Hip-Hop’s Generation Gap: ‘Emo’ vs. ‘Dad’ Rap
As the music genre has become a commercial juggernaut, some worry about a cultural divide between younger and older artists
By Neil Shah
Rap has become the most-consumed music in America, according to industry data, but with its growth comes a new concern: a widening generation gap.
Just as rock ‘n‘ roll splintered in the 1970s when punk arrived, a beef between some young hip-hop artists and “dad rappers” is dividing fans. Some music insiders worry that the schism will hurt the unity of the hip-hop community when its music is at its cultural and commercial peak by splitting fans into opposing camps.