Last time we talked about rapper’s inconsistencies in their
stories. Many times they will slip up and forget one of their lines. Whether it
was how they got their money, where they’re from, or the dirt they’ve done in
the past, sometimes the stories just don’t add up. As I mentioned though I
think there is bigger issue at hand here. In Hip Hop we want, no fuck that, we
DEMAND that  our rappers only talk about their lives and what they’ve
done. If it’s fake we don’t fuck with it all. Now the real question is, what’s
fake? Actually before that question we have to ask another one. What is music?
I don’t know about you but to me music is foremost art and then it’s
entertainment, at least it’s supposed to be. When I turn on a CD I want to be
entertained. Whether your going to make me laugh, make me cry, make me dance,
make me wanna get some money, make me wanna fuck somethin’. Whatever. You just
have to move me. Now entertainment is not reality. It’s a fantasy world where
great and amazing things happen. However in our culture I feel that we block
our artists in and don’t let them be just that, artists.

 

“If  I didn’t do it, I’m not gonna say it.” That’s the
most common saying for a rapper now. So basically in hip hop were saying that
our artists can’t use their imagination and can’t really create new art.
 Then what’s really funny to me is if you ask that same artist what their
favorite movie is and you’ll get the usual. Scarface. New Jack City. SuperFly. Well wait a minute, if 
your so real and you only fuck with reality why are all these fictional
characters so cool to you? Or better yet why the fuck do you even watch movies
in the first place? Or TV for that matter?  Do you know how fucking boring
our world would be if every other art form was as close minded as hip hop is?
None of our classics, some of which I just named above would have ever been
made.

 

Scarface. This movie has been referenced in more rap songs
than pussy and weed combined. Yet it’s just that, a movie. How come nobody ever
says “Oh I don’t fuck with Al Pacino,
he never really sold coke.” Or “He never really killed nobody, that niggas a
fake.” No he’s an actor. Wesley Snipes
is not really Nino Brown. Yet nobody criticizes him for this role. We only
praise the movie and it say “Man, that shit gangsta.” Do you feel like a fake
when you watch HBO’s The Wire? “Oh man that Marlo’s a bitch, he don’t really be
moving weight!” Of course you don’t say that because if you did you would sound
like a fucking retard. Nobody really expects that guy on their TV to walk off
set and go put in some work with the camera makeup still on.  Instead you
just enjoy the show and get so caught up in the story that you forget you are
even watching actors and these characters become real to you. But for some
reason in hip hop it’s not the same. Do you really think Young Jeezy or Juelz Santana
hits the block after the studio? I mean come on! So what after they do a 45
minute show and get paid $40,000 they’re gonna go risk life to move some $800
ounces? I hope ya’ll are not really that stupid.

 

You see these actors are entertainers as well just like
rappers. Rappers are musicians in my opinion. They don’t use instruments but
they do make music that really touches and affects people and that to me is a
musician. We have to give our musicians freedom to create and give us art.
Think of the great stories Slick Rick
told. What about the classic Biggie song “Niggas Bleed”. Do you really think
that was based on reality? Did BIG really kill 4 Jamaicans and rob them for a
million in cash before he got a deal? No! It was just BIG showing his SKILLS as
a song WRITER and trying to entertain us. And guess what…there’s nothing wrong
with that. The real thing here is that we say we want the truth but we really
don’t. If you think every rapper who says they sold coke or that they had money
before this rap shit is telling the truth, your wrong. That’s just what’s
poppin right now and these niggas are trying to eat. But the people that do
come out and tell their reality, these are the ones that are “underground” or
called bubblegum rap.

 

Let’s look at Soulja
Boy. I admit I am no fan but I see what he’s doing. It seems like a lot of
people are mad at this kid for what he is. So what he makes little stupid songs
about super heroes and bad report cards and all that shit. He doesn’t rap about
being in the trap and getting a million before the age of 12. But guess what.
He’s also 15. He was raised in the suburbs in a two parent household. What do
you want him to rap about? Hard times coming up serving dope in the ghetto? I
mean come the fuck on. Bad grades and super heroes are his reality. But the
“real” niggas don’t fuck with him cause he’s on that “other shit.” Like I said
I don’t enjoy his music either but at least he’s being him.


The bottom line is this. Music is art and art doesn’t
necessarily have to be based 100% in reality.  Almost no movie, TV show,
play, book, painting, or any form of entertainment would exist if they had to
follow the same rules as Hip Hop. Or if they did it would be very boring.
Reality for the most part isn’t entertaining and believe me your average
rappers life isn’t as thrilling as you think either. Even the “real” ones fake
it and talk shit. Their not in the club every night, at least not the ones that
are winning. To be successful they have to handle business and it’s much more
work than play. Their in meetings, their on air planes. Their doing interviews
for 6 hours in a row. Their meeting with their tour manager, their reviewing
contracts. Their doing all kinds of shit but believe me, their not just smoking
purp and getting head all day like they say in their music. If they were they
wouldn’t be in the position their in because that’s not what winners and go-
getters do. But would you really wanna hear Jeezy talk about his marketing
meeting that he had this morning at 9am. I know I don’t. So instead he gives us
the highlights. And once again there’s nothing wrong with that because he’s
entertaining us. Telling us how you ride in a Bentley with a gun on your lap
sounds cool. At least cooler than you had to wake up at 6am today to make it to
the plane on time and then do rehearsal and then a show and then right back on
a plane to do it again. That’s not cool at all. In fact that sounds a lot like,
I don’t know, what’s that word… oh yeah, work! So let’s keep in mind that this
really is just music and lighten up a little bit. If we keep asking for reality
we just might get it. Then what?