Check The Technique: 10 Tech Advances That Ruined Hip-Hop

You can’t fight or slow down the future. Technological advancements are inevitable. But while they usually make life easier, in the case of Hip-Hop many advances have led to instances, movements or trends that, to many, ruined the music and culture.

While for years the protocol was putting in work and paying your dues, thanks to certain advances (cheap home studios, for example) anyone could skip multiple steps in about as long as it takes to download an MP3 and become a rapper or DJ. Why waste time perfecting your craft when a Lil B or Soulja Boy could (deceptively) become overnight sensations, right?

Of course, there are talents who used these tech advances to their advantage. Danger Mouse hooked up Gnarls Barkley’s beats on his laptop and Big K.R.I.T. got his start making beats on a Playstation. However, what must be kept in mind is that these are relatively rare instances and, more than likely, you’re not as talented as Big K.R.I.T. or Danger Mouse. Just saying.

Without further ad0, here are 10 instances where a technological advancement helped ruin Hip-Hop for all of us. Let us know if we missed any in the comments.

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Photo: Beats By Dre

MP3s

Record labels have been moaning about MP3s since their invention, mostly because it put a dent in their pockets. Our riff with them, and gmail’s generous attachment size limit, is that it makes it too easy for a struggle rapper to e-mail their atrocious tracks to everyone in their contact list.

E-Mail

This ties in to the ease with which MP3 files can be sent back and forth. Would the Juice Crew’s “The Symphony” or A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario” sounded the same if every MC simply wrote their rhymes to the instrumental and e-mailed their verses back to Q-Tip? We doubt that very highly.

iTunes

Yeah, it’s way easier. But the feeling of going into a record stores (remember those?) and picking up a new album that you can’t wait to crack open beats hitting the “download” button every time. Unless you never been to a record store.

Serato

If you put in work carrying crates, Serato was and is a God’s send. However, it also means everyone and their momma is now a DJ. Trust us, your selection is usually hella suspect, DJ.

FruitLoops

E-mu SP1200s, Akai S950s and even MPC2000s cost thousands of dollars, so you had to be serious about your production craft if you invested in one. However the ease of acquiring the FruityLoops (now known as FL Studios) program made for a gang of bedroom producers who too often made ridiculously wack beats. Yes, 9th Wonder used the program. You are not 9th Wonder.

Beats By Dre Headphones

Sure the sound is pretty good, but thanks to the success of Beats By Dre headphones, Dr. Dre’s Detox album is the musical equivalent of a unicorn. Also chill with the rapper headphone lines already.

Flipcams/Cellphone Video

Ever been to a concert and notice tons of people too busy taping the show to actually, ya know, watch it?

Auto Tune

Fans have short memories. After T-Pain rode the vocal altering program to platinum plaques, there was a backlash and even Jay-Z tried to put the final nail in the coffin. Now Future is winning with it. How long before y’all turn on the Atlanta rapper’s struggle falsetto.

Tumblr, WordPress, Blogger, etc.

We did y’all a favor and hooked up a list of the 30 best Hip-Hop websites and blogs. However, thanks to the relative ease with which programs like Tumblr and WordPress can be used, their are legions of wack sites and suspect rap journalists to comb through on a daily. Put the keyboard down b.

Twitter, Instagram

Rappers used to have a certain air of mystery about them. Thanks to Twitter, our rhymes heroes have revealed themselves to be horrible spellers, thin skinned emotional wrecks and straight up douchebags. Instagram is included for the plethora of images rappers we give no f-cks about insist on sharing as well as suspect gems like the one above. Then they expect us to buy their music? Yeah, okay.