I’d like to think I’m not that much of an alarmist as I can, esp talking about the crummy economy (lately). Then again, the dow opened and its almost dropping to 10K ish. And not since 9/11 have we seen such ewwwhhh in the past 10 years. Maybe so but, work with me.

So, I will try something rare…I will look for good news to come and has happened since the end of the official fiscal year. Um…um…

Oh..Lil Wayne did great numbers on his album but, I’ve never been a fan of caking on album sales…um…

Still working on it so, when I find out, I’ll let you know

The government reported the U.S. lost 49,000 jobs in May as the unemployment rate rose by the largest amount since February 1986.

The Labor Department reported the fifth consecutive month of declines in nonfarm payrolls. The decline was better-than-expected however, as economists had been expecting a 60,000 job decline for last month.[Foxbusiness.com]

Then again, why would anyone be that surprise about the job decline? This past year we have had decline after decline. Is it fair to say, Either we going through an economic melt down as the dollar continues to loose its value, or…this is that pesky “change” everyone been speaking of. The New America. Its fair to say yes the rhetoric of change is a present mantra, actual change has been effective for the past 10 years. When the American symbol of transportation the truck is becoming a dying breed, when White middle american consumers are no longer the factor in an US economy, due to worldwide consumer interest. Is the American economy we used to know finally through, “changing?”

On top of that, the upper crust of Bank of America is encountering a little M&A problem with Countrywide’s housing mess. If that didn’t help, the earnings were down for BOA, 77% they say. So Wait! Now they are having second thoughts about that swap-meet buy up Countrywide? And to put a thorn, BOA’s investment in coal… you know that stuff we though no one used anymore but, we really use fr everythign? Thats deal is about to fall through, if environmentalist have their way. Regardless the pub is bad for a day like this. And it is Earth Day’ish for April. I mean, wait…why buy Countrywide if companies like that are still gonna screw up the market and everything. We don’t need two ships sinking. I know its not that Black & White but, damn, I might as well trash my iPod and get a Zune, just cause its cheaper.

In light of that, this 4th Quarter is..um can I say, lack luster. With the exception of the R. Kelly Double Up album, Akon, labels, have had to count the rap Fiscal, 2007 as a loss.

Is it honestly safe to say, Hip Hop is Dead? Yes.
Is it un-pc to say this? Well the numbers and the dismay of the fans can’t lie.The Hip Hop community has not realized its grown. its 30 years old, if it still can’t notice problems, criticism, and handle it..whew . Like all genre’s, most notably coined by Lenny Kravitz in the infamous “Rock n Roll is Dead”. Sometimes it takes the notice of the declining quality to note the need for repair. Not saying what’s new is garbage because, despite, what Old Heads” think, some new music is just that, new and at times refreshing.

Unlike, Rock n Roll though, Hip Hop’s supporters are based on community, not artist creativity. Hip Hop’s lifeline depends on a social and race-culture that finds it difficult to note problems, and….actually…um fix them.

Rock has made a tremendous come back, literally 10 years after Kravitz’s hit song. Based on the fact, Rock realized what corporate “say so’s” can ruin an artists freedom. Rock has always included different cultures, genders, and countries that have been able to collectively acknowledge a problem within and regroup.

Rock’s solution to decline genre, support events and artists that fall under Cochella,etc. Rap? Well, we had Self Destruction, a much more serious cause than an artists, keeping its publishing.

Could the social slothfulness, bias and greed of the Urban community be to blame for the ultimate demise, if not a lack of full recovery? It really does seem like that. Unlike rock’s breakout recovery. Hip Hop might end up, going back to the 3AM MTV spins, 10 years. What’s also happening, people outside the “typical” Hip Hop community have capitalized off of the classic winning formula, that has been abandoned by the Hip Hop community. If Hip Hop is about the 5 elements and its now , million dollar cars, suit and tie; if Soul in was about love and now its only about sex and infidelity. What’s up. Thats not an good return on a 20 year investment.

Russell Simmons once said, rappers are mirrors of the truth and reflection of the (urban) community. Okay. so, is this what has become of the community? I hate using Hip Hop has a barometer of the community cause I never saw 9 to 5′ers driving Lambos. But, hey, I haven’t lived in a non foreign hood in a while. what do I know.
But, I can stay, social whatever, Hip Hop’s lost its ability to remain fiscally relevant in music?

Despite that, if social problems cant be pointed out and repaired, I doubt Hip Hop will last with its “original”contributors.