Peace. So today I was starting up my computer when somehow I stumbled on a site that contained a link to the yearly VH1 Hip-Hop Honors awards. Out of simple curiousity I clicked on the link to scoff at the presumably dismall honorees when to my horror and utter disgust I see that this years tribute reads "The Dirty South". My first thoughts we're ok...well at least they'll have Outkast and Scarface...WRONG! (most) of the egregeious honorees and performers are JERMAINE DUPRI, LUTHER "LUKE" CAMPBELL, GUCCI MANE (seriously), LIL JON, DEM FRANCHIZE BOYZ, PAULL WALL, NELLY, MURPHY LEE, (it gets worse) T-PAIN, THE YING YANG TWINS, BONE CRUSHER and a few more.
Now my problem is this: I'm not mad that VH1 decided to honor the south-IT'S WHO THERE HORNORING AN' HAVIN' AS TRIBUTE PERFORMERS. Now those who are in touch with HIP-HOP have all heard talk of the south; sothhern rappers, aren't lyrical, they don't try to make anything thoght provoking and the overwhelming majority of there subject matter is about materialism an' violence. The East Coast has this perception solidified and still advancing. Why??? BECAUSE IT'S TRUE! I could make 100 blogs on the ignorant, materilistic and infantile sing-songy lyrics spewd by southern rappers.
"Verse 3]
(Gucci) Don't be conceited girl
I know you'll eat a girl
I know ya secret girl
But I'm gon keep it girl
O you's a college girl
Come be a Gucci girl
O you's a Gucci fan
Let's go to Gucciland
you diggin Gucci man.
Cause only Gucci can
Drop a rack
Pop your back
With a rubberband.
You diggin Gucci Gucci.
Let's do the oochi koochi
O that's yo girlfriend."
Why didn't you introduce me -from "Freaky Girl" Gucci Mane
Verse 1:]
"Look up in the sky it's a nigga selling birds on a plane
He ain't never heard of t-pain
I'm the new superhero of the brand new age
Brand new rims brand new chevrolet
And a bitch yellow, red, blue
So nigga I ain't ever scared of you
Somebody better tell these niggas how I do
And if it ever come to it
I'm a run right through it
I'm a ready nigga if you really need help
Everybody in the street saying he feeling himself
But I'm saving they world
And I can only save one person at a time
So I'm saving they girl
And I'm a make her fly
Baby wave hi
All up in the truck
Now Baby wave bye
Or we can go and get some of your friends in the band
I can do that shit
Cause I'm superman (superman)" -"Superman" T-Pain
(sorry) This type of artistry is exactly what gets the south hated on and constantly criticised. I mean, HONESTLY how much thought do lyrics like "you diggin Gucci Gucci/let's do the oochie coochie" take??? I believe that Hip-Hop is about-and still is about THE ART FORM and not just in the Hip-Hop culture, all music as well. What are mind dumbing lyrics from Gucci Mane, T-Pain and similar artits going to do for you and your children? Are you really benefitting anything more than bobbing your head to a hot beat and memorizing every other lyric and the hook??? NO! There are artits who pour there fuckin' heart, soul and mind on the paper for HER like Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Mr. J Mederios and Lupe Fiasco to name a few.
New York is known for artits being more lyrical and putting more thought into there rhymes. You can youtube any random NYC rapper or rap battle and hear that the cats rhyme polysyllabically and are touching subjects and ideas other rappers don't or haven't even thought of. This applies to many other rappers elsewhere in the world as well. Example: "Rewind" NaS, "Alphabetical Slaughter" Papoose, "Pop Quiz" Saigon, "Dance With The Devil" Immortal Technique and almost anythong by Lupe (Pap and Saigon do talk about some bullshit too though). The counsumers need to wake up and learn that rappers-anywhere not just the south-who bring the myopia that the 2010VH1 honors show contain are in fact detrimental to a persons intellectual being and overall mental growth. When Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five dropped the landmark Hip-Hop song "The Message" back in '82 alot of people who we're unaware learned about the social issues that the youth we're facing. When 2Pac dropped "Brenda's Got A Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up" we took a second look at things and aprreciated what we have, When NaS released Illmatic we we're blown away by the lyricism and refreshing word play. It's artistry such as this that I believe is Hip-Hop in it's purest, untainted form. Hip-Hop needs balance and when the radio and BET only play garbage by garbage artits the youth don't learn or benefit anything real from the music.
Alot of artits use Hip-Hop as a survival tool rather then an expression of art. That's one of HER problems that she faces. BUT THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER BLOG! She needs a radical change if she truly wants to be a she was created. I understand change is inevitable (and that's fine) but dumbing down the culture and willingly putting out ignorance should be inadmissible.
Lastly...one of the things that really blew me about VH1'S 2010 Honors show is that the very few lyrical, thought provoking, creative, DIFFERENT south artits aren't even mentioned. NO SCARFACE, NO GETO BOYS, NO OUTKAST and NO CEE-LO (Little Brother, T.I and Devin The Dude are honorable mentions). I leave you with this, think about you and your kids/future kids. Do you really want them immulating shallow minded artists and in return receiving nothing beneficial??? Hip-Hop needs balance and we're the only one's who can help her. Speak up, Post blogs, let a friend or even a stanger know about a good record. It's on us.
"Our purpose is to educate as well as entertain"- Curtis Mayfield
Peace.
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VH1 probably thought that those artists felt left out, so they decided to honor them. Nowadays it is far too easy to become successful in stupidity and misunderstanding. To be honest, I think it doesn't only start with us, but the rising artists as well. Nefu Da Don, Diz Gibran, Curren$y (who signed & DROPPED Young Money because of their motives and hinderance of his business), Dom Kennedy, Pac Div, & so on & so forth. It is time for them to take a recognition and realize the truth of the game. One way everyone can go about this is by bringing it to the attention of the newbies in the game, before money becomes the motive. It is a sad era of music, but the best of the best are still living in the hip-hop world. They are like the warriors of the clan that cannot be defeated, until old age, but voice never ages. Hence, the fact that Tupac & Biggy are still being played in the world today. Good point though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dae, I could see why VH1 would do such a thing but I find it infuriating and incredibly disrespectful that they set up a tribute show exclusively for southern rappers and select the worst of the bunch. I for one always try to shed the light to the younger AND older cats. I feel there will be a day where Hip-Hop gets the balance it needs.
ReplyDeleteIt was a slap in the face to the legendaries and skilled. Indeed, that day will come though when the better will take over. Just stay tuned & keep doing what you doing.
ReplyDeleteBut you have to keep in mind...this is still Viacom...the same owners of BET...The exact same network that said Little Brother was too "intelligent" to be played on BET. Viacom does not care about hip hop unless it's guns, hoes and money.
ReplyDeleteWord, Mista Ecks but I was blown 'cause they've acknowledged some very well deserved artists in their previous Honor shows. This year...this year I suppose they just completely stopped giving a fuck. Shit, if that was the case they should not have had an honors show this year.
ReplyDelete