I don’t know what to think. I mean hiphop went corporate a long time ago and this video just seems like a pop song to me. Is there harm in that? I mean there are so many forms of rap out there who’s to say that it has to be just one way? My argument would be for a more balanced approach if anything because records are not selling and rappers don’t have pensions. Besides for a pop song it isn’t a bad song. If hiphop is dead it’s only because the people let it die. Most people don’t buy records anymore even though it’s easier to access indie material in today’s marketplace. I read an interview with Will-i-am and dude is way smart, so this move is just a calculated way for him to cake up on that corporate money. Chris Brown & Neo did it with Wrigleys as well as Large Professor and Pubah for Sprite back in the day, so why not now?
As a lovers of hiphop our job is to create avenues for the casual listener to hear the kind if hiphop we like as opposed to complaining about. Every form of popular music has peaked at a certain point and then over time was replaced by a new emerging sound and why should hiphop be any diffferent? As an old head when I listen to hiphop now, I hear the electronic influences of the past and future and I think that’s where music in general is headed whether i like it or not; but I could be wrong….