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Rhymefest's line was slick. He's right too, these bombs are going off all over the radio and television.
Prime example, to me personally, is Kendrick Lamar. He came with a message that was refreshing, that was everything that this blogger wants from an emcee. He brought a track out that described 'I can only be me, that's the only way I know.'
Unfortunately, this is the same emcee that's now on the television with a track called swimming pools about diving into a pool full of alcohol.
He had a better message, sold out and is now making bullshit.
Prime example, to me personally, is Kendrick Lamar. He came with a message that was refreshing, that was everything that this blogger wants from an emcee. He brought a track out that described 'I can only be me, that's the only way I know.'
Unfortunately, this is the same emcee that's now on the television with a track called swimming pools about diving into a pool full of alcohol.
He had a better message, sold out and is now making bullshit.
RuffDraft;4858210 said:Rhymefest's line was slick. He's right too, these bombs are going off all over the radio and television.
Prime example, to me personally, is Kendrick Lamar. He came with a message that was refreshing, that was everything that this blogger wants from an emcee. He brought a track out that described 'I can only be me, that's the only way I know.'
Unfortunately, this is the same emcee that's now on the television with a track called swimming pools about diving into a pool full of alcohol.
He had a better message, sold out and is now making bullshit.
I haven't check up on Kendrick Lamar in a while, wow forreal?? I need to check that out!
And see now I'm starting to think that these labels do influence the artist to change their style up for the mainstream, Too Short was right!
@traestar
Yeah, I mean it's still dope (it's Kendrick Lamar), I still love it in many ways, but he's just putting himself in line with other cats who are doing similar. That said, the West Coast style is all over the track, it's just a shame that he's conscious and has the ability to make deep and thought provoking music that's very listenable and enjoyable and when he does these sorts of tracks, he's not necessarily in a lane that he'll excel in.
He's definitely right, why would you take advice from someone like Dr. Dre? Do you want to be a part of the late 80s or even the early 00s? Or do you want to push forward with the style that was already working brilliantly for you? That's fresh and pushing the boundaries of acceptable rap? :unno:
Yeah, I mean it's still dope (it's Kendrick Lamar), I still love it in many ways, but he's just putting himself in line with other cats who are doing similar. That said, the West Coast style is all over the track, it's just a shame that he's conscious and has the ability to make deep and thought provoking music that's very listenable and enjoyable and when he does these sorts of tracks, he's not necessarily in a lane that he'll excel in.
He's definitely right, why would you take advice from someone like Dr. Dre? Do you want to be a part of the late 80s or even the early 00s? Or do you want to push forward with the style that was already working brilliantly for you? That's fresh and pushing the boundaries of acceptable rap? :unno:
@RuffDraft
Thats why I wonder if Interscope got in his ear about marketing himself to the mainstream. Because if he still has the same type of tracks that we are accustomed to on his album but making at least one club track, weird track or whatever, that maybe the case of getting the mainstream audience's attention. Many crossover artists did that, Eminem took off with it, Nas always has one of those club type tracks...so many do that to get the attention. Little Brother's idea was creative but not ballsy or risky because they didn't want to ruffle feathers and it hurt their marketing besides the whole BET controversy. And I'm still pissed how LB were treated on this situation, they were a return to the essence of hip hop and they wanted to appeal to their independent audience along with creating mainstream audience. Which they still did, but now they're probably declared in the mainstream as one hit wonders while they're still at home on the underground.
Cassidy from Philly is another example and he'll tell ya that on his first album he focused on marketing for the ladies and all and alot of his hardcore fans were very upset with that. Which is why his next album he wanted to focus back on his essence and I don't believe he got the same perception.
This is why all those A&Rs out there need to be fired, because they've allow the game to be so wack right now...but if its something that they can profit over, they'll be all over that. Thats probably why they love puppets like Chief Keef.
Thats why I wonder if Interscope got in his ear about marketing himself to the mainstream. Because if he still has the same type of tracks that we are accustomed to on his album but making at least one club track, weird track or whatever, that maybe the case of getting the mainstream audience's attention. Many crossover artists did that, Eminem took off with it, Nas always has one of those club type tracks...so many do that to get the attention. Little Brother's idea was creative but not ballsy or risky because they didn't want to ruffle feathers and it hurt their marketing besides the whole BET controversy. And I'm still pissed how LB were treated on this situation, they were a return to the essence of hip hop and they wanted to appeal to their independent audience along with creating mainstream audience. Which they still did, but now they're probably declared in the mainstream as one hit wonders while they're still at home on the underground.
Cassidy from Philly is another example and he'll tell ya that on his first album he focused on marketing for the ladies and all and alot of his hardcore fans were very upset with that. Which is why his next album he wanted to focus back on his essence and I don't believe he got the same perception.
This is why all those A&Rs out there need to be fired, because they've allow the game to be so wack right now...but if its something that they can profit over, they'll be all over that. Thats probably why they love puppets like Chief Keef.
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Rhymefest speaking truth. The bomb analogy is fitting.
Although I do disagree with the prison theory, it takes generations to inflict the type of damage we are seeing now, at least 4-5 generations of "not giving a fuck" parenting to reach this point. One of the saddest things about the whole Jojo killing is how his Aunt was pretty much condoning it, saying it's like a Biggie/2Pac thing; trying to get under his opponents skin. There are so many things wrong with the situation that I cannot really summarize my feelings into a coherent post about it.
@Ruffdraft & @Traestar Not sure what to think of the new Kendrick record; I am not feeling it all that much. 1 minute he is talking about the ills of drinking, then the whole chorus is about bitches and swimming pools full of alcohol, very confusing message to put out. 100% Interscope told him to drop this single for mass appeal, have you seen the image he is putting out in the video, strange stuff. But I never did like anything of his until Section.80, maybe it was an anomaly for me and this artist.
Although I do disagree with the prison theory, it takes generations to inflict the type of damage we are seeing now, at least 4-5 generations of "not giving a fuck" parenting to reach this point. One of the saddest things about the whole Jojo killing is how his Aunt was pretty much condoning it, saying it's like a Biggie/2Pac thing; trying to get under his opponents skin. There are so many things wrong with the situation that I cannot really summarize my feelings into a coherent post about it.
@Ruffdraft & @Traestar Not sure what to think of the new Kendrick record; I am not feeling it all that much. 1 minute he is talking about the ills of drinking, then the whole chorus is about bitches and swimming pools full of alcohol, very confusing message to put out. 100% Interscope told him to drop this single for mass appeal, have you seen the image he is putting out in the video, strange stuff. But I never did like anything of his until Section.80, maybe it was an anomaly for me and this artist.
@achewon87
If the prison theory you referring to is about the meeting, I believe she's correct about that. I believe it started way before the "meeting" around the 50's-60's where there was an increase of black male incarceration and the further promotion of gangster rap in the 90's as a way of increasing incarceration by following an image and lifestyle that has been portrayed in the media. It also justifies the treatment of black males as threats to society when not only showing negative music videos on TV but also showing shootings and gun violence in dangerous neighborhoods. I believe (even tho this is what is actually happening in our society) that they over expose this stories to continue to keep the perception of the black male threat. And the younger kids growing into this dysfunction in our community creates a cycle miseducated, misguided kids that as you said in the other thread, are hopeless and feel that their only ways out is rap or sports or dealing. This system was created and I find it funny that a german woman who is very conscious on hip hop knows and is well aware of the injustice that Black Americans are facing.
In terms of the Kendrick Lamar video, I look at alittle bit I didn't finish. I'll check it out later.
If the prison theory you referring to is about the meeting, I believe she's correct about that. I believe it started way before the "meeting" around the 50's-60's where there was an increase of black male incarceration and the further promotion of gangster rap in the 90's as a way of increasing incarceration by following an image and lifestyle that has been portrayed in the media. It also justifies the treatment of black males as threats to society when not only showing negative music videos on TV but also showing shootings and gun violence in dangerous neighborhoods. I believe (even tho this is what is actually happening in our society) that they over expose this stories to continue to keep the perception of the black male threat. And the younger kids growing into this dysfunction in our community creates a cycle miseducated, misguided kids that as you said in the other thread, are hopeless and feel that their only ways out is rap or sports or dealing. This system was created and I find it funny that a german woman who is very conscious on hip hop knows and is well aware of the injustice that Black Americans are facing.
In terms of the Kendrick Lamar video, I look at alittle bit I didn't finish. I'll check it out later.
COINTELPRO (they used this against a variety of citizens), then they flooded the hood with Crack. These things are true and documented. The knock I have against said "meeting" is the clientele of rap music, a lot of white kids buy the music, it's always white guys & girls bumping Rick Ross and 2Chainz in the whip, at least were I'm from and it is always the suburban kids who are trying to prove themselves as street. With that said there is no doubt that hip-hop has COINTELPRO infiltration with the people in power and I believe there is a lot of subliminal messaging in mainstream music period, not just rap music. The suggested meeting can be accepted but a conspiracy of that magnitude takes a lot of keeping quiet. And history has proven that when silence is needed humans speak unless they are dead.
I am not about to blame rap music for the ills of Southside Chicago, West Baltimore or the amount of black people locked up, it does play a large role of course. An argument can be made for it, I mean one of the bigger artist of this generation is a former C.O. It takes a lot of shit happening on purpose for things to get as bad as they are and is deeper than some hip-hop conspiracy. To me it is no longer about race it has become more of the have's vs have not's. I am talking millionaire/billionaire money, folks normal people have no chance of catching up to. I am not saying all people with money are bad but they do have interests. And I am not talking about some sort of Illuminati either that shit is bogus and an insult to anyone who knows anything. I am way off topic so I am going to stop.
To go on about hip-hop workshops that she mentioned. Every year my city has an outdoor Graffiti show, with DJ's and breakers and writers from all over the world doing pieces. It is a very family friendly event in the day time, if you get caught smoking blunts and shit you will be kicked off the site. It is a fun time, at night the club which allows the walls to be painted has a big hip-hop show, this year was Smif-N-Wessun. One year I met Kool Herc, out of the 15 yrs or so that my crew has run this thing there has never been an incident of extreme violence, fist fights but no one pulling knifes or guns. I wondered if other places did this type of show, it should be happening all over the world.
I am not about to blame rap music for the ills of Southside Chicago, West Baltimore or the amount of black people locked up, it does play a large role of course. An argument can be made for it, I mean one of the bigger artist of this generation is a former C.O. It takes a lot of shit happening on purpose for things to get as bad as they are and is deeper than some hip-hop conspiracy. To me it is no longer about race it has become more of the have's vs have not's. I am talking millionaire/billionaire money, folks normal people have no chance of catching up to. I am not saying all people with money are bad but they do have interests. And I am not talking about some sort of Illuminati either that shit is bogus and an insult to anyone who knows anything. I am way off topic so I am going to stop.
To go on about hip-hop workshops that she mentioned. Every year my city has an outdoor Graffiti show, with DJ's and breakers and writers from all over the world doing pieces. It is a very family friendly event in the day time, if you get caught smoking blunts and shit you will be kicked off the site. It is a fun time, at night the club which allows the walls to be painted has a big hip-hop show, this year was Smif-N-Wessun. One year I met Kool Herc, out of the 15 yrs or so that my crew has run this thing there has never been an incident of extreme violence, fist fights but no one pulling knifes or guns. I wondered if other places did this type of show, it should be happening all over the world.
traestar;4862479 said:Nah I don't wanna blame rap music for the violence thats going on, I just believe that the powers that be are using the negative image of the culture for their agenda. COINTELPRO is definitely involved.
Agreed, I did not mean you personally were pointing the finger, but outsiders. And that is due to the media over hyping everything. The hip-hop community has had a number of violent deaths take place from 2 big rappers to weed carriers, the sad thing is, nothing was learned from these tragedies. The cycle continues, the question is how do we break the cycle? How do we change the current climate in the mainstream?
achewon87;4883059 said:achewon87;4883059 said:traestar;4862479 said:Nah I don't wanna blame rap music for the violence thats going on, I just believe that the powers that be are using the negative image of the culture for their agenda. COINTELPRO is definitely involved.
Agreed, I did not mean you personally were pointing the finger, but outsiders. And that is due to the media over hyping everything. The hip-hop community has had a number of violent deaths take place from 2 big rappers to weed carriers, the sad thing is, nothing was learned from these tragedies. The cycle continues, the question is how do we break the cycle? How do we change the current climate in the mainstream?
They're trying to over hype it, criminalize it, demonize it in order for the rap music and culture to kill itself. So it wouldn't look like they pulled the plug on it unjustly.
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