And commercial rap is born. A rapper can achieve success and fame without having the rudimentary skills of freestyling and rhythm. Find an old commercial jingle or Kool and the Gang song, synthesize the beats and make sure your videos feature plenty of DKNY, Mercedes and Cristal labels. Contrary to the opinions of many, not all successful rap is commercial. Many rappers rhyme over sampled beats, but only commercial rappers use those beats to disguise their lackluster verses.
Commercial rap depreciates the value of true rap.
Rhymes have always been laced with references to girls, fashion and cars. They did not abandon their lyrics in favor of public image. Many appropriately blame major record labels for the growth of commercial rap. Execs often sacrifice lyrical skills for marketability, quality tracks for synthesized remakes of old television theme songs, intelligent artists for well-dressed posers. The ability to rhyme takes the back burner to sample-laden tracks, pretty faces and Versace shirts.