Is Rap Moving in a Different Direction?

Written by: Tracy Giunta (@tracy_giunta)

Being a personal fan of rap music for over 20 years I can honestly say that rap music is moving in a new direction: a positive direction.

Growing up listening to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, JayZ, LL Cool J, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Notorious BIG, and Biggie, I can attest to the fact that I have heard many rap songs that have sent different messages to the fans they have.
Spitting fast lyrics and rhyming has always been the characteristics of rap tracks. The themes tended to be around drugs, degrading women, and living the thug life. But recently 2 rappers have caught my attention: Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper w/ The Social Experiment. These 2 rappers are leaning more towards the term of writing as opposed to rapping. Kendrick Lemar's track " I" is about sending the message of loving yourself. Chance has put focus on family and respect in his track " Sunday Candy."  In the society we currently live in there is nothing we need more of than love, respect, and loving yourself and being a positive role model in society. Chance and Kendrick have set a new age of rap that has already influenced millions of rap fans in the world. I believe rap will be getting the well-deserved respect it deserves, as Chance and Kendrick will become the new face of hip-hop.