When I was
a child (“I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a
child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”)--
King James Version Bible I remember
looking forward to the next album from Public Enemy or Tribe Called Quest. I never purchased any Hip hop artist’s T-shirt
and only went to a few hip hop concert or shows. I never cared for wearing too much of anything
with someone’s face and name showing; as if I was advertising them. As, of today you may see me wearing a Detroit
Tigers Tee; but that’s it. Also, I
remember one of the last Hip Hop shows I attended; it was at Chene Park in Detroit. The Roots and D’ Angelo were there. I attended with my girlfriend at the time,
she had that look about her- she resembled Lauryn Hill (the mis-education
version). While The Roots were
great D’ Angelo was so much better; he performed songs from one of my favorite
albums - Voodoo. Me and then girlfriend at the time were so in
love and immersed in romance we didn’t even watch the show. We went somewhere further- to expand on our
romance a little more further. Still
able to hear the music from the show blaring from the loud speakers we explored
each other’s physical (what a wonderful night).
I have to honestly thank D’ Angelo, for his influence on that memory. Music has the tendency to have a particular
influence in many of listeners/music lover’s lives. As noted even more so by the cognitive/spatial
experiment known as the MOZART EFFECT.
However, Hip
hop music in general has had much influence into how many of listeners and fans
dress/fashion, speak, think & unfortunately- even act. Just a few days ago Jay- Z’s new album 4:44 dropped, (and no, this is not
a review). When I review an album. I only review an album that I truly like/love
or an album that I truly think is absolutely terrible. What I am perplexed by- is what people are
saying about this album on the internet.
Most of what I have seen/heard is much more than a semi-quasi review. I have heard people say that this album is- “a blueprint to how a black man in America or today’s
society should think, move, & conduct himself”. “Jay- Z is what a black man should be”? “He
spit lyrics about moral code, setting principles and how a real black man should
think”. WTF?? Really? The first
thought that came into my mind was the beginning of Nas’s diss song to Jay Z entitled
Ether- (Tupac’s voiceover on top of the sampled kick
drum…“FUCK JAY
Z”).
Surprisingly, these are grown men well
into their 30s/40s saying these things on the internet spewing these ridiculous
accolades. I on the
other hand, am extremely confused by these statements. There was even a 50 year old man I saw on
youtube declaring similar statements.
What did I miss? I wondered
whether these men had fathers in their lives, or whether they only get cues on
what to do from day-to-day; by listening to Hip-hop music. Most of the things he (Jay-Z) conveyed, through
song lyrics about business and life in general; are things my father said to me
when I was 10 years old. I do not know
Jay- Z and don’t really give a shit about his life- (why is that, you ask?). Well, I have my own life, things that I have
learned through living my 30 plus years on earth. My life is nothing like Jay-Z’s life. Sure, I make beats and DJ from time to time,
but it’s not my career (it’s just a side hustle & hobby). I view Jay –Z as just another entertainer,
not a policy writer or someone of influence.
In comparison, to that night at Chene Park with the music of D’ Angelo-
I received romance, passion, more of an affinity for my woman (at the time)
& etc. Of course, I liked past albums & music of Jay- Z but have never considered
myself as a fan. My example of a fan
would be, someone like my sister having an affinity for Prince & his music,
so much that she purchased(s) everything
Prince. Including—posters, t-shirts, and
some fan memorabilia.
Prince wrote some serious shit within his song lyrics but not enough to influence the thinking of his fans. However, he definitely influenced other musicians to step their game up musically. With the album 4:44, I heard some of the same shit I heard on the last Jay- Z album. Braggadocio about his latest business moves, how he lost money but then gained more, and idle chatter about his wife over a few subpar hip hop beats (no surprise). By the way, hearing songs like “Me and Girlfriend”, “Crazy in Love, & Drunk in Love; caused me to view “BLACK LOVE” as a mental disorder. Influential? How? His song DOA (Death of Autotune) in 2009, did nothing but spawn even more than a thousand 808s & Heartbreaks, Chief Keef songs; and Future's entire career. In other words, I was not moved not influenced by not one lyric I heard. None of what he conveyed spoke to me as a black man. However, on the song Story of OJ, it seemed as if he was speaking to other rappers and hood niggas about spending money in the strip club with lines such as: “You wanna know what's more important than throwin' away money at a strip club? Credit- /You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America?/ This how they did it” - Interpretation: "Spend money on things such as land, which adds wealth, and makes you money; instead of giving your money to hos/thots dummy". Good idea, glad Jay Z didn't just come up with it. As far as owning a business and acquiring wealth, I was more inspired by Animal Planet's "the Vet Life", then listening to a Jay Z lyric. A show about black veterinarians building/working in their own clinic and working together in business. Meanwhile, NBA star Lebron James citing, we need more black doctors, lawyers, engineers....etc. Needless to say, that was a very inspiring statement than anything conveyed by Jay Z on 4:44. Also, on 4:44 he conveyed lyrically over No I.D. production; the ignorance of some rappers showing off on social media – Instagram …etc. Apparently, those lines offended the likes of rappers such as: Lil Boosie & Blac Youngsta with Lil Boosie citing “Jay Z don’t run shit”. Exactly, I don’t think niggas should be flexin’ on the gram’ , but I am also in somewhat of agreeance with Boosie. I don’t think or conceptualize Jay Z having any influence over my life. I don’t live a ratchet lifestyle; so I don’t care what any of those niggas do. Hip Hop culture is not black culture, or African American culture. It is only a subculture of black/African American culture. Furthermore, it is more of an American culture or Americana. It is not a full embodiment or representation of what the so-called Black American is. Jay Z is not an example of what I believe a black man should be. My father was my example. Hip Hop music is just music, entertainment. Some of its contents/lyrics, over the years (specifically the 90’s) growing up did affirm some things that my parents may have taught or said. In today’s hip hop music the crowd is different, the climate is different; (younger) with a whole set of different rules/conduct. As Floyd Mayweather noted, “today’s hip hop makes being a junkie sound cool” [paraphrased]… ex. Future’s Molly/Percocet song. People are considering Jay Z a genius on the album 4:44, genius for what? Saying what people with common sense would say? Speaking common sense is not genius. If you rewind the clock 7 to 10 years ago, Nas spoke similar words on THE LOST TAPES in a song called “Black Zombies” with more intention of breaking "the cycle" of negativity in black culture. So, remember at that time Jay Z’s character was that ignorant nigga that asked Nas “If he was trying to kick knowledge”. Note, this one of the reasons some people say fuck history, because they don’t want you to remind them of the days when they were not thinking correctly. Some claim they are perfectly content with the mistakes they made in the past- and that the past is past so don’t mention it ….right? However, Jay- Z mentioned the past himself by conveying his response to Beyonce’s (his wifes) album Lemonade with a less than subpar, half ass, lyrical apology…for his infidelity (cheating). Why is this so monumental to any man over 30? – (as many of us: including myself have cheated on a woman probably just as many times as he has); with the exception of being married of course. If I get married next week and think of cheating on my wife, I doubt I will stop and think about Jay Z & Beyonce’s relationship. Most likely I will just cheat; why? …because I’m a fucking cheater. Seeing my parents being married for 50+ years didn’t stop me from cheating on almost every woman I was with; so I seriously doubt an apology song from Jay- Z to Beyonce’ will change my mind. The words of DJ Envy from the Breakfast Club radio show- in relation to his infidelities was actually more influential than any male lead apology song I ever heard. He spoke candidly and more in depth of his insecurities as a man, which fueled his thinking as a catalyst to his behavior. I guess overall, I view idol worship and the need for direction in life from Hip Hop artists as an enigma. Maybe even a disease that just spreads to everyone. Even those that are allegedly mature. If I am in a bad space as a man, I can’t imagine looking to a rapper for motivation to get out of it. Just the situation alone should be all the motivation I need as an adult. Allegedly, Kendrick Lamar said Jay Z is a Master Teacher, but who the fuck is Kendrick Lamar? If you follow the teachings of the 5 Percent Nation, you would know & understand that some of them view Hip Hop music and culture, in equivalence to pork. Seems as if, people nowadays prefer being a follower instead of being a leader. So, in that sense I have no choice, but to view Jay- Z, and other rappers; just as others view Al Sharpton & Jessie Jackson…etc. A glamour boy/camera jockey/pseudo black militant/flashing light aficionado, that doesn’t do anything to promote actual change within black culture/community; but increase his own wealth by simply controlling a microphone.
Prince wrote some serious shit within his song lyrics but not enough to influence the thinking of his fans. However, he definitely influenced other musicians to step their game up musically. With the album 4:44, I heard some of the same shit I heard on the last Jay- Z album. Braggadocio about his latest business moves, how he lost money but then gained more, and idle chatter about his wife over a few subpar hip hop beats (no surprise). By the way, hearing songs like “Me and Girlfriend”, “Crazy in Love, & Drunk in Love; caused me to view “BLACK LOVE” as a mental disorder. Influential? How? His song DOA (Death of Autotune) in 2009, did nothing but spawn even more than a thousand 808s & Heartbreaks, Chief Keef songs; and Future's entire career. In other words, I was not moved not influenced by not one lyric I heard. None of what he conveyed spoke to me as a black man. However, on the song Story of OJ, it seemed as if he was speaking to other rappers and hood niggas about spending money in the strip club with lines such as: “You wanna know what's more important than throwin' away money at a strip club? Credit- /You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America?/ This how they did it” - Interpretation: "Spend money on things such as land, which adds wealth, and makes you money; instead of giving your money to hos/thots dummy". Good idea, glad Jay Z didn't just come up with it. As far as owning a business and acquiring wealth, I was more inspired by Animal Planet's "the Vet Life", then listening to a Jay Z lyric. A show about black veterinarians building/working in their own clinic and working together in business. Meanwhile, NBA star Lebron James citing, we need more black doctors, lawyers, engineers....etc. Needless to say, that was a very inspiring statement than anything conveyed by Jay Z on 4:44. Also, on 4:44 he conveyed lyrically over No I.D. production; the ignorance of some rappers showing off on social media – Instagram …etc. Apparently, those lines offended the likes of rappers such as: Lil Boosie & Blac Youngsta with Lil Boosie citing “Jay Z don’t run shit”. Exactly, I don’t think niggas should be flexin’ on the gram’ , but I am also in somewhat of agreeance with Boosie. I don’t think or conceptualize Jay Z having any influence over my life. I don’t live a ratchet lifestyle; so I don’t care what any of those niggas do. Hip Hop culture is not black culture, or African American culture. It is only a subculture of black/African American culture. Furthermore, it is more of an American culture or Americana. It is not a full embodiment or representation of what the so-called Black American is. Jay Z is not an example of what I believe a black man should be. My father was my example. Hip Hop music is just music, entertainment. Some of its contents/lyrics, over the years (specifically the 90’s) growing up did affirm some things that my parents may have taught or said. In today’s hip hop music the crowd is different, the climate is different; (younger) with a whole set of different rules/conduct. As Floyd Mayweather noted, “today’s hip hop makes being a junkie sound cool” [paraphrased]… ex. Future’s Molly/Percocet song. People are considering Jay Z a genius on the album 4:44, genius for what? Saying what people with common sense would say? Speaking common sense is not genius. If you rewind the clock 7 to 10 years ago, Nas spoke similar words on THE LOST TAPES in a song called “Black Zombies” with more intention of breaking "the cycle" of negativity in black culture. So, remember at that time Jay Z’s character was that ignorant nigga that asked Nas “If he was trying to kick knowledge”. Note, this one of the reasons some people say fuck history, because they don’t want you to remind them of the days when they were not thinking correctly. Some claim they are perfectly content with the mistakes they made in the past- and that the past is past so don’t mention it ….right? However, Jay- Z mentioned the past himself by conveying his response to Beyonce’s (his wifes) album Lemonade with a less than subpar, half ass, lyrical apology…for his infidelity (cheating). Why is this so monumental to any man over 30? – (as many of us: including myself have cheated on a woman probably just as many times as he has); with the exception of being married of course. If I get married next week and think of cheating on my wife, I doubt I will stop and think about Jay Z & Beyonce’s relationship. Most likely I will just cheat; why? …because I’m a fucking cheater. Seeing my parents being married for 50+ years didn’t stop me from cheating on almost every woman I was with; so I seriously doubt an apology song from Jay- Z to Beyonce’ will change my mind. The words of DJ Envy from the Breakfast Club radio show- in relation to his infidelities was actually more influential than any male lead apology song I ever heard. He spoke candidly and more in depth of his insecurities as a man, which fueled his thinking as a catalyst to his behavior. I guess overall, I view idol worship and the need for direction in life from Hip Hop artists as an enigma. Maybe even a disease that just spreads to everyone. Even those that are allegedly mature. If I am in a bad space as a man, I can’t imagine looking to a rapper for motivation to get out of it. Just the situation alone should be all the motivation I need as an adult. Allegedly, Kendrick Lamar said Jay Z is a Master Teacher, but who the fuck is Kendrick Lamar? If you follow the teachings of the 5 Percent Nation, you would know & understand that some of them view Hip Hop music and culture, in equivalence to pork. Seems as if, people nowadays prefer being a follower instead of being a leader. So, in that sense I have no choice, but to view Jay- Z, and other rappers; just as others view Al Sharpton & Jessie Jackson…etc. A glamour boy/camera jockey/pseudo black militant/flashing light aficionado, that doesn’t do anything to promote actual change within black culture/community; but increase his own wealth by simply controlling a microphone.
written by DJ Yorkoo
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