…And now, maybe it shouldn’t be about rhyming so much!
At the ripe old age of 31 I can feel my cultural sensibilities collecting cobwebs…
A) Who the fuck actually cares about Kanye West?!? He’s a mediocre producer with sub-mediocre rhyme-writing skills. Were people so jaded with the East and West coasts that they crowned the first Midwesterner with a hint of mass-appeal as the new king of rap?! I dare you to not yawn while listening to West’s voice. He’s got no flow. He sounds tense and nervous….he can’t relax. He’s got an adolescent’s earnestness when he rhymes like he cares too much about whether things DO rhyme or not. (Trust your instincts about that one, man.)
Where does his anger come from?!? At least 50 Cent was shot 9 times — he’s actually got something to BE pissed off about! Did West actually grow up in a housing project or a ghetto? I have no idea what his background is because he seems to only rap about generic gripes with society and promoting “good values” like hope, staying true to yourself and being your own…person or something. I don’t know because I don’t care enough about his giant fucking ego to google his lame ass. You are a rapper! If you want me to know about your life and struggles, put it in your fucking song, not your Wikipedia entry!
B) Real rappers (IMHO) are guys who can put on any old cut or sample and rattle off a story about something they’ve seen. For specifics, see these guys that the VMA watching public (unfortunately) knows nothing about: De La Soul, The Roots, Dead Prez, Atmosphere, Swollen Members, Blackalicious, and I’ll even include West’s Chicago-based brother-from-another-mother, Common. These guys, for the most part, keep alive the classic idea of rap: two or more guys trading off verses, each telling a little story on a loosely connected theme over some R&B samples, loops, and bass-lines. If you want to be into music for the music and not for the ego of the performer, then you have to check out these guys and their progenitors. The truly Old School is made up of The Sugarhill Gang, Grand Master Flash, Doug E. Fresh, Melle Mel, The Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, and many others. In the next generation was was Run DMC, NWA, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, KRS-1, Boogie Down Productions, Biz Markie, and many others that I don’t have the time to educate you about right now….You are welcome!
C) 50 Cent can’t rhyme either.
D) Quit rhyming for the sake of rhyming. If you are great at rhyming, feel free. If not, pick up a few books, listen to some tracks that are more than 7 years old and expand your freaking horizons. It’s more interesting to listen to something that breaks a rule or two anyway. When we hear you trying to force us into thinking two words rhyme it ruins the whole damn thing. QUIT RAPING MY EARS!
E) You are less than 30 years old. You have millions of dollars from selling a product you love to make and seem to have a knack for doing. You are not deformed. The public generally has inexplicably large amount of respect for you. DON’T THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM WHEN YOU DON’T GET A BULLSHIT AWARD FOR (omg!) 2 YEARS IN A ROW YOU FUCKING PRIMA DONNA LITTLE BITCH.
Allow me to declare here that the Kanye West backlash has officially begun.
32 Comments
its music bro.
It sure is!! Thanks for agreeing with me!
your a huge cocksucker
kanye west is your motha fuckin daddy bitch
bite your fuckin tongue
Wow. That’s passion “lj”. But woefully misplaced. You have no taste.
How can you say that Kanye West is not a good mc. Kanye is keeping hip hop alive. Any one who thinks 50 cent is cool is obviously so media swept to see that the ONLY thing 50 raps about is the fact he got shot. He got shot for running his mouth.
And to point out your comment about Kanye isnt a real rapper because he didnt grow up in the projects or ghetto, is a proven fact how stupid you people are. You just proved yourself wrong. He didnt grow up in the ghetto, thats why he doesnt spit about it. rappers these days just spit about how big their guns are and how rich they are. I dont understand why people listen to it because they are pretty much spitting in your face. Look how rich I am and look how poor you are. Kanye West spits about politics becuase he is actually educated. He writes about what he knows. Is hip hop not a way of expressing yourself? Look at KRS and Nas, they grow up in the hardest hoods of NY but they still talk about how you can grow to something greater.
I dont understand why people think people like lil wayne and 50 are the greatest. All their tracks sound exactly the same and they say the same thing over and over again. Lil Wayne has to be the worst rapper besides Mims. He sounds like hes constipated, his lyrics prove how stupid he is, yet people still think hes the greatest. And back to 50, people liek him because he’s rich? The only CD he made a good profit off of was get rich or die trying. Hats off to 50 for that album it was a banger. He let the money get thru his thick ass head though and now look. His lyrics change and his quality of music is awful. To point out your comment about how 50 has a reason to say he got shot 9 times, thats no reason to liek him. He got shot because he ran his big ass mouth. And he got shot 9 times, but all at the same times. Its gangster to get shot 9 different times, thats hood. But getting shot 9 times at the same time, hes just lucky to be alive. And since when, has it gotten you any street cred at all, to get shot and not shoot back.
Honestly people think about the quality of music. Kanye’s album you can go thru without skipping a single track. Every song on every 50 album after get rich or die trying, theres only 3 good songs on the whole album. He should not be classified in the same category as Kanye. I read an interview with MTV and Nas, and nas saying kanye west is keeping hip hop alive. I dont get how any one can disagree with that. Soulja Boy and all his dirty south “rap” is awful. I think theres 5 words used throughout the crank that song. Snap music shoulnt even be in the same category as hip hop. They just make shitty records for the sake of making money. Thats not what hip hop is about. Its about lyrics and flow and expressing your mind. If your mind is all about how to get money and how to get some pussy every minuite of your life, go get help.
I 100% agree with Nas, Hip Hop is dying. But people liek Kanye and Common are keeping it flowing. Hip Hop needs another KRS to prove to people there is much more to hip hop. What people didnt hate hip hop with KRS and Marley Marl out. They talked about changing your life for the better. Now look how much shit is being blamed on hip hop. Younger girls giving it up easier, kids dropping out of school……THATS NOT WHAT HIP HOP IS ABOUT!
anyone who disagrees with me needs to get off that dirty south shit and jump on some KRS, Nas, Rakim, Jay and yes, KANYE WEST!!! Really quick!
Sorry that you think I’m an asshole for having an opinion. Listen to Kanye and then listen to the best MC’s of the 80’s and 90’s. His voice lacks their confidence and conviction. His lyrics rhyme horribly and lack the intelligent wordplay that seemed so effortless to my rap idols (i.e., KRS-One, Chuck D., Beastie Boys, Run D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, etc.). I don’t like 50 Cent either. I agree with Nas, but maybe Hip-Hop should be allowed to die if Kanye and Common are the best the world has to offer.
Seriously ask yourself what new thing can be done with Hip-Hop that hasn’t been done 5 times already. Style mashups like Rap-Rock started in the early 80’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_rock) and have run their course. Hip-Hop isn’t the only form of music/culture that has been made irrelevant by becoming so mainstream. Of course I am a geezer at 31: no new music means much to me — I prefer the old stuff of my own youth. I am just one man with an opinion, but my opinion is based on good taste. ;0)
I 100% agree with you that hip hop is lacking something. It’s lacking the one thing that people like KRS and mele melle brought, and to put in that KRS is one of my favourite rappers of all time. Your right that hip hop is different now, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay different. To tell you the truth I’m only 15 years old and my favourite rappers and the only people i listen to are Nas, KRS, Run DMC and Jay-Z. Old Hip Hop is what hip hop is all about. Its not snapping their fingers and rhyming the same word. I agree that the voice of Kanye is shaky, but theres no way you can say he lacks confidence. He clearly does not care what anyone un-knowledgable enough has to say.
I totally agree with you that old hip hop is what hip hop really is
I dont think your an ass0hole by the way!
Thanks for the reply. And thanks for weighing in on the subject. I wrote the original article right after Kanye did his whining about not winning at the VMA’s. That really made me dislike him and stop listening to his music. I know rapper’s have to project an image of a guy who never gives up, but what he did was immature and lacking the humility that truly deserving people show even when they don’t win. Cheers!
Yeah that was a pretty shitty move and a bad look. Besides the fact its the VMA’s. Like man, he won 6 grammys and a shit load of way more important awards than the video music awards. Thats like MTV bullshit. It was definitley a bad look
kanye west does do a lot of stupid stuff in the spotlight, but you cannot judge his music based off of his actions, base the music off the music,
you say 50 cent actually has something to be mad about, as if people can only be mad if they live in the ghetto and get shot at, anger isn’t limited to that come on, kanye west’s emotions come from the real world, not running around the streets acting like an ass and doing nothing for the world.
kanye puts out beats that can motivate you in a good way, 50 cent’s songs can motivate you but they make you angry at the same time, and in my opinion that gets old quick, and is stupid.
Here’s the thing….. the rappers are going to rap about the things that the YOUNGER crowd wants to hear, not what some 31 year old douche bag that listens to old school rap shit. Not that that shit isn’t good, I’m 22 and I listen to that once in a while, It’s just not mainstreem anymore…. sorry man….
What the fuck is so good about being mainstream?
Kanye West is the best, hands down, he is to sick, way better then anyone else.
Some good views all round. I’m a Kanye West fan, love his music and agree that there isn’t a track you can skip on his first two albums, Graduation dropped a bit, and i don’t know much about the VMA drama, though from what i think i know he acted like a bitch. 50 Cent i poor, i like Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, The Massacre isn’t all that bad, but there isn’t a single track off Curtis on my iPod, it’s no wonder he was beaten in their battle. I love the old music like Run DMC, N.W.A., 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Sugarhill Gang etc. all good, but you have to try and move with the times(though admittedly there isn’t much to talk about nowadays), just sit back and hope someone comes through, there’s bound to be someone who makes it who’s worth paying your money to listen to. Big up NaS and Kanye West. And i’m not disrespectng anyones opinions, everyone is entitled to their own, so i strongly disagree with lj saying”your a huge cocksucker,kanye west is your motha fuckin daddy bitch,bite your fuckin tongue”, get a life, suck your own dick and learn that people have tastes and opinions that aren’t necessarily your own. Thank You
That last comment is much appreciated. I hope everyone else reads it too. I try to keep up…sort of. But I’m not a kid anymore. Music doesn’t have the same impact on me. One day all you young ones will realize that the music you like as a teen will stay your favorite music throughout your life. Current artists I really dig on are: The Roots, Atmosphere, Jay-Z, Del The Funky Homosapien, Swollen Members, MC Paul Barman, and DJs like Shadow, Qbert, and Spooky…
I just peeped The Knux and they sound good, so maybe there is hope….”A New Hope”?
Yes, everyone read it, my opinion is all important lol. I get that feeling already and i’m only 16, it’s quite sad really. I’m really into NaS, Dizzee Rascal and Lethal Bizzle(last 2 british acts), DMX as always, Obie Trice and Outkast. And The Knux, how can i check them out??
I highly agree with most of serm’s first comment. Basically everything except for when he said Lil Wayne isn’t educated. He’s actually a genious and always has been since his early days, and is still getting a college education. Try to find the interviewarticle Vibe Magazine did with him.
Serm, you also voiced pretty much every opinon I’ve ever had about Kanye, 50, and Kanye compared to 50. Dragonize, you’ve got a few good opinions and although I don’t totally respect all of them, I understand tat it’s difficult for you to accept some of the new music coming out. And props for listenin to Del. He’s probably one of the best rappers of his time. I don’t know too many people that have ever even heard of him, but it’s a pity that they haven’t. He’s a beast, and a lot of rappers today should be taking lessons from him.
Anyone that left comments here that had brief, unsupported opinions that involved constant use of vulgar language, fuck you. You’re the true idiots here.
50 has increasingly become a little bitch since his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. HE’S the one without flow. “I Get Money” is ridiculous. The beat/backing is only mediocre, there’s next to no flow within the lyrics, and the song is overrated altogether. Not to mention it’s practically the only song anybody knows on his whole album.
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Biggie Smalls, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West, Dilated Peoples, Nas, Dr. Dre, Run-D.M.C., Gang Starr, and a lot of others are some pretty damn good rappers that I usually listen to. Not necessarily in that order.
I’m only 14. I’ll be15 pretty soon. And to be totally honest, rap and hip hop is great, but Classic Rock, Blues, and old Reggae (like Bob Marley) is true music. My opinins on Hip Hop still stand, but that other stuff is ral music. Then again that’s a totally different arguement. Aight, I’m done lol
Thanks.
By the way, Kanye does have a hell of an ego. I won’t deny that at all, and “Graduation” portrays it enormously. But his first album, “The College Dropout” will always be there checking his every move…
I would just like to say that i appreciate Kanye’s albums because there isnt a track you can skip as thedonmega12 said. In comparison to modern rock/pop or whatever you call it when annoying voiced guys sing slowly to piano or acoustic guitar about girls, Kanye is a relief. Nowadays there is no way one can possibly stand to listen to a whole one republic album for example.
Dragonize you own.
Seriously, THANK YOU for speaking out the things about Kanye that bother me.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Kanye is great.
His raps aren’t about his hoes and how rich he is.
That’s why I like him, his music better appeals to young teens like me his music sings about the downs of life especially being young, he also raps and mixes his music with other genre singers. I like his messages set deeply in his music, regardless of what you guys are saying he obviously is not perfect. I’m a young teen and don’t want to hear about lesbians, weed, sex lives, and money which is overweighed on 50’s side. Kanye is right “talk about god my record won’t get played”
They are both great in their own way’s ,but I’d prefer rather not just to think about sex in a song’s message, especially because 50’s #1 song is sexual. Kanye’s is fun.
Love you KW ♥
Good morning, :)
I love Graduation even though I don’t usually listen to hip hop. That has to be worth something.
Agreed, the best rhymers TYPICALLY reside in the East, but look yourself in the mirror and seriously say that Kanye is “mediocre”, bite your tongue homie… Have you listened to all of the albums, if so I’d say you’re a fan, if not I’d say you can’t make that statement with confidence.
And, “in your day”, I’m 32, this is still your day bud! Are saying this shit cause you think it’s cool to be cool and different and shit, We get it Blackstar was sick, and Q-Tip flipped pop, and lost his MoJo around the same time Stella found her groove… I remember Shan getting crushed by KRS-1, and KRS battling Nelly, YES, we really do get it, and it is probably not hip to root for the midwest, but what if it becomes to hip to pull for the grass roots, beat-the-streets rhymer form the East, what you gonna do bud
Well, Jiuice, I have no trouble performing this feat of derring-do. Kanye is fucking lame. I am confident that the skin-crawling sensation I get when TRYING to listen to KW’s music allows me to summarily dismiss him with confidence because that sensation also PREVENTS me from listening to him anymore. He sucks.
Juice, your second comment reads pretty badly. Not really sure what you are saying at the end. The best rhymers, whether they are named Shakespeare or Shan, are masters of the English language. Read some more books!
I don’t think it’s cool to dislike Kanye because all the nice people I know do like him. I just don’t. I have different standards than most people. I am from Chicago, but I don’t think that automatically means I have to back the Midwestern dude.
kanye west is amazing for someone who is considerably new to the rap game. ur just mad cuz the 80’s music is over… GET OVER IT! as far as todays music goes kanye west is about the best we got! oh and u say that 50 got shot 9 times and so he has a reason to be madd… NOT QUITE! he should be happy because that is the only reason that he has a career! he pretty much sucks at rapping and all his songs are about women or getting shot… i couldnt careless about either… (im a girl) anyway… listen to kanyes music… not the singles but the stuff actually on the CD you failed to buy before making your ignorant statement… and you will change your mind.
oh yea if you noticed… i got my point across without cussing like your ignorant self
Oh and as a sixteen year old you can scroll my iPod and see run-dmc, KRS-1, Nas, Jay, the sugar hill gang… all of them… however, i am not too narrow minded to see that kanye west has talent. he is a talented rapper with a new style. him, common, and lupe fiasco
I’m a much bigger fan of 90’s music than 80’s. Beastie Boys are honestly my favorite group. Their rhymes are silly sometimes, but have passion anyway. Their music is often very fresh also. MC Paul Barman is a far more intelligent and innovative rhymer. Eminem is also an incredibly good rhymer on his own, but compared to Kanye he’s a genius. White guys rule!
u must b crazi kanye is tha best there iz!!!!!!!!!!!!
also 50 wuz shot AT nine times but only HIT 3 times
dude, u never mention jedi mind tricks. . .these are surely the classic old skool style u are talking about. if u havnyt heard of them u shud check them out, they are the stuff of legend, especially “uncommon valour” great song.
p.s. good point about west. he probably had talent at one time to get him where he is, but he has totaly sold out to make an extra few million.