’m not even frustrated that guys like Lil Yachty, 21 Savage, Post Malone, Lil Pump, Lil This, and Lil That are making music. At the end of the day, it’s their life, and they got themselves to where they’re at today. I respect that. But when you look at the paths that have been paved before them, paths walked along by iconic rappers/groups like Nas, Biggie, N.W.A, and A Tribe Called Quest, you start to see that they are walking all over these paths in the wrong direction.

These pioneers of rap became known for their controversial lyrics, which illustrate vivid images of impoverished lives and tackle strong political opinions, but they all serve as a method of escapism for both the musician and the listener.

Fast forward to the rappers of today, there’s a lot of them. People love the trendiness and flashiness boasted in rap music, just as they always have. With the upbringing of platforms like SoundCloud and Spinrilla, combined with how convenient it is for anyone to record music in their bedrooms, the market has become oversaturated with aspiring rappers.

There’s nothing wrong with more people than ever pursuing their art, but when people have endless choices of music (or anything) to choose from, standards begin to lower. There are people out there who have put countless hours into their work with a real message to say, but it’s being overlooked by people who continue to seek the colorless, monotonous sounds of new rap. The quality of rap music is crumbling apart. Let’s face it, “mumble rap” is an actual genre.

That being said, the lyrics are more nihilistic ever. Billboard’s number 1 song right now, Post Malone’s “Rockstar”, is an ode to loveless sex and prescription pill habits. Another hit from this year, Future’s “Mask Off” features a hook that chants the words, “Percocet, Molly, Percocet” over and over again. It’s not like these guys are discussing their problems with the drugs, they’re glorifying them- bragging about their use.

I’m not putting the blame for this on any rapper, but it’s really no wonder that opioid crisis is at an all-time high. Lil Uzi Vert has gained media traction because of saying how he wants to commit suicide and become the next member of the 27 club. Rap music has always had an impact on youth culture, and culture in general. Rap has the power to change our views, so why should we brag about these unhealthy, life-threatening lifestyles and mental states when these problems are the exact things plaguing today’s society.

This is nothing compared to the amoral lines being boasted by rappers like Kodak Black and XXXTentacion. They aren’t your average “wrecks to riches” stories. Both rappers had Billboard-charting hit singles in September. Kodak was just charged with sexual assault in the first degree, rape for short.

And XXXTentacion, in addition to having a bad stage name, was arrested for threatening, beating, and strangling his pregnant girlfriend. He publicly laughed it off. Also, his most watched music video on YouTube features a depiction of him lynching a child. Yes, you read that correctly.

So what’s happening to rap music? Meaningless lyrics have existed in the genre (and pretty much every other genre) since the dawn of time. From “Whoomp, There It Is!” to “Crank Dat Soulja Boy”, we have overlooked the silly-yet-fun aspects of these songs and have danced to them for years.

There are still conscious rappers today like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Logic who are bringing real problems of society and our nation to the spotlight, reflecting on the emotional tolls taken as a result.

Hip-hop is an art form. We shouldn’t have to lower our standards to accommodate the lack of originality that is replacing real hip-hop. In an age where it’s never been easier to voice strong opinions, spark thought for change, and project issues with societal standards, we are instead absorbing nihilistic ways of thinking.

We are hesitant to question the ethical and moral viewpoints that are plaguing us. Hip-hop is becoming a lower art form, and the meaning of it is diminishing as we welcome lyrics that celebrate addiction, sexual violence, and suicide. To keep rap music alive, this must change.