Arms and bodies swarmed around me, relentlessly pushing me forward to the front of the pit. Rapper Denzel Curry dances back and forth on stage, his music giving rhythm to the chaos before him. This is not my first rap concert. In fact, my first was only a few months earlier, although the setting couldn’t be farther from the war zone I just described. I was high up in American Airlines stadium, the feeling almost serene as I chanted the words to Kendrick Lamar’s “Love.” along with 20,000 other people. Elaborate set pieces and lights flash before my eyes as I watch arguably the greatest rapper of his generation work his magic. These concerts are polar opposites, yet they both represent a shift that’s occurred over the last 20 years: rap is the new rock and roll.
On Feb. 8, 2022, Swedish rapper Yung Lean posted a photo on Instagram with fellow rappers Kanye West, Travis Scott, Drake and Baby Keem captioned “new Beatles.” A weird comparison to be sure, but one that’s not entirely without merit — especially given the extreme popularity of rappers in recent years.
The idea of a rockstar is a relatively new concept. We idolize musicians who bare it all on stage and who embody a sense of rebellion. Rockstars are non-conformists, they speak to a feeling deep within many to break free of tradition. So it goes without saying that as social norms change, so do rockstars. My grandpa told me stories of living in rural Texas and sneaking behind his house to listen to Johnny Cash on the radio. Heaven forbid his mother find him listening to the music that was “of the devil.” The stars of that era, such as Cash, Elvis and Sinatra, were scandalous, and that’s part of what drew people to them. There was an edge to their persona and music that was exciting. Drop Johnny Cash in a stadium in 2022 though and it’s not the same scandal.
So, in walks Kendrick Lamar or Kanye West or Jay Z. In walks the rapper. Draped in jewels and covered in tattoos, they signaled the new generation of rebels. Part of what makes a rockstar a rockstar is this unattainable persona, a boldness to step out on a stage and proclaim through lyrics and motion that they won’t play by the rules. This hasn’t gone away for the traditional rockstar, but the stardust has faded a bit. There’s an element of danger implied in much of rap music that adds a layer of unattainability to rappers, making them ideal stars for youth to idolize. Just like Cash faded in comparison to Jimi Hendrix, so the traditional idea of a rock and roll star has faded in comparison to the idea of a rapper. Such is the unforgiving flow of popular culture.
In a much less concrete way, rap has also become the dominant medium for music among many young people. How or why is hard to pin down exactly, but it’s undeniable that the shift has occurred. When my dad was in college he went to U2 concerts. Along with other bands, U2 made music for stadiums. Rock music was made to fill the largest room possible. Now, rock music is still alive and well, but the audience has shifted. New rock bands aren’t filling stadiums like they used to. Sure, U2 still tours stadiums, but the crowd is filled with people like my dad. (Not that that’s bad. If you’re reading this, dad, I like U2). Bands like Coldplay have come to be the exception, not the rule. Rappers or pop stars are the artists playing in stadiums now. My dad went to U2 concerts and I go to Kendrick Lamar concerts.
Even on a smaller scale, seeing a rapper live in concert carries more hype than any other kind of artist. The crowd at the Denzel Curry show I went to was diverse, ranging from sophomores in high school who had been dropped off at their first concert to hardcore rap fans who were there to mosh. The crowd was full of people from all walks of life, with one shared interest: rap music. Not that this isn’t the case for rock music, but in many cases the crowds at newer rock band shows are more hipster. Rock is seen as less mainstream among younger audiences when compared to rap music. The draw of a rock concert hasn’t changed, but the audience has.
Further, rappers are uniquely positioned in popular culture to voice the kind of protests that this generation sees as rebellious. For the 70s, it was Jim Morrison with his long hair and anti-war music. For our era, it’s Kendrick Lamar and his fiery lyrics that speak out against racism, social inequality and oppression. An element of what makes a rockstar appealing is their unabashed willingness to direct their music towards establishments or ideas they view as wrong. It adds to their mysticism. With a rise in awareness of racism throughout America, a new wave of protests has been formed through rap to amplify those protests.
It’s unlikely there will ever be a “new Beatles” in a literal sense. Their era of music has come and gone. But the rockstar isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s always been this way. The shift to rappers might be the most noticeable change, but culture has always found ways to redefine what musicians are seen as rockstars. If anything, the shift to rappers demonstrates just how malleable culture can be.
My dad went to U2 concerts, I’m going to Kendrick Lamar shows, and in 20 years my kids will be cheering on the new wave of rockstars — whoever they may be.
Photo by Laila Al-Hagal
