Recently Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am had an interesting sit down with Rolling Stone magazine, where in addition to discussing the future of technology, he also had some critical words for today’s status of hip-hop.
“The problem with hip-hop is that everybody can do it,” will.i.am explained, “It doesn’t take much f*****g skill right now to make hip-hop. It’s become the lowest hanging fruit.”
As a point of emphasis, will.i.am went on to say, “it’s no longer about Rakim level, Nas level… out of respect for the Nas’s of the world, let’s not call it hip-hop.” He later compared the genre to what he considers to be more pure musicianship in respects to “the John Coltranes, the Stan Getzes, the Jimi Hendrixes,” and how he fears the art form will soon be a variety of artificial intelligence mumble rappers.