New York Hip Hop Is Back, Just Not The Way You Like It.

From Bobby Shmurder, to Jay-Z, to Cardi B, New York Hip Hop is back like it never left.

Justin Richards
Aug 8, 2017 · 3 min read

Does anyone remember Trinidad James? You know Trinidad James? Gold all in my watch? Gold in my………o.k. just watch the video. Now for all the jokes that come at the Atlanta rapper, this was a great song. Like a “maybe Trinidad James is a star” great song. Lil Yatchy has a lot to thank Mr. James for. Although this next video isn’t one of them.

This video was the lowest moment in New York City hip hop. Not when artists the likes of MIMS or Saigon had hit records. Not when 50 cent got bodied by Kanye West in their “Battle of the Titans”. No, it took a one-hit wonder to commit career suicide for New York to finally wake up.

New York hip hop was never dead, it just took on a different form. Gone are the days of the “boom-bap” rap that made the stars of the 90’s bigger then life. In were the kids raised by the internet. The idea of “regional” rap sounded like a tweet from a guy who needed his son to show him where the send button on his phone was. And no disrespect to the work of Joey Badass and Action Bronson who pre-date the baby boom of the New York rap rebirth. But the city had the clubs rocking with one hat toss.

Since young Bobby Shumurder and the GS9 crew started dancing in the streets of Brooklyn, a New York rapper has had the song of the summer for three straight years. “Hot N*gga”, gave the city the life that it was missing. New Yorker’s started to two step in the club with their timberland boots on, rocking the all white du-rags in the middle of summer. Since then a wavy of new artist gave that Jay-Z feel of owning the summer. From Desiigner, “Panda” (2015), Young M.A “Oooh” (2016), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie “My Sh*t” (2016), French Montana “Untouchable” (2017), and Cardi B “Bodak Yellow” (2017).

The city hasn’t had this type of momentum since the early ’90s; yet many still point to the fact the a New Yorker isn’t sitting on the throne. The aforementioned Badass released his second project All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, which is considered of the best projects of the year. For fans of “breakfast bar”, recent Def Jam signee Dave East and independent star Action Bronson are set to release projects later this year. And artists such as: Don Q, Asap Twelvyy, and Casanova are all set to ride their fan base to new heights in the back half of the year. New York rappers have held their own for a region of rap for the better part of this decade, and the best album of this year came from one of Brooklyn’s best.

And old niggas, y’all stop actin’ brand new
Like 2Pac ain’t have a nose ring too, huh

Jay-Z “Family Feud”

Jay-Z’s 13th album 4:44 established himself as the GOAT. Hov didn’t try and play the young man game, but made an album for all of hip hop can enjoy. His album only highlights the great run that the New Yorker’s have had over the past few years, it just wasn’t looked upon as rap for the masses. But kids are the key to the music, and they want to hear that Bodak Yellow in the club along with a Public Service Announcement.

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