Hip-Hop is not a stepping stool.

“ I’m an artist, not a rapper.””

How many times have you heard that from a rapper? Plenty right?

The trend of rappers going outside of their genres and then using the acclaim or publicity to suddenly denounce hip-hop is not only unproductive, it screams that hip-hop isn’t good enough or is only a tool to get to where you want to go in your career. On record, we have seen too many people not take enough pride in it. Hip-hop is too vast and ever evolving to be used as a stepping stool or building block. It’s not a second fiddle, shouldn’t be treated as simply as a means to end.

But, on the topic of respect. What are you searching for?

Are you searching for respect in general or searching for it from a particular demographic? But, why does an artist have to go outside of their genre to garner this attention. I view it as a double edged sword. But, it also leans into a false narrative that the spectrum known as hip-hop is small, but in reality there’s so many subgenres and something for everyone.

I think it’s time that we stop masking white acceptance as respect. You were an artist before you ventured out into a new genre and you were an artist after it. If people only respect you after you do something “experimental”, then that says more about them than it does you.

There’s a fine line between respect and acceptance. At the end of the day, all artists want their music to be recognized at any level, which is normal. But, why go against what got you a career? Why does hip-hop have to be the second option, even when it’s what made you successful. Other genre’s are always painted as diverse, but the picture of hip-hop is also watered down. If the biggest rappers in the world can wear their love for it on their sleeves, so can you.