Throughout all genres of music, there is an unspoken fact that most everyone knows and that “fact” is that today’s music is nowhere as good as music from before. Music today is more focused on catchy beats and lyrics rather than meaning. Urban music is one of those genres that couldn’t escape the growing trend.

There could be many reasons why rap and R&B songs aren’t as good as they used to be. Most of the heavy hitters who set the foundations and standard for rap and R&B such as Tupac, Biggie, Michael Jackson, Prince and Stevie Wonder are either dead or too outdated to create and put out music that would resonate with today’s targeted demographic. Many of the other trailblazers for these genres made one, two or maybe a whole album that influenced aspects of the genre but failed to duplicate their previous successes when it was time to make new music. Whatever the reason may be, more current urban music lacks the same quality that music pre-2010 had.

Personally, most of the music I listen to is late 90’s to early 2000’s rap and r&b. This isn’t because I’m one of those music snobs that refuses to listen to today’s music because it’s “subpar” and it’s not because I’m one of those “ugh I was born in the wrong generation” people who continually try to prove to people around them they that are in a sense superior because they don’t conform to the norms of today and instead act like they’re stuck in the 90’s or another decade.

For me, this is the music that I was raised around. Oddly enough, many of my early memories can be set to “Yeah” by Usher. When this song plays, I can see myself driving around with my dad in his 2002 blue Ford Taurus, while eating ice cream that I promised I wouldn’t spill. Music today doesn’t really have that impact. Maybe it’s because I haven’t created any significant memories recently. Maybe it’s because much of the music today is exceptionally repetitive that it’s hard to distinguish between two songs.

I don’t want to be that person but let’s face it. Migos, Lil Pump And 21 savage will never be as big as the original trailblazers of the genre. They won’t be going down into the history books as influential artists, who started a new era in rap. I contribute this to the fact that most of their songs are extremely repetitive, meaningless and extremely vulgar. These rappers are more concerned with portraying this gangster stereotype and making quick money than making music that will touch people.

I shouldn’t discredit all urban artist from today. Daniel Caesar, The Weeknd, H.E.R among other newer artists create beautiful music that brings even the older generation back to their prime. As I mentioned in my previous post not all of the music of current is meaningless trash. Freudian by Daniel Caesar is an exceptional album that draws attributes from early R&B. If you need any renewed hope for the coming state of music, here’s your hope.

I don’t want anyone thinking that I’m this superior music critic that hates every urban song that’s come out in the last few years. I know all the words to Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow. I’ve willingly listened to more Lil Pump songs than I care to admit. I’ve “Keke’d” all summer long. What I’m trying to say is that although music today is incredibly catchy, it’s just not the kind of music that I’ll still be listening to when I’m well into my 30’s with kids. Today’s music just doesn’t have the timelessness of the previous generations, but it still bops.