Music and culture in chart form. Can you explain music and culture in charts?

Make your own using our Graph Builder or upload your own files, images or videos. All our charts are user-submitted.

 

« Previous | Next »

Hip-Hop – Popularity Among 16 Year Olds v Quality



song chart memes

Hip-Hop – Popularity Among 16 Year Olds v Quality

Graph by Boosra, via our GraphJam builder.

Incorrect source or offensive?

Add this to your blog:
(Copy & paste code)

You May Like:

» 82 TPS Reports

  1. Destin says:

    I hereby declare that you have failed.

    • SoSide says:

      This graph starts about 10 years too early. The first hip-hop album was released in the early 1980’s, not in the 70’s. I know – I bought it the day it was released. It sucked.

      • HellHathNoFury says:

        FAIL. Rapper’’s Delight, by The Sugarhill Gang was released in 1979! Still the 70’s.

        • Andrea (I think about stuff too) says:

          Even if the first hip hop album was released in the early 80’s, presumably there was interest in the late 70’s.

          • Andrea says:

            Oops. My computer remembered the addendum to my name from my previous post, while I forgot about it. How embarrassment.

          • Boosra says:

            Right. I figured the mid 70’s were as good a place as any to start, since its hard to say when the culture became recognisable “Hip-Hop”.

  2. fiya says:

    I hereby declare that I am second !

  3. Lyman says:

    Maybe you’re just old and hate new music

  4. ... says:

    If the green bar ran across the bottom of the chart I would enjoy this graph.

  5. Vince says:

    I agree – High Quality Hip-Hop is an oxymoron.

    • Andrew says:

      Mos Def, Talib Kwalli, The Roots, Wiz Khalifa, Lauryn Hill, Common, Dead Prez, Dialated Peoples, Black Star, Mos Def, Kidz in the Hall, Jay-Z…
      …to name but a few…

      …all have touched upon political issues, racial inequality, civil liberation, domestic problems due to the mainstream life of being in hip hop, self-realization…you know…stuff that bands such as the Killers, Manchester Orchestra, Okkervil River, Citizen Cope, and other genres that get all the mainstream hype for singing about those topics.

      Problem is, what typical mainstream kid wants to hear about that? Most of the time, the beats aren’t really danceable…and quotes such as
      “Uh, who shot Biggie Smalls?
      If we don’t get them, they gon’ get us all
      I’m down for runnin’ up on them crackers in they city hall
      We ride for y’all – all my dogs stay real
      Nigga, don’t think these record deals gon’ feed your seeds
      And pay your bills, because they not
      MCs get a little bit of love and think they hot
      Talkin’ ’bout how much money they got; all y’all records sound the same
      I’m sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio
      Same scenes in the video, monotonous material
      Y’all don’t here me though
      These record labels slang our tapes like dope
      You can be next in line and signed; and still be writing rhymes and broke
      You would rather have a Lexus? or justice? a dream? or some substance?
      A Beamer? a necklace? or freedom?
      Still a nigga like me don’t playa-hate, I just stay awake
      This real hip-hop; and it don’t stop ’til we get the crackers off the block”

      …so they’re talking about suspicion of an unfair justice system on a case that should’ve been followed up on due to the murder was in the middle of the busiest street in Vegas (lets clarify i am not a biggie smalls fan nor am I a passionate fan of hip hop, but I would never refer the various artists I have stated as ignorant/stupid/lack of quality), how shallow the mainstream spotlight is, how fickle fame can be, realization on whats true in life to hold onto…yeah, why would we want to teach people those values at all?

      • Czernobog says:

        Hear hear!

        There’s good hip-hop out there, it just isn’t mainstream hip-hop.

        • Nick says:

          You took the words right out of my mouth. Good hip-hop – REAL hip-hop – can’t be found on the radio or in the mainstream. It’s all just turned into either modern R&B or just a bass line with mindless garbage on top of it.

          I can’t respect mainstream rap and hip-hop because it has become a shell of its former self. All the lyrics these days are something like; “SHOHTAY, I TAKE U 2 DA CLUH, WE GET TIPSSAYY, WE HAVE SEX IN MY DUBBED OUT WHIP, WASH RINSE REPEAT.”

          Real rappers and hip-hop artists put value behind their rhymes.

      • Kit says:

        Ummm… you said Mos Def twice.
        Just sayin’.
        I find that you can almost divide it perfectly between what is TRUE hip-hop nowadays and what is just rap, which seems to largely be going for the same things as mainstream pop music: a pleasing rhythm and total lack of substance.

        • Andrew says:

          well I mean, that’s hard to determine though don’t you think? I mean, to determine the quantity of true hip hop and the mainstream scene requires a bit more research and indie dedication than whats being thrown at you on the radio. But also, personally…the best rhythm artists I think…Wu-Tang…the levels/beats that they used are incredible and still up to now very unique, but on the mainstream ear…hard to appreciate it. Also, one of the nastiest lyricist…Dr. Octagon, but again, his flow was kinda hard to follow…

          but yes, Soulja Boy should is a disgrace to any music scene…although I think we’re being a little too harsh having him as the display of ALL mainstream hip hop. Like, Lil ‘Jon…perhaps not the most indepth character out there…but his beats and his aggressive demeanor/flow supplied an incredible attitude boost and kinda drove a new hip hop dance style onto the mainstream scene (Crumpin). So…I guess the point is…take it as it is and perhaps what’s not understood now will be understood later.

      • soulisdaessence says:

        I love you

      • J Dilla says:

        if i feel it i feel it,
        if i don’t i don’t,
        if it aint really real,
        then i probably won’t…

        thanks for helping school these web heads

      • Boosra says:

        You got good taste. That Dead Prez song you quoted is a classic and relatively recent too.
        Unfortunately its one of the exceptions which prove the rule.

        The rest of their stuff simply doesn’t reach this standard. Back in 1993 there were whole albums of unmissable genius coming out every week. Nowadays we are lucky to get a decent highlight or two each year.

        Not that there aren’t still good acts out there, but they are few and far between. :(

  6. The Hypno-Toad says:

    I actually forgot that during the 90’s, there was a time when 16 year olds actually did listen to some very good hip-hop. Not that they weren’t listening to crap as well, but I suppose if forced to pick a “golden age of teenagers listening to hip-hop” (a weird concept I had never thought of before) I would be the 1990’s

    • Jesus McChrist says:

      If we were in 1989 instead of 2009, we could make the same graph about rock music and note that the kids were listening to good stuff in the 60s/70s. For extremely similar reasons…

  7. Muad'Dib says:

    Your axis labels are horribly incorrect… the graph is actually

    Popularity and Quality vs Year

    Popularity vs quality would be a singe point. (since you have exactly i quality value for each popularity value)

    • mcgrath says:

      His axis values are just fine, though they are subjective. The Y axis isn’t labeled popularity nor quality, the lines are. Its described as pop v qual because of their inverse relationships.

      Critique fail

  8. FMG says:

    This might be the stupidest graph on Graph Jam yet. Doesn’t make a lot of sense plus it’s not funny or amusing

    • HellHathNoFury says:

      …and yet you spent the time to comment on it. So, who’s stupid?

      • hellisawonderland says:

        i am.

        • mcgrath says:

          It makes perfect sense, thus it’s funny.

          I’m sorry if this hits too close to home for you, resume listening to Flo Rida or some studio gangsta rapper.

          • tyler says:

            IMO, hip hop and rap have always sucked :/

            • soulisdaessence says:

              ….
              …….
              you fail
              buy a mos def album
              and then beat your head in with it cause your a dumbass

              • mcgrath says:

                Mos Def is a rare gem in the shit mines that popular hip-hop is, and not something that the average teen is going to be exposed to via Mtv or VH1 who tell us that they are the authority of music (while playing shitty reality tv shows and non-music related. . .anything).

                I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear on what I meant.

  9. bob! says:

    Gotta say, as a 13 year old, I’m in the minority. And yes it does make sense. Modern “music” sucks.

    • MissLeading says:

      Me too! I’m 13 and can’t stand hip-hop, rap or any of that kind of “music” that is surprisingly popular. My brother listens to it, and it makes me want to jam pencils in my ears. Give me rock or give me some pencils!

      • Leary says:

        Agreed.
        Pretty much everything in the charts < Music.
        So much of modern music is played on a keyboard or synth I can’t get into it, it’s just not real…

        • wildtiger444 says:

          i’m 14 and i love this stuff. I don’t see how you guys can be so negative. I love older music, but new hip-hop isn’t ALL bad, just a lot of it…

      • soulisdaessence says:

        your 13 you dont know what happened in the good old days with nwa, digable planets, eazy e, tribe called quest, raging fam, mecca and cl smooth
        so dont criticize an entire genre because of the commercialized garbage this generation is feeding you

  10. reg4c says:

    Just because the music is new does not mean that it has a lower quality: in the same way that it does not mean that it sucks just because you don’t like it.

    Although, there are some pretty horrible rappers nowadays as described in the attached videos. Buuuuuutt, some good ones are still there.

  11. LyssaLovett says:

    These comments legit piss me off.
    Just because I’m 16 doesn’t mean I listen to bad music.
    And just because music is modern doesn’t mean it’s bad.
    Nice try dear.

    • ShamWow says:

      They legit piss you off?
      ‘Nuff said..

    • Vieve says:

      Your agrument would be valid if (as ShamWow mentioned) you hadn’t said “legit piss me off” (is that English?) and if it weren’t for the fact that nowadays, all you need to become famous is to use one of those annoying synthesizers.

    • MikkieD says:

      He didn’t say Popularity among LyssaLovett vs Quality.

      Just because it doesn’t apply to YOU, doesn’t mean it’s not true.
      Hip-Hop and Dance music have hit the mainstream scene because it is what 16 year old kids listen to.

      Maybe think outside the box, and realise that the world doesn’t revolve around you.

      While there is some good dance music, and some inspiring hip-hop lyrics, I would have to say old school rock is the best.

  12. Duke says:

    I can’t respect a genre that finds it necessary to cover and remix the Meatspin song.

  13. MaxChaplin says:

    Hip-hop didn’t degrade, it just split, and now only the mainstream branch is visible to most people. The experimental/abstract scene’s quality/popularity values are pretty close to the early section of the graph.

    Also, since hip-hop was always youth’s music and a genre’s mainstream appeal is calculated by its popularity outside it’s core audience, the red graph should be labeled “Popularity Among White People”.

    • soulisdaessence says:

      exactly
      all the real mcs are underground
      I think this goes for all music
      the only people who get record deals are the ones with the friends in the labels not necessarily talent

  14. ll says:

    this graph is way to confusing.

  15. Your Mom says:

    Granted, songs these days are not nearly as creative as they were in the 80’s. Welcome to the 21st century, my friend.

  16. Your Mom says:

    PS – what’s up with the 00’s? Couldn’t the author just have stated “Now”?

  17. Ron says:

    I think the 90’s were the best decade for hip hop.

    Thieves in the Knight by Talib Kweli and Mos Def:

    Give me the fortune, keep the fame,” said my man Louis
    I agreed, know what he mean because we live the truest lie
    I asked him why we follow the law of the bluest eye
    He looked at me, he thought about it
    Was like, “I’m clueless, why?”
    The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible
    Our morals are out of place and got our lives full of sorrow
    And so tomorrow comin later than usual
    Waitin’ on someone to pity us
    While we findin beauty in the hideous
    They say money’s the root of all evil but I can’t tell
    YouknowhatImean, pesos, francs, yens, cowrie shells, dollar bills
    Or is it the mindstate that’s ill?
    Creating crime rates to fill the new prisons they build
    Over money and religion there’s more blood to spill
    The wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal
    What’s the deal?
    A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke
    But my language universal they be recitin my quotes
    While R&B singers hit bad notes, we rock the boat
    of thought, that my man Louis’ statements just provoked
    Caught up, in conversations of our personal worth
    Brought up, through endangered species status on the planet Earth
    Survival tactics means, bustin gats to prove you hard
    Your firearms are too short to box with God
    Without faith, all of that is illusionary
    Raise my son, no vindication of manhood necessary

    [M.D.] Not strong
    [T.K.] Only aggressive
    [M.D.] Not free
    [T.K.] We only licensed
    [M.D.] Not compassioniate, only polite
    [T.K.] Now who the nicest?
    [M.D.] Not good but well behaved
    [T.K.] Chasin after death
    so we can call ourselves brave?
    [M.D.] Still livin like mental slaves
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice

    [Mos Def]
    Yo, I’m sure that everbody out listenin agree
    That everything you see ain’t really how it be
    A lot of jokers out runnin in place, chasin the style
    Be a lot goin on beneath the empty smile
    Most cats in my area be lovin the hysteria
    Synthesized surface conceals the interior
    America, land of opportunity, mirages and camoflauges
    More than usually — speakin loudly, sayin nothin
    You confusin me, you losin me
    Your game is twisted, want me enlisted — in your usary
    Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly
    Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception
    Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the lookin glass
    Walkin the street, wonderin who they be lookin past
    Lookin gassed with them imported designer shades on
    Stars shine bright, but the light — rarely stays on
    Same song, just remixed, different arrangement
    Put you on a yacht but they won’t call it a slaveship
    Strangeness, you don’t control this, you barely hold this
    Screamin brand new, when they just sanitized the old shit
    Suppose it’s, just another clever Jedi mind trick
    That they been runnin across stars through all the time with
    I find it’s distressin, there’s never no in-between
    We either niggaz or Kings
    We either bitches or Queens
    The deadly ritual seems immersed, in the perverse
    Full of short attention spans, short tempers, and short skirts
    Long barrel automatics released in short bursts
    The length of black life is treated with short worth
    Get yours first, them other niggaz secondary
    That type of illin that be fillin up the cemetary
    This life is temporary but the soul is eternal
    Separate the real from the lie, let me learn you
    Not strong, only aggressive, cause the power ain’t directed
    That’s why, we are subjected to the will of the oppressive
    Not free, we only licensed
    Not live, we just excitin
    Cause the captors.. own the masters.. to what we writin
    Not compassionate, only polite, we well trained
    Our sincerity’s rehearsed in stage, it’s just a game
    Not good, but well behaved cause the ca-me-ra survey
    most of the things that we think, do, or say
    We chasin after death just to call ourselves brave
    But everyday, next man meet with the grave
    I give a damn if any fan recall my legacy
    I’m tryin to live life in the sight of God’s memory
    Like that y’all

    [Mos Def]
    A lot of people don’t understand the true criteria of things
    Can’t just accept the appearance
    Have to get the true essence

    [Talib Kweli]
    They ain’t lookin around

    [T.K.] Not strong
    [M.D.] Only aggressive
    [T.K.] Not free
    [M.D.] We only licensed
    [T.K.] Not compassioniate, only polite
    [M.D.] Now who the nicest?
    [T.K.] Not good but well behaved
    [M.D.] Chasin after death
    so we can call ourselves brave?
    [T.K.] Still livin like mental slaves
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice
    [both] Hidin like thieves in the night from life
    Illusions of oasis makin you look twice

  18. VurtualRuler98 says:

    Is it just me, or does this look like some stick-person dancing?

  19. zzackcc says:

    i would agree with this if it were ALL music, not just hip hop, since this is more or less the exact same for ALL music.

  20. LoonieBin says:

    See where it goes down? Right after the Beastie Boys released “Intergalactic.” Nothing could hold up afterwards.

    I actually kind of agree, but of course there has always been bad hip-hop and there is still good hip-hop (albeit not as much.) For a good modern MC, I suggest giving k-os a listen. Less f-bombs, more meaning.

    Also, there wasn’t really a “first hip-hop album.” You can trace the evolution of the genre back to 1969 or so, and the roots go back even further (depending on what you believe.)

  21. cassoulet says:

    stop listening to radio/MTV shit.
    There has always been shitty music, in any style.

  22. James says:

    LOL! This Graph is fail and so is Boosra who made this graph. Boosra is just a Troll who hates Hip-Hop. Boosra must be watching too much MTV and BET….. fail

  23. Boosra says:

    Just as a demonstration of the graphs accuracy:

    Stone cold classic Hip-Hop albums released in 1994:

    Illmatic – Nas
    Resurrection – Common
    Tical – Method Man
    Hard to Earn – Gangstarr
    Ill Communication – Beastie Boys
    The Sun Rises in the East – Jeru
    Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Artifacts
    Like it Should Be – Extra Prolific
    Dare iz a Darkside – Redman
    Do You Want More? – The Roots
    6 Feet Deep – Grave Diggaz
    Southernplayalistic..musik – Outkast

    And probably a bunch of others I forgot.

    Stone cold classic Hip- Hop albums released in 2004:

    Ummmmmmmmmmm……………………..

    • Ron says:

      “Stone cold classic Hip- Hop albums released in 2004″

      The College Dropout- Kanye West

      • MikkieD says:

        pretty close to agreeing with that.

        also, while he doesn’t really live by his motto’s, T.I’s “Live Your Life” has some really deep, meaningful lyrics.

  24. L says:

    Regardless of how you feel about hip hop, this graph is a fail! It’s mistitled. It should be “Hip Hop Popularity Among 16-year-olds and Quality versus decade”.

  25. anon says:

    the thing is, hip-hop never had any quality anyway….

  26. Cookie says:

    Im 16 and im interested in 90’s hip hop/rap and hate the new stuff so you can stop being retarded and actually research rather than watching TRL and MTV you stupid dunce

  27. Sam says:

    listen to Fort Minor. its the best rap you will ever hear. although, not many people i know know about it :(

  28. baller says:

    fort minor is part of linkin park- one of the most mainstream bands out there
    The best verse I ever heard was in the cunninlynguists song love aint tonedeff’s verse at the start is the best i ever heard


Your Comment

 

 

Search

Get It Emailed Daily


EmailSubscribe
Enter your email address:
 

TwitterFollow us
on Twitter »
FacebookBecome a
Facebook fan »
RSSRSS Feed »
  • Tag Cloud

  • Latest Comments

    CC on Numbers that grab your at…
    No one... on Numbers that grab your at…
    Cookies on Stealing Office Supplies
    dog on Numbers that grab your at…
    Curiosa on Appeal of Twilight in relation…
    teezboy on Appeal of Twilight in relation…
    Champagne on Reasons people hate Twili…
    Russian on Numbers that grab your at…
    Crow on Numbers that grab your at…
    Champagne on Reasons people hate Twili…
    Oozed on Numbers that grab your at…
    Ryan on Numbers that grab your at…
    moooooooooo on Appeal of Twilight in relation…
    moooooooooo on What Teen Magazines Consist…
    Niv on Appeal of Twilight in relation…
  • Most Popular Graphs

  • Graph Archives

  • RSS Cheezburger Network Blog

  • Even More Lulz

About GraphJam

How it started.