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Recently, everyone has been applauding Jay-Z for regurgitating, over a hot beat, what most of the public, has been saying for about a year now: the auto-tune must die! But, I'm afraid Jay and the public, got it wrong. It is not the auto-tune's time to pass, instead the moment of silence should be used to observe the exit of the old generation and the emergence of a new. You can debate whether or not the auto-tune is played out (it is) or whether or not hip-hop artists have become less and less creative (they have). You can even question the fashion statements that some rappers choose to make by parading around in extra tight jeans (its gross). But without a doubt, we the 80s babies and 90s hip-hop lovers, by hating on the Soulja Boys of the world, have become the generation that refuses to realize that their time is up (similar to the way our parents did).

This change didn't just spring up out of nowhere. While in music, the present or the future, may not always be clear evident extension of the past, the link is always there. Late 80s gangsta-rap, fed us vivid depictions of the violence we saw prevailing in our inner cities, by either glorifying it or by motivating change (because of how much it was glorified). By the 90s, pessimism had set in our youth's hearts, and what you got was thought-provoking tales dipped in hopelessness and sprinkled with violence. The anger of our realities fueled a style that could only be described as: raw. Today's youth, still see the same world we do, but their reaction is different. All that talk we did, our expressions and gripes over our present, didn't change much, the world is still for the most part, the same. So, from their standpoint, why keep talking 'bout it? Just accept it, and say "F*ck It", lets be happy over the paper-thin trivialities of the world. The result of that train of thought is "swag" and songs about nothing. And clearly anyone can create an "empty song"; talent isn't required.

True, you don't have to ride every wave hip-hop sends your way, but as a true hip-hop lover, you owe it to try and understand why the wave was created and then appreciate the best it offers. A few artists will remain true to the days we loved, but most will be met with mediocre success. In the meantime, the stubborn only have a few options: try and get with new acts such as Cory Gunz, Charles Hamilton, and Drake, maybe even a little Kid Cudi, reminisce with old CDs over what used to be, or retreat to the underground. Visit the comment section below, and tell me how right I am!