The State of current day Hip Hop and my take on it!

Let’s be clear at one point, I had all the information and new the releases. I listen to all hot mixtapes coming out. I was on point. I knew what was happening with Big K.R.I.T. and Yo Gotti. I knew about the possible releases from Cash Money. I could get the needed information of the artists signed to T.I. and the ones who was on Aftermath. Even the ones that was prospects on Bad Boy. Now, I know squat and living well. My Hip Hop blog ‘As Silent as the Pope’ (ASAP08) is history and ended suddenly in 2008. Now, my pages had since than had a different focus and scope. More worldly as you may, but still some rare post about music. Because music moves all of us, but just as my blogs changes, I have changed with time. I have evolved and so has my scopes and what I narrate, when I write. Therefore, the musical drama, the contracts, the newbies and the Hip Hop Industry doesn’t fetch the same dynamic within me. I still listen to the tunes, but is not as connected as back in the day. When I used lots of times, listen to interviews and was on.

Therefore, this post is to prove my view from the outside. After being a keen follower 10 years ago. Still listening to albums, but not as connected as before. Because I am more political after years of studies, a bachelor degree and becoming mature. That is just life catching up and Alfamega never got over the snitching paradigm and loss of Grand Hustle contract, I suppose.

When we are at this stage and the changes. As many are irrelevant and the approach to the art-form I love has changed. That is natural, just as I have evolved, the art-form does too. The Hip Hop landscape wouldn’t be same as I left it. There has always been artist living on hot beats and trashy talk with no common sense. Don’t tell me ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ was lyrical masterminds, even if Q-Tip has enough skills to kill me in one-bar. Still. On the same manner ‘Fat Boys’ wasn’t brilliant either, but they we’re entertaining. Therefore, when I say certain types of music isn’t good now. That might be true, they are entertaining today, but will you pick a LP by Lil Pump in 10 years time? I doubt it. It is cool now to be listening to ‘Gucci Gang’, but in a decades time, I doubt it will get better like fine wine.

The proof that a project is good is that you have a feeling you can listen to the LP years after it was released and still be relevant. The production might be dated, but the elements, the lyrical mastering and the topics is as relevant today as when it was released. That is for me an important matter. That I can pick up an older LP and it will still be banging. It will still move me and question my own thinking on the matter. Even see something new in it. Why I say this is the modern-day bashing of Tupac Shakur. The legend, the hero and the man who brought THUG LIFE to the forefront.

Because of everyone saying they are like Tupac. I started listening to his albums again, and especially ‘The Don Killuminati: The 3 Day Theory’ and its has the firepower that some of the current music today is missing. That Phryme has it place, its the old-school vibe and quality bars from Royce Da 5’9″ but not the political motivation. That is more Lupe Fiasco and he is trying. I am still listening to Lasers, the Cool and the Food and Liquor Part 2. However, the miles behind good and relevant albums are hard. Not that the Jadakiss & Fabolous project isn’t good, it is brilliant, but it hasn’t enough edge.

There are enough artists, but their tracks doesn’t shine through and some of the big men who has been big. Don’t need the center stage, they can rest on their past victories. If that is the Wu Tang Clan that dropped a project. Certain songs there was banging, but not the whole thing. The most consistent projects in while from Young Jeezy dropped, the Pressure LP, but without a ‘I Luv It’, the public is not picking up on it. That is how today is, you need the swagger jacking singles to matter. Even if the projects are good and are on point.

I don’t know if I will listen to Phryme 2 in 5 years, but I am listening still now and then to the first release of Phryme. I am still listening to previous LPs of Jadakiss and mixtapes from Fabolous. They are not far in my music-player. I am not even on Spotify or Tidal or whatever streaming-service. Because I like listening to whole projects. I am old-school like that.

Because I am old-school, I am not a fan of biting, imitation and taking inspiration is cool, paying homage to the ones before is cultural appreciation. Like I was amazed when Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis had features of Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel and Kool Moe Dee on their single ‘Downtown’. I had goosebumps before putting it on the first time. They didn’t have to this, but they decided to do it. That is what we need to see, because the new generation of music listeners doesn’t care.

This will be the same ignorant story of the time when Nelly had beef with KRS One. Where they both was claiming their place in the game and that Nelly was relevant and KRS was trying to eat of his plate. However, the point wasn’t there, but that Nelly should respect what KRS did to the game. Now, I am sure that Nelly feels like funny feature for many, as he is on Georgia Flordia Line ‘Cruise’ and isn’t the Head Honcho anymore. Other people has taken his place and Drake singing hook has taken over. That is just the way it is.

But the biting is taking to far for me. That is why I have a hard time listening to Cardi B and her kind. That is why anyone T-Paining and Future sort-of-rappers are to much for me. I had a hard enough time listening to Method Man and Jadakiss with a minute or two on Autotune. There has to make sense, Desiigner and the likes. Will be daft in the dustbin, there is enough talented MCs awaiting their spot and to drop something significant and meaningful. Then I don’t mean Logic or G-Easy, no they doesn’t entertain me even.

I just wonder when Biting was acceptable, when the copying and pasting, the ghostwriting levels was okay. There has always been that, but more for producers becoming rappers like Dr. Dre and the likes. Not the supposed to be hottest hot like Cardi. They we’re supposed to drop the bars and be the rawest MC. Now, I am sure anyone can lyrically defeat Cardi, because her team handle her bars and she just market her songs. If that is enough for this generation. I am sorry, I am not jumping on the bandwagon. I am not, even if liked the ghostwriting for Dr. Dre, there is fine line between them.

Not that I am big Nicki Minaj or Remy Ma. Both of them can spit and write their own bars. Even if the previous Terror Squad LP only had like three or four good songs. While Nicki has long time between hard-core bars and been radio friendly, not for the hip-hop crowd. That is understandable as the label and herself want a bigger crowd for herself. But they are both better at the craft than Cardi. Even if Cardi is the thing now. I am still not following. Maybe, because I am old-school in my mid-30s.

That is why I am not on Datpiff or even on HipHopDX, buying XXL every month or even looking a the Source. That is why I loose out, and suddenly guys like 21 Savage and others suddenly pops-up on the scene without any notice. Not that I buy into it the stick, but if a song is good. I check out more. But many falls through, because they are feature artists in my eyes like French Montana. Tell me one whole project you have loved, through and through, where he a stand-out artist? No, I thought so, he is no Pusha T or Cyhi Da Prince.

Let’s be clear, this is my rambling, as someone a bit of bounds. That used to be into it and listening closely. When people was waving to get Pimp C out of jail, when Houston was taking over. When Miami had prospects, more than just Trick Daddy. That was the time I was in, when Dip Set was still relevant and Cam’ron wasn’t just trolling 50 Cent. And when 50 Cent was gangster and not a TV Producer. Well, that was the days. Those days are numbered. However. I am not, I still follow, but from a narrow scope and randomly picking up LPs that sounds good and might have hope.

There will come new talent that will catch my ear and take my breathe away, but that is harder than before. Because I don’t need no to buy no LP like Cassidy’s ‘Split Personality’, that was a whack CD from a promising talent. Another one, that had deserved more credit is Saigon, whose delivered good LP’s, but very few has cared. There will always be like this, why I haven’t mentioned Nas or Jay-Z, well, they both should retire, maybe even Scarface, even if I respect all three. But this is game for yungin’s, but they should pay respect to the ones that opened the door in for them. That is lacking in our time.

J.Cole who dropped a project I will listen more to in coming days, paid respect to Nas and Jay-Z on his projects in the past. Waka Flacka Flame even dropped respect to the ones before him. It would be nice to the newbies doing the same, but there is less of it. Not biting their lines, but saying, I am dropping trap music because of T.I. and Three 6 Mafia. Juicy J is the reason why I make songs for Stip-Clubs. Let’s be honest, that is the little token of credit that the other artists deserves, the ones that built a career, surely Nelly would like some credit today for his Mid-West Rap-Game. But I haven’t heard any give him anything. It is just like KRS-One felt back in the day.

Well, this was my musical rant of the month and year 2018. I am out of the loop and its cool. But I still know this thing. I don’t care of the newbies doesn’t, but they should check the records, should listen to old-school and understand the craft. Not just think they can do everything because it is easy to upload and get social media crowds. Because, the people like doesn’t eat out of their hands and doesn’t pay for their LPs, unless it hopefully gets better like wine. If it doesn’t I have no reason to pick it up and bump it. I will just download, have one listen and let it go. Like I did to many Gorilla Zoe Mixtapes back in the day. You got to drop quality and show your value. I don’t care what Lil B or whatever whats his face, even ‘Tyler the Creator’ has lost his shock value, just like Lana Del Rey did.

Unless, your as foolish and dumb like Taylor Swift to cover ‘September’ of Earth, Wind and Fire. Than, I won’t care, because usually people aren’t that insensitive. But there is some who will take it further and not think of the consequences and the reactions to their raps. That Cardi copied Kodak Black, wasn’t cool, even if he gave credit and she got hit. But for me, that isn’t my thing. She should have her own style, but she is mixing it up and is proud of it. That is a disgrace for the art-form. But that is just me…. Peace.

Total avsporing

Et lite tankekart og ideer som kommer når du leser seg opp til eksamen. Samtidig som vurderer å høre igjennom Yo Gotti’s første Major album – Live from the Kitchen eller Yelawolf – Radioactive. Istedenfor å tømme hjernen for tanker. Ikke at jeg har testet noe i det siste eller opplevd noe helt utenom det vanlig. Gått meg vill eller sett noe humoristisk i Bergen. Hverdagen har bare kommet til meg. Før jeg skal begynne på eksamenskjøret. Har forsatt den samme mobilen, vekkerklokka og presskanna.

Tankene går til det vi forventer. Leser bøker om forvanlingene som har skjedd de siste 25 årene. Vite at flere borgerkriger har hend. Disse områdene er blitt relativt fredlige. Selv om det forsatt er vold som hender der, bare ikke i samme omfang. Tenker på Liberia, Sierra Leoene, DRC, Angola, Somalia(holder forsatt på! Med hærer fra Burundi, Uganda, Kenya og Etiopia, skal si de savner en sterk leder som Said Barre!) og Irak etc. Lista er lang over land med nyss konflikter. Derfor mens du leser videre anbefaler at du setter på denne sangen:

Yelawolf – Let’s Roll:

Vi skal være takknemlig at Omar Bongo av Gabon ikke lever lenger, bare at sønnen holder landet lukket. At Biya holder sin hånd over Kamerun. Ikke minst at Goodluck Jonathan har brutt byttet mellom Sør-Nord i Nigeria. Den uformelle avtalen at Nord hadde to perioder før sør fikk det samme . Nå fikk bare Nord en runde før Goodluck tok over etter forrige valg. Vi bør takknemlig at Putin har vunnet enda ett valg. At Turkmenistan, Kirigistan og Azerbadjan blir styrt av halvkommunistiske ledere som er mer autoritær enn det som var fra Moskva.

Ikke minst at Jens Stoltenberg bare bruker kirken til å sørge i og resten av tiden bruker religion til støtte av sin egen politikk. Samtidig ønsker å splitte og marginalisere troende i samfunnet. Sikkert noe med at han er humanetiker og vil at troen skal konstant være i private sfæren. Tanken er ikke fri hvis det ønskes, ei heller rett. Det sikkert grunn til at moderne Norge at misjonsselskap tar vekk misjon i navnet og blir allianser og stiftelser. Må jo være politisk korrekt får å få støtte via Norad og medlemsstøtte. Er det bare jeg som blind eller misforstår? Vil vi ikke ha et samfunn med blandet tro eller vil vi ha ett samfunn hvor bare «hovedstrømmen» gjelder? Blir ikke det som alle godnyhetene fra Gabon, Nigeria, Turkemenistan, Kirigisstian eller Azerbadjan. Der gjelder det kanskje å følge sin president uten spørsmål. I Norge gjelder det kanskje i samme lynne, men forsatt gjelder å følge: dagsorden som statsministeren setter. I fjor høst ble alle leger i ny regulering «tvunget» til å miste samvittighetsplikten i forhold til abort. Dette er et betent tema, ikke tvil, det handler om livsvalg og hvor du står i den. Der hvor du ser på embroye eller livet i magen til kvinnen. Tidligere kunne en lege som hadde samvittighetsplikten si «nei» til å utføre abort og gi den til noen som ikke så på dette som et problem. Idag er ikke det lenger mulig. Er ikke det å tvinge «dagsordnen» på legene? Selv om det for noen kan være poltisk korrekt å ta abort, trenger dette å være for den legen. For andre «kan» det likeså være politisk korrekt å ha spøkelses sykehus i Kampala, hvis det ble funnet at midler fra Norad ble brukt på dette. Ville ikke da Erik Solheim kritisert og kuttet midlene for neste års bistandsmidler. Det ville vært korrekt. Han har lov til dette. Derimot legen kan miste jobben sin fordi han må bryte med det han står for. Er det korrekt av staten å tvinge sine egne borgere til å gjøre handlinger som bryter med vår samvittighet?

Hvor langt skal vi dra dette? Hva er det neste prosjektet som skal bryte med samvittigheten. Skal kirken uten spørsmål la hunder og mennesker bli gift? De elsker jo hverandre tross alt. For ett søtt par! La hunden Rex og Tone gifte seg i Sørumsand Kirke. Go Girl! Tror du en prest vil stå på trappen foran kirken stolt i solskinnet på lørdagsettermiddag i Juni. Ikke minst å tenke «for ett vakkert par!». For mange vil dette vært like sannsynlig som at Samvittighetsplikten skulle falle bort. At staten skulle slutte å ta inn bompenger hver gang de bygger en tunnel på vestlandet. Slikt skjer jo uansett. Poenget mitt er bare. Hvor vil vi hend. Hva betyr dette for oss og hva vil vi. Hvordan samfunn ønsker vi og hva kan vi godta. Sentralstyrte regjerninger er basert på at folkeviljen følger deres handlinger. Ikke minst at vi støtter dem, fordi vi har gitt vår tilit til at de vil gjøre det beste for oss, siden vi valgte dem til å være der for oss. Fordi alle kan ikke konstant være der å ta viktige beslutninger for riket. Men når de gjør handlinger som frusterer og bryter med vår samvittighet bør vi ikke da si noe. Ikke gjemme oss i kratt. Skal ikke demokratiet og ytringsfriheten. Åpne for at vi åpner våre hjerte og stemmer for å stå for noe. Selv om ikke alt det vi står for er i vinden. Vinden blåser jo og luften er fri for alle. Som sagt dette er bare tankekart og total avsporing. Gikk fra verden med totalitære regimer, til Rex og Tone. Uansett. Må det diskuteres om det er rett å ta vekk samvittighetsplikten for leger. For å gjøre noe annet føler jeg er som å tvinge på en maskert lov for alle, samtidig som å glemme at tenkenede individ må bare følge loven. Loven som bryter med egens tro og laden. Det hadde blitt som å sende en militærnekter inn som vernepliktig. Noe som skjer.. men ikke er korrekt.

Uansett. Ha en god dag videre.