It's a hard one to carry. Chance the Rapper, Lupe before he got crazy, Kanye before Yeezus, Childish Gambino before he got all whiny about Jhené Aiko. Kendrick Lamar is the shit. Shad when I want to listen to Hip-Hop around my parents or minors. Deltron 3030 when I want to listen to Hip-Hop around scientists or people who hate Hip-Hop because they're scared of it. Pusha T because he is everything. I write about whatever strikes my fancy at the time, though I have a focus on music and videogames for my school's website. You can check out my blog here (shameless plug).
Man I feel that. He was one of my favorite up and coming rappers than he just kind of shit the bed. He got too preachy for his own good. He needs to go to an Occupy rally, not make music with those kind of lyrics.Lupe before he got crazy
Food and Liquor straight up got me into hip-hop. All the greats were on that album, his flow was incredible, it was the right balance of great flow and some strong messages. The Cool is better technically, but nothing will beat F&L for me. Dude has so much potential, I wish he'd capitalize on it.
Not to derail this thread, but I think this was 100% intentional on his part. I know a lot of hip hop loves the idea that nothing matters but the flow, but I think he intentionally challenged that idea in order to bring social awareness in rap to other people who might not have heard it before. Take for example "Bitch Bad". This song is not about the flow, it's completely about the lyrics and story. A lot of people hate this song, but I've shown it to people who do not like most hip hop and they really enjoy it. I mean, it's emotional right? It's challenges the way we think about women and hip hop and black culture. Turned down the music, turned up the social to bring attention to it. My biggest evidence that this was intentional is in the following lyric from ITAL (Roses):
I mean right there he's showing how self aware the album absolutely is. Now would I fault someone for not liking the album? Absolutely not. I can clearly see why people wouldn't like it. It often seems preachy and over the top. Totally get that 100% but I don't foresee myself not liking it for a while.I know you’re sayin’, “Lupe rappin’ ‘bout the same shit”
Well, that’s ‘cause ain’t shit changed, bitch
And please don’t excuse my language
Cause I would hate for you to misrepresent
The true expression of my anguish
I think kanye is a genius that's been torn apart emotionally/mentally by the media. The dude is psychotic because the paparazzi will do anything to make him snap. This is a good example. He lives a town away from me and I once saw him at a Cheesecake Factory :3 I said hi and told him 808s was the best. He laughed and said, "shit, i think so too." :D
Nah I hear ya I just thought Yeezus was trying to be Death Grips and wasn't even close. But I like that he doesn't really give a shit and makes whatever he wants to. Plus Blood on the Leaves was dope. I'm excited to see what he does next. Cool that you met him though. I would have been like, "woah, you're Kanye!" Then do that HAAA sound he does.