Hip Hop: Made to Change?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/arts/music/nicki-minaj-backs-out-of-summer-jam.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=music

I'll be the first to admit that I love pop culture. Like most people, I find it a little more entertaining than other types of news due to the fact that it pertains to the current generation of young adults. For example, there are up and coming artist who create major controversy, like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Chris Brown. Though all seem to have quite a trend (i.e. making obscene stage appearances, wearing ill fitted clothing and expressing their opinions about the paparazzi through hand gestures), Nicki Minaj has caused more of an uproar by selling out Gaga and Brown combined with regards to ticket sales and albums. Minaj has been an up and coming artist for about a year and a half now and continues to create songs that are suited for the tween age group and the bubble gum pop culture. D.J Rosenberg of New York's 97.1 Hip Hop station made a comment about Minaj's lack of talent with regards to this genre of music. “I’m here to talk about real hip-hop.” He remarked as he spoke to the crowd who came out for the latest Hot Summer Jam Concert in New York City. Minaj was supposed to perform that day but after hearing the comment, her manager called to confirm that she was no longer going to be a part of the event. While other appearances were made, such as Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame, the crowd apparently was waiting for Minaj. Rosenberg has made snide comments about her before on his radio station, remarking that she is "not a good representation of what Hip Hop is." But neither are Tyga and Wacka Flocka Flame.
This generation is constantly evolving and changing the dynamics of music. The game is no longer for men but for women too. Minaj has set for this trend, making her way to the top of the charts month after month and earning recognition from every aspect of the music industry. Though she is not my favorite artist, I have to give her credit where credit is due and that is why I chose this article. She was going to be the only female representing the Hip Hop genre at the Summer Jam Concert. Yet, Rosenberg can't seem to keep his opinion to himself, thus making her back out of the performance. Fans were angry and that can affect his job he continues to slam the careers of those who trying to make it in this industry. The article, written by Jon Carramanica, emphasized that this genre of music is not something that stays steady but changes overtime as we become more knowledgeable about the people who are representing it. Minaj is just one example. Did the author have some biased towards her? Yes, but he proposed a good argument in which  " Hip-hop is many things, depending on who is drawing the boundaries: sometimes it’s a walled-off fort, sometimes a steady fountain of invention and change." Both sexes should be given an equal chance to create this type of music and people, such as Rosenberg, should not be so against the idea of evolution in the music world. Minaj is the one bringing in the money after all.