The Fifth Element

As mainstream hip hop stalemates in commodities, underground MCs keep old-school aesthetics alive through art

A A A Comments By Eric K. Arnold Wednesday, Mar 14 2007

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Indeed, Radioactive's "She's alive" rant makes a lot more sense when you look at it from the perspective of someone trying to maintain a sense of culture in order to be true to themselves. If corporate thugs have attempted to murder hip hop by distorting it into superficial representations, artist-MCs are making sure that creative expression still has a place in this society. They might never go platinum, but that's OK as long as they can get their message out. As Bukue One says, "Hip hop is still an artform. It's not just a money-making vehicle."

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