Why When It Comes To Hip Hop Music Vinyl Is The Most Honest Form

RNB vinyl records are far more preferable in my mind to any other form of media, and the same can be said for hip hop music -  vinyl is always going to represent a truer form of the music. Why do I say this? Simply because if you look back at the way RNB developed, and gave rise to hip hop music, the whole method of performance required the use of vinyl to allow DJs and performers to be more creative with the music. Hip hop can be played, or recited, certainly, but it's the kind of music which reminds me of those cans of paint.

You know the aerosols used for graffiti? Let's not forget that hip hop refers to far more than just music; in fact, hip hop music is simply that branch of RNB which grew out of the hip hop youth culture of New York. The culture itself is far more diverse and incorporates far more than just music, despite the importance and significance of RNB and hip hop to the whole culture. Hip hop culture included a wide range of traditional symbols, activities and ways of making statements felt and messages heard, including graffiti for one thing.

A can of aerosol paint might look quite pretty. But once you've seen one you've pretty well seen them all, and they cease to have much appeal. Although this is taking the analogy a little far, one might almost draw the comparison with hip hop music. A track of hip hop is great, and immensely enjoyable. But one of the great things about RNB vinyl records and hip hop vinyl records is that they can be mixed, scratched, spun, sampled and played about with in creative ways. Let's not forget - that's largely how hip hop music developed in the first place, with DJs mixing, scratching and spinning whilst MCing or rapping. Of course, that's when the breakdancers came in as well - another creative outlet generated by the whole hip hop movement.

This is the whole essence of hip hop and RNB - the ability to play with the music, be creative with the music, and do your own thing. When it comes to hip hop music, vinyl is the truest and most dynamic way of enjoying the music. Don't get me wrong - I realize the benefits and advantages of being able to carry your music around with you on compact disks or even as MP3s on your iPod. But these methods of storing and playing music tend to be too static, and too limiting. You can't really experiment or play about with the music much, except to shuffle your playlist about from time to time.

I know that there are plenty of whizz kids who'll argue that computer technology does now allow for scratching, mixing and playing about with MP3 files in much the same way, and having tried such software myself, I can see where they're coming from. But this is again the difference between grabbing a few cans of paint and creating a one-off masterpiece on a derelict wall, and using the computer to generate a pixel perfect vector graphic which can be scaled, transmitted, saved, printed or emailed around the world.

Certainly there are advantages, but do these really make up for the losses? Where is the tangible creation, the physical product which you created with your own hands? On a computer, it's all virtual, but grab your hip hop vinyl records and sling on your RNB vinyl records - get your hands on the turntable and actually touch and feel the music, creating something unique and original.

For me, as with most RNB and hip hop fans, the best of both worlds is usually a good place to be, enjoying being able to take your music with you wherever you go, as MP3s or CDs, but at the same time, having a cherished collection of RNB vinyl records at home to experiment with, and play with. Hip hop is a culture which thrived on creativity as a means of personal expression, from the music to the dance, from the art to the language - almost every aspect of the Bronx cultural movement was geared towards expression of some kind.

Of course, it's true that the artists creating the music were experimental and creative, not to mention original for the most part, but their performance, once recorded, almost ends up like that vector drawing - duplicated, pixel perfect. Now what are you going to do with it? Remember, when it comes to hip hop vinyl is the way to channel your creativity.