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By 2006, Kanye West became one of the influential hip hop musicians of the 21st century. When you think about music, you have to think about Kanye West. This was long before he supported Trump (which is wrong in my views) and deteriorated heavily emotionally. He has criticized awards shows for claims of them not awarding him enough awards and called Bush as a person who doesn't care about black people (in Bush's response to Katrina in the Gulf Coast. Years later, Kanye retracted that statement). Kanye West was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago. His mother, Dr. Donda C. West was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University. She later retired to be a manager. His father is former Black Panther Ray West, who is a Christian Counselor. By January of 2006, the cover of Rolling Stone shown Kanye West wearing a crown of thorns. Kanye West toured the world with US and their Vertigo Tour. West was inspired to make anthemic rap songs that could be shown better in arenas. So, Kanye West made some changes. He used slower tempos, experimented with electronic music, and respected the music of the 1980's. He was influenced by the melody and chord progression of rock bands like the Stones and Led Zepplin. He wanted to use wordplay that educated people, storytelling, and he listened to Bob Dylan plus Johnny Cash. Graduation came out in 2007 competing against 50 Cent's Curtis album. They met at BET's 106 and Park to promote their respective albums. Graduation outsold Curtis by a large margin. Graduation debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with 957,000 sales in one week. Graduation had hits like Stronger (influenced by French house duo Daft Punk). The album had Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, DJ Premier, Chris Martin of Coldplay, etc. Songs in the album are Can't Tell Me Nothing,  Good Life, Flashing Lights, Homecoming, and other music that are filled with his style. Graduation used synthesizers, and 80s music. Its focused on electronic music influenced future hip hop artists that they didn't have to show gangster rap to be successful in their careers. Graduation was the end of the dominance of old school gangster rap in mainstream hip hop. Alternative artists increasingly found their voices heard. Kanye was part of the new movement of alternative hip hop artists like Kid Cudi, Wale, Lupe Fiasco, Kidz in the Hall, Drake, etc. who wanted to show their points of views without obsessing with drug dealing or gun play. One event changed Kanye West forever. His mother passed away involving complications from a cosmetic surgery. This was in November 2007. Kanye West was in massive pain in losing his mother who loved him unconditionally. 

 

In 2009, he ended his engagement with his fiancee Alexis Phifer (a black woman) after they dated since 2002. Kanye West worked on autotune. His next album would be 808s and Heartbreak. His lead single was Love Lockdown. It used the Roland TR-808 drum machine. It talked about love, loneliness, and heartache. Songs like Heartless was on the album too. It changed hip hop music in causing more rappers to take more creative risks in music. During the 2009 MTV Video Music Award, he grabbed the microphone from Taylor Swift in a controversial move. Kanye West said that Beyonce's Single Ladies video was the best video of the award show shown by a woman. West suffered some backlash, but his career wasn't over. Taylor Swift was America's white woman young artist who could have ended many careers. Kanye continued to make music. He toured with Lady Gaga. In 2009, he came into Hawaii to develop his next album. He worked with music with Jay Z, Kid Cudi, and Pusha T along with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. His album of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was released in November 2010. Many songs like All of the Lights, Power, Monster, and Runaway were international hits. Runaway was a 35 minute film of the same name directed by and starring West. His label of GOOD Music featured artists too. He worked with Jay Z on Watch the Throne in 2011. In 2012, he released Cruel Summer. Songs like Mercy and Clique defined hip hop music of the 2010's. Kanye West in 2012 toured in the SWU Music and Arts, Austin City Limits, Essence Music Festival, Coachella, and in other places. Kanye West established himself as a premier artist of the 21st century. 

  

 

Hip hop in 2012 same some of the greatest hip hop albums of the 2010's. In January of 2012, Azealia Banks signed to Universal Music. On February 2012, Kanye West won four Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, while Jay-Z and Kid Cudi have won one each. This year saw many D12 members leaving the group. On March 2012, T.I. announces he signed Iggy Azalea, Chip and Trae Tha Truth to Grand Hustle Records. This was controversial as Iggy Azalea is known for her cultural appropriation, and disrespected hip hop legends like Q-Tip. In the same month, MTV announces that Top Dawg Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based independent record label, have closed a joint venture deal with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment. Under the new deal, Black Hippy member Kendrick Lamar's debut studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d city will be jointly released via Top Dawg/Interscope/Aftermath while releases from the rest of Black Hippy (Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q) will be distributed via Top Dawg/Interscope. Tyga made music too. On April 2012, Q-Tip has announced his signing to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam,  Coachella Music Festival, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg surprised the audience with a performance from 2Pac via hologram image, and Former D12 member Mr. Porter announced his debut album. Adam Yauch (known as MCA), one of the founding members of Beastie Boys, died on May 4, 2012, aged 47. Young Buck and 2 Chainz were arrested on various charges. By May of 2012, In the song "Exodus 23:1", Pusha T insulted Cash Money Records, igniting a beef between him and Lil Wayne. Shawn Chrystopher signs to Timbaland Productions. On June 2012, Nicki Minaj was pulled from performing at New York's Hot 97 Summer Jam because on-air DJ Peter Rosenberg called her song "Starships"   wack and corny. This was the start of some trying to blackball Nicki Minaj in the industry. Regardless of how people feel, Nicki Minaj knows how to rap. Her early freestyles and later music proves that she does have bars. Lil Phat died on June 7 after he was shot multiple times in Atlanta. On August 2012, Hip Hop executive Chris Lighty, founder of Violator and who managed and worked with artists like 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes, was found dead due to possible suicide. On September 2012, 50 Cent and Fat Joe have ended their feud, appearing on stage together at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. Also on BET Hip Hop Awards, 50 Cent and his crew G-Unit have been involved into a fight with Maybach Music Group's member Gunplay. On October of 2012, P. Diddy had a car accident, Lil Wayne has seizures, and 50 Cent plus French Montana had a feud. Both Jay-Z and Kanye West each have six Grammy nominations for the 2013 Grammy Awards, Nas has four, Drake and 2 Chainz each have three, Andre 3000, Big Sean, Pusha T, Lil Wayne, and Wiz Khalifa each have two (on December 2012). On December 24, 2012, it was announced that Capital STEEZ, a close friend of Joey Bad__ and founder of Pro Era, died from a suspected suicide. In 2012, Kendrick Lamar released the Good Kid, M.A.A.D city album. Life is God from Nas was released in the same year. It was his most lyrical album since Stillmatic. Killer Mike released R.A.P. Music. Schoolboy Q released Habits and Contradictions. Nicki Minaj released Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Ab Soul, Rick Ross, Big K.R.I.T., 2 Chainz, Future, Meek Mills, Lupe Fiasco, Aesop Rock, Frank Ocean, Macklemore, Currne$y, T.I., Brother Ali, O.C., Public Enemy, Freeway, DMX, Wiz Khalifa, Lecrae, Slaughterhouse, Sean Price, The Coup, E-40, La Coka Nostra, and other artists released songs and music in 2012. 

  

 

The start and the end of the era of hip hop from 2006 to 2012 started with new changes. Napster was over in 2006. Myspace, Facebook, and Youtube during this time increased the power of grassroots artists to show their voices. Soujah Boy had his career from the Internet in part. It saw the growth of more alternative hip hop artists from Kid Cudi to Kanye West influenced by electronic beats and an unique sound. Gangster rap in the modern sense ended by this time. Legendary artists continued to make classics like Nas, Jay Z, Public Enemy, etc. The younger generation of musicians like Meek Mill, J. Cole, Def Loaf, Tink, Vince Staples, Drake, Hopsin, Machine Gun Kelly, Azealea Banks, Logic, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Nipsey Hussle, and others showed their range of talent, their experiences, their skills, and their life stories. Many of these hip hop artists grew to high acclaim by 2020. By 2012 to the present, there is the modern history of hip hop music. That era is about contemporary hip hop. During this era, hip hop is dominated by a combination of lyrical artists and a new wave of artists who show trap, drill music, and mumble rap. Mumble rap is probably the most controversial form of hip hop in our generation of the 21st century. Many people love it or hate. Some mumble rap is difficult to understand, lacks lyrical content, and is redundant. I am from an older generation being almost 40 years old. Yet, mumble rap is still part of hip hop whether we like it or not. Soundclub rap is part of the hip hop lexicon. I don't agree with the types of mumble rap that degrades women, glorifies drug abuse, and glorifies violence. Modern hip hop like old school hip hop has been praised, debated, and analyzed. 2012 and beyond outlined what hip hop is today in our time. 

  

 

1997 involving R&B music has many classics. The start of 1997 had music from En Vogue, R. Kelly, and Erykah Badu's On and One. Erykah Badu was one artist from Dallas who helped to grow the neo soul genre of music. She had spirituality, soul songs, and lessons in her music. Also, Badu is a strong fan of hip hop music. She had children with many hip hop artists like Andre 300 and Jay Electronica. She dated the rapper Common. Dru Hill rose into higher prominence with their song In My Bed. Sisqo was the vocal leader of the group. Changing Faces had the song of G.H.E.T.O.U.T. Faith Evans, 112, and P. Diddy had the song of I'll be Missing You in tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. Usher made You Make Me Wanna that grew his career. Usher worked with Diddy, and Usher was from Tennessee. LSG My Body was popular. The anthem to praise mother came from Boyz II Men named A Song for Mama or found in the soundtrack of Soul Food. Janet Jackson made the dance record of Together Again. I Can Love You form Mary J. Blige came in 1997 along with Love is All We Need. 4 Seasons of Loneliness was released by Boyz II Men in 1997. 1997 saw sentiment songs like Joe's Don't Wanna Be a Player, Next's Butta Love, Brian McKnight's You Should be Mine, and Patti Labelle's When You Talk about Love. H-Town, You Bring Me Up form K-Ci and JoJo, and other songs were real. Somethin' for the People had music along with Rome. Missy Elliot released The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) that changed music forever. Janet Jackson made Got  'Til It's Gone which exposed the evil of South African apartheid. Timbaland and Magoo made Up Jumps da' Boggie. Mariah Carey's Honey, SWV's Someone, Erykah Badu's Next Life Time, En Vogue's Whatever, and SWV's Can We proved that 1997 had great music. Yvette Michele, The O'Jays, Trina Broussard, Zhane's Request Line, and other artists were abundant. Janet Jackson's 1997 Velvet Rope album was ahead of its time. It was her 6th album. It was released on October 7, 1997. The album was all about her showing her emotions from addressing depression, social networking, domestic violence, and self worth. She touched on sexuality. Janet Jackson was far from conservative on sex. She was already a sex icon by the 1990's, and the Velvet Rope was her putting the icing on the cake of her legendary career. The Velvet Rope had rock, jazz, hip hop, etc.   

  

1998 had innovative records involving R&B. By 1998, it started with Usher's Nice and Slow, My Body by Silk being high in the charts from January to February of 1998. Destiny Child's song of No, No, NO blew up in the charts in 1998 too along with All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo. Montell Jordan made music. Next reached new heights with their single of Too Close during May of 1998. Janet Jackson and Blacksteet made the song of I Get Lonely. This was part of Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope album. In the video, Janet has an elegant suit and hat on. 1998 saw the record of The Boy is Mine from Brandy and Monica. It was a huge record. It was found in 1998's Never Say Never by Brandy and the Boy is Mine from Monica. The music video was directed by Joseph Kahn and also starred both signer plus Mekhi Phifer. The song won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. It won 3 awards in the Billboard Music Awards. Kelly Price's Friend of Mine was classic. Monica continued to make hits like The First Night. Dru Hill had How Deep is Your Love featuring Redman. Another classic record was Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here. Deborah Cox's song was on the charts for a long time. It came from her second studio album called One Wish. Deborah Cox was born in Canada, and she is of Afro-Caribbean descent. It was her most successful record being on 14 weeks on number one on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. It is a great song. It was written by Montell Jordan and Anthony "Shep" Crawford. By 1998, Tamia's So Into You was a classic. I heard of Monifah's song of Touch It. Thinkin' Bout It came from Gerald Levert. Lauryn Hill's Doo Wop (That Thing) was great on the chart in her Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ablum. Tyrese Gibson made Nobody Else, and Xscape had The Arms of the One Who Loves You. Music from Public Announcement, Aretha Franklin (with A Rose is Still a Rose), and Mya's It's All About Me were on the charts. Aaliyah had Are You that Somebody? in 1998. It was part of the Dr. Dolittle movie soundtrack when she was 19 years old. Keith Sweat, Aaron Hall, 7 Mile, Montell Jordan Playa, Nicole Wray (with Make it Hot) had songs. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey made When you Believe. It was a soundtrack of the 10 Commandment. This song proves that Houston and Carey had no issues and were real friends. Faith Evans' Love Like This in 1998 was filled with fun. Tami's Imagination, and link's Whatcha Gone Do? had soul. 1998 had it all from Dru Hill's How Deep is Your Love, Case's Faded Pictures, Blackstreet's Take Me There ft. Mya, and Whitney Houston's Heartbreak Hotel. Monica's Angel of Mine and Brandy's Top of the World shown both young artists back then as one of the best of their generation. Sparkle made the song of Be Careful too. R. Kelly made his music like When a Woman's Fed Up. Movin' On from Mya was her teenage presence. Jody Watley, Tami Davis, Sylk-E. Fyne, Presshga, TQ, Keith Washington, and K. P. and Envyl made songs that stirred up our imaginations. 

 

 By Timothy