Friday, March 11, 2011

Music/Sad

"I was literally told for 'The Show Goes On' that I shouldn't rap too deep," he said. "I shouldn't be too lyrical. It just needs to be something easy on the eyes. Like a record company telling Picasso that we don't need these abstract interpretations of life, where people have to sit down and look at it and break it down. It was better to paint the Upper West Side lady and her poodle so everyone could look at it right away and understand what was going on. I felt like I was painting poodles."

Lately all my favorite hip-hop artists have become like this. Eminem, with his disgustingly robotic/commercial Recovery album. Jay-Z, every album since Black album. Lil Wayne, every album since Carter 2. All shit shit shit.

It greatly saddens me when I not only see people judge these artists by their commercial albums, but they actually think the shit is dope, or that the artist is complete trash. In fact, I'm sure many of you are reading this and thinking I have horrible taste.

Imagine watching Michael Jordan when he's 22. He's dunking from the freethrow line, averaging 38 points per game, and dunking on 7 footers everywhere. You become a fan for life. Fast forward 15 years, and Jordan is still playing at 37. He can hardly dunk anymore, primarily shoots jumpers, and can hardly play defense. You see your little cousins wonder what's so great about him, while watching casual fans get excited simply because he's Jordan, paying no attention to his skills.

Hip hop is full of 37 year old Jordans. Being a true fan of hip-hop has been tragic the past ten years, and more and more fans are having to rely on underground/indie music to get their fix of songs that, you know, actually require thinking and mental processing. Unfortunately, underground artists lack the charisma and relevance for me to give them more than a couple dozen listens.

Add Lupe Fiasco to the list. Personally, the most tragic of all, as his second album, The Cool, is the smartest, most well put-together rap album I've heard since the 90s. His new album, Lasers, is boring and played out, and clearly assembled by the record companies, not designed by Lupe.

I feel like I'm living my life through my memories, and a lot of it has to do with music. I must be an idiot to keep looking for fulfillment in places that have long since dried up.

27 comments:

  1. I feel the music well has dried up for several yrs now...it is sad:( thankfully we can still listen to the older stuff, musics hay day if you will...

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  2. wtf

    It saddens me also that art has to be reduced to make it more accessible to others. =[

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  3. They used to make much better songs! in ALL genre's...

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  4. "Like a record company telling Picasso that we don't need these abstract interpretations of life"

    Wat? Picasso didn't sell records haha.

    If you're looking for good sorta-underground hip hop, youtube E-dubble. He's this big white guy from the states who is making a lot of good stuff right now. "Hamden parks" is sweet.

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  5. I'd be interested to hear some of what you consider good. Cuz if you know what to hate, you must know what to like too.

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  6. Absolutely not.

    The music that is mainstream now is corporate cookie cutter ear candy, and nothing more. I think you will find that anyone with a true appreciation for music is looking at the last decade with a bit of disgust.

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  7. Money makes the world go 'round. Or in this case, it destroys creativity.

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  8. check out jmt,snowgoons,army of the pharaos
    true hiphop

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  9. I agree, i don't what happened. Memories forever I guess

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  10. The most important difference between underground artists and 'mainstream' ones is the number of people listening to them. Find people who are making good music now, and support them.

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  11. I really couldn't judge, I appreciate anything from Eminem to Neutral milk hotel. But I can relate to the feeling where your favourite music just isn't cutting it anymore. It's kind of sad :/

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  12. I've been out of touch with mainstream rappers for a while now, they just don't have anything interesting to say. I'm over hearing about how many drugs someone did or sold, or how much money they have. Indie/unsigned artists are where its at.

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  13. depending what it is your into (Lyrics ect) then theres still a select few of artists that are still incredibly awesome, Rhyme Asylum ( if you like the UK accent) are incredible, Possessed is one of my favourite artists, all in all i think you are right though, Hip Hop is slowly dying. :(

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  14. music and memories well what's bigger than those

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  15. Lupe Fiasco has fallen off. I think he fell into the whole "Im big now, so it's gonna be smooth sailing from now on" type of thing.

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  16. Very easy to get down about the state of the music industry bro.
    Chin up, just remember why you love the music in the first place.
    check these guys out, some fresh talent on the hip hop scene
    http://puzzleyourminds.blogspot.com/2011/03/ofwgkta.html

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  17. big labels control the big artists, i didnt know lupes album was out

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  18. check out some 'mf doom - operation doomsday'. it will soak up your shitty mainstream dilemna with good music! at least temporarily.

    also i think you subscribed to my moustache blog. thanks dood!

    epicmoustacheblog.blogspot.com :)

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  19. yeah some people will make fun of your rhymes if they are too deep. which is sad.

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  20. I haven't even listened to any of Eminem's newest stuff

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  21. every artist does it, all new stuff is crap

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  22. I think, because the music industry is not making as much money as they used to (i.e. CDs dont sell anymore), artisits have little incentive to be creative and write/sing better music. Instead, they spend their efforts touring, where all the money is in now.

    Anyway, following your blog.

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  23. Carter 3 was way better than Carter 2, dude :D

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  24. Man I know... It's hard to find good rap for the masses now :/

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  25. When people innovate, they usually do it young. Then, after they've innovated....where do they go from there?

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  26. Most music touched by the industry turns to crap.

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