Hip and Pop Go the World
(On 36 New Pop and Hip-hop Albums Released in 2011)
New Wave and Metal are admittedly my most favorite genres of music, but I don’t let this prevent me from digging and enjoying also other genres of music. I’m an eclectic or should I say consummate music enthusiast. I can bang my head and swear with a two- finger-horn Metal sign with Iron Maiden, Rage against the Machine, or Avenge Sevenfold; yet I can also croon and tap my feet to Michael Jackson, Usher, or Justine Bieber.
Many hardcore Rock enthusiasts ridicule Pop and Hip-hop music. They dismiss these genres as epitomes of uncool. What these so-called music fans don’t realize is that, by doing so, they let themselves fall in the folly of musical discrimination. Isn’t there a tinge of hypocrisy in people who often shout “No to discrimination!” as a social battlecry yet discriminate arts and music without giving credit to the talent, creativity, skills, and hard work of songwriters and artists?
In respect to Pop and Hip-hop—two music genres that many self-righteous Rock fanatics frequently malign—here’s a list of Pop and Hi-hop albums released in 2011. I find all these releases worthy of my listening pleasure. Just by having an open mind and open ears, maybe you can appreciate these too.
Adele – 21
Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane
Aqua – Megalomania
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Beyoncé – 4
Britney Spears – Femme Fatale
Charice – Infinity (Filipino)
Chris Brown – F.A.M.E.
David Cook – This Loud Morning
Down with Webster – Time to Win vol. 2
Drake – Take Care
Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II
Il Divo – Wicked Game
Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne
Jenn Grant – Honeymoon Punch
Jennifer Hudson – I Remember Me
Jennifer Lopez – Love?
Justin Bieber – Under the Mistletoe
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
Lady Antebellum – Own the Night
Li’l Wayne – The Carter IV
LMFAO – Sorry for Party Rocking
Maria Aragon – Maria Aragon (Filipino)
Mary J. Blige – My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1)
Nicole Scherzinger – Killer Love
Pitbull – Planet Pit
Ricky Martin – Música + Alma + Sexo [Music + Soul + Sex]
Rihanna – Talk That Talk
Roxette – Charm School
Snoop Dogg – Doggumentary
Susan Boyle – Someone to Watch over Me
Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows
Tiffany – Rose Tattoo
Vanessa Carlton – Rabbits on the Run
Vanilla Ice – Wisdom, Tenacity, and Focus
Wiz Khalifa – Rolling Papers
Final Note
Music is music regardless what kind it is. Have in mind also that Pop music is a very broad genre, which comes in various flavors such as Country, Dance, Rock, and Hip-hop. The typical characteristics of Pop music are its simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure, easy-to-sing-along-with choruses, and minimal instrumentations. These are the reasons Pop songs appeal to the so-called masses who are generally casual listeners, regarding music usually for its entertainment and easy-listening value and not for its technicality or complexity.
