‘Trendsetter’ Artist Coi Leray Brings Up A Very Necessary Ageism Debate On “Dinosaur” Hip Hop Listeners

It’s a common complaint among “Gen Zers” and even the younger ranks of the millennials that hip hop old heads just don’t get them. Before it became trendy for older generation hip hop listeners to “cap” by pretentiously scouring the palette of up-and-coming rappers with the intent to have a list of names on deck in case they encounter the intimidating question of what young artists they listen to, most of the gatekeepers were discounting new talent.

These so-called gatekeepers, which included radio personalities, DJs, label executives, OG rappers, and stubborn consumers, would mock the Chief Keefs, Young Thugs, and…Coi Lerays as they constantly complained about not understanding “mumble rap,” not relating to emo and melodic lyrical content and delivery, or taking offense to younger artists’ detachment from older musical legends, including everyone from Tupac Shakur to Mariah Carey.

Just a few years ago, it was clear that the old regime was shaking in its boots at the onset of fresh talent and was trying everything to keep them at bay. Fast-forward to 2022, those same young artists are now shaming these oppressors of creativity for being so uncool. The word “dinosaur” and phrase “old ears” are being tossed around to describe hip hoppers that are incapable of evolving their musical tastes to include generations coming after them.

Recently, Kid Cudi placed the dinosaur label on Kanye “Ye” West, 44, who ironically has singlehandedly influenced an entire wave of artists, producers, and fashionistas. Now, multimedia personalities Charlamagne Tha God, 43, and DJ Envy, 44, are being branded with the dichotomous label. Not because of their ages, per se, but mostly because of their extinct thinking when it comes to music. “Blick Blick” music artist Coi Leray further drives home the controversial point on her Power 105.1 Breakfast Club interview when she asks the hosts about how they feel about her music.

“I’m 43, I don’t think your music’s for me,” Charlamagne said. “But, I know your demographic loves it. I’m actually bumping the new Pusha T…”

That answer didn’t fare well for Coi Leray, who practically “walked down” on Uncle Charla and Papa Envy.

“No disrespect, I love y’all. But, I call them, like, dinosaurs,” Coi Leray joked. “When you actually look at the history of a dinosaur, they have so many great things about them, right? And so many great things they brought to this earth. But, they’re so [extinct], they’re so not here anymore, and you have to really dig deep to find that fossil.”

Sounds like a burn. Yet, Coi Leray’s unique disposition on older listeners has a bit of validity. Recall the out-of-pocket critiques of the “Gen-Zers” golden age rappers, such as XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Kodak Black, and yes, even 6ix9ine. It was unnerving to hear how Charlamagne would talk down on XXXTentacion, not even knowing the young artist’s influence on OGs — some rumored to have borrowed his style — and a growing fanbase, simply because he wasn’t tapped in.

Furthermore, so many gatekeepers said that these artists had no chance of having longevity, yet Uzi is still going half a decade in and Carti has worked with Tyler, the Creator, Solange, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and more.

In the Breakfast Club’s defense, youth is fleeting, as Charlamagne so eloquently spelled out to Coi Leray. Some younger artists not only wear the attitude that they’ll never get old, but they also walk the earth as if they’re invincible. That invincibility becomes hardened egos that feel justified in the disrespect of those that blazed a path before them, not realizing that there’s nothing new under the sun.

To add to the debate, since it started nearly 40 years ago, hip hop is growing up right before our eyes. So, it’s expectant that there will be older rappers who appeal to older generations, similar to other genres of music that have had the privilege of aging with its fanbase.

The bottomline, on both sides of the 16 bars, when will age no longer be a point of contention or discrimination for hip hop?

Trendsetter drops on April 10th.