A time comes when we all take our final bow and exit stage left–today, hearts are heavy as reports flood the media of Greg Tate’s passing. According to yahoo news, the death of the 64-year-old journalistic titan Greg Tate was confirmed on December 7th.
Greg Tate The Legend.
Today the world has lost a legend. Some legends are born, but many are made. Undoubtedly, Tate’s unrivaled work in hip hop proves he falls in both categories.
Tate leaves an un-erasable imprint and remarkable legacy on the world. His work in the hip-hop industry is groundbreaking and paramount to the culture’s growth and solidification in the industry. Thus, he is appropriately remembered as the Godfather of Hip-Hop Journalism.
As Yahoo notes,
Greg Tate, music and cultural critic, elevated hip-hop as a cultural phenomenon worthy of respect and admiration jazz received.
Surely, this accomplishment alone speaks volumes.
How did Greg Tate Get Things Done?
He forced the world to take notice with the eloquence of pen and astute knowledge of hip-hop music and culture.
According to a source, before Tate’s journalistic presence, the world viewed hip-hop as a fad. So major publications seldom took the music or the artist as serious contributors to the music industry.
“Early hip-hop, was rarely a topic for Rolling Stone. When it did draw the attention of pop’s mostly white critical establishment, it was often seen as a bubble-gum fad responsible for bright, baggy, and tasteless fashion.”
Tate held to his principles and stood firmly on his knowledge with a mission to prove to the world otherwise. As written in the recent Yahoo article were writing about hip-hop was concerned,
“Tate rolled it up, smoked it and exhaled dissertation-worthy observations.”
And the world received the message loud and clear.
Where Did Tate’s Influence Come From?
When one speaks from experiential knowledge and authority, people pay attention. He didn’t only write about hip-hop he breathed the rarefied air. First, he parlayed in hip-hop circles. Then Tate ran to the press to give an account. As Yahoo reports, he told New York magazine in 2016.
“Radio wasn’t playing hip-hop. There were no videos. The way I found out about KRS-One, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Public Enemy was word-of-mouth. It was very much an underground conversation but being in New York in the ’80s we were basically at the epicenter of world culture.”
Without a doubt, that’s how one gets things done.
Why did the World Stop and Listen to him?
Tate’s reputation and credentials spoke for themselves. Not only is his education and work history noteworthy, but he is revered among his contemporaries and students of his work. Greg Tate knew what he was doing, and he executed his craft well.
Today the hip-hop community has suffered a tremendous loss. However, knowing Tate lived to make the impact he did is everything. Hopefully, others will continue to rise to follow his lead.
With that said, long live the legacy of Greg Tate and long live Hip Hop.
Catch a little insight into a special project Nas has lined up celebrating Hip-Hop Culture’s 50th anniversary in this retrospective article.
Be sure to like and follow FMHipHop on Instagram and Facebook!
Written by Renae Richardson
Facebook
