2014 - The Year Of Prog-Hop

Thanks to Jon Hall for this fascinating view on what to expect from the Music world in 2014. In this post, Jon looks at the history of Hip-Hop and how this money-making genre may develop in 2014.


Capitalism is a system which corrupts absolutely everything within it and turns everything against itself. There is no example of this quite as sinister as the rivalry between East Coast and West Coast Hip-Hop. From the East rose the voice of an angry black community who saw racism, poverty and violence on the streets and like any reasonable human beings they were disgusted by it. They pointed the finger at the rich, white, males who were directing money into each other’s bulging pockets whilst the poor sold crack cocaine through necessity, to pay the bills.

The music itself tore at The Establishment. Nothing is sacred to authentic Hip-Hop. No rules apply to authentic Hip-Hop. It was the original and it remains the most vital Postmodern genre. It chops and cuts and slices music, without limit. It is unfettered creativity. The best Hip-Hop music is a canvas for the human voice and Gil Scott-Heron was one of the greatest voices. He understood Hip-Hop’s true nature and its potential. But the music industry twisted Hip-Hop, which is supposed to be music for the people, into a money-making propaganda machine. The West Coast Gangsta scene not only ignored but encouraged the death of black children. It glamourized street violence, promoted egotism and greed, romanticised drug dealing and made middle-class America squander its spare dollars on baseball caps and bling.

Art is the final barricade between power and its victims. Dada went toe to toe against Fascism but when early Hip-Hop tried to go up against Capitalism it was eventually corrupted, bastardised and bribed into collusion. There’s no denying the production talents of Kanye West and Jay-Z, but despite their musical credentials they are nothing more than greedy entrepreneurs. What sort of artist would marry a reality TV star or hang out with The President? But they do have their finger on the pulse. A new movement is approaching: Prog-Hop. Progressive-Political-Hip-Hop. Kanye and Jay-Z have seen it coming. They themselves have been moving more towards experimental and conceptual music. Look at last years ‘Yeezus’ and ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’. Plus, it’s no coincidence that Kanye has sampled King Crimson, the grandfathers of prog.

But ultimately, most of today’s rappers are exploiters and frauds. The time is ripe for a truly exciting and radical set of new Hip-Hop artists who will provide the soundtrack for The Revolution. Acts like Frank Ocean are already attacking the foundations of Gangsta rap. His music is progressive and so are his politics. He is truly a hero for revealing his sexuality to a homophobic and violent industry. There will be more like him. The technology is there. You can sample anything you want. You can say anything you want. And there is a lot to be talking about. The poor are being trampled on. In the words of Del La Soul, “Everybody wants to be a DJ. Everybody wants to be an MC. But being a speaker is the best.