Cowan Amaye-Obu : The After School Hip Hip Generation Fights to Place Among the Greats by Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu

The After School Generation of Hip Hop is finally beginning to take shape as the Hip Hop Top Echelons solidifies into the Holy Grail of infamous Rap Legends, whose records sales and influence on American Pop culture serve as testimony for their legitimate place in a List of All Time Greats. Unfortunately, popularity, and favoritism isn’t enough to elevate local and regional rap heroes into the list. The Krush Groove Era quote, “numbers don’t lie,” attests to the belief among executives and fans alike, that there must be recorded evidence to coincide with style and marketability, to show a rap star deserves the place among legends like LL Cool J, Kool Mo Dee, Tupac & Biggie, Nas & Jay-Z, Kanye West & Lil Wayne. The three schools of Hip Hop, The Old School, New School, and now, The After School, all offer legends which must pass the test. Still, as the changing of the guard resumes, the battle resumes for placement at the ever elusive Top Five spot. Which is reserved for the hottest rapper at the moment. In 2016, hands down the chair goes to Drake. His impact can be heard on the radio and seen in commercials, video games, movies, and clubs. He has become an American brand used to sale products and experiences like NBA tickets and Commercial Airline trips to Canada and other foreign countries. The Drake brand, has proven in evidence of sales in the millions and sheer popularity, his place at Hip Hop’s current Top Five.

The Top Five spot, like the Popular American Movie (Top Five 2011), is reserved for the hottest rapper at the moment, and is constantly in contention. Here’s our formal list (living).

Top Two- Nas, Jay-Z

Top Three- Eminem (Note Top Three & Four are interchangeable and not fixed. The list constantly adds updates from the Top Five category)

Top Four (Regional)- The Westcoast- Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube or The Game, Midwest- Common, Twista, or Kanye West, The South- Andre 3000, Rick Ross, or Lil Wayne, East Coast- DMX, Jadakiss or 50 Cent

Top Five- Current Most Popular 2015-2016, Kendrick Lamar, Drake

In order to be considered a legend, a rap star must spend some time at number one on the US Billboards Charts. Examples of stars turned legends are 50 Cent, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, or Young Jeezy. All were legitimate top five rappers at some point in their career, pushing them into an echelon on Hip Hop greatness, that is ever shifting, similar to plate tectonics moving on hot lava. The After School generation had a momentary issue breaking credible and relevant artists, who produced evidence of their ability to be herald along the likes of Dr. Dre, or even mentioned in the same sentence as Fat Joe, Ghostface Killah or Prodigy. It’s like asking for a popular candy like a Twix and someone handing you a Chick-o-stick, or Mary jane, popular but not quite top shelf. This is what the After School Generation has been offering the New School Hip Hop fans and guardians of the culture: Soldier Boy, Bow Wow, Gucci Mane, Lil Boosie, School Boy Q, Travis Porter, Future, and each of those listees are great in their own respect. However, the top five and top 10 list of Hip Hop Artists are reserved for seasoned, battle tested, rap veterans, who offer listeners more than popularity, but quality influential music, and a brand to continue listening and reinvesting into Hip Hop culture for more.

These legends know their place and don’t have a problem saying it or battling it out, to let another rapper know. Dr. Dre and Ghostface Killah recently came out with albums for fans. Jadakiss blessed his fans with Top Five Dead or Alive in 2015. The Game hit the West Coast with the classic, Documentary 2, and Streets of Compton in 2015-2016. The ability to be considered top five or even top 10 is solidifying but continues to be affirmed with new projects.

Yet, the After School isn’t backing down. For a moment, Hip Hop fans thought it was the end and we’d get drowned in raps laced with Autotunes and nursery school rhymes from Barney & Hip Hop Harry. It wasn’t looking too good for the After School Hip Hop Generation. Then, Lil Wayne signed a group of artists on his Young Money Label, giving us Nicki Minaj and Drake. Jay-Z introduced us to J. Cole and Rick Ross, who as an unexpected Rap Superstar turn legend, in his own right, gave us, Wale and Meek Mill. On the Westcoast, Kendrick Lamar, School Boy Q and YG arose. Travis Porter (out of ATL), Kodak Black, and Underground in the South, the most influential group, Migos, suffer from a hung jury due to their original rap style which has been recreated and profited by many After School Rappers, but typecast their crossover appeal, and acceptance even among other Hip Hop fans. Wiz Khalifa one of the most accepted and successful of the After School Generation, has really taking off with his brand. Still, the battle began for influence and branding. Nicki took on Lil Kim, Lil Wayne took shots at the Throne and Jay-Z. Now, the battle for place among the generation has begun as the dust settles around the Drake and Meek Mill battle, with Hip Hop Greats offering their crushing epilogues, like Joe Budden and The Game. Hip Hop fans welcome the beef as the Rap game enters into playoff season and the Super Bowl finish. In the end, we expect the contenders to stand on their own two feet, their skills, and their crews, to either claim their spot at the table of Rap’s Top echelon or fall back to the rear and concede a good fight.

Written by Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu & Mr. Peter Commons

Email: PeterLCommons@gmail.com or WestOaklandImports@gmail.com for more information, questions or concerns.

(Shoutout to the Old School, Kool Moe Dee, Nice & Smooth, Grand Puba, Big Daddy Kane. The New School, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef, The Fugees… All the way to New Orleans, Masta P, Juvenile- 400 Degrees And the new After School cats. Shoutout to Kanye West & T-Pain for sowing the seeds for the up and coming. Shoutout to Tory Lanez for keeping rappers on they feet and keeping it live!)

Enclosed are new crushing verses on Meek Mill from the anticipated upcoming album from the Game. All rights reserved to the following artists. This is promotional only, representing the current wave of Hip Hop Music.

Bigger Than Me

Verse