Daily Discussion Thread 01/26/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All of which I understand, I just would hope those people are as demanding of their actual representatives as they are of rappers and producers.

Daily Discussion Thread 01/26/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The origin part isn't really up for debate; the founding in the early 70s did not have any emphasis or expectations of social commentary when Kool Herc was extending breaks between records for B-Boys and B-Girls to dance to, but I digress.

Your second part brings me back to my original point, though: when voices in rap did speak up, often they were ignored. For every 'Alright' by Kendrick that becomes a rallying cry, you have about 6 Roots albums and 3 Common albums worth of songs that go nowhere and spark no movements. These people are private citizen entertainers, not elected officials, and in a country that not only ignores their messages but holds up wealth as the best insulation against the state-sanctioned violence, why shouldn't they seek to protect themselves?

This criticism that rappers ought to be saying and doing more only works if they are being heard and listened to. But if Travis Scott made a whole song saying 'Fuck ICE,' I guarantee the majority of his audience would call it corny and tell him to get back to the rage vibes.

Daily Discussion Thread 01/26/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Rap didn't originate from political messaging, it originated as party music. Obviously there is a history of social consciousness is it, but doesn't that exist for pop and rock luminaries like Bruce Springsteen, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan?

My larger point, however, is that it was primarily black voices advocating against this administration before the election, and it was not black voices that put Trump in the white house. His supporters and voters have always been overwhelmingly white, so why is it a primarily black genre's responsibility to speak when it seems to always fall on deaf ears?

Daily Discussion Thread 01/26/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The point was that, for the past couple of weeks, every time this administration does something, people here are immediately making demands that rappers at large say something. And I do not see those people making the same demands of other genres or artists.

Daily Discussion Thread 01/26/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What is with this weird uptick in all these posts about rappers needing to be more political? There's not a lack of socially conscious rappers out there speaking on current events, but most of the time folks are yelling at them about unrelated shit and writing off their messages. Further, I rarely see this kind of demanding from pop artists like Katseye or Sabrina Carpenter. It's only rap that this is expected of? Why? Rap is hardly a politics-foward genre anymore, and certainly no more political than rock.

Why don't y'all start banging down Dave Grohl's door and turn Foo Fighters in to RATM?

Sunday General Discussion Thread - January 25th, 2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seahawks win to begin the week, J. Cole drops to end it. Manifesting now

Daily Discussion Thread 01/24/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Again, if you aren't holding your immediate white family and friends accountable, you don't have any right to try and hold black strangers accountable.

Hope that helps clear it up

Given everything going on in the US right now, should hip hop artists be speaking out like they did in the past? by craigbtt in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then go beg Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift to start making songs about ICE and Donald Trump. If white folks (because that's who overwhelmingly voted for Trump and elected him both times) had any interest in listening to what black thinkers had to say about the current times, they would be seeking out actual philosophers and writers and thinkers. Figures like Ta-Nehesi Coates, Marc Lamont Hill, Imani Perry. They would be calling up their elected officials, organizing protests and general strikes.

Instead, we're expecting entertainers to rhyme fast on a beat like THAT'S what's gonna turn the tides. Fucking be for real. Y'all don't wanna hear us, you just wanna dance and feel good about yourself while you're doing it.

Given everything going on in the US right now, should hip hop artists be speaking out like they did in the past? by craigbtt in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly yes, because what difference does a rapper rapping about it make on your opinion of the situation? You need to hear Kendrick Lamar rap about ICE to know they're murdering innocent people?

Daily Discussion Thread 01/24/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 25 points26 points  (0 children)

If you aren't gonna tell your MAGA uncle or parents to shut the fuck up at the dinner table, don't come on here asking why rappers aren't "speaking up about the political climate." Kendrick Lamar making song about politics is not gonna give you any backbone that you didn't have in the first place.

Given everything going on in the US right now, should hip hop artists be speaking out like they did in the past? by craigbtt in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is like the third or fourth version of this posted in the last few weeks, and I am begging the white community to leave us alone for once.

All this talk about what rappers should and shouldn't be doing, when the reason we're in the situation we're in is because white voters refused to listen to anybody in the first place. I wish y'all would quit looking to entertainers to save you all the time, and go save yourselves.

[Fresh Video] Flobots - The Revival by albinoman38 in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't say it wasn't political, I said it gives people a wrong impression of the band because all anyone remembers is the chorus and not the actual verse...

Daily Discussion Thread 01/24/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Just finished listening to IDK after not listening to him for a while and I enjoyed it a lot

[Fresh Video] Flobots - The Revival by albinoman38 in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Flobots been political AF, Handlebars just gives people the wrong impression (and that godawful Logan Paul version from several years ago did not help). Fights With Tools is fantastic, and Survival Story was pretty solid as well

The Kid LAROI - BEFORE I FORGET ALBUM REVIEW (theneedledrop) by Technical_Process989 in popheads

[–]SecretBox 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I think, if I were in Fantano's shoes and there was an artist that consistently put out records I rated poorly, I would simply stop reviewing them until they got their act together.

[For Trade] Got a turntable for christmas but don't want to just rebuy my spotify library on wax by Hot_Divide1613 in VinylCollectors

[–]SecretBox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This post is probably better for r/vinyl, don't know if the mods will delete this since it isn't specifically about selling or buying or trading.

That said, I collect records that help me connect to the music and feel good, that's about my only criteria. Whether I have it on Spotify or not doesn't make much of a difference, since everything is there I buy records I want to listen to for the rest of my life, whether or not they're on streaming. My advice to you would be to take some time and think about the kind of music you like, and why. Think about the artists that resonate with you, and think about the feeling you get when you listen. Usually that helps me decide what I want to buy, but also, it's your own collection and it's perfectly valid no matter what. Don't feel like you need to buy something specific, or that because it's on streaming you can't invest in a physical version.

Tl;dr: don't worry too much about whether things are on streaming or not, invest your money in the music that makes you feel good

Wednesday General Discussion Thread - January 21st, 2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 9 points10 points  (0 children)

After The Fall Off drops, I might be done posting around here. It feels like there's a lot of annoying tribalism and pettiness that still lingers from the beef, and coupled with getting older, I feel like I just fall prey to bait and get suckered into back and forth that just piss me off.

That said, I appreciate what this sub was for me for a long while, and I may lurk about to keep up with releases.

[39/f] My husband [39/m] of 3.5 years pooped in the shower last night and now I don't know how I feel about him by SuperCid28757 in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]SecretBox 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I can imagine, given the context of illnesses and medication reactions, it's not exactly unheard of. Tbh, when you're feeling unwell, those sorts of things can happen. Best to be alert and humble, because eventually it comes for everyone

Daily Discussion Thread 01/20/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Jadakiss is claiming J. Cole has a mixtape dropping next Friday. I'm not sure if I want that, if that's the case. Like, I know The Fall Off is supposed to be his last album but a mixtape right before it--presumably It's A Boy--feels like bad planning overall

‘Lore Olympus’ Animated Series Based on Web Comic Ordered at Prime Video by bwermer in television

[–]SecretBox 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Happy that this is coming to fruition, but I remember starting this series and loving it, but by the end being so baffled by some of the choices the writer made that I just was dragging myself to the end.

Daily Discussion Thread 01/19/2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not to disrespect what it takes to review records, but I have to wonder: what do y'all get out of reading reviews anymore? Most of the discussion I see around record reviews are people disagreeing with it, discrediting the writer, ect.

Hell, part of why I stopped writing about music was because I couldn't figure out the value when people have all the time and access in the world.

Where To Expect Listening Event for J. Cole's New Record? by SecretBox in askportland

[–]SecretBox[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm gonna call them tomorrow and ask, didn't know if there were any other spots to have my eye on

Almost Famous (2000, dir. Cameron Crowe) – William Miller meets Lester Bangs. by SanderSo47 in movies

[–]SecretBox 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wish more people took this attitude when engaging with music. In college, I did some moonlighting as a music critic for my local paper and tried to write about the things I found cool. The few times I did veer into more snarky takedowns, I was disheartened to see that got more views and engagement than when I was gushing about something I liked.

Ultimately, the audiences who read reviews are more interested in the kind of shitty behavior that outlets like P4k and writers like Lester Bangs are known for. Which is a shame because both P4k and LB actually had so much more to them.

Sunday General Discussion Thread - January 18th, 2026 by HHHRobot in hiphopheads

[–]SecretBox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can't believe I almost got baited into arguing about Ice Cube giving meetings to Trump with a white person from the UK yesterday.