When N.W.A.’s released “Straight Outta Compton” in the mid-80’s, they shocked the world, acting as reporters for our city by shedding light on police brutality and the LA crack cocaine epidemic.

         Hip-hop should play an important, positive role in our city, but lately, that hasn’t been the case.

          With the exception of a few artists, LA hip-hop has become a joke. Artists have chosen to stray away from their hometown in their lyrics and totally ignore their original fan bases.

         We listen to Tyga, but how many of his fans are “throwing hundreds”? We all love YG but how many of us have girlfriends “who go to Northridge and wear Gucci, but she can’t afford it”? These are Compton and South Central rappers, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from their music.

         We need more rappers that we can relate to. Instead we get MCs like Tyga and YG who make good music up until they get famous, a then sell out for “ten, ten, tens, twenties and them fifties.”

Back in the day, hip-hop groups and artists stood for something. Artists like 2pac, Ice Cube and Freestyle Fellowship had songs that spoke about political, racial and social issues.

         In the 8th grade, my teachers were talking about things I heard in an Ice Cube song when I was 8. Instead of Pac constantly degrading women, he made a song for the most important woman in his life with “Dear Mamma,” praising his mom despite all the adversities they faced.

         Now, rappers shout out Bloods and Crips in their music, but none actually tackle the issue of innocent people dying or young people being put in jail as a result. Yet, in Ice-T’s “Colors,” he revealed the grim reality and the daily dangers of gang life.

         There are still artists who stay true to LA hip-hop, such as Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Dom Kennedy, Murs and Kendrick Lamar, and rap about relevant issues and their hometowns like Compton and Watts.

         Lamar’s songs "Hiii Power," "Ronald Reagan Era" and "Keisha's Song" take on issues ranging from teenage self-esteem to problems with our generation ignoring the struggles that N.W.A. spoke about in the 80's. Lamar is in a group with Jay Rock and Ab-Soul called Black Hippy, along with fellow artist SchoolBoy Q, which has drawn comparisons to N.W.A.

       Hip-hop has always been a trendsetter in its short history, especially in Los Angeles. Despite a few bright spots, a lot of rappers like Tyga, YG and Nipsey Hussle need to get back on track and bring everybody's eyes back to LA's grand stage.