My impression of Hip Hop in Austin now is one of awe. I can not even define hip hop with out saying words like: oppressed people, music, joy, dance, overcome with hope, poetry, art, culture, and other great qualities a movement has. Hip Hop has kept music alive and it can never be dead. This is more than saggy pants and fashion, it is about expressing a moment into a rhythmic flow. Painting a perfect picture of the environment or pressures endured. Experiencing life and spitting it back out in some form or another. There is one word that I wish could be said more often when describing Hip Hop anywhere: Unity. If music doesn’t bring us together, then it is tearing us apart.
Hip Hop, rap, beats, soul, jazz, blues, or any form of music that has kept a beat in a kids head, or kept a song in young persons heart and filled their life with hope and dreams of a future in music is a victory. You can do anything you set your mind, goals and actions towards doing. Believe that music is worth it, practice and find a way to make it support you. COLLABORATE! Work together, find a mentor and stick to a goal. Lend from the music industry and get other artists to feature your talent, and it does not have to be rap if you are a rapper, broaden your horizons. Find other talent and feed off of one another.
The hip hop movement is alive and well in Austin. It is everywhere and SXSW has been one great example of its place in Austin. Artists have come from hundreds of miles to perform in Austin, and it was not just about the money. Most musicians know that Austin’s SXSW is it when it comes to shows for the year. Play SXSW and feel like a rock star for a week, at least. It is also a great reminder how much competition there is in the biz. This is not American Idle, it is real life and there is no crowd of voters that will carry you through to the next round. Quite often it is one shot, so do not fail. The crowds into it, they feel your flow, they tweet you, and you get 2 sales on iTunes. SXSW is worth it. So what you did not get a major record deal for all of the effort of making it to Austin. You made it to Austin! Keep making music. The experience is worth every minute.