The Integration of The Hip Hop Nation by Min Paul Scott
The Integration of The Hip Hop Nation
by Min. Paul Scott featured on Davey D Hip Hop Corner
Rollin' down the street, one evening, I heard the
familiar boom of a car stereo pumpin' a Lil Wayne
track. A glance at the car pulling up next to me
revealed a white dude giving me that "what up" head
nod that is usually reserved for brotha's. I gave him
a friendly Black Power fist and drove away. I have had
that experience many times before and just shrugged it
off but I had just watched the latest police brutality
video earlier that day and I just wasn't felling all
that cross cultural.
Integration versus segregation has long been a debate
in this country among black folks and white folks as
fist fights have broken out on both sides when someone
was called a @#%$ lover or an Uncle Tom/Oreo, one
too many times. During the Civil Rights Era many in
the Black community began to equate FREEDOM with
Integration and saw them as inseparable concepts.
The media characterized the integrationist, at worst,
as a good hearted,yet unrealistic dreamer, but
demonized the Black segregationist as an evil,
militant hate monger who hated all white people and
sober minded negroes. While the black segregationist
wanted the right to self determination and felt that
this could only be achieved by Black people doing for
themselves and worst case scenario, establishing a
sovereign nation within a nation, the integrationist
felt that even the worst racist, white supremacist was
acting out of ignorance and if they could just get to
know us, they would eventually love us and share all
of the wealth and privileges which they had
accumulated from slave labor and other forms of
exploitation. While neither option was really
acceptable to white America, they accepted the
integrationist dream as the lesser of two evils
because at least that option included white folks at
the center of every discussion while the Black
separatist left them totally out of the equation.
Today the debate can be carried over into the realm of
Hip Hop as many see the fact that white teenagers are
getting caught up in a virtual reality 'hood that this
is somehow a sign that Dr. King's "Dream" has come
true.
The white fascination with Black culture goes back
well before Rap music as the earliest white Rock and
Rollers would try to imitate black folks on Saturday
night at the Sock Hop by letting their hair down and
"getting a little funky." It was during the 70's that
some brotha told Wild Cherry to "play that funky music
white boy" and it was not until years later that I
found out that the Sara that Hall and Oates were
trying to get to smile had blue eyes and blond hair.
So, integration has long been acceptable on the dance
floors of American Band Stand and Solid Gold, it is
the other areas of society where the problem lies.
The message that white folks are giving is that we
will party with you and even dress like you (like we
are going to some costume fantasy ball) but when the
clock strikes twelve, your BMW turns into a bus pass
and I get in my Volvo and drive home to my cottage in
the 'burbs . And on Monday morning, go back to my job
on Wall Street and you go back to sweeping trash off
of Main St. While integration may have crossed the
Soul Train line, it has not crossed the line of
social, economic and political equality.
Someone said that over 70% of Rap music is purchased
by white people. While this may not raise a red flag
entertainment wise, it is disturbing from a political
point of view. What is disturbing is that we have
packaged and sold a warped idea of Blackness and while
the idea of "thuggism" may be embraced by both Black
and white children, the concept is marketed to white
children as a fad that they will out grow but marketed
to Black children as a way of life. As the white child
has the luxury to change clothes, go off to an Ivy
League School and later inherit the family business,
the masses of Black children will have no such luck
and will follow that lifestyle to the prison or to the
graveyard.
This is also problematic in the area of Conscious Rap.
I have heard it said that some concerts by conscious
rappers are mostly attended by white kids. The
question is, at what point do you get too black for
even the most liberal minded white people? Our people
are in dire need of the TRUTH, some of which may be
too much for white folks to handle or fully grasp the
meaning. Even though some intellectual white folks
will deny this, there are some things that you cannot
learn from buying Public Enemy's Greatest Hits and
reading the Source, every month. As Black people there
are still some issues that we need to be able to
discuss, straight up without referencing each
statement with "it's not a black thing, it's not a
white thing" or "I'm not trying to be racist but…."
Within the broad dimensions of Hip Hop, there needs to
be a Black Consciousness Movement. As Marcus Garvey
once said Race First and Africa for the Africans,
someone must be bold enough to say in Rap music; Race
First and Hip Hop for the Afrikans! That does not mean
that Hip Hop must be totally isolated from other
cultures as African people have long freely been
willing to teach all those who were willing to learn,
even to our detriment. But as it is said no one is
going to save Black people but Black people and that
must be instilled in the hearts and minds of our
children.
Some days, even I may feel a little
can't-we-all-just-get-along-ish and watch a Brady
Bunch marathon while Justin Timberlake is playing on
the radio. But most days I just want to be Black and
that is good enough for me.
Download the TRUTH Minista Mix courtesy of Digital
Fistula:
download.http://download.yousendit.com/25A9DD4F309D6733
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott (Hip Hop Refugee in Exile)
can be reached at (919) 451-8283
minpaulscott@yahoo.com
You tube:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=minps
7:40 AM - 44 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment
momowilly's Lounge
Thanks Davey, this guy hit the nail on the head.
I've been saying for years that segregation wasn't the answer to the plight of Black people. Us losing our identity? In what way does that help bolster our community and self-image? Going to white schools for the white man to teach us his version of our history, letting the white man encourage his mixing of potions and chemicals as "science" and degrading ours as "magic" and even letting the white man learn our esoteric language. As soon as they know what we're saying, we make up a new word, trying our best to keep them outta the loop, yet they're fighting to take our culture and make it theirs. The white man has no identity except as a thief. Why are we begging acceptance from him instead of seeking it from eachother? Black on black crime is perpetuated in hip-hop, who doesn't wanna "stay strapped" just in case something pops off?
We need more than just HBCU's, especially when black kids are going to college doing exactly what their white counterparts are doing--getting wasted and having unprotected sex. Let's steer from racial equality and get onboard with racial superiority. Ours is the dominant race and by "allowing" us to "rise" to their level, they know they're keeping us down.
Black Power does not equal White Hatred. Certainly White Pride includes the destruction of the black family because we are the better race in too many ways to count...
Posted by momowilly's Lounge on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 7:58 AM
[Reply to this]
JukeB[]x
Wow...I wish I had read this one earlier. How racist of you. Why is there such a focus on one race havng to dominate the other? Why can we not learn from the mistakes of our ancestors? Why do the impoverished among the races fight over the table scraps while the problem is less & less about race in America, and more about money? You are a prime example of someone who is hurting the struggle and will hinder any chance for equality through your hard-headedness and anger. I hope you dont try to argue otherwise.
Hard to take quotes such as:
"we are the better race in too many ways to count"
"Ours is the dominant race"
"they're fighting to take our culture and make it theirs"
"The white man has no identity except as a thief"
"get onboard with racial superiority"
You are plain and simple an ignorant racist. If you like it or not, or if you agree or not doesn't matter. It's the truth.
Posted by JukeB[]x on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 2:56 PM
[Reply to this]
Persia Queen of this RAP SHIT !!!
Feeling caught in the crossfire I think to segregate by color is wrong. I know plenty of white people who never took off there "ghetto". Who never made it to college, who went str8 to prison. It is your social status not your color.
Nothing offends me more then when a person put hip hop on in the morning like a white tee, cause Im in this 24/7, my mind state, my attitude. But there are blacks, asians and white that do it. It seems no matter how hard we try we cant stop grouping people together into catagories, and it isnt right.
I didnt study hip hop, This is not me mimicing something I saw on TV. This is me telling my life story, god has blessed me with the talent to do so.
Your color is what you are, not who you are.....
Posted by Persia Queen of this RAP SHIT !!! on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 8:35 AM
[Reply to this]
momowilly's Lounge
No disrespect...
Are we looking to integrate to the point of extinction? There are differences in culture no matter who wants to deny them. The more mixing, the further away we get from ourselves. In 2075 when all the races are mixed, what will the children be able to relate to? I don't wanna be white, I wanna be me.
I would never say that I'm "opposed" to race-mixing because I understand people to be people and love to be love. My issue isn't with the race-mixing as much as it is about culture-mixing. But the bottom line is that the two are interlocked naturally. The more we learn about each other, the more we espouse the beliefs of our neighbors. Is this always appropriate? Will this help America? I doubt it.
It's cool for rappers to talk about slanging coke because the white man still thinks crack and coke are exclusively black. The white man is fine with us killing ourselves and eachother and OK with his kids listening to it as long as they separate themselves from it. When rappers start really getting into the pills and cough syrup (which is present, but not blown up and highlighted) there is gonna be a crackdown on hip-hop (no pun intended). Watch what happens real soon. The landscape is changing daily...
Posted by momowilly's Lounge on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 9:08 AM
[Reply to this]
JukeB[]x
"Are we looking to integrate to the point of extinction?"
How would you become extinct? If you want to make sure that you maintain family traditions and culture then maintain them...don't complain about other people not doing so. Live your life. Don't try to live others'.
"The more mixing, the further away we get from ourselves."
Only if you allow it. Culture & skin color are 2 seperate things. Again, if you want to maintain aspects of African American culture then do so. Promoting hate and racial superiority is counter-productive and ignorant.
"In 2075 when all the races are mixed, what will the children be able to relate to?"
How about what you pass down to them? Stop whining about the White man trying to ruin your culture. The few White folks that actively want to ruin Black culture have been effectively pushed to the edges of society. No one lends them any credibility anymore. Your everyday average White folks don't give a fuck about Black culture...pro or con. Also, how about a unique culture to those of mixed ancestory that your children can relate to? How about African American culture today, which is itself a mixture of White & Black culture mixed and mashed through the centuries?
"I don't wanna be white, I wanna be me."
Then be you, but don't hate on others. Live your life how you want...don't instruct others on how to live theirs. Dont try to push hatred and racism and separation of the races.
"It's cool for rappers to talk about slanging coke because the white man still thinks crack and coke are exclusively black."
Are you kidding? Of course they don't. Any mentally competent White person knows the difference between crack and powder. If White folks didn't know the difference, why would the sentencing guidelines be different (often pointed to as racism in itself)? Cant have it both ways.
"The white man is fine with us killing ourselves and eachother"
Are they? How about Black people being OK with that? WHY are so many Black folks OK with that? I would guess that if you're a Davey D fan, then YOU are probably not OK with it, but no White man is handing the Black men guns and saying to go out and kill each other. That change has to occur within the Black community. Black folks need to stop buying their own death warrants by supporting rappers that push that violent lifestyle on their children and normalize it for them. They need to let record labels know they will no longer buy from them if they put out album with that content and promote it on BET and MTV. You want change, then effect it and make it happen. Don't blame the White man for everything.
Posted by JukeB[]x on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 3:07 PM
[Reply to this]
S.M.O.
I'm a white man and i know the difference from coke and crack. I also know the difference between stupid and smart and unfortunitly you land in the stupid section. What the fuck are you talking about? Do you even know? I have all different races of friends cause I was brought up to not see color. You make yourself look stupid when you make generalizations about people. My closest friend is Black. I would never let him kill himself nor would I let any human being do so. Don't you dare speak for me like you know what I think or feel or what I've been through. Your a racist person I hope that if you ever have kids they don't think like you.
Posted by S.M.O. on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 1:21 PM
[Reply to this]
Jillian
I definitely agree with the argument that this article makes. I think it's ridiculous how white society embraces and adopts the cultural contributions made by the African American society, such as hip-hop, and yet dismisses the message that hip-hop sends. The social critique that hip-hop offers: that there is one set of rules for whites and another for minorities, that racism pervades today's society and action must be taken to knock down racial barriers, is a critique that mainstream society largely ignores. Having once been an ignorant white girl who didn't believe that racism existed any more, I have been enlightened (thank God). I'm outraged at how institutionalized racism has become-- it makes the double standards less apparent, which allows them to be perpetuated. I also think that the comment made that "going to white schools for the white man to teach...his version of our history" is right on. Schools today promote eurocentric standards and practices that put minority students at a definite disadvantage. Not only is it teaching kids that the "white way is the right way"(which really pisses me off) , but it's making it so that students from other cultures have to either learn another way to "be" or risk academic failure. It's my mission (as a future teacher) to learn as much as I can about other cultures, specifically the African American culture, so that I can learn how to teach my students, validate their cultural values (which doesn't happen in schools very often) , and hopefully reverse some of the damage that has been done by only teaching the white side of things in the classroom.
Now, having said that, I would like to make it clear that, although I really appreciate African American culture, I can't possibly claim to fully understand what it's like to be black in the U.S. I'm trying to learn as much as I can, but I won't ever be able to experience life as an African American. Some of the comments in and about this article have led me to question whether my desire to help affect change will be welcomed by the African American community. For example, the comment about whites trying to learn "our language. As soon as they know what we're saying, we make up a new word, trying our best to keep them outta the loop, yet they're fighting to take our culture and make it theirs." I'm trying really hard to understand your language. Not because I want to use it (because I'd really sound ridiculous, being so white I glow) but because I feel like I need to understand what my future students are saying in order to know how to reach them.
So this is a really long comment... sorry.. but I would really like to hear feedback from anyone who has something to say-- negative or positive. Ultimately, Davey, you kick ass. By reading your blog, I'm getting to hear another side of things and that has been extremely valuable. Thanks!
Posted by Jillian on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 1:47 PM
[Reply to this]
RAS(riders against the storm)
the key is honesty. most white folks are not honest with themselves about race. 99% would NEVER trade places with a BLACK MAN or WOMB-MAN for even a day, let alone a year. as you say, racism is institutionalized, and it keeps POOR FOLK (white, black, asian, etc.) from uniting against the oppressive corporations, laws, ruling elite that run their lives on a daily basis.
as long as capitalism is in place to exploit ALL, there is going to always have to be a scapegoat, someone to blame. who is the scapegoat now? muslims.
i have a long beard, and my black students in school called me OSAMA BIN LADEN last year. they laughed and called me a terrorist without realizing that the real terrorists were patrolling their block everyday. so while we are signing up to fight in IRAQ and listening to the latest 50 CENT cd, we got brothers getting shot up 50 TIMES in their own damn neighborhoods...all to remind the BLACK MAN that he is still a NIGGER to white society.
michael richards doesn't have to say a damn thing to me or most other black folks. we know how white society thinks and acts. we know there is a daily double standard that shifts and bends with the latest trends in political correctness. but WE are the ones that society points its finger at - shaking its head, and asking the question...what are we going to do with these NIGGERS?
it doesn't matter where you are from: Africa, Haiti, DR, Puerto Rico, or any European country...around the world...when folks come to this country they SEE the american BLACK MAN and WOMB-MAN as ignorant, lazy, un-educated. they don't want their children to end up like US. they don't want their children to date US. they can be (from Haiti, DR, wherever) as dark and colored as me, but they still separate themselves and stick up their noses. WHY? because they have been taught the same racist BULLS**T that we were all taught...NIGGAS ain't shit.
and who taught us that?
honestly. ask yourself. who taught us that? and why?
it will lead you right into why we call IRAQI'S "sand niggas!" and why it is just so easy for us to drop an atomic bomb in HIROSHIMA on millions of indisposable "yellow niggas!" racism is a bitch. prejudice kills.
THE REAL NIGGAS are the ones in power though. they can't live without oppressing, lying, back-biting, plotting. they are the real lazy, no-good, so-and-so's. 400 years of labor FREE!
THE REAL THUGZ got us all out here running around working for them and making them richer everyday. but we still fighting amongst each other. and WHITE FOLKS just sit in front of their TV's, watching the news, and thinking we're crazy.
well, honestly, we are. we are out here, running wild, trying to imitate the ORIGINAL GANGSTAS that are "putting in work," killing millions of innocent people throughout the world (and history).
honestly, it's a damn shame. so many of OUR KIDS have to adapt to violent social surroundings, and impoverished economic conditions that leave them feeling powerless at the end of the day. so, they simply "get in" where they can find their place to "fit in." and after a while, very few people are able to help them find a way out of a mind state that is very destructive. they become scared to change. after all, crazy, chaotic and dysfunctional situations are all they have known.
check out the film RIZE. there is a piece in there where a young dancer describes her feelings about leaving the hood and entering the WHITE WORLD. CHANGE is hard for everybody.
talking about integration vs. segregation? look, there are people in high places daily studying and researching new ways to keep us all distracted and running around in their maze. we are all victims.
and we all need to understand some history. the UNITED SNAKES of AMERIKKKA never has, and never will care about anyone that intends to interfere with their plans of MANIFEST DESTINY aka GLOBAL DOMINATION. they are going to preach DEMOCRACY and then POLICE and DESTROY your country/community. they are going to state ENLIGHTENMENT and then commit GENOCIDE on millions of NATIVES that inhabited these lands for centuries.
white/black? it's about that green. BLACK FOLK need to see the trends and stop looking for anything but DESTRUCTION or DEATH from those that have oppressed them for centuries. look at all the health problems we have from eating highly salted and sugared foods that are so prevalent in our communities at our corner stores. look at police brutality. look at the CRACK COCAINE that was brought into our communities in the 80s. look at the EDUCATION SYSTEM that is now literally a holding cell for so many. students go through twelve years of school and can't read?
can't read. can't get a job. can't get a job, got to do something. what can i do? what do i know how to do? who can help me? how did i get here?
it is not about hating the white man. it is just about everybody being honest. look at the history, and be honest. do YOU have hope that this government (consisting largely of PRIVILEGED WHITE MALES) will do anything to benefit PEOPLE OF COLOR that doesn't already benefit them TEN-FOLD?
i didn't think so.
i appreciate honesty. enough idealism and liberalism. if you are going to teach students of COLOR...be honest with them. you don't have to speak their language. you just have to tell them truth.
REAL RECOGNIZE REAL.
Posted by RAS(riders against the storm) on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 11:00 AM
[Reply to this]
poet-on!
I do agree that in some respects certain individuals in the civil rights movement were duped into thinking that integration meant freedom or that as Black people we would receive some sort of magical knowledge by sending our kids to white schools. However I think what many people were fighting for was equal rights under the law, and that includes the basics: health care, housing, education etc. There is a bit of revisionist history thrown into this today, which makes those who fought and died sound like uncle toms and sellouts. Especially from misguided younger generation folks who care more about spitting some tired rhetoric than struggle. Unfortunantly even today we do not see that equality when it comes to basic needs, but it is not only a Black issue it is an issue that affects every person of every race living below the poverty line. If you are Black and enjoy some measure of success with wealth you are not faced with the same issues that someone without has when it comes to racism. The simple fact that all of us posting on this blog have a computer to type on is proof that you do not wake up and wonder where your next meal is coming from. Irregardless of race, growing up I often had more in common with folks who came from a working class environment like my own upgbringing than I did with those who came from a wealthy family. Race is often used by capitalist to keep the people seperate because it makes it easier for them to divide and conquer. Who benefits the most when poor White/Latino/Asian/Black people are fighting with each other over the scraps? The rich White/Latino/Asian/Black people do!
As far as non-Black rappers are concerned I'm down with anyone who spits something intelligent in their music - and generally I listen to a wide variety of music outside of hip hop. I don't care what color you are, if you ignant you ignant. Like that guy who posted on a blog here saying Immortal Technique wasn't even Black and therefore he shouldn't be talking about Malcolm or other Black revolutionaries in his music. For real just ignorant mfs in the world who are more reactionary than revolutionary. Speaking of integration how about people learn the difference between cultural nationalists and revoluionary nationalists, that really pisses me off when people mix the two ideologies.
I'm not sure why the author uses the name Digital Fistula to transmitt his media. Maybe it is being used as a metaphor to show our disconnection to Africa? Right now fistulas is a major problem in developing countries, especially in war torn areas such as Sudan. Women who have been ganged raped repeatedly by opposing militias, are shunned by their families and communities not only for being victims of rape but also because they cannot control their bodily functions due to seperation of tissues in their vaginas/anus and smell horrible. There are also non trauma causes for fistulas but you don't see those cases too often in the West because of C-sections. However in developing and poor countries this is a serious problem for women.
Posted by poet-on! on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 3:24 PM
[Reply to this]
Warren | another one falls..
i often hear the term "hip hop is universal"..being embraced by whites, latinos, asians and indigenous peoples.. but the bottom line is it will and always be a part of black culture. however, it seems that we've come to this point in which corporations, corrupt media and even bullshit politicians are continually raping hip hop culture.. and who owns these companies? and who the fuck runs our gov't? now we have everyone callin everyone n!gga.
blacks have always been in the forefront of music in america and countless times we've seen it bein co-opted by whites as "theirs" ..in rock you had the elvis that were deemed the "king", the nirvanas were being hailed as geniuses meanwhile the fishbones, little richards being grossly overlooked. even today. i was watching an award show where little richard was relegated to mere 30 sec segments to introduce who/what whats on next.
then we saw it again in jazz you had the white jazz critics of prominent publications shun coltrane, sun ra, ornette and free jazz who wrote off their music during the 50s and 60s as garbage. it never came to these supposed members of the white "jazz intellect" that perhaps they were merely tryna send a message to the world about their people's plight and what black were going thru in amerika.. common once talked about the "coffeeshop chicks and whitedudes" that dominated his shows.. i dont know when was the last time he went to a jazz show... so what else is new? blacks definitely have to take back and hold down what is theirs. and lets start hearin more mcs speak on the plight of blacks.. at home and abroad.
Posted by Warren | another one falls.. on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 5:39 PM
[Reply to this]
charlie
I know this isn't about the subject, but I had to speak on the Nas/Young Jeeze beef. I feel like I had to let people how I feel about Nas And Monet Love. If you feel what I'm say or if you don't, give me a comment.
Southside
Like Zero said “I’m from the South”.
But has no diamonds in my mouth.
Born and raise in the dirty I’m proud.
I’ll stand up and say it loud.
Fools mad cuz we’re finally getting our shine.
Ol school rappers mad cuz it our time.
Zoom zoom, it the sound of the south.
Zoom zoom, you better watch your mouth.
Stand clear. You can’t talk while I talk.
You can’t stand where I stand can’t walk where I walk.
Watch out! Hip hop left New York.
A south hater step up we throw ‘em out the parks
Ya’ll wanna say we’re killin’ rap.
Ya’ll don’t like how we act.
Sayin’ we’re hip pop but ya’ll be doing that.
I’ll just say c-ya. Cuz I’ll never be ya.
Be a hypocrite ya fake hip hop overseer.
Nas you style switcher fake wanna be hip hop savior.
We don’t need ya cuz the south got favor.
Change your attitude Nas change your plans.
Hip hop will never be united until respect for the southern man.
Are you really for peace & equality?
When my car sittin’ on 26’s you know you wanna bother me.
Don’t care if haters talkin’ down.
Monet Love talkin’ down try to dis.
But when was the last time she made a hit?
O she all over Nas tip.
I’m comin out hard bumb being gentle.
Monet try to talk down but she’s still Monet in the middle.
She just pissed cuz she on the radio and nobody know her.
Hip hop ain’t dead Jeezey tried to told her.
Hip hop didn’t stop in the east somebody should have shown her.
Mad cuz nobody old ish in the clubs.
Saying hip hop is dead, who the hell is Monet Love.
Yes I’m dissing her yes I’m a jerk.
I’ll be a southern gentlemen so “Ladies first.”
It’s a shame that it been 15 yrs. Since she been on the charts.
It’s a shame that Jeezey’s chain broke her heart.
Suckas saying our hip hop ain’t real.
Saying we all wack and we have no skills.
We go indepent while you still looking for a record deal.
Broke ass made cus the dirty now has mass appeal.
How could we kill hip hop when we followed ya?
Ya’ll started the bling bling so check your own draws.
Ya’ll started the car craze & poppin’ cryst.
Who brought ice to the game and puttin’ your rollies on your wrists.
Who started throwin’ money in the air.
Tryin’ to blame the south, how is that fair.
We killed hip hop why do we get the blame?
But east coast artists get props for basically doin’ the same thing.
We followed ya but we get diss ain’t that insane.
Ya’ll embrass, we’re just a disgrace.
Cash Money never started the ice era it started with Rae’s purple tape.
Monet act like Nas is a king or something.
Nas ain’t innocent ya’ll just frontin.
How Nas a king when he was nailed to a cross?
Diddy was nailed with him, so I guess he had to crossover to get his point across.
9 classic albums? Are you jokin’?
May be 2 or 3, whoever wrote that ish must have been smokin’.
Nas went from underground to pop.
Back to underground, He’s just like a politican he love to flip flop.
Dude love to pop cryst but he’s super conscious.
Ah excluse me I bout to get nauseous.
Nas loves the community but then he loves wearin’ his big “QB” chain.
Fool ain’t as hot anymore now he wanna bitch & complain.
Bearin’ in the game when jay called you out.
If it wasn’t for “Takeover” hip hop would’ve faze you out.
After Illmatic, fool you went straight pop.
Nas rap career almost ended when that “Firm” ish flop.
In 1998, who was still callin’ Nas “real hip hop”?
Outkast have more hip hop classics.
Every UGK CD I had to have it.
Nas is ‘pose to be one of the best, dead or alive.
But Scarface should be on everybody top 5!
“Face been in the game longer & have better CDs.
IMO ‘Face is a better mc.
Nas is good but some of his ish have been wack.
‘face been in th e game since ’89 he’s still one of the best, few can say that.
Well if hip hop is dead Nas you killed it.
Jay pulled the trigger shot dude in the head.
Yes Nas in ’97 hip hop was dead
Posted by charlie on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 6:33 PM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
Jeezy ain't hip hop so fuck his thoughts on the matter.
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 9:54 AM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
I posted this on Daveyd .com hope it helps.
Cosmonaut makes a very good point. Also the point the Minister was making was that Hip Hop is an African form of music. It therfore must reflect respect for the African. As a matter of fact....ALL popular forms of music in the United States has been influenced HEAVILY by African music. Caucasians try to exploit us by co opting when convenient but
1. Can never really understand what the music is about
2. Attempt to steal it and make it "theirs".
3. Could care less about the Pro-African agenda which the music was created for in the first place.
a good example of this was this cat I knew in Denton. Everytime I jumped in his jeep he was listening to Jeezy. Now Jeezy is rap NOT HIP HOP. He obviously loved the beats and I can understand that but Hip Hop is far more important than Rap. Only those of us with a pro African agenda CARE about the fact that the industry has gone Hollywood. Jewels, Cars, freaky women (and men by the way), Money , ...all of these things are part of a CAPITALIST agenda. The activism of Hip Hop has dwindled away in the industry. Hip Hop was formed so that cats could stop killing each other. WE bond and "compete" by dancing (poping, body rocking, breaking), freestyling (mind puzzles), tagging (art), and djing ( I'll include beat boxing in the mix) which was (is) an inexpensive way to create a background for cats to dance or rhyme to. This is not emphasized in industry music anymore. So while Hip Hop is dead in the music Industry ( Good looking out Nassir) Hip Hop is most definitely not DEAD because those of us who are Hip Hop understand that it is one part of the Eternal African voice.
Hope this helps,
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Posted by Lunar 3 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 9:57 AM
[Reply to this]
RAS(riders against the storm)
yes! no doubt
Posted by RAS(riders against the storm) on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 11:13 AM
[Reply to this]
charlie
What makes Jeezey not hip hop? B/c he from the south. Are you listening to everytime he's talking bout guns and drugs? when you listening an mc, are you checking everything he say? Are even listening to his talent or everytime he talk about drugs? So Jeezey or folks down south are the only ones talking about money? Nas never talked about money? "Money is my b*tch" isn't that a Nas song? So Nas is real hip hop? he is a flip flopper, yes he a great mcs, but he has no right to say hip hop is dead. Like I say, he went from underground to commerical. Nas change his style to be commerical(look at his albums: It was written, the firm and the one before stillmatic? Look at his videos "If I rule the world" and "You can hate me now? If Nas is real hip hop why he do a song with Diddy?
Posted by charlie on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 4:11 PM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
By the way there is nothing wrong with talking about or making money. The problem is when that is ALL someone talks about. I don't consider Sean Combs Hip Hop either by the way. I wouldn't rock with him and I definitely am not saying that Nassir Jones , Chris Parker, Willard Smith, or any other rapper is PERFECT. I am just saying that the essence of Hip Hop is to improve the listener and Help them OUT of Negativity, not bombard them with MORE negativity. Too much of that shit is happening and it is Racist companies that promote it.
Peace,
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 5:17 PM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
Jeezy ain't Hip Hop because Crack, Coke, and that other bullshit fucks up the community. Nas is Hip Hop because his perspective is global in an attempt to bring positivity to the masses. As far as crossing over, who gives a fuck as long as he stays true to the message? You claim "If I ruled the World" is a crossover? The goddamn beat is from Whodini, the title is from a previous Curtis Blow hit and Lauren Hill is on the Hook. You don't know what the fuck you are talking about and obviously don't really understand what Hip Hop is. Not to mention the fact that Hip Hop is about seperating the bullshit from reality. When Hip Hop was founded it was for the betterment of the community. And I don't want to hear that south shit because I have been in the south practically all of my life. I don't give a fuck if an artist is from Houston or Honolulu as long as they are about changing the way this country attempts to oppress Africans. How in the fuck is Jeezy Hip Hop if he preaches sending YOUR ass to jail by pumpin' D? Will you be able to call his ass when they send you up for 25 years for a goddamn rock? Feel free but shit on ya if you try. Naw money, Jeezy ain't Hip Hop. He is corporate rap. Fuck him and ANYBODY else who preaches pushin dope. There are 6 million ways to hustle besides that.....you choose 1.
Stay the fuck OUT of prison,
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 5:07 PM
[Reply to this]
charlie
First of all, I have been listening to Nas since "Illmatic", so I know his music. I have all of Nas album but 1. I respect dude, but not on his jock. I don't excluses while I trying to make a piont. You have dis Jeeze for talking about ish you disagree with, but give Nas every kind of excluses for him to make his music. How was Nas helping the community by wearing a fur coat and pouring cryst? I never saw Chuck D with a fur coat. Chuck is a true concsious, he never flip flop. He never change his style to sells records. You keep making up rules to divide the hip hop nation. You doing whatever it takes to keep Nas in the "hip hop" lable. and yOUNG out.
This real hip hop not real hip hop is bs. There are just two lables: dope and wack This real hip hop crap started by the east coast when the west coast started to blow up. People like you, wanted to seprate from the west. Especially when the east coast started to make "gangsta rap", at first they wouldn't go by that lable. They would diss the west, but they were doing the same thing. Hip hop is anything we want it to be. There's no handbook of the rules of hip hop. There's no book on what I can or what I can't say in hip hop. If I have skills I can ryhme about anything. Even the ugliest things in the world. There's no rule where I have to rhyme about the good thing. If my ryhmes are dope it makes no different what my style is. Dope is dope and wack is wack
Posted by charlie on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 2:03 AM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
You're not making sense and judging from your responses you haven't really understood much about Hip Hop at all.
1. You're blaming me for dividing up Hip Hop? I'm not the one who said Nas wasn't Hip Hop. Jeezy did. He also dissed Monie. I've asked before and will ask again. If he is Hip Hop, How and Why would he do that? Simple. He knew he was wrong and was trying to demean them because the have the nerve to be critical. That is called re-assigning blame. The bush (notice the little b) administration does that shit too.
2. If you cannot distringuish between real Hip Hop and Rap then you really have no authority at all in this discussion. There is an obvious difference between the two.
3.You say people like me want to seperate from the west. I don't agree. I like west coast artists just like I like artists from the south , north and east. I was born in the east but I lived in the west as well. As a matter of fact, my dress, my way of talk, and my way of thinking was heavily influenced by my experiences out there. Indeed, my formative years were spent in Oceanside, CA.
4. What you are referring to is the supposed East Coast vs. West coast beef which never existed. It is obvious that cats from both coasts will like and dislike members in and out of their area. That is a natural thing. You are gassed up on what the MEDIA tried to imply based on beef between two cats. There never was an east vs. west thing.
5. While you are correct in stating that Hip Hop is a platform which allows for a variety of ideas to be expressed, you are wrong in stating that you can say ANYTHING you want. Everything you say is going to be scrutinized and if it isn't within the boundries of what defines Hip Hop, then you won't be accepted by the community. Point blank. Don't believe me? How much Nazi Rap do you listen to?That shit ain't Hip Hop. But a Nazi would tell you it is. Would you agree with him/her? If you would you proved my point. IF you wouldn't ...you've proved my point!
6.Skills are good but common sense is better. I might be nice on the mic but if I am saying things that are destructive to the community I wouldn't be Hip Hop. It's good that you brought up Chuck D. His perspective is one of information towards the masses and upliftment of truth. I am glad that you appreciate him. But if you do, you can understand that his message conflicts with Jeezy's . So why support Jeezy?
7. I don't remember Nas ever supporting pushing Dope in his Music. As a matter of fact if you own Stillmatic you know that he calls that shit "Poison" (track 13 I believe). He may or may not own a gun and I do not support the idea that it is necessary. None the less it is not ILLEGAL to own a gun. Now I'm not "JOE SQUARE" to believe that everything HAS to be done by the book, but Hustling is a trap for the original men while the corporate raider does it with the blessing and the monetary backing of wealthy or legal organizations. There is a discrepency there and I am tired of seeing our people jailed for it. I think anyone who is responsible would be tired of it too.
8. I am not AGAINST Jeezy. I am against Jeezy pushing the idea that pushing dope is fly. It is stupid. We live in a racist country which already jails African Americans and Latinos in massive proportions for non aggressive crimes. Rap music promotes that. Hip Hop was created to combat that.
I'll hit you up later on that other blog you sent,
Peace
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 12:15 PM
[Reply to this]
charlie
Dude you’re full of crap and you know it. I would never call Nas positive. You can’t rap about shooting your guns on almost every song on a record, and be positive. What makes it worst he’s talking about shooting other black folks, how am he positive? I just been listening to It Was Written album, I haven’t reach half of the album, all I hear is nine this, nine that, tec this tec that. You have a double standard, Nas can be just as violence, everytime he talk about women, it’s b*tch this, b*tch that, but his content you have no problem with it, but Jeeze get rip how foul he is. That’s a hypocrite. You can’t criticize Young and let Nas say whatever he wants. If hip hop is by what your definition, then Nas is not hip hop. Nas is not and was never 100% positive, and you know that. Nas is not a Common, or a Talib, or Immortal Technique or a Mos. Most of there music are positive and uplifting, there’s no shootouts, no disrespect for women. They never sells their souls to sell albums. They keep it conscious. There’s no flip flop, they stay true to what they do. I have no problem with Nas talking about what he wants, but stop playing yourself.
Dude, when “If I rule the world” came out who were the biggest group that year? The Fugees. Who song the hook? Lauren Hill, o a member of the Fugees. Yes that was a crossover hit. Both Nas and the Fugrees blew up that year. You can compare Nas to PE. PE never crossover, they sold records, there’s a different. Crossover to me is selling out, or changing your style for the mainstream. PE kept their message, and they sold records. Crossing over or selling out is first being a hardcore rapper then switch to soft love singing rapper. Bone Thugs can’t be crossover b/c they was alwayed commercial. Jeeze is not a crossover cus he still have his same style before he sign to the majors. Yes Jeeze was underground for a minute. You can sell record and not crossover. Nas style did change. When I saw that “Hate me Now” video, I hated it. I felt he turn his back on the underground. He turn his back on his true fan base. I felt like he turn his back on me. I called him a sellout. Stop listening to Nas. I felt the way, when Q-Tip did that “Move and stop”. Now Tip completely chang his style. I do have a problem, when a cat change their style for record sells. Me being a big ATCQ Tip broke my heart. It wasn’t the money he was making, it was how he made it. He sold his soul. It wasn’t the same Q-Tip I grew up with.
Jeeze intention is to just to make music. Jeeze is rhyming so he don’t have to do something illegal. IMO what he trying to do is give people who have basicially have nothing some hope. What I’m saying is, hey you don’t have sell crack to make it. You can be a rapper. If you’re at the bottom, hey find something to get yourself.
I’ve never heard of a real hip hopper say skills aren’t important. Skills are everything. I’m not listening to any dude who can’t rhyme. Period. If can’t move me, you’re not wroth my time. If you’re positive but you’re suck on the mic, you’re a wack mc. You get no play. Period. If you’re the hardest gangsta shoot ‘em up rapper, but you suck, you’re a wack mc. If you’re not going by the quality of music, dude you’ll listen to anybody. If skills doesn’t matter, you listen to a cat that has been rapping for 2 weeks. If the cat is positive he could be boo boo, and you still listen. Dude you are the one who’s not hip hop.
Posted by charlie on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 9:02 PM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
The fact that you would never call nas positive only shows that you don't understand what your talking about. HE IS postive. You want to look at his gun metaphors and say "Ok. He is talking about guns so he his negative". I listen to what he is saying. He has plenty of songs that are positive but like some Hypocritcal christian you only see what you want to see. Jeezy has yet to drop an "I know I can" or a "second childhood" or and "everybody wants to rule the world" . If he did that he could be considered postive. But as I said before, He drops music for cats to trap to. HE expressly said it and I believe what I am hearing and seeing coming from him more than I believe what you think about him.
2. Jeezy is a crossover. You don't like to think that because you believe that you aren't a crossover if you stick to a particular style. That's bullshit. Jeezy is as crossover as Abba and as I said before he could care less about the style as long as it is paying the bills. As far as If I ruled the World , I made the mistake of assuming by crossover you meant the music was "pop" sounding which it isn't. That was my mistake. Now ,according to YOUR definition, MC's crossover if they do not remain stuck in one particular mentality or mindset that is "street". That is bullshit. Many Hip Hop artists are crossover. To say that they need stick to one style is ignorant. As a matter of fact that is fucking dumb. Krs 1 dropping "Breath Control" is a completely different rap style than that of "Like a throttle". Is HE a crossover according to you? Did you like it when Krs kicked gun metaphors? That shit isn't positive according to you but Krs IS positve. How about L.L. who definetely has changed style of the years? Are you saying L.L. isn't Hip Hop? His ass "crossed over" and he is still positive.
You are confused. IF they change styles they are crossover. That is the definition you give to Nas? Well give it to Jeezy too because I guarantee you before it is all over that is exactly what he'll do in the mad race to make doe. No matter how you try to change it that is what it is. I think his music is gully but that only means that he has dope beats and a nice Mic presence. The same can be said about Chuck D. His ass along with the rest of Public Enemy have crossed over in terms of popularity but their music is as sonically dynamic as ever. Still Caucasians like it and buy it . That shit is played in bellaire as well as the bronx so all this crossover shit your trying to bitch about only proves my point. You may sound dope today just like you did yesterday, but if you are loved by the mainstream ...you have crossed over. So their song may not be a crossover but their ass most certainly is. There is NOTHING wrong with that.
4. Do I love Nas? ...certainly. Do I love everthing he or any other rapper do. HELL NO! I submit that Nas like many other cats say and do things that I don't like. As a matter of fact I will forward you a letter that I sent to Davey d before we started our discussion that lets you know how I feel and how off you are when you hurl these crazy ass accusations and implications of yours.
5. I really am not trying to upset you or diss you. The point is that I have been living Hip Hop for a long time. Since 79. For you to tell me what Hip Hop is and then to be obviously just trying to support Jeezy because you share in his embarrassement is ridiculous. AS far as skills you once again are interpreting things the way that you want to and not looking at what I wrote. I stated that skills are good but common sense is BETTER. I would rather have, on a scale of 1 to 10 , a 8 or a 7 speaking common sense than a 9 0r a 10 telling cats that he makes music to sell drugs to. That is just fucking stupid.
So I said all of that to say that I don't mind having a conversation on the topic but at least make sense. I never said Nas was perfect but as least I have the commons sense to allow him to show positivity. We all are bad and good so there will never anyone, including yourself, who is 100% agreeable. This is life. I don't expect Jeezy to do everthing right. But if he was about Hip Hop he would fight for the struggle of bettering our people and not try to fight against that fact. In fact , it was the struggle for which Hip Hop made.
Sorry to disappoint you,
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 11:11 AM
charlie
Dude, how many albums did Nas's "It Was Written" sell? That album sold atleast 2 millions copies, fool I remeber. Ok, if "I Rule the world" was not a crossover song, why that song was on the radio every damn day? Every 10 minute it was played? I've never heard of a "underground" rapper song being played on MAINSTREAM RADIO. Yes there are underground radio stations in the south? If it wasn't a crossover song, why was it nominated for a Grammy? Crossover means it made it to the mainstream.
So real hip hop has to has morals? Are you saying Nas never talk about drugs or guns? Wow that a Nas I never heard. Who said hip hop has to be all positive? Who said Nas was postive? Nas talk about that street ish too. Yes, he talk about concsious things too, but don't put Nas on a thrown. hip hop is about expression, if i see negative i going to ryhme that way, if i see postive i going to rhyme postive. You can't tell me what my expression has to be.
Posted by charlie on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 10:27 PM
[Reply to this]
charlie
Metaphores? Are you kidding me. Do you really believe what your writing? You know what, I not on Jeezey jock, but damn, you really on Nas’s. You’re so upset b/c I won’t bow dow to king Nas. Nas is so far from being perfect. I never once said, Nas was negative, but every song he made is not positive. I didn’t put any lable on Nas. The facts are the facts. Nas had some positive or uplifting songs on every one of his album, but he have some street or what some negative music on his albums. Forget the guns talk, what Nas and calling women b*tches, and h*es, is that being positive? If Nas so positive explain the verse on the song “Represent”:
Yo, they call me Nas, I'm not your legal type of fella
Moet drinkin, marijuana smokin street dweller
who's always on the corner, rollin up blessed
When I dress, it's never nuttin less than Guess
Cold be walkin with a bop and my hat turned back
Love committin sins and my friends sell crack
This nigga raps with a razor, keep it under my tongue
The school drop-out, never liked the shit from day one
cause life ain't shit but stress fake niggaz and crab stunts
So I guzzle my Hennesey while pullin on mad blunts
The brutalizer, crew de-sizer, accelerator
The type of nigga who be pissin in your elevator
Somehow the rap game reminds me of the crack game
Used to sport Bally's and Gazelle's with black frames
Now, I love the verse and I love nas, but how is positive when he brags about being a school drop out, that his friends selling crack? He’s talking about his life, he’s not talking about metaphors. I’m not knocking Nas, I loved Illmatic. Here’s another song with him and Mobb Deep:
[Nas]
Niggaz thinkin shit sweet, I carry big heat
Wavy hair chipped teeth, up in this bitch deep
Queens murder clicks meet, yellow tapes on black gates
Mediterranean, projects is like Kuwait
I escape into zones, that's irregular
Why debate on a phone, I'm solar cellular
Escobar 600, you just a crumb inside a world
where the rich run it, curriculum of a mathologist
Deep throats, they try to swallow this
Anthropologists, dynasties of great knowledgists
I preserve in my dome, niggaz mics is full of silicone
Spot's blown, guerilla ice on this killer's life
I put my word on it
Now you can sleep on or rock a swerve on it
Nas is menage a trois' on Mount Aire lodges
We like a smooth fam', but rougher than how DeBarge is
Catchin charges, of marksmen, livin heartless
Grab a cartridge, cock my shit on some Mobb shit
We mobbin, puttin niggaz in mausoleums
From Queens cross the Throsnic, heads bop, I see 'em
from queens cross to throgsneck heads nod
Chorus: Prodigy (3X)
For niggaz don't know how to act
To all my niggaz on the block slangin crack
Rest in peace to my niggaz layin on they back
To all the niggaz who bust gats (live nigga rap)
Now is he using a metaphors, if he is what he trying to say? What part of that verse is he uplifting the black community? Ok if Jeezey is trying to just reach the hustlers, who were Nas trying to reach? I’ve never said Jeeze was positive. I know he’s street.
I’m not pointing all the flaws of Nas music, but I won’t call what he is not. You know he’s not using metaphors everytime he’s talking about guns AND YOU KNOW THAT. Stop playing yourself. Nas is what he is. He got some positive. He got some negative.
Dude, I think trying to play dumb. Who in the hell would thinks Kris has ever been a crossover rapper? That the stupidest thing I ever read. Kris has never ever went commercial. Pop and the Blastmaster don’t even add up. KRS has always been underground. He has always represent hardcore hip hop. Listen to any record dude has made, he has always been hard, raw uncut hip hop. There’s not one thing “pop” about kris. Kris have never change his style. Yes, I love Kris. He didn’t change his on “Breathe Control” and “Like a Throddle”. Both songs were battle records. Now on “Breathe Control”, his flow was Regea, but he was still a battle song. When I say change your style, I mean first,. You a super hard rapper, then you turn soft. You know what I mean. LL was never underground, he always were on the radio. LL needs to retire. He hadn’t a hit in years. Straight up, LL suck now.
PE sold b/c their music was incredible. They were the best group in hip hop for 5 or 6 years. Chuck D and their production were the best in the game. Radio and the video shows was completely different back. In the late ‘80s early 90’s, you could hear a PE, ATCQ, or any act that had a single. Hip hop wasn’t as controlled as it is now. You don’t hear a KRS or a PE on mainstream radio anymore. There was very few crossover acts back then. Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Marky Mark and Young MC were the ones consider crossover. You can’t compare the eras. I don’t even listen to mainstream radio. Mosty, I listen to CDs or listening to a underground hip hop station.
Dude I don't listen to Young to learn how to sell drugs, I listen to him b/c I can relate to him. I know people like him. I'm not supporting anybody selling drugs. He's not telling anybody to do what he did, he talking about some of the things he been through. You have never been throught what he has been through. Everything is not postive.
Posted by charlie on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:23 AM
[Reply to this]
Lunar 3
You are starting to repeat what I am writing to you.
1. I already said Nas was postive and negative
2. I never said I worshipped Nas. I said there are things about him I like and things about Him I don't like. But he is Hip Hop and Jeezy isn't.
3. When people consider Nas they think of him as postive. First you say he isn't and now you say he is in part.
4. First you say artists are wack or crossover if they switch styles. Then You state Krs isn't crossover. He came out with criminal minded. Then he went to self destruction. That isn't a switch? Vanilla ice NEVER SWITCHED styles. Does that make him not a crossover. Or is he a crossover because he never talked about the streets? In either case He isn't Hip Hop because he doesn't stand for community activism, or the betterment of the african's condition in the world. THIS is what HIP HOP is about.
5. Public Enemy by Your same account WOULD be a crossover group because They never switched either. They are Hip Hop by the way and if you LISTEN to them you would see that they would say things that would diss both Nas and Jeezy. I bet if you asked Chuck if jeezy was Hip Hop he would say no though. They and even Cats like Brad Jordan or Tracy Marrow would tell you that Nas is without a doubt Hip Hop. So would Chris Parker , so would LYTE, etc. You like Jeezy. That is 1 thing. He is not HIP HOP though. That is another. You might not like that but it is the truth.
6. For the last time, You are trying to redifine Hip Hop in terms of stagnancy and likability. There are cats who are Hip Hop who I don't especially like and who change from year to year. They don't change their basic belief in the force of Hip Hop . They also understand WHY Hip Hop was created in the first place. It isn't here to make you or me feel good about the music we are listening to. It is here to make a difference. If you ask me Nas at least tries and you hear it in his music. Jeezy might be a good guy to kick it with but he does NOT have the track record of a Nas or Masta ACE for that matter. Just because He sells doesn't mean that it is the Hip Hop community is buying it because it isn't. Would you diss a family member and say "you aren't a member of this family" If you didn't believe that? WEll that is what he tried to do to Monie. You may not like her but she IS Hip Hop. Anybody who would say something like that does not RESPECT Hip Hop and is NOT a part of this culture.
So I think you have a good head knowledge of Hip Hop but you don't understand what Hip Hop is. I wonder if I should resond to you any further because I seem to be wasting time showing you why I RESPECT Hip Hop. Don't just kick up an argument because you don't like the fact that cats recognize that Jeezy cannot bridge you into Hip Hop. Start a dialogue so that you can understand Hip Hop better. That is what anyone in Hip Hop would do.
Peace,
Lunar III
Posted by Lunar 3 on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 6:13 AM
[Reply to this]
charlie
Dude, you claim to be this hip hop “expert”, but continued making comments, that I have personally never heard before. I have heard a lot things from people, who had really laid the foundation, of this beautiful culture, and none share your definition of hip hop. Again, that was your definition, not a gobel definition. Do you ever read Davey d’s articles? I’ve been doing a lot of research, again I couldn’t find one person, that had your definition. Like your saying, being dope and being wack, doesn’t matter. Nobody but you believe that. Nobody, spend their hard earn money, and buy a CD, that they really don’t like, but buy b/c you like the style. If somebody is a conscious rap fan, he’s not going to buy anybody conscious, if they know that artist isn’t very good, the fan will not buy it. It always been about who the best. Here’s a statement from Grandmaster Caz:
There is no way you are going to let anyone sound better than you are. The game was to be the best. Some MCs were naturally talented, like some people are born to sing. Other MCs studied, practiced and persevered
To say skills doesn’t matter, proves that aren’t a hip hop expert. Infact, you
