NYC Vs. ATL: Who will take over the Rap Game?

     Welcome to The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps, or more importantly The Home of Hip Hop.  I think I'd be pretty accurate if I said that New York was basically at the top of the rap game from the 70's till the mid 2000's. NY is the home of some legendary greats such as the Notorious B.I.G, Run DMC, Wu Tang Klan, and LL Cool J. I grew up listening to Dipset (Camron, Jim Jones, and Juelz Santana) They were signed to one of the best rap stables/Labels of all time, Roc a Fella. From Jay Z, Nas, and Beanie Sigel all the way to 50 cent, DMX, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, and Ja Rule to name a few favorites during my time.

 

      You hear all of these good things about New York but what happened with the sudden stop to the NY movement? The amount of artists putting on for the City has had a huge drop as of late. In the new age of hip hop we have the likes of Veteran Fabolous, Asap Rocky, Aboogie, Bobby Shmurda, Desiigner, Young M.A, Nicki Minaj, and a few others who are relevant and consistent with Music. But there has been an expansion of Hip hop artists coming from the south. The main sound of music now is from mostly Atlanta. They're spiraling out of control!!! The amount of successful and popular artist from Georgia is crazy. We have Future, Young Thug, T.I, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Migos, 21 Savage, Rich the Kid, Lil Yachty, and the list could go on for days as you can see. As of right now they are amongst the most successful artists of this generation. Rapper, Future just recently dropped not one, but two albums in the same week. Both have at least three radio hits each. Rap trio Migos have been releasing hit after hit records for about 3 years now, and they don't look to be slowing down anytime soon.

 

The big question here is will the birthplace of hip hop continue to be overlooked? Passed on? Unappreciated? I'd say they've been making some good moves lately with the bulk of new artists. A couple of summers ago Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel gave the Tri State some buzz with Hot N*!#a and Computers. French Montana usually gives us a summer anthem every year. Aboogie and Don Q have been absolutely killing it with their freestyles, Desiigner made Pandas lit and Female artist Young MA has had all of us screaming "Ooouuu" 

I'll admit that the south definitely has the melodies, hooks, and ad-libs down pact. Nobody can really do it better than they do. However if you aren't looking to hear mumbling and some good bars, id highly suggest the New York sound. I feel as thought the new class of artists are really helping NY get back on the map when it comes to Hip Hop. The competition is great and only makes artists want to work harder than the next male or female MC.

-Dante Freeman