After discussing the history of southern hip-hop in our last issue, The Nubian Message is continuing the conversation by taking a look into the current scene of the genre, as well as highlighting artists and styles that were missed altogether. As the genre has continued to evolve over the decades I would like to make the argument that there is a space for all forms of hip-hop that have taken root.
What better way to seed a new perspective than by talking with other people who feel strongly about the subject?
To gain a better understanding of modern-day hip-hop, The Nubian Message met with the Black Artist Coalition’s President and Social Media Manager, second-year Henoc Beni Dossou, studying Computer Science and third-year Jymon James Ross studying Computer Science. As creatives themselves, their connection to hip-hop can be explored in their personal lives as well as in the music they make.
Here are some of the highlights from the conversation.
The Nubian Message: In your creative process, where do you draw inspiration?
Jymon James Ross: Okay, so I get a lot of inspiration from the things that I start listening to once I developed my own taste—you know? Listening to stuff like Pi’erre Bourne and stuff that leads down that route with, like, the whole underground rap scene. People like Maajins, Che and Osamason. A lot of that type of production I take inspiration from, and I try to replicate. Especially, you know, with the stuff I’m making now.
Henoc Beni Dossou: For me, southern rap was just pretty much a soundtrack to my life. I was really similar to Jymon starting out. [I listened to] whatever was on the radio and then [the] rise of SoundCloud came up. You know, people like XXXtentacion, Lil Uzi, Carti—those people, how they make their music. They rarely write. Maybe X, he wrote, but [they] really created this era of young people just punching in to making the most creative, fresh style. Going through some crazy stuff and just trying to wrap it together and make an incredible product. These people, they’re, like, our age. They grew up listening to like, you know, Carti, Chief Keef, and they play video games, they watch shows that we watch, and then they find a way to incorporate that. And, like, did their own music. And when I make music, that’s what I’m also thinking of too.
TNM: Who is an artist that currently stands out to you?
JJR: [untiljapan is] one of my favorite artists right now. He uses a lot of samples, which is kind of coming back. I feel like there was a period in time where the genre shifted away from using samples [and] instead made their own original sounds. And people like him, and then, this dude named Not Ambitious. They just keep, like, a lot, dude, yeah, just spamming [samples.]
TNM: What is your opinion on modern day subgenres? Which genres stand out to you?
HBD: When it comes to subgenres like names, it’s just, they just sound mad cringe. Not cringe because the names, just cringe because, you know, like the music that we listen to now, it’s hard to categorize it because they’re always doing something different.
TNM: What are your thoughts on the relationship between rap community members?
HBD: These artists are coming up, like, they’re our age, they obviously listen to people like Ken Carson, Carti but like, they’ll never say, ‘Yo, he influenced me.’
JJR: In general, if you ask somebody, and they’re not trying to sound like a super fan or whatever, they’ll probably say Young Thug.
Closing Thoughts
Throughout the conversation with Dossou and Ross, there was always an underlying sense of connection to the music they spoke about. Whether through the beats or lyrics, hip-hop continues to thrive through those who push the genre’s limits.
This newfound innovation alongside the rise of social media has shattered previous barriers of entry for artists. The age of SoundCloud Rappers throughout the 2010s saw an appreciation for experimental and raw production that is now extending into a new age of artists, from Che and Osamason to Maajin.
The SoundCloud movement began in the 2010s as a rebellion against the music industry and old school hip-hop. This style is characterized by boomin 808s and catchy-phrasing. It resonates heavily with younger audiences while also ruffling the feathers of older generations.
While tackling vulnerable topics in their music came naturally, Ross and Dossou also highlight the hyper-independence often associated with the genre. As artists gained traction, many became less willing to credit their sound to others, particularly their contemporaries.
One subgenres that emerged from the movement is punk rap, a darker, harsher and punk-influenced form of rap. Oftentimes the subject matter of the music is emotional and can vary from discussing mental health and violence to the struggles of drug addiction. Southern Florida artists such as XXXtentacion, Lil Pump, Smokepurrpp and Ski Mask the Slump God were pioneers of this specific movement.
Florida is also home to the Swamp Princess herself, Doechii. The Best Rap Album of the Year Grammy winner began her rise to stardom on TikTok after going viral following the release of her 2020 single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake.”
Since then, Doechii has breathed new life into hip-hop with intricate raps accompanied by soulful instrumentals advocating for self-love and mental health. Aside from her music, Doechii is also an extremely talented performer. Overall, Doechii’s candid storytelling ability is an inspiration that opens the door for more women of color, particularly Black women, to pursue success in creative spaces.
Rap and hip-hop continues to expand in unprecedented ways. Rappers like Doechii and Kendrick Lamar are receiving their due accolades and taking pop culture’s center stage. All the while, underground artists continue to push the boundaries of what can be considered hip-hop through the incorporation of punk and rebellious themes.
History seems to repeat itself as artists redefine hip-hop to reflect themselves authentically from generation to generation. The emergence of subgenres to encapsulate those artists is a testament to the versatility of hip-hop itself and MUST be celebrated.
For more information on the Black Artist Coalition, follow their instagram account
@blackartistcoalition and check out Jymon’s music on soundcloud under the username ShowMe.
