Most music today does not have class

I don't know about you but music lacks class today. I know for some of you, a twenty year old from mainstream should not be saying this but seriously, I am tired of listening to music that does not have significant meaning to it. Lately, I have been hearing music such as Soulja Boy's Crank That and I admit it was catchy the initial twenty times I heard on Youtube or a person's radio driving by the campus. When I tried to listen out for the lyrics, I didn't catch anything important or awe-striking. I kept hearing the word "You." On top of that, the song has a dance to it. It is catchy too but to me, the dance is kind of silly. I know artist want the money and the quick means to success but this is killing me.
I know I sound older when I say this but remember the days when there were artists like Tupac. Okay, to be fair, they were talking about things that were not idealistic but they balanced these things out with other songs that talked about something. I am a conscious guy- songs about misogyny and flaunting money will not cut it. I listen to songs like Common's "The Corner" and "Retrospect for Life" featuring Lauryn Hill. I like listening to real life stories where the situation is real and the people are not in the best position at first but then realize that they can do better and turn their lives around. I don't like my music sugarcoated because real life is not sugarcoated. The problems that many of us face needs to be told to the mainstream and underground audiences. The occasional party song that be broadcasted but real music needs to be broadcasted all of the time.
In my Ipod, I carry a lot of diverse, eclectic artists with soulrendering songs. Included in my selection are Maxwell, Twista, and R. Kelly for the mainstream R&B, and artists such as Evanescence and Linkin Park for Alternative and Rock. Whenever I need inspiration to do something bigger than myself, I use either Classical music, preferably Andrea Bocelli or Josh Groban or my Contemporary Christian or Gospel music such as Avalon, Natalie Grant, and Jeremy Camp to revive my spirit. I want to be able to diversify with my music and not be stuck on the same monotonous material. I like all types of music but I have more music from the 90's than anything. I think the material from the 90's carries a lot more of an impact on a person's life. This was my first full decade of life and some of the hits then will have a long sustaining impact on me.
I don't know. I guess the material on the radio has finally gotten to me. Everywhere I turn to on the radio, I hear the same material. I have turned off the radio and now only listen to my Ipod. A healthy mind can start by filtering all of the bad stuff and broadening my mind with new material that provides diversity in music selection. I am like many people especially people with children- "I don't want my child hearing that stuff." It may be inevitable that children will hear this music of today but I want to provide the best diverse and musical selection for my child. I know this is a parental instinct but I believe enough is enough. This is why my Ipod is so helpful in maintaining the taste that I like. I will say it again- most music today do not have the class that the music of the 90's has. The music that does I will purchase on my Itunes program and happily listen to it. This is how I feel about music today.




Your music conscious man,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10