The interaction between hip hop and the internet has been going strong since Limewire was the death of everybody’s computer, and since Soulja Boy harnessed the internet’s potential to become one of the first viral sensations- as a teenager. The internet is a tool younger generations were born into and and older generations had to adapt to. There is simply no getting around it. The internet became the new hustlers playground. Hip hop and the internet were truly the perfect pair. Hip hop thrives off of saying “Fuck you! I say what I want,” and what better place to do that than the internet. Hip hop changes as often as the seasons and has developed communities across the United States where it was founded as well as numerous countries around the world. The internet gives artists and listeners alike the ability to a chance to listen, judge, and even spread their own art.

Dom McLennon shot by Jalan Goodman

However, I think the exact opposite has happened.The internet has divided hip hop more than ever. Listeners are experts in their respective local sound, but have little to no real appreciation for music outside their region. You would think the internet would ease that sort of ignorance or laziness. But every year when a song goes viral from a specific region other than our own, we become content. We are left with only a surafce level understanding of that areas sound, very few people will go deeper. Now, I understand everybody doesn’t want to listen to everybody’s music, but with the power of the internet at our fingertips you would think more people would explore sounds that aren’t used to. Of course this applies mostly to the United States because other countries had to look at us to learn what hip hop was. But it seems as though a very limited group inside the United States has had the courage to look outside of our country and explore the unknown. As listeners and artist we should let no good hip hop go unheard. The internet’s potential is unmatched, it can take us to places we never thought. Instead, we use it to stay right where we are.