The Most Important Region In Hip Hop Is...
Put Some Respect On The Midwest
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Back in June I was asked to be a part of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Hip Hop 50 celebration. It was called Night In The Library and there was a bunch of programming around the Philosophy of Hip Hop. Some of the panels included named like Angie Martinez, KRS-One, Gloria Carter, Mickey Factz, Rapsody and more. Typically people only want me to DJ (which is tight) but this time I was also asked to speak on a panel about which American region is the most important to hip hop.
Debating this topic in Brooklyn which is practically a train ride away from the literal birthplace of hip hop felt a bit like a fool’s errand at first but we all know I’m serious about foolishness so I was all the way in. Besides nobody books me to talk anymore so I wold would have practically said yes to anything that involved talking lol.
The panel was comprised Alvin ‘Aqua’ Blanco (East Coast), Jazzy Lo (South), Mitchell S. Jackson (West Coast) and moderated by Chad Sanders.
Here is a short clip of me talking about the midwest’s influence from a production standpoint:
I have never debated before (it’s like a very civil rap battle) but overall I think I did a decent job of defending my post. My intro was pretty shakey and it took me a minute to find my rhythm but I think pulled it together in the end.
Here’s a clip of me trying my hardest to win favor with the crowd:
I don’t recall who won the debate but I think it was between Alvin and Jazzy Lo. The night was all a blur because right after the panel I was ushered downstairs to DJ and then after that went straight to another DJ gig in a different part of Brooklyn. (Brooklyn summers remain undefeated)
The midwest is one of the least considered regions in rap if you ask me but I decided to take the challenge head on and in doing so I just made a long list of bullet points to be prepared for the conversation.
That list is below and I’ve included a handful of links and images for support. Feel free to continue the debate in the comment section.
WHY THE MIDWEST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT REGION IN HIP HOP
The midwestern hip hop sound is bunch of different styles all mixed together because the midwest helped pioneer several different styles of black music. We’ve got Dayton Funk, Detroit Soul, St Louis Blues/Ragtime and Kansas City Jazz to name a few. All of those innovations in sound have carried over into the sound of hip hop in an indelible way
James Brown is regarded as the Godfather of hip hop and he’s also one of the most sampled artists in rap. His song Cold Sweat is regarded as the first funk song ever and it was recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. James Brown was signed to Federal records (a subsidiary of Cincinnati Ohio’s King records) and had even set up the offices of his company there.
Dr. Dre said that Straight Outta Compton inspired Low End Theory which inspired the Chronic. So basically without Dre’s use of midwest funk and soul we don’t get ATCQ’s seminal second album, not to mention no Dr. Dre or NWA.
Eminem is not only a global sensation but he’s also a Detroit native and protege of Dr Dre. He’s also responsible for signing 50 Cent and G-Unit which blasted them into the stratosphere. So by default if you drink Vitamin water or watch Power you are acknowledging the greatness of the Midwest’s stamp on hip hop.
And none of this is possible at all without that Midwest funk. This also means that we have to take the claim for those hideous tank tops but it’s a small sacrifice for such a large contribution.
Cleveland’s own Bone Thugs N Harmony revolutionized rap. Their style blended singing and fast rapping in a way that hadn’t been seen before and has been duplicated repeatedly. Even BIG had to pay his respects which is a BIG deal (no pun intended). Their harmonies could hang with Mariah Carey and in a lot of ways they shaped the sound of R&B as well.
Kid Cudi (another Cleveland native) inspired a new generation by building on Bone’s legacy of hip hop crooning. His content may be more emo and self reflective than his predecessors but it has proven to be groundbreaking in an almost immeasurable way.
Twista & Tech N9ne were also architects of this flow and while it’s unfair to lump them together for the sake of this conversation it’s worth noting that they collectively have some of the most nimble flows hip hop has ever seen.
Detroit also has a distinct legacy of producing some of the more potent lyricists in the game. Royce and Elzhi are absolute animals on the mic and if it’s not pure lyricism it’s the home to unique styles. Artists like Danny Brown and Quelle Chris have as much personality as ODB in his prime.
A Detroit artist named Ehsam also contributed a genre called horror core. And while his style was gorier than most other rappers, groups like the Gravediggaz to an extent Odd Future wouldn’t exist without that. Odd Future also appear to be students of Eminem who is an offshoot of horror core’s outlandish shock jock lyrics
Fun fact: Esham also ran for mayor of Detroit in 2008 and he even dropped a campaign mixtape. He also calls his music Acid Rap and trust me his version of Acid rap is a lot different than Chance The Rapper’s version.
And speaking of Detroit there is no Boomin System without the midwest. Detroit is the home to auto manufacturers and Akron is well known for making car tires. The material goods that rap built its brags on are products of the region. You’re welcome LL.
Jermaine Dupri said he created 106 and Park for Lil Bow Wow (Bow Wow refutes the claim but and for the sake of celebrating the midwest we’ll just take that at face value). 106 and Park was a platform that gave us huge cultural moments and even did it’s part to enrich the underground with Freestyle Fridays (which birthed a few careers as well) None of this is possible without a kid from Columbus Ohio named Lil Bow Wow
And the meme-ification of Lil Bow Wow has been quite the sight to behold. He’s slightly more trollish than Ray J but not as bad as Souljah Boy.
Chief Keef is the godfather of Drill Rap. He sparked a revolution with a video shot in a barebones kitchen and the sound of drill rap has been copied on a global scale. There is drill in every corner of the globe and all of it has Chicago drill in it’s DNA.
Love it or hate it Nelly is a global icon. His popularity blended the worlds of rap and country music in a way that wasn’t even imaginable before him.
Last but not least James Dilla Yancey is one of the most important figures in black music. His MPC is in the Blacksonian. He changed the course of modern music and has a lore that is as massive as his discography. He is your favorite’s favorite and if you like modern music you owe a debt to his presence.