How did VH1 become an authority on Hip-hop?
If I had to guess, it’s because they didn’t realize the magnitude of the culture’s impact on pop culture until the pioneering generation was within their target demographic, which, is like 25-41 I think.
And over the years, their stuff has mostly been on point. The 100 Greatest Hip-hop Songs is an example of them showing that they know a little bit.
I disagree with a bunch of the shit on the list (Really, Tupac’s “I Get Around” over “Brenda’s Got a Baby,” “Changes,” “I Ain’t Mad At Cha,” or “Dear Mama” ?)
I mean, at least half of the back half of the list is garbage. It’s not “most influential” but “greatest” and while some of those songs had a profound effect on pop culture, they are not great.
Anyway, their documentaries on TI and Lil’ Wayne were on point.
They do the Hip-Hop Honors series, which is good.
But what’s anybody else doing with it? Nothing. It’s why kids turn to the internet for related news and shit. There’s not a reliable televised source of music news anymore, let alone a genre that barely got play in the first place.
