hip hop: dying in America, living well around the world?

[Mindbender Futurama]

Nas said "hip hop is dead" a couple years ago because... it virtually was, especially relative to years like 1993 and 1988.

but everyone says "you go to Europe, and motherfuckers sleep in their Shelltoes, wake up to Rakim, and throw Heineken bottles at MCs who try to rock shows without using vinyl. They LOVE hip hop culture there"

and in Africa, South America, and Asia, watered-down commercial hip hop may be successful, but it is not very respected.

2 or 3 years ago, hip hop felt more dead than ever around here... but there has been a resurgence in authenticity (peace to Yelawolf, Freddie Gibbs, Jay Electronica and cats like that for staying true to themselves)

but what do you think about the idea that as hip hop is kinda on life support in America, it is living better than ever around the world?

[Moolah]

[vermillion]

Lots of people always mention countries overseas when talking about touring and places where people like "real hip hop". With that being said, they aren't contributing much at all music wise (when talking about hip-hop). Anyways, any thread talking about hip-hop being dead, on life support or ressurecting should get the

[Dee el Hugely]

"Hip hop is dead" to old fucks who can't separate their idealized image of the culture of their youth from youth culture in general. Asking, "is hip hop dead?" is the same as saying "today I turned old" or "that darned Bob Dylan plugged his guitar into electricity!"

This is the sort of conversation irrelevant people have to cool down after a heated argument about the hypen (or lack thereof) in "hip hop."

[PopeyeJones]