July 2022 has been a pivotal month for music. Lil uzi vert released the anticipated EP "Red & White," and Slump6s released his first studio album, "Genisis." In an interview with DJ Akademiks, French Montana revealed that music companies have considered taking out life insurance policies for their artist. And lastly, the passing of a prominent Lousiana composer, Jaydayoungin. These events may seem minor or even a usual trend expected for rap music to follow for the average listener. However, there appears to be an underlying trend bubbling toward the surface, signifying a divergence from the current path.
The release of "Red & White" and "Genesis" represents two different interpretations of Music theory, but not in the traditional western sense. The cultural theory speaks to how composers should organize their music regarding lyrics, melodies, beats, and the message left to consumers. Its significance rests in that modern hip hop was derived from a culture of survival and has developed into a culture of commodified ignorance. One could view these two projects as rejecting the current trend since they are fundamentally different from the contemporary culture. When analyzing Red & White, the latest release in Lil uzi vert's catalog, listeners begin the project with a song called Space Cadet. The title is a nod to a prosperous future, as a society could not achieve having space cadets without being a rising civilization. Although the song has lyrics highlighting Lil Uzi Vert's use of drugs, which people have used as a tool to channel creativity since the creation of the arts, it has a unique beat that taps the imagination. The curation of melodic beats for this project set the stage for inspiring the listener to produce mental movies. The EP, among other impressions, introduced another critical component. The point is that Red & White conveys many possibilities for how music can sound. Not only does he introduce new melodies, patterns, and syllable structures, but he achieves this with reflection on his personal life, changing the conversation of what is socially acceptable, and promoting the pleasure of accomplishing goals.
As we look at Slump6s's Genesis, the beats used for this project are darker, which can be identified by the 808 drum patterns. The patterns are of an assertive nature which best represents Slump6s and his cohort of composers. Their generation favors technical approaches to the structure of their bars, which creates the seamless effect of each punchline when the drums kick. Slump6's organization of lyrics and patterns displays belief in himself and his work ethic, highlighted particularly in Star, No Sleep, and Top. These notable songs also speak to a growing realization that the community Slump6s represent is rife with envy, frustration, and disdain for the lack of economic mobility. The modern culture traps these social conditions in a loop between reality, media, and discourse, creating the environment we see today. His music's constituents are among the least violent and prone to care more about the music and concert culture than the street culture surrounding the music scene today. Hence the diverse group of young adults that attend his concerts. The decision to separate and cultivate a new culture is reflected not only through these compositions but also in the strategies of Music labels.
French Montana introduces the idea on DJ Akedmeiks's podcast "Off the Record" that music labels have considered and even implemented life insurance policies on their artist. The comment initiated a jolt of blowback for music labels as media pundits and social media communities tore into the idea of the commodifying of artists. The perception comes from the passing of many composers in the last three years, not to mention since the Tupac debacle in 1996. The cause of death among these composers has overwhelmingly been attributed to gun violence and drug abuse. Since this has been a continuous cycle spanning years, companies have positioned themselves to hedge their investments so that the company can profit off the life and death of their artists, effectively making the artist assets that can be bought, sold, and insured. The dehumanization of composers has led to the creation of independent institutions like DistroKidd, United Masters, and other music tech startups that enable composers to market and manage themselves. Furthermore, pushing the industry to congregate around originalism and innovation. With these new platforms, the barrier to entry has never been lower. It allows new and experienced composers to explore their music sound and test the marketplace with little risk. These companies also provide essential data collection for independents to understand their demographics better. The case for these aligned and competing viewpoints comes to a head with the passing of cultural figure Jaydayougin.
Lousiana native, Jaydayougin stood as a cultural figure whose music represented a lifestyle rooted in the harsh reality of growing up in the streets of Lousiana. Known for his southern dialect, Jaydayoungin often made music regarding his code of ethics and his life. The ethics in his music followed the principles set up by the notion of surviving the streets. These principles included prospering by any means, zero tolerance for snitching, and retaliation against any slight. The latter is most celebrated today as it has been the undoing of many endeared composers. Jaydayoungin was another victim of this dangerous culture, prompting an outcry on social media as another impactful loss occurred. This loss will undoubtedly push companies to double down on their insurance plan to protect their holdings, ultimately prompting more startups, as conveyed above. As the cycle continues, it is no coincidence that many stakeholders are trying to fork the road to get away from this culture and build better customs. And so, as we transition into the next phase of music, it is imperative that the music industry, including media outlets, entrepreneurs, composers, and other stakeholders, promote the flourishing of creativity and uplift the independent creator.