The era of 2006-2009 where there were a lot of ringtone rap hits and one hit wonders used to get s*** on heavily and deemed the worst era of rap.

But I noticed the narrative has been starting to die out and the energy has been way different on social media. It was especially apparent to me after DJ Unk passed away.

People now seem to have more fondness for that era now and enjoy many of those same hits that used to be trashed heavily online in rap/music circles. I don't even think it can just be punned to nostalgia cause there's even YNs speaking on how they enjoy those same tunes.

Imho, it's due to modern rap in the 2020's overcorrecting itself and having a huge drought of catchy/fun hits that can be enjoyed in a club/party setting outside of Drake and certain female rappers(or Reggaeton if you want to include them).

Again, on social media, many of these same songs that got blamed for "killing hip hop" are now being praised and you got YNs saying that they miss when hip hop produced more songs like this. I think the lack of "social oriented" rap songs in recent times contribute heavily to these feelings.

Thoughts?

It’s standard for that to occur within every generation. I vividly remember the early 2000’s when people complained about all the radio stars and where the “real” rappers are.

@Jbreezyondeck @Mitchell @Notmyfirst @insertcoolnamehere

One era I sure as hell don’t miss is SoundCloud, can’t believe heaps of trash got popular despite the music and sound quality of those songs sounding like hot dog water

You know how people used to dance freely back in the day...

Now if you dance and someone doesnt like it they will record you and try to go viral...

That's what happened.

Every "fun" rapper was wearing these

These jams had their place and I miss em.

I’m not too fond of tryhard Kendrick clones (read: JID, Smino, Saba) but I’ll take them any day over the lean and molly popping crappy rappers wearing those cringey glasses.

Brother I’ve been preaching this for awhile now. I unapologetically am biased towards this era because I grew up on this music in my formative years but you hit the nail on the head the music was FUN. I will never dismiss educational, important and purposeful messaging in music and hip hop especially but fun music is just as important in my opinion. Contrast to today where music is starkly more negative in subject matter and another less talked about aspect is really just how un-relatable it can be due to various factors but just to simplify my point look at the clothes and the things that are going on in the videos in OP and compare them to that absolutely unrealistic videos that get made today. It’s almost like the economic status has shifted well beyond what it meant to be an artist and the commercialization has just amplified it to where it’s not even relatable anymore. I think it’s almost become cyclical because yeah music today can just be a “vibe” but it’s kinda whatever whereas a lot of the music during this time was MEMORABLE even if the subject matter was silly. Less relatable = less memorable = a lot of s*** that serves no purpose in today’s landscape but it makes $$$ so it will continue until there is a shift. I hope the newer generations can correct the course and get to enjoy music like we did

Great thread I’d expect nothing less from @op

the new kids don't know how to make fun party songs at all. producers are to blame as well.

i blame travis

The ringtone era was amazing, don't let anyone tell you different. Mixtapes were popping and the mainstream music wasn't trying accelerate the opioid crisis

Lack of fun songs? What the f*** do we have then

Leave em they think we’re still in the drill era lmao

Ass

what do they play at the function these days

Its just nostalgia

shiny suit era was too commercial now it's classic

the same songs

It’s kinda funny how that music is stilll played today in the pop/radio world. It was timeless music. Can’t say that about music today

this is kinda confusing because i think since 2016, all we’ve really had is the evolution of ringtone rap as the forefront of mainstream rap music

That era looks like the golden age compared to what we got today

Amazing era that got s*** on just for not being lyrical. It wasn’t about spitting knowledge it was more so just about making fun music that can also reflect the lifestyle.

I also grew up during this time so it just means even more to me.

Show me a fun song