Halfway Through 2021
Welcome one and all to the halfway mark of the year!
As I usually do on this blog, we take a look at some of the things that have happened in the world in the past six months and we talk about what rap has given us in the first six months of the year. This year, the full article was a success, so let’s see if our predictions here were similar.
After 2020, I don’t think that we could do worse than last year, so let us begin.
Covid Vaccinations have begun being administered and it will only be a matter of time before the general population will be able to be vaccinated. Hopefully, that means that Lockdowns will lessen.
Depending on where you are in the world, this could somewhat be true. The world is well underway with vaccinations, but there is still a disparity between what is considered First-World Countries and Third-World Countries. Hell, even neighbors like Canada, Mexico, and the United States are seeing different realities, even though they are geographically close. So, I’ll say it’s a victory.
The new knowledge learned during the Pandemic and Lockdowns, which many systems of individuals and world leaders can find ways to work together and improve their countries as well as the world as a whole.
Ok, let’s give it a half-point here. On one hand, we have the entire situation regarding vaccine distribution; there are third-world countries that haven’t even sniffed any of the major retailers, while major countries are opening borders and seeing the light at the end of the dark tunnel. Yet, we are also presented with the fact that Australia is no longer on fire, North Korea hasn’t threatened nuclear war in more than a year and the Earth has been doing better ecologically - depending on who you ask - because of the pandemic. There are always wins and losses.
On January 20th, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris officially take up their roles as President and Vice President respectively. Kamala Harris will be the first woman who has taken the mantle of Vice President. Congratulations to her and Joe Biden.
This entire element is uber political for The Rap Clash, but very much needed. Take it in that Hip-Hop has openly talked about its disdain for the last president (ex: Nipsey Hussle, Eminem, Macklemore, etc.) so why not bring it up? Even though there was the entire January 6th incident, the actual presidency has been relatively quiet. No major scandals, just the President and Vice President doing President and Vice President things during a global pandemic. Congratulations are in order.
Creatives have been committing to different projects with love, care and attention and those may be born this year. Therefore, we predict that there will be more new music whether it is singles or albums is to be seen.
The creative aspect is well thought out: the pandemic has been tough on the music industry as a whole. But, in 2021, we’ve seen a sort of reprieve, and even a comeback of sorts. DJ Khaled’s Khaled Khaled was pretty good and so were projects such as J. Cole’s The Fall-Off and the late DMX’s Exodus. All of this comes with up-and-coming projects such as Drake’s Certified Lover Boy and a possible Kendrick project in the works? This is a win for everybody.
Snoop Dogg may retaliate to Eminem, dissing him in a song on his Music to be Murdered By album. It would be interesting to see if Snoop can still spit lyrics on par with the minds in the rap game. Even if Snoop Dogg does not retaliate, some other “slighted” rapper or rappers may look to seek revenge for what they perceive as a threat or put down to themselves.
I can say with certainty that the beef is over and that, this year, the beef has been kept at an all-time low. I guess we just don’t have the energy right now, after everything we have already been through. Let’s keep it this way, I’m tired.
There may be a chance of released work that Doom had in progress. That all depends on the agreements between him and his partner(s) as well as where the track stood at the time of his passing.
The unfortunate and sudden passing of MF Doom was tragic. I am therefore pleased to know that he was working on some stuff. As your favorite rapper's favorite rapper, Doom was an impeccable lyricist and rhyme mastermind. Super What?, a collaborative effort between himself and the supergroup Czarface was released in May and is something that should remain in everyone’s playlists for a while, as it is proof that Doom never lost it. He was an all-time great.
With that, we finish our halfway through the year article. It’s been an eventful, yet calm, year so far. Let’s continue on this road.