How many "Big Name" Rap and Hip Hop Artists Are Over Age 40?

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 11:55 AM

I was watching C-Span's book review and they had a panel of book authors on, several said some of these guys are pretty freakin' old to be involved in a so-called "Youth Culture," but I have to confess my ignorance about the ages of the artists and bring the question here for others to answer.

I did not catch the names of all the old geezers doin' rap and hip hop.

And the panel seemed to indicate that it was not like jazz, blues, country *and* western, or other forms of music where age is not always the most important factor, they seemed to be saying that in Rap and Hip Hop if you were older, you were out.

I wonder if any of these over-the-hill 40-year-old Rap and Hip Hop artists will soon be complaining about age discrimination?

Or, will the aging group of Rap and Hip Hop Artists mean that Rap and Hip Hop are passe and on the way out, that Rap and Hip Hop is dead?

This rasies some interesting sociological and economic sub-topics that may affect people here, I dunno.

So who are the "big name" 40 and "near 40" year-old Hip Hop and Rap Artists?

Teacher · 15th August 2005, 12:09 PM

Dr. Dre just turned 40
&

Jay- Z is around 36 I think.

All the other ones don't have a 'commercial' career

But Krs-1, Kool G Rap, & Public Enemy to name a few old skool artists are still doing something is rap

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 06:59 PM

What about LL Cool J, I heard he was also up there in the "old geezer" category?

Snoop Dogg looks like he's around 80 years old.

**TonyBelmont** · 15th August 2005, 07:12 PM

Most are in their mid 30's.....

XHipHop · 15th August 2005, 08:03 PM

Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick are probably making more money now than ever...

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Most are in their mid 30's.....

I read somewhere that the youth culture used to say, "Never trust anoyone over 30."

So most are "near" the over-the-hill-old-geezer age of 40, interesting.

XHipHop · 15th August 2005, 08:11 PM

it seems like most of the young guys are from the nickelodeon culture...the bow wow's, omarion, nick cannon, etc. etc.

jlotto · 15th August 2005, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny B

I read somewhere that the youth culture used to say, "Never trust anoyone over 30."

So most are "near" the over-the-hill-old-geezer age of 40, interesting.

Don't get too happy. Thats only the vets in the game that got old but have been around since their 20's like Jayz, Dre, Nas, DMx, Scarface, jd, etc. the core of todays biggest sellers are in their early-mid 20's: 50cent guint, eminem & shady crew, kanye west, game, jadakiss styles and d-block, camron, jim jones, julez, and dipset, mike jones, paul wall, young jeezy, lil scrappy, mobb deep, etc.

the foundation is still a young man's game. Supported by the fact that WB made Jim Jones head of urban a&r and Virgin just made DJ Envy head of Urban a&r. Dj Sickamore head of a&r at Just Blaze's new atlantic dist label. all these cats are mid 20's except for sickamore- who is 21.

XHipHop · 15th August 2005, 09:33 PM

i know for a fact that eminem is over 30, jlotto.

jlotto · 15th August 2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XHipHop

i know for a fact that eminem is over 30, jlotto.

my mistake, remove him from the list and replace him with obie trice and stat quo from shady who are both mid 20's or countelss others who are. the point is it's still a young man's game marketed to high schoolers and college students. the vets have done well since their 20's and parlayed that into long careers.

**TonyBelmont** · 15th August 2005, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlotto

Don't get too happy. Thats only the vets in the game that got old but have been around since their 20's like Jayz, Dre, Nas, DMx, Scarface, jd, etc. the core of todays biggest sellers are in their early-mid 20's: 50cent guint, eminem & shady crew, kanye west, game, jadakiss styles and d-block, camron, jim jones, julez, and dipset, mike jones, paul wall, young jeezy, lil scrappy, mobb deep, etc.

the foundation is still a young man's game. Supported by the fact that WB made Jim Jones head of urban a&r and Virgin just made DJ Envy head of Urban a&r. Dj Sickamore head of a&r at Just Blaze's new atlantic dist label. all these cats are mid 20's except for sickamore- who is 21.

Almost everyone you listed is either about to be 30 or over 30 (50 cent, Eminem, Kanye is 27, Jada and Styles, Cam, Jim Jones, Mobb Deep). Do you even know how old that talentless Jim Jones is? He's in his mid 30's...

jlotto · 15th August 2005, 09:42 PM

me and jim share management. his listed age is 27. for all of us under 30- 29 dont mean 30 only 30 means 30 lol!!!

**TonyBelmont** · 15th August 2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlotto

me and jim share management. his listed age is 27. for all of us under 30- 29 dont mean 30 only 30 means 30 lol!!!

Have you seen him in person? I met him at Baseline one day, I'm 27 and he is way older than me. He is absolutely 30-something... A friend of mine use to roll with him back in the day and he told me Jim was 34 (he's also 34). Most of these guys don't want the people buying CD's to know their real ages. Do you know how old Ludacris is? They usually make up a number or won't answer the question in interviews. Benzino is like 38-40 now. Nobody wants to hear old men rapping about guns and drugs...

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 09:50 PM

Looks like a few old white guys are doing Rap and Hip Hop...hmmm.

Not sure if that will be hip, slick, and cool for too much longer.

Some of these guys are lookin' really flabby, like they could never, ever, hope to finish a marathon race or even a 100-meter dash.

Wow, some are lyin' about their ages. Interesting.

jlotto · 15th August 2005, 09:53 PM

yeah, know him well. industry age is what it is. wont argue that point. luda was an old head when he came out. he had mad history already from radio and all that. hey i just take it for what it is.

jlotto · 15th August 2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny B

Looks like a few old white guys are doing Rap and Hip Hop...hmmm.

who?

whowever they r they using digital and ITB mixing just for u.

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Nobody wants to hear old men rapping about guns and drugs...

Maybe some people do, I dunno.

jgo · 15th August 2005, 10:16 PM

Ehhh, It may be a pretty face on a CD cover, but hittin late 30's or 40's does *not* mean Game Over.

Most the golden era dudes who really laid the foundation for great hip hop & production (not to mention recording techniques) are all in there mid 30's to 40's now.

Sure, Hip Hop has always been a young mans sport & it was basically founded by youth, but it really doesn't matter. Good music is good music, doesn't matter if the person who makes or records it is 19 yrs old or 57 yrs old.
Money (or the desire to make it) doesn't discriminate either. Older dudes are gettin paid too.

Just because someone in Hop Hop hits 40 shouldn't automatically discredit or disconnect him/her from anything.
Same goes in reverse, i know some young dudes who will school some veteran producers, simply because they put there blood sweat & tears in learning every bit of Hip Hop culture & history & applied it to there production or talent side.

Sure, I have poked fun at some dudes I know for hittin 40, but in the end, age aint nuthin but a number.
Most the dudes who really really influenced me growing up on Hip Hop & production wise are all 40 or close to it.
Talk to to some of these dudes & they're really no different than anyone else.
If anything more seasoned & experienced masters of there game.

And absolutely, alot of A&R's & label guys are young & its not always by chance, people up top do cailbrate there A&R teams in order to make them fit there target market.
So the hot market right now is young dudes in White Tee's or Throwbacks, chnaces are A&R dudes will look the part, they'll blend right in with the artists.
The days of your label rep sporting a business suit & suitcase are long gone.

No, I'm not 40 yet...

jgo · 15th August 2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Nobody wants to hear old men rapping about guns and drugs...

God isn't that the truth...
But it is & will keep happening.

And for the record, if you go back in time - lotta the dudes who started the original gangsta/pimp rappin (and I don't mean Hip Hop MC's) were all older dudes in relation to todays candy coated music market.

Iceberg Slim, Last poets, et. al...

XHipHop · 15th August 2005, 10:26 PM

Busta, R. Kelly, Method Man (and the rest of Wu), P. Diddy, Nas...oh, and how could i forget Fat Joe? He has to be over 30, right?!

Most of these guys have had a solid song or two on the radio in the recent past.

Johnny B · 15th August 2005, 10:52 PM

Wow, some of these guys are getting rather old, how much longer can they deliver the goods? 30's, 40's, 50's, I wonder if any in the game are 60 or over yet?

15th August 2005, 11:03 PM

I think hip hop will eventually transcend age. MOST rappers are at least 30ish. But so are most people who grew up listening to rap. (If majors were smart they'd find ways to have a bigger market by not forgetting the 30somethings) Hell if all the 30 somethings quit then all that would be left are lil scrappys and Jim Jones' WEDONT WANT THAT

Every rapper I know thats major is listed as 3-5 years younger than they are (UNTIL they go to jail or some run in with the law then the age from their ID is publicised).

Hell I'll buy anyone with something HOT in music
Lying about age is old news but hell alot of the actors we like are getting up in age if you consider Halle is about 39, I'd stil do her and watch her movies

I dont think it's about a fresh look in Hip HOP. If so THEN explain how BIGGIE sold

"Hearthrob never, Black and ugly as ever, HOEVER I stay coogie down to the sox"

docformat · 15th August 2005, 11:22 PM

the idea that an artist reaches creative maturity in their mid-20s and is burned out by 30 is just crazy. people who are serious about their music need to see past this mtv-fed bs. i personally hope that hip-hop can become like jazz and value the creativity of older people and the experience they bring to the game. after all hip-hop s'posed to be 'real' right? what's realer than getting old? nobody wants to hear an old man rapping about drugs and guns - right. so maybe some of these cats should look around for some more 'personal' material - not just the same old lines. last poets and gil-scott heron can do it after all.

Stoneface · 15th August 2005, 11:36 PM

I think your 30 something crowd is actually going to be the saviour of Hip-Hop. You see, young guys haven't lived enough life to have anything relevant to talk about. As you grow older, wiser and more mature, your material changes. Your life experience change and the way you see the future and what's really important changes. There are a ton of people in thier early 30's or near it that have a ton of talent and could really bring a fresh perspective to the game. I personally can't listen to a youngser talk to me about deep issues no more than I can a teenie bop group trying to tell me about love. WHAT??? What you know about love at 14 years old?

Johnny B · 16th August 2005, 12:14 AM

So are you saying that Rap and Hip Hop is "better" because it's full of "old" people?

juicemaster1500 · 16th August 2005, 12:16 AM

I think Fat Joe is 40, and the guys from De la soul is probably around 40.

Stoneface · 16th August 2005, 12:20 AM

I think the content has the potential to be better when dealing with older cats. Lack of quality content is most peoples main complaint with Hip-Hop these days. I'd like to hear more individuals with more to say. I've never owed a set of chrome rims in my life but I can tell you all about them. Now there's a worthy piece of knowledge that I can pass on to my children.

I really think that's were the game is going. Younger cats can't "get" more mature overnight so the wiser need to step up and out from behind this illusion that you can only be a certain age to rap. That's just silly. If it's tight, it's tight. Scarface is one of my favorites since back in the day. He's got to be pushing 40. But if he dropped an album today...I'd be fightin' to get to the store. Ie: Quality content!

XHipHop · 16th August 2005, 12:22 AM

Ice Cube, Flava Flav making mad tv and movie money now...

**TonyBelmont** · 16th August 2005, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoneface

I think the content has the potential to be better when dealing with older cats. Lack of quality content is most peoples main complaint with Hip-Hop these days. I'd like to hear more individuals with more to say. I've never owed a set of chrome rims in my life but I can tell you all about them. Now there's a worthy piece of knowledge that I can pass on to my children.

I really think that's were the game is going. Younger cats can't "get" more mature overnight so the wiser need to step up and out from behind this illusion that you can only be a certain age to rap. That's just silly. If it's tight, it's tight. Scarface is one of my favorites since back in the day. He's got to be pushing 40. But if he dropped an album today...I'd be fightin' to get to the store. Ie: Quality content!

Ha Ha Ha... Face ain't gonna be 40 for about 7 or 8 more years.... I can't wait to tell him this one.

Johnny B · 16th August 2005, 12:48 AM

Sounds to me like he's "close enough" to that old geezer age group, 7 or 8 years go by pretty quick.

Even well-conditioned sports figures start to be old when they are over 30, ask if there are any noticable changes in that older body...aches and pains...running out of gas...needing naps...all that old person stuff. A sure sign of joining the over-the-hill crowd is when they start playing golf. Golf?

I suppose we will see how how all these older people in Rap and Hip Hop hold up after a few more years in the game. Some of these people are really "up there" in age.

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15th August 2005, 11:55 AM	#1
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	How many "Big Name" Rap and Hip Hop Artists Are Over Age 40? I was watching C-Span's book review and they had a panel of book authors on, several said some of these guys are pretty freakin' old to be involved in a so-called "Youth Culture," but I have to confess my ignorance about the ages of the artists and bring the question here for others to answer. I did not catch the names of all the old geezers doin' rap and hip hop. And the panel seemed to indicate that it was not like jazz, blues, country and western, or other forms of music where age is not always the most important factor, they seemed to be saying that in Rap and Hip Hop if you were older, you were out. I wonder if any of these over-the-hill 40-year-old Rap and Hip Hop artists will soon be complaining about age discrimination? Or, will the aging group of Rap and Hip Hop Artists mean that Rap and Hip Hop are passe and on the way out, that Rap and Hip Hop is dead? This rasies some interesting sociological and economic sub-topics that may affect people here, I dunno. So who are the "big name" 40 and "near 40" year-old Hip Hop and Rap Artists?

15th August 2005, 12:09 PM	#2
Teacher Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NY Posts: 1,769	Dr. Dre just turned 40 & Jay- Z is around 36 I think. All the other ones don't have a 'commercial' career But Krs-1, Kool G Rap, & Public Enemy to name a few old skool artists are still doing something is rap __________________ "I hate it when they tell us how far we came to be, as if our people's history started with slavery...." Immortal Technique www.sicbeats.com

15th August 2005, 07:12 PM	#4
TonyBelmont Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boston,MA Providence,RI Posts: 10,150	Most are in their mid 30's..... __________________ Tony Belmont We Sell Gear! Need plugins? Check out PluginDiscounts.com

15th August 2005, 11:03 PM	#22
no ssl yet Guest Posts: n/a	Age I think hip hop will eventually transcend age. MOST rappers are at least 30ish. But so are most people who grew up listening to rap. (If majors were smart they'd find ways to have a bigger market by not forgetting the 30somethings) Hell if all the 30 somethings quit then all that would be left are lil scrappys and Jim Jones' WEDONT WANT THAT Every rapper I know thats major is listed as 3-5 years younger than they are (UNTIL they go to jail or some run in with the law then the age from their ID is publicised). Hell I'll buy anyone with something HOT in music Lying about age is old news but hell alot of the actors we like are getting up in age if you consider Halle is about 39, I'd stil do her and watch her movies I dont think it's about a fresh look in Hip HOP. If so THEN explain how BIGGIE sold "Hearthrob never, Black and ugly as ever, HOEVER I stay coogie down to the sox"

15th August 2005, 06:59 PM	#3
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	What about LL Cool J, I heard he was also up there in the "old geezer" category? Snoop Dogg looks like he's around 80 years old.

15th August 2005, 08:03 PM	#5
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick are probably making more money now than ever...

15th August 2005, 08:11 PM	#7
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	it seems like most of the young guys are from the nickelodeon culture...the bow wow's, omarion, nick cannon, etc. etc.

15th August 2005, 09:33 PM	#9
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	i know for a fact that eminem is over 30, jlotto.

15th August 2005, 09:42 PM	#12
jlotto Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gotham City Posts: 640	me and jim share management. his listed age is 27. for all of us under 30- 29 dont mean 30 only 30 means 30 lol!!!

15th August 2005, 09:50 PM	#14
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	Looks like a few old white guys are doing Rap and Hip Hop...hmmm. Not sure if that will be hip, slick, and cool for too much longer. Some of these guys are lookin' really flabby, like they could never, ever, hope to finish a marathon race or even a 100-meter dash. Wow, some are lyin' about their ages. Interesting.

15th August 2005, 09:53 PM	#15
jlotto Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gotham City Posts: 640	yeah, know him well. industry age is what it is. wont argue that point. luda was an old head when he came out. he had mad history already from radio and all that. hey i just take it for what it is.

15th August 2005, 10:16 PM	#18
jgo Gear Head Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 50	Ehhh, It may be a pretty face on a CD cover, but hittin late 30's or 40's does not mean Game Over. Most the golden era dudes who really laid the foundation for great hip hop & production (not to mention recording techniques) are all in there mid 30's to 40's now. Sure, Hip Hop has always been a young mans sport & it was basically founded by youth, but it really doesn't matter. Good music is good music, doesn't matter if the person who makes or records it is 19 yrs old or 57 yrs old. Money (or the desire to make it) doesn't discriminate either. Older dudes are gettin paid too. Just because someone in Hop Hop hits 40 shouldn't automatically discredit or disconnect him/her from anything. Same goes in reverse, i know some young dudes who will school some veteran producers, simply because they put there blood sweat & tears in learning every bit of Hip Hop culture & history & applied it to there production or talent side. Sure, I have poked fun at some dudes I know for hittin 40, but in the end, age aint nuthin but a number. Most the dudes who really really influenced me growing up on Hip Hop & production wise are all 40 or close to it. Talk to to some of these dudes & they're really no different than anyone else. If anything more seasoned & experienced masters of there game. And absolutely, alot of A&R's & label guys are young & its not always by chance, people up top do cailbrate there A&R teams in order to make them fit there target market. So the hot market right now is young dudes in White Tee's or Throwbacks, chnaces are A&R dudes will look the part, they'll blend right in with the artists. The days of your label rep sporting a business suit & suitcase are long gone. No, I'm not 40 yet...

15th August 2005, 10:26 PM	#20
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	Busta, R. Kelly, Method Man (and the rest of Wu), P. Diddy, Nas...oh, and how could i forget Fat Joe? He has to be over 30, right?! Most of these guys have had a solid song or two on the radio in the recent past.

15th August 2005, 10:52 PM	#21
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	Wow, some of these guys are getting rather old, how much longer can they deliver the goods? 30's, 40's, 50's, I wonder if any in the game are 60 or over yet?

15th August 2005, 11:22 PM	#23
docformat Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 45	the idea that an artist reaches creative maturity in their mid-20s and is burned out by 30 is just crazy. people who are serious about their music need to see past this mtv-fed bs. i personally hope that hip-hop can become like jazz and value the creativity of older people and the experience they bring to the game. after all hip-hop s'posed to be 'real' right? what's realer than getting old? nobody wants to hear an old man rapping about drugs and guns - right. so maybe some of these cats should look around for some more 'personal' material - not just the same old lines. last poets and gil-scott heron can do it after all.

15th August 2005, 11:36 PM	#24
Stoneface Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 450	I think your 30 something crowd is actually going to be the saviour of Hip-Hop. You see, young guys haven't lived enough life to have anything relevant to talk about. As you grow older, wiser and more mature, your material changes. Your life experience change and the way you see the future and what's really important changes. There are a ton of people in thier early 30's or near it that have a ton of talent and could really bring a fresh perspective to the game. I personally can't listen to a youngser talk to me about deep issues no more than I can a teenie bop group trying to tell me about love. WHAT??? What you know about love at 14 years old?

16th August 2005, 12:14 AM	#25
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	So are you saying that Rap and Hip Hop is "better" because it's full of "old" people?

16th August 2005, 12:16 AM	#26
juicemaster1500 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 524	I think Fat Joe is 40, and the guys from De la soul is probably around 40.

16th August 2005, 12:20 AM	#27
Stoneface Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 450	I think the content has the potential to be better when dealing with older cats. Lack of quality content is most peoples main complaint with Hip-Hop these days. I'd like to hear more individuals with more to say. I've never owed a set of chrome rims in my life but I can tell you all about them. Now there's a worthy piece of knowledge that I can pass on to my children. I really think that's were the game is going. Younger cats can't "get" more mature overnight so the wiser need to step up and out from behind this illusion that you can only be a certain age to rap. That's just silly. If it's tight, it's tight. Scarface is one of my favorites since back in the day. He's got to be pushing 40. But if he dropped an album today...I'd be fightin' to get to the store. Ie: Quality content!

16th August 2005, 12:22 AM	#28
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	Ice Cube, Flava Flav making mad tv and movie money now...

16th August 2005, 12:48 AM	#30
Johnny B Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 848	Sounds to me like he's "close enough" to that old geezer age group, 7 or 8 years go by pretty quick. Even well-conditioned sports figures start to be old when they are over 30, ask if there are any noticable changes in that older body...aches and pains...running out of gas...needing naps...all that old person stuff. A sure sign of joining the over-the-hill crowd is when they start playing golf. Golf? I suppose we will see how how all these older people in Rap and Hip Hop hold up after a few more years in the game. Some of these people are really "up there" in age.