Hip Hop Evolved

  Hip-Hop is music, and Hip-Hop is a journey. Like life, Hip-Hop represents an evolution for those of us who grew up listening the lyrically talented Special Ed, Eric B. and Rakim, De La Soul, and Kool Mo Dee; then transitioned to the rebellious gangsta lyrics of N.W.A, Eazy-E, and Tupac; and then grew up to prefer to listen to poetic and inspiring lyrical metaphors like Common, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mos Def and The Roots.
  Personal evolution is how like to refer to changes that I experienced in life. My personal evolution is Hip-Hop, and may differ than the evolution of another's Hip-Hop evolution. That is the beauty, the diversity, and the complexities of Hip-Hop, of one's personal evolution. For instance, my story is one of great to poor then to good, yet another person's can be poor to great, or even great to poor (evolution is never complete).
  My evolution is easily explained Hip-Hop. I had humble beginnings, sort of like the early 1990's Special Ed videos. No extravagance, just enough to make myself look good, and the charm had to come from appeal. I was not popular, nor likable, by the mass, but the people lost, underestimated, and trying to be heard knew where I was coming from.
  I grew out of that stage when I entered the tenth grade. Then a new style of thought and lifestyle derived from the mistreatment, and false empowerment from the anger felt from being the underdog. Like the "I don't give a fuck about you" lyrics of Ice Cube, and rebellious attitudes of every member of the N.W.A. in Straight Outta Compton I went in to the knuckle-head phase of my teenage years. I would enter to a Tupac at some time when utilizing my mind to learn the truth  during the rebellion, but Suge Knighted my whole circle with irrational behavior, and 2 Live Crew destructive attitude. Don't get me wrong, this life was as fun as it sounds! From 16 to 21 life was the fast and fun. Loud, outspoken, and rebellious. I gave it to you, how I felt you needed it back- hard, rugged, and raw.
  Out of nowhere a new wave would hit my evolving self. Just like the Hot Boys came out of New Orleans, and introduced a new idea of bling-bling, and the glamorous life is not sell-outs fantasy, but the struggle's desert. How the South came in, and showed Hip-Hip the love of having, spending, and tricking, dough it was where I would almost demise. The glamorous life took over my soul, and watered it down just how it almost died out Hip-Hop with everybody trying to sell their souls to buy the diamond from the souls of the casualties losing limbs, life, and dignity in wars in Africa.
  Upon the truth, came the awakening that pushed my life to reality. In this phase of my evolution realism is what prevails. Like the lyrics of Lupe Fiasco exploring the complexities of not following the cults of mainstream, and having a originality to your being, I had to use all my phases and processes to gain the advantage Kanye would after dropping out of college. Enterprising minds shared through the Jay-Z albums of 2006 and after would be my grace to know it business and excellence that builds up characters that themselves tear down inadvertently.
  Not easy to explain to that person who knows nothing of Hip-Hop, but all my lovers of the art would follow. Interesting to see where evolution is going to bring me, and how I can hear it in melodic form? It is inspiring to see where the possibilities to lie. I hear that J. Cole is really talented, is he the next phase?