The karaoke generation
Hip-hop has long been a place where the best were allowed to showcase their talents in the musical arena. You have to be good at something and individuality was always given respect and props. It seems that since the late 90's lyrical innovation, which was at the time, the ultimate show of skill, has given way to what I like to call the karaoke generation.
This new generation of artists is not making any attempt to push the edges of expression through lyricism and the work that it entails. Most artists now are content to let catchy beats and hooks do all of the work while adding little if anything to the "songs" themselves. I have to use "songs" in this manner because truly are these songs? There are verses but they ring hollow with little meaning or difference between them. I mean you can take any three Lil wayne songs and mix up the verses and never know the difference. Take Jeezy and Rick Ross and mash them together and you get the same thing every time.
Even worse to me than Jeezy or Wayne is the new fad of people who have no rapping ability at all being allowed to make records and getting radio spins. OJ da Juiceman is the worst person I have ever heard. I'm not a rapper, I can't be, however, I am so much better than he and Gucci Mane that it pisses me off. Who can't do what they do? I think that rappers should have some type of elitist attitude when it comes to what they do. A pianist isn't going to practice for 30 years only to allow someone who bangs on the keys to do symphonies. There is a lack of respect for the artistry of hip-hop by a lot of these guys. They're only in it for the buck and that is disrespectful to the rich history of hip-hop.
There is no way you can justify to me why that shit is allowed to be played. You are telling me that none of his friends said this shit is wack? Where is the responsibility? Yet if Nas, or Krs-1, or Ice-T says something to these guys they are labeled as old and a hater because they uphold a standard. I understand you want to applaud a guy for getting out of the drug game (possibly) and doing something that is less detrimental (again, not a guarantee) to the community but he doesn't have to be a rapper. He could be a C.O....(and by the way when did becoming a C.O. get you on the police force?). But back to OJ, how is he even describing the hood in which he grew up? What do we get from listening to "Make the Trap Aye!"?
Soulja Boi is not immune to this as well. Look at him and Arab. Watch the hilarious "beef" between him and bow wow where Bow takes the time to school Soulja on staying in his lane. I have no problem with Soulja and his juvenile music because it is for juveniles, except when he's talking greasy and/or behaving like a tough guy. Same thing with this one hit ass wonder Vic. Find the get silly remix and listen to him talk about someone getting shot, then Bun B comes with a lame verse to co-sign the wackness that preceded him.
I have surmised that people have come to like this music for a simple reason, they feel like they can do it so they don't mind singing along. At some point, the music must have been so deep that it made people frustrated that they couldn't do it or understand it at the very first listen. People had to be jealous of rappers for their ability to control the English language. How else do you explain this nonsense? I'll be waiting for responses on this joint.
This new generation of artists is not making any attempt to push the edges of expression through lyricism and the work that it entails. Most artists now are content to let catchy beats and hooks do all of the work while adding little if anything to the "songs" themselves. I have to use "songs" in this manner because truly are these songs? There are verses but they ring hollow with little meaning or difference between them. I mean you can take any three Lil wayne songs and mix up the verses and never know the difference. Take Jeezy and Rick Ross and mash them together and you get the same thing every time.
Even worse to me than Jeezy or Wayne is the new fad of people who have no rapping ability at all being allowed to make records and getting radio spins. OJ da Juiceman is the worst person I have ever heard. I'm not a rapper, I can't be, however, I am so much better than he and Gucci Mane that it pisses me off. Who can't do what they do? I think that rappers should have some type of elitist attitude when it comes to what they do. A pianist isn't going to practice for 30 years only to allow someone who bangs on the keys to do symphonies. There is a lack of respect for the artistry of hip-hop by a lot of these guys. They're only in it for the buck and that is disrespectful to the rich history of hip-hop.
There is no way you can justify to me why that shit is allowed to be played. You are telling me that none of his friends said this shit is wack? Where is the responsibility? Yet if Nas, or Krs-1, or Ice-T says something to these guys they are labeled as old and a hater because they uphold a standard. I understand you want to applaud a guy for getting out of the drug game (possibly) and doing something that is less detrimental (again, not a guarantee) to the community but he doesn't have to be a rapper. He could be a C.O....(and by the way when did becoming a C.O. get you on the police force?). But back to OJ, how is he even describing the hood in which he grew up? What do we get from listening to "Make the Trap Aye!"?
Soulja Boi is not immune to this as well. Look at him and Arab. Watch the hilarious "beef" between him and bow wow where Bow takes the time to school Soulja on staying in his lane. I have no problem with Soulja and his juvenile music because it is for juveniles, except when he's talking greasy and/or behaving like a tough guy. Same thing with this one hit ass wonder Vic. Find the get silly remix and listen to him talk about someone getting shot, then Bun B comes with a lame verse to co-sign the wackness that preceded him.
I have surmised that people have come to like this music for a simple reason, they feel like they can do it so they don't mind singing along. At some point, the music must have been so deep that it made people frustrated that they couldn't do it or understand it at the very first listen. People had to be jealous of rappers for their ability to control the English language. How else do you explain this nonsense? I'll be waiting for responses on this joint.
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