Kanye & 50 Cent Exhibit the Trend of Debauchery in Hip-hop

The world of hip-hop and rap (what is the difference anyway?) has always been riddled with rivalries and confrontations. It seems that every generation of rappers finds at least two factions drawing PR battle lines and firing insults at one another through the media. The 90's was overrun with east vs. west references in music with the likes of Puff Daddy on one side and Tupac Shakur on the other. That particular rivalry may have even led to the deaths of Tupac in 1996 and Notorious B.I.G. in 1997. This generation is now seeing the heated professional rivalry between rappers Kanye West and 50 Cent. So far this has been a war of words and "put-downs", however these things have a way of turning ugly, especially when hip-hop artists are involved. This recent confrontation is as petty and ridiculous as you might as expect from these two hoodlums: basically, my album is better than your album.

I personally place rap/hip-hop as a form of entertainment on par with the debauchery of the events of the Roman Coliseum: disgusting, antisocial, destructive and lewd. And in the same way that the bloodthirsty Romans would cheer when gladiators would tear one another apart, hip-hop fans and the media alike seem to enjoy, promote and even participate vicariously in these rivalries.