By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
In the late 1990s, people were afraid of the end of the world. With the new millennium right around the corner, experts were afraid the computers may shut down. If the computers were to shut down, the entire world would completely stop.
However, 2000 entered and business went on as usual and the fear slowly evaporated. The danger would not come until a year later. On the morning of September 11, 2001, many people’s worst nightmares came true. An airplane went barrelling right into one of the Twin Towers.
Initially, the pedestrians assumed it was nothing more than a freak, yet tragic, accident. Seconds later, another airplane crashed into the other tower. It was then when all the major media outlets reported that the United States was under attack. In 225 years, there had never been an attack on American soil until then.
Hours later, a third attack came, hitting the Pentagon in Washington, DC, with another plane intended to hit the White House. For years following the attack, the United States was in fear. The attacks, which were led by terrorist Al Queda leader, Osama Bin Laden, had a lasting effect on American citizens. Ten years ago, today, many people lost loved ones who were either in the towers or in the planes. While the attacks did instill fear, it also united the United States for the first time in decades.
When everyone feared for the safety of the United States of America, politics were placed to the side and everyone worked together. There were bigger problems in the world and everyone came together to help someone in need. Osama Bin Laden conducted several threats in the following years through video messages, which were shown on the news. It was the September 11 attacks that eventually led to the infamous War on Terrorism. 
Ten years later, a number of things have changed, but America has not forgotten. Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed earlier this year. A major weight was lifted off many United States citizens then.
While the decision was made not to rebuild the Twin Towers, a memorial is in the works in the same spot. The Pentagon, as pictured to the right, has been reconstructed. Most importantly, America has moved on, focusing on bigger things.
Many of the young adults and the teenagers who are just beginning to experience the world were very young when the September 11 attacks took place. However, for those who remember, they not only have a story to tell their own children, they also witnessed how America can come together in tough times. To this day, the September 11 attacks are shaping our culture. Several artists, most-notably, Kanye West, have trouble boarding commercial airplanes because of the metal plate in his chin.
Security at airports is very tight and this has had negative effects on rappers for years. The attacks have also shaped lyrics in songs. Three years after the attacks, Jadakiss released his “Why” song, in which he asks several questions, including the infamous “why did Bush (George W. Bush) knock down the towers?” That statement led to Jadakiss’ song gaining publicity from Fox News, CNN, and other mass media outlets. It also led to the GOP demanding an apology, or arrest of the rapper.
Among other hip hop artists to blame George W. Bush for the attacks were Eminem. Jay-Z, who released his critically-acclaimed The Blueprint on the day of the attacks, rapped about the attacks on his following album, The Blueprint 2. Jay-Z said something to the effect of “not even Bin Laden could stop him.” Also, on his “Blueprint 2” diss towards Nas, Jay-Z raps about helping out during the Columbine shooting and donating proceeds of his concert tickets to the victims of September 11.
In the post-September 11 world, Westside Connection has released an album called Terrorist Threats and dealt with the media backlash. Now, ten years following the attack, there is a new president in office and the world has moved on. While moving on, each year, September 11 is remembered and Americans come together to remember one of the worst days in United States history.
