Hip-hop has been struggling, losing quite a few great artists in 2024. At the same time the culture is celebrating milestones and achievements, it is also rocked by the tragic loss of prominent figure in the rap community.
Among the casualties was Texas’ hot new star Enchanting, who died June 11 at age 26 of an accidental drug overdose. She was a former member of Gucci Mane’s 1017 label and her death saddened fans and artists around the world.
After her death, social media was filled with praise for her pinnacle in the hip-hop world.
Meanwhile, from De La Soul creator Trugoy the Dove’s death at age 53 in February 2023 to Gangsta Boo dying of a drug overdose at age 43, recent deaths of artists featured has contributed to a worrying trend in the genre that has been evident over the years. .
The rapper – a member of Atlanta trio Migos – was shot dead last November at the age of 28.
Jim Jones, one of the most prominent rappers in hip-hop, calls rap “the most dangerous profession”.
Fat Joe said rappers are an “endangered species” and Lupe Fiasco put it more succinctly in his 2022 song “On Faux Nem,” “Rappers die too much.”
Hip-hop artists tend to die from a variety of shocking causes – gun violence, health problems, drug overdoses and harm.
According to AD Carson, Associate Professor of Hip-Hop at the University of Virginia, this trend raises questions about the systemic challenges that impact the health and wellness of artists in general.
Various artists such as Nipsey Hussle and Notorious BIG are synonymous with violence in hip-hop.
Of course, it’s no surprise that the industry as well as music has suffered greatly because of the way the media portrays the violent deaths of its stars.
Being a rapper isn’t easy, and AD Carson’s “V:ILLICIT” mixtape tackles a lot of the bad stuff that’s going on, contextualizing uncomfortable truths beneath a moral blanket that we can easily understand. easily confused with humans.
Besides violence, health also has a relatively larger impact on many artists. Among the leading causes of death for rappers are heart disease, diabetes and drug-related diseases.
Everyone knows Big Pun and J-Dilla died of heart disease at a young age, and we can continue the path of Eazy-E, who died of AIDS.
The statistics are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two demographic groups that make up a large portion of hip-hop artists, heart disease and diabetes are well-known, perennial health concerns for the population. Black men and Hispanic men.
With hip-hop looking back at its roots and celebrating its anniversaries, it’s time to make equity part of the picture for the well-being of the artists who create the music.
More than ever, the lyrics to hip-hop duo Dead Prez’s song “Be Healthy” ring true: “We’ve got to start taking better care of ourselves.”
Rapper Tag