I’ve always found the latest dances created by some of today’s popular rappers are quite disturbing. To me seeing a grown ass man dancing around like a fool is not attractive but young teens and adults find these dances catchy. I think I lost it when I saw a group of actors on 90210 doing I think the “Crank That” dance. I guess its okay to see them dancing to whats hot but its they way they are doing that makes these dances seem even more silly. Watch clip below…it’s around the 6 min mark.
I know the dance crazes are part of culture and meant to be catchy but I don’t find this type of dancing catchy or sexy! The main rapper and record producer I speak of is Soulja Boy Tell Him. These dances are popular among young teens but I think for a man of 19 years of age, it’s not cute! I also understand that these dances are just an element of hip hop culture; seeds from the streets of mainly black communities. Soulja Boy is talented and I am sure he has a bright future ahead of him but these dances are sickening and I think they only appeal to the CEO’s (mainly white men and woman) more than to the targeted audiences. Of course they want the black man running around on stage and camera dancing like idiots.
What makes it sad is that 100 other lil rappers are going to try to replicate the efforts of SoulaBoy and they will think they are contributing to culture. To me, they are dumbing down black communities by not making positive and music that invokes change agents and advocates. Do you need a catchy dance to illustrate your music. I know Soulja Boy was trying to differentiate himself from what’s out there today but do something that’s different but real positive. Music is supposed to reflect moods, life, situations and issues, etc. What they hell is a grown man making these dances for?
Maybe I just don’t understand or I can’t articulate my feelings correctly but Nas, Nick Cannon and Affion perfectly described what I am trying to say in their “Eat That Watermelon” PSA.
Hip hop definitely took a nose dive when Puff Daddy, P.Diddy, Puff “Sean Combs” Diddy blasted onto the scene. Hip hop use to have meaning and soul…made you feel you were an advocate for something. Now, its filled with these ridiculous dances and tunes that make no damn sense. It seems we have to shake our ass, get crunk or diss somebody to get the foot in the door. Let it be known that I am not a hip hop ride or die chick, I appreciate good music when I hear it. I love all music because music has the way to express my soul with poetic lyrics! But nowadays, you got Lil Wayne, T-Pain and all these others fools making money off their whack ass rhymes and silly ass dances!
Soulja Boy is paid though so the joke is on me and the others that feel the way I do. He will laugh all the way to the bank for years to come so what we going to do. It would be great if he wakes up and realizes he has the power to change communities! He can still make music but change your style…change in style always happens.
P.S.: I guess I would have to give the same speech about Missy Elliot. She is a grown ass woman (38 yrs young) dancing up a storm and most of her lyrics make no sense! But her shit is hot! Her style has not changed since she came onto the scene…her music has been catchy though! The difference between Soulja Boy and Missy Elliot is that she is not dumbing down communities…she is just simply entertaining! I am sure I will elaborate on that more next time!
What do you think of the latest dance crazes sweeping the nation started by today’s rappers? Is it dumbing down communities or providing clean entertainment?
