I'm 34 years old, but when it comes to discussing the different tastes my children and I have in hip-hop music, I feel much, much older, and the disconnect between us can be frustrating at times.
I came of age during a time when artists like Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac ruled the airwaves and the public conscience of anyone who truly loved hip-hop.
The message those artists conveyed in their music resonated in a way that today's artists fail to understand, or simply choose to ignore completely.
Lil' Wayne, Drake, and Soulja Boy are three of my children's favorite hip-hop artists, and although they are very bold in their lyrics, it seems there is very little purpose or substance in their music.
For example, on Drake's song "Forever," he calls himself the greatest rapper of all time, yet his premature proclamation suggests he has no idea of what it really takes to claim that throne.
As I argued this point with my oldest son, a realization dawned, and it suddenly became apparent that I had assumed a role my own parents held when they first ruled out hip-hop music as a bunch of noise with no point.
That lesson stuck in my mind, and i...
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