There comes a point in almost every genre where the old guard are replaced by the new wave. 2018 seems to be one of those moments in hip hop with Lil Wayne and Eminem releasing somewhat dated albums (in Lil Wayne’s case, his album is dated by several years). However, it’s also a period of growth in hip hop, with artists like Brockhampton, Lil Pump and Lil Uzi Vert all proving that innovation is the way to get ahead, rather than sticking to your guns.
One thing’s for certain – rap beefs are the order of the day, but rappers risk losing some credibility if they lose. Not everyone can get destroyed as hard as Drake did by Pusha T and recover – look at Eminem and how his credibility took a knock after taking on half the industry. Machine Gun Kelly isn’t known for his rap beef ability, but many would argue he won when taking on Eminem. For someone that was once known for being able to take on all comers, Eminem has really taken a hit this year. Is he still up there in the Greatest of All Time conversation? Time will tell, but it seems that the once-untouchable rapper has returned back to Earth.
It’s also a year for backstabbing. You wouldn’t hear the younger generation of rappers squabbling quite as much as the ongoing feud between Kanye West and Drake regarding the Wyoming sessions, which birthed albums from Kanye, Pusha T, Teyana Taylor, Nas and Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s Kids See Ghosts, which might just be the best album released by a member of the old guard this year. Kanye and Drake’s feud might not be over yet, but only time will tell who wins.
However, it’s not all negative when it comes to rap in 2018. The order of the day is positivity when it comes to the new wave, and people are loving it. Lil Pump isn’t one to take things too seriously, and even when poking fun at himself and other people (see his collaboration with Kanye West, I Love It, for reference), he’s taking over the world, one party playlist at a time. You won’t want to miss him at FOMO Festival over the new year, and having never visited Australia before, he’ll be bringing his A-game. From Gucci Gang to Esskeetit, he might not be the most lyrical rapper around, but he’s one that is showing the old guard that taking yourself too seriously can be your downfall.
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However, it’s not all bad news for those who are fans of lyricists in hip hop. Hobo Johnson isn’t necessarily someone that comes to mind when you consider the hottest rappers of the moment, and yet, he might just be one of the hyped artists of 2018. He’s finally coming down under, and he’s set to perform at Falls Festival all over the country. It’ll be a wonder to witness him perform, and demonstrate the lyrical prowess that saw him and his band, The Lovemakers, end up performing a NPR Tiny Desk Concert after a successful campaign.
Brockhampton are another that are redefining what it means to be involved in hip hop. Referring to themselves as a boyband, the greatest boyband in the world at that, four albums in two years speaks to the output that they’re able to deliver. By being more of a collective than a group, they’re able to put out music at a rate of knots, as well as providing fans with a comprehensive experience. Where some older rappers prefer to let their music do the talking, Brockhampton are demonstrating that being connected to your fans pays dividends, and is a model we’re sure to see more of in the future. Just think about how they filmed and released music videos within 24 hours (with fan contributions!) in Australia recently.
With trap on the rise, boom-bap is largely on the way out. Lil Uzi Vert has led the way in mixing hip hop and emo, and with influences ranging from Kanye West, Marilyn Manson and Paramore, he’s gaining fans with varying music tastes. We’re waiting on Uzi to drop Eternal Atake, his new album, sooner rather than later, and he’s taken to Instagram to say that it’s coming soon. Hype has been building ever since Uzi dropped New Patek a few months ago, and whilst news has been scarce, it’s good that he’s at least confirmed it’s coming. XO Tour Llif3, in many ways, brought emo rap to the masses, and has meant it has skyrocketed in popularity. 10 years ago, Lil Uzi Vert may have been an entirely different style of rapper, so it’s exciting to watch what form Eternal Atake will take sonically.
It’ll be interesting to see what path hip hop takes in the future, with leaders like Kanye West, Eminem and Jay-Z largely being left behind by those who came after them. Sometimes, the student becomes the teacher.
