Hip Hop is riding a wave of popularity of unspeakable heights. As a genre of music, rap couldn’t be more popular than it currently is. It has successfully penetrated the mainstream. With just a glimpse at the record charts you can see that the majority of the top selling albums fall into the hip hop category. In fact, rap has become so popular that it has crossed over into other acts and bled into other genres. As in the successful (if annoying) rap/metal voodoo that Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park do do. And hey gang, it looks like Madonna caught the bug, she raps now in her new single! Yes, hip hop is the prevailing sound in music today.

Now while admittedly I do find some hip hop infectious and fun, I do have one major issue with this genre. How egocentric is this music? Where else but rap do you hear musicians so blatantly promoting their own self worth? Need a few examples? Let’s take a listen shall we? Turn it up nice and loud DJ!

I got land in Switzerland, even got sand in the Marylands
Bahamas in the spring, baby, it's a Big Momma thing

L’ll Kim- “Big Momma Thang”

What the deal playboy, just rest your soul
I be holding it down yo still love the dough
Got these ladies on the cock now you know how we go
Got the whole world on lock down you know how we flow

Jay Z – “The City Is Mine”

But when it comes to this game I'mma play the field
Rockland had loot before we signed the deal
Haters get in the way and catch the sky like Seal

R. Kelly- “Only The Loot Can Make Me Happy”

So what have we learned here? It seems evident that the majority of hip hop artists are incredibly boastful, almost to an insecure level. If I may generalize for a moment, it appears every rapper has to convey the following information in each song:

1. They are getting paid or making money (and more often then not, the money is on their mind).
2. Women (aka Bitches or Ho’s) love them
3. They have gone (or currently are in the processing of going) platinum
4. If you mess with their (expletive deleted) crew you are going down (expletive deleted)

Is it just me or does it seem that most rappers have a large chip on their shoulder? It certainly feels that way. It is like they are fixated on assuring the public that they are successful. But guess what, we all get it. We know you’re rich, we know you sell a lot of albums, we know you drink champagne and women adore you…stop rubbing it in our faces already!

Love has always been a fruitful topic for songs. And there is nothing wrong with addressing self love. But rap has taken this a bit too far. It is now just a vehicle for obtrusive self promotion. Enough with the bling bling. (Quick side note: Say what you will about Eminem but his lyrics rarely ever discuss the size of his bank account and how many women want him. He’s angry, yes, but has more to say than just how many cars he has and how many records he is selling.)

Now I am aware that a lot of these hip hop artists had very tough, rough, and humble beginnings. So when they achieve success and liberate themselves from their previous lives they are a very proud group. They now exhibit excessive pride thanks to rising from hardship. However, this repeated bragging of their fame and fortune is tired. Other famous musicians like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Willie Nelson didn’t find it necessary to incessantly glorify their own success. They walked the walk but didn’t have to constantly talk the talk. Elvis Pressley, who was far from born with a silver spoon in his mouth, didn’t sing about how rich and famous he was.

You know I can be found
Sitting home in my multi-million dollar mansion all alone
If you bitch can’t come around
At least please telephone
Don’t be cruel to a goddamn filthy stinkin’ rich heart that’s true

Give it a rest already yo. Rap about something else. I realize that you have to write what you know but please MC whatever dip into those other experiences and rhyme about something else for a change.

I am going to get shot aren’t I?