There has been a lot of drama this year surrounding HIPHOP. That shit we love. Is it a negative influence on our youth? On women? On society as a whole? Is it the cliche ‘reflection of society’, as it already exists?
Will I be cliche and say that maybe HIPHOP has become a combination of all those things? **existential is my forte**
Art, after all, is open to interpretation. Good, bad, indifferent, no matter what an artist’s intentions are the individual is free to interpret their own meaning from the work. (Hey Pepa swears she thought ‘Push It’ was about DANCING!! /sarcasm)
Given all that, the point at which ‘art’ and ‘reality’ diverge is in the everyday actions we as free thinking individuals make. Choice.
Nas, thinks he is making a point, by calling his next album ‘Nigger’.
I want ‘nigger’ to have less meaning [than] ‘cracker.’ With all the bullsh– that’s going on in the world, racism is at its peak. I wanna do the sh– that’s not being done. I wanna be the artist who ain’t out. I wanna make the music I wanna hear.
Nas clearly has no issues with cliches. But I digress…
This Nigger album is bigger than an album. This is for my daughter, when she looks back and sees all the chump n—as in the game, she’ll say, ‘My pops was a man.’ When I have more kids, they’ll see, ‘He was a man.’ That will inspire them to be real in their life. Some people say I’m conscious, some say I’m a gangsta rapper — it’s just me doing me. I’m stomping in my own lane. I’m doing what I do.
Oochie Wally:
Nas, the one they call when they want their thing beat up.
Honeys for bodies,
two bravehearts, guns in the parties
waves, braves, bald trade marks to army
Is that horse it must be, I heard he husky,
yea there goes jungle
eyes red looking for trouble
and that Nas dancing with dymes
but who is manish
I’m not saying a ‘man’ can’t change. Grow (no ‘growing together’, LOL). But these rappers are really starting to annoy me.
These ‘men’ have had literally YEARS to deal with these various issues. Thirteen in Nas’ case. HIPHOP is Dead in and of itself was a (supposed) criticism of the art form. As soon as some ‘ol heads’ start making the same criticisms, suddenly Nas (and others) decide to start ‘back talkin’?
You need more people. More people for me to believe this is not simply another gimmick. Just like HIPHOP is Dead was a gimmick. (a failed attempt at one). For the same reasons you don’t take Bill O’Reilly seriously, I refuse to take you and your peers seriously. (with exceptions) You too, are a ratings whore. An exploiter.
Earlier this year, Nas told MTV News that he wanted to “have fun with the radio” while making his next LP. That was before he settled on the title, though. The album includes ideas and feelings he wanted to express for years that aren’t exactly meant to make you dance or sing along in the club.
….
[Radio-friendly songs], that’s easy work. My daughter could do that. My daughter could do the sh– that’s out.
So, for ‘years’ you’ve known that you’ve been on that bullshit in the name of radio, but NOW here you are to show us what’s ‘real’…
perfect timing my friend. And oh yeah, the number of units sold no longer matters!!! (preempting any criticism ahead of time, I see you Nas)
There are several ways one could go about addressing the current controversies surrounding HIPHOP. Picking a scary title is about the easiest though.
My next album will be titled:
Fuck Yo Couch!
I’ll have more on this in the future.
Posts
October 19, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Its not about “changing ” Willy. It about having different sides. Jesse called NYC hymietown and now he want white people to give him a “pass” when he supports us. I’ll bang a broad until her eyes pop out but that don’t mean I don’t give a fuck about my people. I’m not thinking about being pro black and nooses when I am in the bedroom and I am not thinking about pussy when i am speaking about something that has to do with social issues. Nobody is perfect and that HAS to come out in your music. You have to show the ying and yang if you want people to be able to connect with you because we identify with people who have faults just like we do. Bill Cosby ( I am down with Cosby though) and Jesse jackson will have you believe that they haven’t done anything wrong in their lives until you open up the paper and find out different. What kind of message did they send their children when they did what they did ? Niggas stay throwing rocks. Law abiding and godfearing but they are the first ones to judge.
But we still tryin to FREE T.I. right…lol.
October 19, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
First track on my next album:
‘Walking Contradiction’
October 19, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
I’d like to meet somebody who isn’t a walking contradiction.
Don’t you say “nigga” willy ????
October 19, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
no you wouldn’t- they’d be awfully dull lol.
———
I’d like to meet somebody who isn’t a walking contradiction.
And willy, nowadays everything is a gimmick- we’re in such a cynical society, that even “sincerity” is assumed to be a gimmick. So i don’t particularly mind a gimmick as long as it’s backed up by talent.
@ Ihadno- I feel what you are saying, but i think the problem the older generation sees is that it’s not really about the elders hiding their mistakes(we all know about them messing around and acting a fool), it’s about the younger generation glorifying THEIR mistakes to the point where they are not mistakes, they’re almost a badge of honor. Fucking up is celebrated; true acheivement and responsibility is too often considered selling out or being whipped.
October 19, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
‘Don’t you say “nigga” willy ???’
My point is:
What in the world would make Nas think he would not receive criticism for choosing to title his album ‘Nigger’?
The subject matter of the album is moot. (of course no one else has had a chance to hear any of it first)
He made a conscience decision, given the current climate, to pick a controversial title for his album, then wants us to give him the benefit of the doubt by evoking Cornell West’s name? Who is on the other side of the argument to begin with:
That I know that “nigga” as opposed to “nigger” is a term of endearment for some young people. But the history of “nigger” with its connotation of self-hatred and self-disrespect needs to be acknowledged, so the discussion of the “N word” on my CD that pits my dear brother Michael Eric Dyson who defends the word, against myself, with my dear brother Tavis Smiley moderating provides a forum for this crucial question.
I’m not sayin Nas isn’t allowed to use the title, just don’t try to fool me into thinking it’s nothing more than a gimmick.
I’m not conflicted on the issue. I use the word, not tryin to stop anyone else from using the word.
Don’t think HIPHOP was dead either.
October 19, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
‘I’m not sayin Nas isn’t allowed to use the title’
Correction:
He’s certainly allowed, but it’s cliche, so I personally wouldn’t do it in an attempt to shock some old people.
October 19, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Ooooh…
found out the ‘women folk’ got themselves a stripper(ewwww)…
so the men are going to the titty bar!
Yessssssss.
October 19, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
it’s rochester- nobody goes to rochester for the titt-ay bars lol.