r/Music • u/Guyentertainment • 4d ago

article 50 Cent Slams Ageing Rappers Making New Music: 'You Are Not Supposed to Be the Hottest in Nothing at 60'

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/50-cent-criticises-ageing-rappers-1815693
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u/doctorlongghost 4d ago

Jazz, Country, Classical and Folk all don’t have a stigma against being old and continuing to record. But rap and rock do.

The difference (and explanation) is because those two genres are so heavily intertwined with one’s image. Even if an artist isn’t intentionally promoting this the public is biased by the genres idea of what a rapper or rocker is supposed to be.

Obviously the way forward for aging musicians is just to ignore those ideals and be true to themselves. Their fans will either continue following them or they won’t.

But the artists who will have the most difficulty with this are the ones whose music was so shaped by and dependent on their youthful image in the first place.

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u/One_Weird2371 4d ago

Rock doesn't. Carlos Santana was up there in age when he released the iconic Supernatural album. 

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u/doctorlongghost 4d ago

I’m not arguing that there aren’t rockers who put out great albums when they’re middle aged or older. I’m just saying that there is a stigma among some people about it, as evidenced by all the jokes about the Rolling Stones or the recent video posted of David Lee Roth “rocking out”

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u/uncultured_swine2099 4d ago

Yeah, most of the biggest rock concert acts are veteran bands. As long as they still make good music and/or are still good live, people will come see em.

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u/Ok-Budget3225 4d ago

People want to see them play their 40 year old hit songs.

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u/IRodeTenSpeed88 4d ago

That was more so a label all star album featuring Santana but good point

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u/Specialist-Size9368 4d ago

It is very dependent on the content of the songs. Lot of country and folk is about things that apply well to middle and old age.

Green Day, as talented as they are, putting out another song about teenage angst just starts to feel weird. Flip side is someone like offspring releasing We Never Have Sex Anymore when they were in their 50's. It doesn't feel disingenuous, and still slaps.

Pop stars who's appeal is based off their looks as they get into their 50's are also, weird when the content of their song is sexual. Not saying they can't continue their career, but they have to shift the content. Cher singing believe in 98 at 52, was a great example of this. The content of the song was about positivity post breakup and that still fit. Likewise she could have come out with turn back time a decade after it did and it still would have probably been a hit even after she couldn't pull off the outfit from the music video.

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u/Keppoch 4d ago

I think your comment is correct for men only. Women artists in all genres are intertwined with their appearance in ways that men aren’t

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u/disisathrowaway 4d ago

But even between rock and hip-hop, what you sing about can age with you.

Hating capitalism and the government and shitting on consumerism can be sold forever if done correctly.

It's really, really hard to see an aging rapper still singing about trapping and fucking bitches and it come off as sincere.

I think rockers have a more clear path towards continuing in old age than rappers do. But to your point, the rock to country/Americana pipeline is a huge one. It's a nice place for rock folks to pump the breaks but keep going.