The rivalry in breakdancing and DJing between East and West Coast styles was also present, but was always taken lightly. The rivalry between East and West Coast rapping, however, tarnished hip-hop's history and branded hip-hop with a reputation of being associated with violence. Fortunately, the violence has subsided in the hip-hop aspect of rap. In fact, many rap artists such as the Black Eyed Peas have started to criticize the materialism and violence that rap was once consumed with. Although many rappers such as Eminem depict graphic and violent images in their lyrics, it is not meant to be taken seriously. Also, since the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., heat subsided between New York City and Los Angeles as the public and media turned their attention toward other cities producing rap, such as the Atlanta and Detroit. Artists on both coasts have now gone back to the old, original style of MCing. Hip-hop was originally started as an alternative to violence. While hip-hop may have strayed from the original intentions of its founding fathers in the early 1990s, it has come back to its roots and continues to be a constantly evolving culture of expression.…
