So, I choose this title for a bevy of reasons. First as a slight introduction to the world of blogging (Yeezy being a name conjured up by my friends during a heated high school rap battle, lol), and also as a smooth segway into the issue at hand. While sitting in my office looking for anything to pass the time, I began a discussion with one of my good friends (and future blog contributor) John about a few things. But the main point of the discussion is what happenend to hip hop? Of course anyone can blame Soulja Boy, Lil Jon for his crunk shannanigans, and even the radio stations for feeding into it. But is it ok for us to blame the producer? Just maybe..
As this discussion raged on, we came to a consensus that after the 2001 release of the classic album "The Blueprint", that there was a solid 4 to 5 year period of amazing rap music. Most of it accompanied by the soulful beats of one Kanye West (hence the other refrence to Yeezy in the title). His beats seemed to tell a story all in themselves. As I write this I am listening to "Guess Who's Back", off of Scarface's album "The Fix". This song was classic for a couple of reasons, one being the line up of artists on the track; Hov, Face and Beans (A hungry beans at that). But what stands out amongst Jay-Z yelling "TALK TO ME MANNN", is the beat. A sample of the song "Sunrise" by The Originals, it seems as though the beat expresses the true feeling that the song is trying to get across(See Bottom for both tracks). Not only was it this song, but other songs such as "Get By" by Talib Kweli, "The Takeover" by Jay-Z, and even "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys. Not to mention albums such as "Be" by Common and the aforementioned "Blueprint" which both had Kanye stamped all over it..
What happenend to soulful beats and lyrics displayed in those songs and many others? Is it that the artists that truly have a message or that can truly spit are being overshadowed by those who can simply come up with the latest dance (No diss to Soulja Boy, because at one point or another everyone has Superman'd Dat Hoe)? Is it the labels fault for dumbing down artist just to make a fast dollar? Or is it the producers fault for finding a commonality in the game and sticking to it, instead of branching out like the Early Kanye West?...
The Hood Loves to listen to Jeezy and Weezy...and Oh Yea Yeezy..!
-Yeezy
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1 comment:
First off let me say YAY Jeff to putting a blog up!!!! And Im press Im the first one to comment. :-)
Secondly, I def agree. Jay and Kanye always make great music. Kanye with the great beats and Jay with his priceless flows are always going to give you a hit. Them, along with a number of other rappers, made it cool to have meaning behind their raps. But the times are changing and niggas dont want to hear that. Like Jay said, "Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Commen Sense. But I did 5 mill. I haven't been rhyming like Common since." Niggas are about that dollar. Period.
--Maryan
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