If you are one of those who strongly believe that the likes of Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Jcole, Common, and Dave truly depict the right representation of quality and standard rap music, you are in for a good read. Also, if you are of the opinion that names like Flomilli shit and Noname deserve better mainstream recognition, then you should keep on reading.
Conscious rap is known for its intrusive and deep introspection of spoken words in music. It captures a direct problem or recurring issue and plays on themes circling politics, social activism, and racial profiling. Basically, it's the side of rap, away from applauding drug abuse and glorification of illicit drug usage, sex, hood crime activities, open court cases, bodies to a person's name, gang-affiliated violence, and resulting deaths. It is the side of hip-hop that addresses everything the mainstream sweeps under the carpet. Topics on the realities of life are extensively discussed. The subgenre-conscious rap isn't as commercially marketable as other subgenres of hip hop and this is for various reasons. The most common has to be that this generation isn't really populated with people, who are drawn to be educated by music. They would rather choose to dance or rap along to lyrics fettered on other fast life and every other thing than dwell on the problems of life they are currently faced with. To this generation, music is an escape from the harsh realities of living either as an individual or as an individual from a minority race in potential danger.
If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be a Lyrically Talib Kwelli, Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common sense. But I did 5 mill and I haven't been able to rap like common since.
The Line from Jay z Moment of truth speaks more directly on the issues faced by artists taking the route of conscious lyricism. It highlights the difficulty of being boxed into this subgenre.
The name Sélavi is a pun on the French phrase C'est La vie, transcribed in English to Mean “this is the life or alternatively, that's life”. In the intro to the track chrome coffin, she softly utters and says life is sweet, perfect one-liner, right of that cooks perfection. The next line absolute power corrupts absolutely alludes to the famous quote by Lord Acton.
Upon hearing this, there is an extra activated sense to clearly listen to the lyrics. Doubling down on the quote, she speaks on the abuse and misuse of power and authority to the detriment of innocent civilians. However, it's streamlined to racial discrimination and injustice in policing. The lyrics speak on retrenched systemic bias constantly exhibited by law enforcement officials against people of color and minority groups. Leading to the unlawful detainment of some and the death of others.
Cocoon is a classic hip-hop tune that you blast on your stereo, windows down, living in the moment while enjoying life.
On The dot featuring Haf n Haf, they rhyme pattern. To her penmanship. (To sacred to be sold to blessed to be ) the lines ending in “quickly, sickly, Italy, diggidy” It has been a while; Haf n Haf’s verse will have you reminiscing on good old Classic rap days. Towards the end of the track, the recognizable “gimme the loot” chant is heard. It is very familiar to many hip-hop lovers; however, the reference could differ across age grades. For the younger generation, it would be flashbacks to a sample on Sick mode off Travis Scotts Astroworld album, and for the older generation, to Notorious B.I.G’s track titled “Gimme the loot” off his Ready to die Album.
Brown leather is a self-aware track, The lyrics center on self-affirmation and confidence-boosting. It's packed with a lot of positive declarations to digest at once.
The dirt is on environmental consciousness.
