In writing about claims to being the first book about Dirty South hip hop, I’m reminded that I’ve meant to do some writing about hip hop press release cliches. I haven’t because I immediately envison an essay. Instead I’m hoping a rough list of a few examples might get some useful discussion going.
Here are some hip hop press release cliches that I’ve noticed in my daily reading for Hip Hop Press. Some are widespread and some more unique to hip hop.
Claiming to be unique:
First
the first rapper to record an entire album while keeping his mouth filled with marbles
Only
the only rapper to record an entire album while keeping his mouth filled with marbles
ProHipHop advises: only claim "first" or "only" when you can actually verify such claims to a reasonable degree and if they are meaningful claims.
Claiming that people care:
Highly Anticipated
seriously, your mom’s excitement doesn’t really count and, if no one’s ever heard of you, who else besides your moms is eagerly awaiting your climb to stardom?
ProHipHop notes: this phrase is so cliched and overused that I almost flinch no matter who’s writing it, even when it’s technically accurate.
Predicting future success:
Without a doubt
without a doubt mc new guy will take the industry by storm
Next up
mc new guy is next up to take the industry by storm
Change the game
the release of mc new guy’s latest cd-r will take the industry by storm and undoubtedly change the game
Please add your most and/or least favorite cliches in the comments as well as related thoughts and I’ll do something more elaborate with proper credit given.
My personal favorite has to be the mandatory mention of the “streets.”
Hot on the streets…
The streets are talking about…
With the support of the streets…
Just what this means I don’t and probably will never know…but it seems to be a credibility smokescreen…
That’s a big hip hop cliche more than a press release cliche but it’s a good one to look at. Actually that could be a whole discussion unto itself.
My favorite (especially for new mcs) has to be “rapper x has sold blablabla hundreds of thousands of units indepently.” It’s almost a necessity to have that in the press release these days. I don’t know who’s verifying these numbers, but many of them are questionable.
I guess the streets would verify those units! [lol]
I read a lot about x having “a style all his own”.
My favorite tagline is for ANY new artist coming up in the industry. “Get singer/sapper such-and-such’s new album, which contains the hit single “__” and the club banger “____”
I think a “hit” single means a song getting a lot of rotation and ringtone downloads. The industry however dictates a “hit” single for a new, unknown artist with no spins as “their first track which is featured in an AOL ad” or something stupid.