ODB (The only crazy that's acceptable)Seems that some real strange goings-on have been occurring of late. The Hip Hop world and the world in general for that matter, just seems to be going crazy. Wyclef could be running for President of Haiti, Jay-Z thinks he's cracked the triple entendre, Drake has no concept of the English language, Nas reads to many books and that 'Wocka Floka wtf was I thinking' guy says there are too many dictionary rappers in the atmosphere.
I heard through the grape vinery that Wyclef may be running for President of Haiti. Say what!? Why in the hell would he think he could do that. Is he that obnoxious to think he, a popstar with fame and fortune, could have the answer to Haiti's problems?
Everyone can be a politician from the comfort of home, yes Bush was a dummy and Tony Blair made mistakes. But to actually get up and give it a go for yourself, as a complete novice, in a country as torn apart as Haiti....boy that one's on you. What's that I hear you say? 'The Terminator' is currently Mayor of C.A. Yes he is. Yes he has a University degree, unlike Wyclef, but that doesn't really matter, don't bring me that crap coz Cali's fucked up right now anyway! However, Clef is clearly passionate about his homeland, in a recent Daily Mirror interview he stated:
"Haiti still needs our help -- more than ever. People around
the world made lots of promises, and we want those promises to be kept.
My wife Claudinette and I are passionate about rebuilding Haiti. We've seen the situation with our own eyes, and we've been listening to others.
Rebuilding has been delayed by land disputes, bureaucratic roadblocks, customs problems, differences of opinion about strategy and even delays in getting the actual pledged money to Haiti. I'm a warrior and can't stand by quietly while promises aren't kept. I won't ever surrender."
Fair enough, but he was also quoted as saying, "N G O s. Alone will not Rebuild Haiti, We need Business and Private investment." Right....so turning Haiti in to a money hungry capitalist machine whereby every banker and investor fights for himself will surely turn things around. Coz I mean, it's not like those same attitudes weren't what sucked America and the rest of the western world in to this black hole of a depression.
- Jay's triple entendre woes.
In all honesty, I don't have to speak much on this topic. Google it for yourself and you'll quickly see the slight embarrassment Jigga managed to bring upon himself. Infact, let me provide you with some linkage,http://blog.grownmantv.com/2010/06/04/jay-zs-triple-entendre-explained-from-drakes-light-up/
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2010/06/jay-zs-triple-entendre
Here's the line from Drake's 'Light It Up,' that had literary 'in-the-know' folks scratching their heads and then chuckling:
“OWww, hoes turn they heads like, OWls/I’m the man of the hOur/Triple entendre, don’t even ask me hOW”
Hmmm, words that sound the same but differ in meaning....isn't that a homophone?
As opposed to a single phrase being understood in 3 different ways e.g a double or triple entendre.
But in the words of my good friend Demitri on the state side of things, 'Damn you'd think the nigga was rappin' in binary the way ya'll try to decipher some of his shit.' It's true! I may just have to dedicate a whole post to the Jay-Z stans that view Bp3 as his best effort, or at least close to. It seems they lost the meaning of intelligent rap somewhere between the words witty and pun. Fail of epic proportions Shawn, but what do you care when you earn more dead presidents than most have ever even seen.
- Drakes lack of understanding summed up below...
- 50, 'you had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage.'
'Nas is a really smart guy. He reads books constantly. We were around him on the Nastradamus tour. He was almost weirder than me ’cause we would go to breakfast and he’d be there reading a book....He’s feeding you too much information in the music and they don’t actually want it. He’s like a teacher.' - 50 cent
That XXL quote may be a little old, but it shows the direction I'm going in here. It's funny what he's saying (50) coz, most of Nas' fans will tell you that he actually dumbed it down a lot post 'It Was Written' and possibly 'Stillmatic.' If anything 50 should of spoken on how Nas used to kick wisdom through metaphorical and abstract methods. Since all he does know is straight forwardly say what he wants to get across. I like the Distant Relative album, but it's a perfect example of how Nasir now feels he has to talk blunt and direct in order to make people understand. The 90's Nas would never have released a song, or maybe dropped a line, like 'Africa Must Wake Up.' No, if he was going to do something like that he would have flipped it in an obscure metaphor or with some other poetic technique or concept, much like Lupe does today. So in once sense, 50's almost right. But he needs to fuck outta here with that crap about reading too much.
- Woka
'People don't wanna hear that dictionary rap..." says southern rapper Wocka Floka Flame in a recent interview.'Prince Ea already roasted him on this one so I don't have much to say. Hip Hop was always all about intelligent, lyrically motivated songs with real cultural and sociological substance behind them. But, it was also about 'feel good' party music. There's a time and place for club music that this sorry excuse for an emcee (Flocka) clearly can't comprehend. Some people just don't want to try and recreate the club scene with it's gimmicky, repetitive dance hooks and phrases (perfectly suitable for the club), in the comfort of their own home or whilst driving.
Check out that Prince Ea video and expect some reverberations of that Jay-Z topic in posts to come.
I challenge you to put aside a couple of hours in search of new music from your favourite genre. Delve in to the blogosphere and various forums, it's easy to get sucked in onces you get going and one link leads to the next. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the talent you never heard about before but would always have loved. Please don't just sit there and let MTV and the likes tell you what you should be listening to.
(It's bad that I continue relate post titles and meaning to Nas songs, go figure).
Peace
