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Why “Luv is 4ever” is more important than ever for rap 

February 28, 2023

J.I.D. and Smino have both established themselves as mainstage competitors in the hip-hop scene on their own. It seemed inevitable that the two of them would co-headline the “Love Is 4Ever Tour,” a 32-date national tour in support of respective 2022 projects (J.I.D.’s The Forever Story and Smino’s Luv 4 Rent). 

The artist’s ability to captivate an audience with their clever and poignant lyrics was on full display during their Sunday performance at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, one of their two stops on their DMV tour. Yet what stood out more throughout the two artists’ performances was their capacity to share the stage and share their love with the crowd. These endeavors are more crucial now than ever in a time when rap is frequently unnecessarily competitive and hostile. 

Rap music has always been a highly competitive genre, which has aided artists’ development and ascent to new heights. Nevertheless, we lose collaboration, something that is crucial to the social movement that is rap, a genre that was created as a result of the suffering of underprivileged people criticizing society. 

Rap has drawn a lot of criticism for years since it is thought to be empty and simple. Nonetheless, it has been effective in launching and popularizing a number of social movements. A secure haven for the oppressed expression has expanded with the popularity of the genre. Author Todd Boyd, writer of The New H.N.I.C.: The Death of Civil Rights and the Reign of Hip Hop said, ““Hip hop is inherently political, the language is political. It uses language as a weapon — not a weapon to violate or not a weapon to offend, but a weapon that pushes the envelope that provokes people, makes people think.” Compared to other genres, it can say more since it is so deeply established in modern youth culture. Younger generations increasingly perceive rap as being used to speak on social issues. With big energy and dynamic performances I believe the two artists gave the greatest homage to the roots of rap, which to its core is love for community. 

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