It's Jus Not Pretty No More...

(I WROTE THIS IN FEBRUARY 2007)

Hip-Hop is dead? No. I honestly think it's one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. Hip-Hop was just fine and dandy for everyone until Nas's latest album dropped. Now all of a sudden everybody holds a huge funeral for her.

No disrespect to the god Nas, but his album only extends on how emcees aren't real anymore. The last time I checked Hip-Hop was more than emceeing. It was a culture that consists of the other three elements of dee-jaying, b-boying, and graffiti. Though these elements aren't at the peak of where they could possibly be, they still exist.

As far as the state of emceeing is concerned, there are a large number of rappers that are rapping just because and are heavily saturated in watered down party lyrics and drug tales. But, instead of putting on a black armband for Hip-Hop, as a "real" fan you would question the longevity of the current subject matter in the music.

Hip-Hop is like a real living breathing human being--"it is subject to change". If you observe the art of rhyme, it's clear to see that it moves in cycles. In the genesis, emceeing wasn't too much about lyrical content anyway. It was loud party music just like it is now. If Chuck D never came with the politics, we would probably still be doing the wop or something like that. If Ice Cube never kicked in the door with gangster rap, we would probably still be uptight all the time talking about how corrupt the government is.

Hip-Hop is far from dead. She just got a lot of surgery and doesn't look as cute as she used to be. It's hard for me and many other people to swallow that, but it has to go down or you'll choke. I don't necessarily like where Hip-Hop is right now, but just because I don't like her as much doesn't mean she's dead. I still love her.

Me vs. Night Train at Hell is For Heroes

I Do This Shytt

I do this Hip Hop shytt. Don't start to argue with me about what Hip Hop is. I'm tired of mufuckas that don't kno shytt about Hip Hop comin' up to me tellin me what Hip Hop is. I'm a Wu-Tang fan, Saigon fan, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Aesop Rock, Sean Price, M1 P, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Talib, Mos Def, Reef the Lost Cauze, and C-Rayz Walz fan. This goes to show my range in taste. I ain't one of those tofu eatin "THIS IS REAL HIPHOP" mufuckas. Good Musick speaks for itself. No such thing as bad Hip-Hop. This is simply the emceeing element of Hip Hop.

Don't approach me telling me who u think is hotter than the other based on sells and earning power and award nominations. there are greater emcees that im sure ur close minded ass would never hear. u judging a rapper by their awards won is like judging kids by they test scores. it's not an accurate account of lyricism/artistry. Souljah Boy is a grammy nominee and how talented is he?....really? Bow Wow is a grammy nominee (did he ever winn one? idk), but tha kid can't even write his own lines.

I can go on forever, but just kno that, i am a student of this shytt. i've been doin this since i was 14 years old. 5 years later, i've attained so much knowledge on my field of choice. if this pays the bills, so be it, but i luv tis shytt. go talk about ur spice girls or watever tha fuck u lissen to, but don't tell me what Hip Hop is or isn't or who's hot and who's not.