The next time you go to the barbershop, or are with your friends just talking shit, ask them “When do you think the golden age of hip hop was?” try and figure out their criteria for their long winded answer. Most of the time people will use the amount of airplay that “quality” music was getting, nostalgia could be a factor, or even a certain sound was dominating the industry. All of those are very valid reasons in their own way, and thankfully, there is no right answer. And there can’t be, the art of hip hop s so elusive ad fluid it can’t be boxed to determine the “best” time. But I think there is one determinant that people always tend to over look. Accessibility.

Hip Hop was born out of expression, oppression, and pain. It’s not some sort of elitist activity that is reserved for those that can afford the art. It’s for the common people. Of course the sound and ethos have evolved over time, but the foundation will stay the same no matter what. Hip Hop would be turning on itself if it started rejecting people wanting to participate. Now don’t get me wrong if music ain’t for you, then it ain’t for you. Outside of that anybody should be able to make music if they want to without backlash, if you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. People pushing out others is not effective in hip hop if it wants to become the even more dominate in different cultures.

Another problem with accessibility is the cost surrounding making music. If you’re a rapper, studio time cost, if you’re a producer most programs cost money, etc. It seems as though as the art form developed, the price was rising appearing to push out those that value it the most. Making music is expensive, which is probably why a bunch of artist would rather sign record contracts rather than being independent. And most of the time the artist are setting themselves up for a lifetime of trying to fulfill a contract where the record label keeps denying an artists evolution because it doesn’t fit into a certain “vision or sound” that they had in mind.

With all of that being said, the golden age of hip hop is right now. Don’t let this pass without noticing it. Hip Hop has reached a point of maximum accessibility. There is something for everybody, with the sound meshing with so many different genres the possibilities are endless. Everybody has a space where they can feel like they belong. Whether that be a regional sound, or genre bending hip hop albums. When it comes to the cost, the price was steadily rising but with the introduction of the smart phone, people can download beat packs, and even record into their phone on Garageband or other apps. Shit Steve Lacy, a Grammy Nominated Musician, is known for making beats on his phone. He even helped with production on Kendrick Lamar’s track Pride. With accessibility, the possibilities are endless. If hip hop music continues on the path it’s on, it will continue to evolve and prosper and reach people across the world.You may think the golden age was another time, but that’s ok it’s all subjective. Just don’t be so quick to dismiss now the quality, diversity, and inclusion that comes with the accessibility of today.