Exploring the decline of hip-hop's dominance in charts, the Rolling Loud festival in California showcases diverse talents and cultural fusion. Female rappers like Ken the Man shine on stage, hinting at a future of experimental sounds reshaping the genre post-trap era.
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Quick takeaways
Hip-hop's streaming and chart performance has declined, posing questions about the genre's future.
Rolling Loud reveals emerging hip-hop trends and challenges, highlighting diversity in the genre.
Deep dives
Hip-Hop's Decline in Popularity According to Chart Cipher
In the podcast episode, it is highlighted that hip-hop's dominance in the music charts has declined significantly. A report by the music analytics firm, Chart Cipher, notes that in 2023, hip-hop songs constituted only 27% of Billboard's streaming songs chart, a significant drop from 58% just three years earlier.
Exploring the State of Hip-Hop at Rolling Loud California
The episode delves into the state of hip-hop by exploring Rolling Loud California, the largest hip-hop festival. The festival aims to showcase emerging rappers alongside A-list superstars like Future and Nicki Minaj, providing a comprehensive view of the genre's current landscape.
Challenges and Disappointments at Rolling Loud
While Rolling Loud offers a platform for various hip-hop artists, there were notable challenges and disappointments at the festival. Attendees reported high prices for basic amenities like water, instances of pickpocketing, and inadequate accommodations, highlighting infrastructure issues within the event.
Emerging Sounds in Hip-Hop and Future Trends
The episode illustrates the emergence of unique sounds and trends in hip-hop, particularly focusing on young underground artists like Net Spend. These artists showcase experimental, chaotic, and DIY styles that challenge traditional norms of production and arrangement, hinting at potential future directions for the genre.
Hip-hop is in a weird place right now. Research says that the genre, in both streaming and chart performance, has declined over the last decade. And while rap artists can still get number one songs on the Hot 100, it’s a far cry from the peak of trap circa 2017, when Nielsen data named hip-hop as the most popular genre in the U.S.
So what does that mean for the future of rap? To find out, producer Reanna Cruz spent all weekend reporting from Inglewood, CA, at the California edition of the world’s largest hip-hop festival: Rolling Loud. Through talking to attendees and catching the weekend’s hottest sets, they learned about the current state of hip-hop – the good and the bad – as well as what the future may hold.
To read Reanna’s highs and lows from the festival, check out their Vulture article here.
Special thanks to Antonio Cruz for his production help on this episode.
Songs Discussed:
OsamaSon – Pop
Nicki Minaj – BARBIE DANGEROUS
¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – EVERYBODY (live)
¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – BACK TO ME (live)
Junior H – Y LLORO
Natanael Cano – Pacas de Billetes
Fuerza Regida – Enculado
That Mexican OT, Lefty SM – Barrio (with Lefty SM)
That Mexican OT – Cowboy Killer (live)
KenTheMan – Not My N**** – Extended
KenTheMan – Poppin Sh!t
KenTheMan – Keep Going (live)
Kaliii – Area Codes
Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Respect the Moustache
Drake, SZA, & Sexyy Red – Rich Baby Daddy (live)
Sexyy Red, Sukihana – Born By the River (feat. Sukihana)