As Hip Hop continues to grow, so does the gap between the generations. The debate between old and new has been going on for a while, and thanks to DDG, the argument has been reignited all over again.
On Wednesday (April 27), the 2021 HipHopDX Rising Star took to Twitter with a controversial take on modern-day rappers. According to DDG, the current generation of MCs are on another level compared to their predecessors.
“Today’s rappers are 10x better than the rappers back in the today.. Respectfully,” he declared. “I respect the older generation of hiphop, but this generation creativity on another level fr. Hip Hop ain’t never been the number 1 genre until NOW.”
Today’s rappers are 10x better than the rappers back in the today.. Respectfully
— DDG ? (@PontiacMadeDDG) April 28, 2022
i respect the older generation of hiphop, but this generation creativity on another level fr. Hip Hop ain’t never been the number 1 genre until NOW.
— DDG ? (@PontiacMadeDDG) April 28, 2022
The Die 4 Respect rapper doubled down on his statement when one fan argued none of his rap peers can hold a candle to the late Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. “On some real shit.. when the last time u listened to either in the car.. BE TRUTHFUL,” he replied.
on some real shit.. when the last time u listened to either in the car.. BE TRUTHFUL https://t.co/Xz5rinGmAP
— DDG ? (@PontiacMadeDDG) April 28, 2022
DDG’s tweet sparked a wave of passionate responses from fans who were quick to remind the 24-year-old of the rap icons who came before him — including those from the ’80s and ’90s, as well as more recent decades.
“Todays rappers do not compare to MF DOOM, Quasimoto, Common, GZA. Wu Tang, Eazy-E, Pac, Biggie, Nas, Mobb Deep, J Dilla, Jay Z and so on,” one fan argued. “I do like the new rappers, don’t get me wrong, but they just don’t compare to what the ‘rappers back in the day’ brought to the table.”
Another wrote, “Ion know if unpopular opinion or not but the 2010s was the best decade for hip hop imo. Mac Miller, Drake, Kendrick, J.Cole, Kanye, Tyler etc. made consistently great albums throughout the decade + the later half gave us some completely new sounds with the soundcloud era.”
Todays rappers do not compare to MF DOOM, Quasimoto, Common, GZA. Wu Tang, Eazy-E, Pac, Biggie, Nas, Mobb Deep, J Dilla, Jay Z and so on. I do like the new rappers, don't get me wrong, but they just don't compare to what the "rappers back in the day" brought to the table.
— Jxhmez (@Jxhm3z) April 28, 2022
Ion know if unpopular opinion or not but the 2010s was the best decade for hip hop imo. Mac Miller, Drake, Kendrick, J.Cole, Kanye, Tyler etc. made consistently great albums throughout the decade + the later half gave us some completely new sounds with the soundcloud era.
— nixa (@Nixa30303) April 28, 2022
The debate got even more interesting over on DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page, where fans were split down the middle on DDG’s statement. Some agreed with him, while others felt he was just talking out of his backside.
“The rapping is worse, but the music is better and more versatile if that makes any sense,” one person commented, while another wrote, “Rappers today are inspired by rapper back then sooooo no not really.”
One particularly thoughtful comment read, “Facts but hip hop as a whole had grown into something beautiful to where it feels like you cannot even compare the two eras from how different the sound is.”
When he isn’t starting a generational rap debate, DDG is enjoying life with his new girlfriend, Halle Bailey. The rapper made their relationship official in an Instagram post celebrating Halle’s 22nd birthday in March.
“Happy Birthday to the beautifulest, the flyest, the sweetest love you forever @hallebailey,” he captioned the post.
Check out more reactions to DDG’s hot take below.
Name a rapper right now. That’s better then old Jadakiss or old Nas or old Jay Z or even Emenim ? I’ll wait. Don’t say j cole or Kendrick tho lol
— ?? ??????? (@KingFromNY) April 28, 2022
pic.twitter.com/KOTCu4FPtA
— Lord AFRIKA (@brocka_zulu) April 28, 2022
Don’t ever compare today’s music to back in the day most of y’all got the same flow and don’t even write half of y’all songs
— 111✨ (@nael_sha) April 28, 2022
pic.twitter.com/RHWHI3wvgV
— JT (@JTriplett0825) April 28, 2022
The disrespect to the legends that paved the way is the issues with our generation. Is rap music more dominate today? Yes. That’s only thanks to rappers of the 80s/90s going to war against the FBI to keep it a genre… they had to fight for what we have today don’t ever discredit
— Ezra ✨ (@YourGirlCrib96) April 28, 2022
???? pic.twitter.com/ceMvBmozNK
— Marquis Thomas (@Marquis71687037) April 28, 2022