Offset's Opinion on the Homogeneity of Hip-Hop Sound: Is the Genre Losing its Unique Flair?
Offset believes that the declining sales and streaming numbers in hip-hop can be attributed to the lack of diversity and innovation in the genre, stating that everything sounds monotonous and unexciting
The hip-hop industry has experienced a decline in terms of charts and sales this year, and Offset is not surprised by this trend. Speaking with Ebro Darden for Apple Music, the 31-year-old Migos member expressed his observation that music lacking substance is not resonating with audiences. Offset also noted that the numbers are down specifically within the hip-hop genre, attributing this to the lack of originality and innovation in the industry.
"Not only in terms of the sound, but in every aspect. Even creatively," he continued. "Most music videos feature lavish backgrounds with fancy cars and excessive jewelry. It's becoming repetitive and unexciting, guys. There's no real entertainment value. You have pop and country artists who bring the full package, even exploring different substances. It's not all about showing off anymore."
Offset's concerns are valid. Lil Uzi Vert's Pink Tape became the first hip-hop album of 2023 to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, achieving this feat in July. In the months leading up to that, R&B (SZA's SOS), pop (Karol G's Mañana Será Bonito, Stray Kids' 5-Star, Taylor Swift's Midnights), and country (Morgan Wallen's One Thing at a Time) dominated the top spot.
Since then, Drake (For All The Dogs), Travis Scott (Utopia) and Rod Wave (Nostalgia) have shown that hip-hop can move units, with each taking the No. 1 spot for a week or two.
Offset. Prince Williams/WireImage
Pop and country music took center stage on the Billboard Hot 100 for the majority of 2023. However, Doja Cat's "Paint The Town Red" broke the mold and became the first rap song to reach number one in over a year. This marked the end of a dry spell since Nicki Minaj's "Super Freaky Girl" claimed the top spot in August 2022, according to Billboard. Since then, Drake's "First Person Shooter" and "Slime You Out" have been the only other hip-hop/rap-adjacent tracks to achieve this coveted position.
According to Rolling Stone's July report, only three hip-hop albums released in 2023 - Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, Lil Durk’s Almost Healed, and NF’s Hope - made it into the top 25 most popular hip-hop albums of the year. In contrast, in 2018, 13 rap albums released that year made it into the top 25. Rolling Stone attributes this decline to the absence of music from major stars such as Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and others.
The publication further suggests a subjective theory similar to Offset's, stating that tastes are evolving and fans are no longer interested in purchasing the current offerings.
Offset dropped his second solo album, "Set It Off," on October 13. The record entered the music scene at No. 5, falling behind Zach Bryan's self-titled album, TOMORROW x TOMORROW's latest LP, Drake's "For All The Dogs," and Bad Bunny's "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana."
