Let's face it. Whether we're listening to rap, country, or pop we all are searching for substance when it comes to our music. I place emphasis on substance because we as music lovers crave meaning. Our desire for metaphors and up lifting analysts which rattle our brains are the bases of the realty as to why we all turn on our radios. Though urban music has transformed, it's not the end of our lives because there's still good music. Pretending I'm not listening to Lil Uzi's, "Money Longer", I'll explain.
Don't turn away when I say Kanye West. This man has 808's and analogies that could rock your world if you let it.
In Kanye's Stretch my Hands released in the heart of summer 2016 he says,
"Now if I f*** this model,
and she just bleached her ass hole,
and I get bleach on my T-shirt,
I'm gonna feel like an asshole."
Now I know this introduction on top of this (and I'm no music grad) melody, challenges your mind to think one of two ways.
One (we all know the Chicago native as a conceited asshole)he's going to feel bad.. or like an asshole if he messes up her bleached butt; Or two, he'll have bleach on him and feel just like an her actual butt hole (he'll be bleached like her asshole). It doesn't stop there.
Urban music, as the response to the Disco wave in the late 1970's has been around for nearly 4.5 decades. We've seen a lot whether it was Luther Vandross or Phil Collins however all and all the music has substance. I believe music now has the same affect.
These lyrics have the same impact:
"We're talking away
I don't know what
I'm to say I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love, okay?"
A very popular song by A-HA, a band out of Norway, says this. In the song Take on Me a man and a woman fall into romance after she is hesitant. Simple right? This song was a huge hit. This song was used in movies like This is 40 and in commercials like the Volkswagen advertisement. This trio brings light to the things we do for love and this adds texture to the upbeat tempo. The key into distinguishing what's good come from the things we value.
In this example we value effort because effort is sexy.
A-HA and Kanye West's musical genius' have the given us substance- something to hold on to.
According to Forbes online DJ Khaled, a heavy hitting producer, says, “It’s safe to say headphones is a good business". A Floridian, Khaled influences the large majority of not only urban music but also urban culture. The hype man gives properties to the rappers who still put effort in to their work. Success is his motto. Let his and every other urban music idols make you feel valuable.
