Pete Rock Critiques the Current State of Hip Hop, Expressing Concerns About Its Direction

Pete Rock, the influential producer, recently shared his reflections on the present landscape of Hip Hop culture, echoing sentiments expressed by Erick Sermon regarding the industry’s evolution. In an Instagram post on Wednesday (January 3), the 53-year-old New Yorker emphasized his belief that the art form has deviated from its original path, becoming entangled with greed and losing touch with its roots.

Sharing an interview clip of Erick Sermon discussing the unrecognizable state of Hip Hop, Pete Rock captioned the post with, “They should change the music to WTF [facepalm emoji], tryna create a narrative that ain’t working.” Expressing frustration at the perceived stagnation of the genre, he declared that it is “stuck in one place.”

In his critique, Pete Rock emphasized, “We created real history! idk what da hell they creating today but it damn sure ain’t history or hip hop, that’s a fact.” His words reflect a nostalgic longing for authenticity and a desire for the historical significance that characterized the earlier days of Hip Hop.

The veteran producer further delved into his concerns about the current state of the culture, highlighting how the pursuit of financial gain has compromised the integrity of the art. He stated, “We lost our integrity chasing the money. The bag, as they say, has become the problem and the focus point in the culture. Makes it corny when y’all make it about money smh [corn emoji].”

Expressing frustration with the sensitivity surrounding opinions in the industry, Pete Rock noted, “Everyone extra sensitive about opinions smh. Soon as you have an opinion, you’re a hater automatically lol. Clown shit [clown emoji].” This observation speaks to the challenges artists face in expressing genuine perspectives without facing backlash in an environment where opinions are often met with heightened sensitivity.

Earlier this year, Pete Rock also weighed in on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, advocating for the proper recognition of Heavy D.

In a call for positive change, Pete Rock encouraged fellow artists, stating, “We’re all out here working to make better music. Why don’t you try and do the same thing.” The message reflects a desire for a collective effort to elevate the quality and substance of the music, moving away from a culture fixated on financial pursuits. What are your thoughts on Rock’s opinion?