Does Ageism Exist In Hip Hop?

[5 Grand]

In the year 2000 there weren't very many rappers that were around for 15 years. LL Cool J is the only one that comes to mind.

Now, as 2021 starts you can name at least a dozen rappers that have been around for 15 years that are still relevant.


Have things changed? Or has the first generation of Hip Hoppers grown up?

Nowadays people that are 50-60 years old grew up on Hip Hop

In 2000 people that were 50-60 didn't grow up on Hip Hop.



Is there ageism in Hip Hop? Does age matter as much as it did in the year 2000? I remember when Eminem and Benzino were beefing, Eminem called Benzino old because he was in his 40s. Now Eminem is about to turn 50.


Is Hip Hop still for the youth or do all age groups have a claim to ownership of Hip Hop?

 

[Kzzl]

All ages have, and had, a claim to it.
Especially now with even more rappers reaching old age.
They have aged and so has their audience, and the classics we enjoy are timeless.
So there's always going to be some demand.

Other genres tour and release music well into their 70's if possible.
No reason for rap to be any different.

 

[5 Grand]

All ages have, and had, a claim to it.
Especially now with even more rappers reaching old age.
They have aged and so has their audience, and the classics we enjoy are timeless.
So there's always going to be some demand.

Other genres tour and release music well into their 70's if possible.
No reason for rap to be any different.

The problem is that in the early 80s Rap was more of a singles format, meaning they'd release a single, and then 6 months would go by and release another single. There's very few early 80s rappers that have enough material to tour. Albums didn't start becoming common until around 87/88.

People like Rakim, KRS and Public Enemy can still tour.

Unfortunately groups like The Fearless Four, The Crash Crew and Cold Crush Brothers they're just not as well known.

 

[south4life]

What's crazy is other genres aren't about age compared to Hip Hop because, Hip Hop was suppose to be a young rebellious genre so, the ones that are still here get clowned on for still rapping.
Rolling Stones, KISS, Guns 'N' Roses, Garth Brooks, Reba Mcintyre and acts in other genres can still put out albums and tour without getting the "Too Old" label but, let LL or Rakim put out an album, niggas gonna be on that bullshit.
Snoop is the exception because, he's universally loved.
Yes there's definitely ageism in Hip Hop!