Quote Of The Day

"Is rap music dead?

No, but it's certainly on life support thanks to the mainstreaming of a small selection of its themes: drugs, strip clubs and violence peppered with a healthy dose of the n-word.We can't fault radio or TV video shows for rap's impending extinction, though it's tempting. Instead, the blame can be spread evenly among label executives, greedy artists and, oh yes, the fans who prefer the simplistic sounds of Young Jeezy, 50 Cent and the tiresome Ying Yang Twins to music featuring actual lyricism and subject matter that goes beyond street-level.

I'm not suggesting that all rap music be about cotton candy, trips to the grocery store or hanging out with your best friend, but surely songs boasting about drug dealing, beating up bouncers, hanging chains and spinning rims are not the only alternative. Other musical genres—alternative, country and jazz—have had to evolve to fit trends or risk extinction. Rap is no exception."

— Kyra Kyles, columnist for Chicago RedEye