Hi, just thought I would share my general thoughts on Jayzs performance.
- Thread starter Greebozz
- Start date
I don't generally believed in conspiracy theories, but I would be tempted to believe that young black people are being are being kept down and subjugated by gangster/bling rap. Instead of dreams of being doctors or lawyers or professionals. Young black men's heads are filled with bling and boasting and crime by these rappers.
What all young black people?
What about the young white people who buy the bulk of the records that are filling young black peoples heads with crime?
zenie
>^^<
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It seems a shame to me - but not a surprise - that the reaction to a history of oppression is to splurge in conspicuous capitalist consumption. But it's not very big or clever, certainly when compared to Flavor Flav's giant watch, for instance, or the lyricism of Gil Scott-Heron.
I wonder how aware rappers like Jay-z are of why they do what they do. Gangsta rap seems to set as its highest purpose the celebration of a new-found freedom to be a cunt.
I wonder how aware rappers like Jay-z are of why they do what they do. Gangsta rap seems to set as its highest purpose the celebration of a new-found freedom to be a cunt.
Enough with the analysis, it's the soundtrack to my life. Im a hustler baby.I wonder how aware rappers like Jay-z are of why they do what they do. Gangsta rap seems to set as its highest purpose the celebration of a new-found freedom to be a cunt.
Everyday Im hustling, hustling, hustling.
Augie March
blahem
His followers? Is he the new Jesus?
No, but he is like Che Guevara with bling on.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It's just a word to describe a genre, isn't it?
There's a bit more to it than that. There's an awful lot of people out there playing a role for effect, whether or not their music is actually part of a specific sub-genre of Hip Hop...
Jay-Z can't seem to decide whether he's a gangbanger from the streets, or the self-proclaimed "CEO of Hip Hop" in a posh suit, but his followers lap it up either way, so I guess it's working for him.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
To continue in a serious vein, this new kind of consumerist, apolitical rap - unlike Public Enemy or NWA - does nothing to awaken consciousness or stimulate thought. It seems to me little more than an opiate for the black masses.
cyberfairy
http://unicycle-emptiness.co.uk/
Tim Westwood's opinion of the man and performance in question...
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/glastonbury_2008_boom_westwood.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/glastonbury_2008_boom_westwood.html
I just don't think you listen to much hip hop. Tell me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I get.
Augie March
blahem
Hang on, wasn't Jay-Z fairly political in his performance the other night?
Once upon a time the artists expressed themselves how they wished when they created music. Some of it was fine, some of it was crap but most of all it felt "free new" and fresh.
* 1970's
Say what you like. battle and strive to be the best in NY or your area. Must come out with new stuff to be the best. No sales but much respect and kudos.
* 1980's
Say what you like. Still strive to be the best. Strive for better production and you might sell some records. Some sales and lots of kudos. keep battling on the street scene and do loads of live shows in NY or your area. "Conscious" rap music talks about black issues and has a very political slant.
* 1990's
Some one out there is buying rap music! Make sure that you have a decent studio production. Forget what people are doing on the battle or street scene. You will get some sales. Tour, get air play! Sell shirts and merchandising.
Booom!
* NWA - say what they like. Sell millions of records without airplay.
* A ton of home-made albums sound good and sell well.
Outcome is that everything sounds the same...
"...yeah, uh, i got my /* insert product here */ on and I'm /* insert crime*/ 'cos I'm kicking it..."
Every once in a while someone comes out with a fresh sound and it becomes very popular really quickly. People copy that sound or style because it sold bucket loads of records.
"...yeah, uh, yeah, uh, uh, keeps it /* insert cliche */ and i live in /*insert housing project*/ 'cos i'm gonna /*insert crime*/"
Rap music is a victim of its own success.
* 1970's
Say what you like. battle and strive to be the best in NY or your area. Must come out with new stuff to be the best. No sales but much respect and kudos.
* 1980's
Say what you like. Still strive to be the best. Strive for better production and you might sell some records. Some sales and lots of kudos. keep battling on the street scene and do loads of live shows in NY or your area. "Conscious" rap music talks about black issues and has a very political slant.
* 1990's
Some one out there is buying rap music! Make sure that you have a decent studio production. Forget what people are doing on the battle or street scene. You will get some sales. Tour, get air play! Sell shirts and merchandising.
Booom!
* NWA - say what they like. Sell millions of records without airplay.
* A ton of home-made albums sound good and sell well.
Outcome is that everything sounds the same...
"...yeah, uh, i got my /* insert product here */ on and I'm /* insert crime*/ 'cos I'm kicking it..."
Every once in a while someone comes out with a fresh sound and it becomes very popular really quickly. People copy that sound or style because it sold bucket loads of records.
"...yeah, uh, yeah, uh, uh, keeps it /* insert cliche */ and i live in /*insert housing project*/ 'cos i'm gonna /*insert crime*/"
Rap music is a victim of its own success.
I've never been a massive fan of Jigga, but I'm a fan of good hip-hop and good live music.
Watched him on the BBC the other night and have to say he smacked it. Great show, place was packed and I think he did himself alot of favours and reminded people of all the tracks he's done over the years.
Well played I say.
As to whether he's still 'street' or not, I don't think that's the discussion for right here. After all the 'bad Glasto tickets sales are because of Jay-Z' bollox he stepped up and showed people what he's all about and why he's so massive.
Watched him on the BBC the other night and have to say he smacked it. Great show, place was packed and I think he did himself alot of favours and reminded people of all the tracks he's done over the years.
Well played I say.
As to whether he's still 'street' or not, I don't think that's the discussion for right here. After all the 'bad Glasto tickets sales are because of Jay-Z' bollox he stepped up and showed people what he's all about and why he's so massive.
zenie
>^^<
It's not really new, and it's not the black masses, not at all IMO.
Tim Westwood's opinion of the man and performance in question...
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/glastonbury_2008_boom_westwood.html
i *love* tim westwood. he cracks me up
the last paragraph is excellent too
anyway - saw a bit of jay-z on the box. he was alright. i woudln't have chosen to go and watch him if i was there, but he was a million times more entertaining than when i saw oasis there in 95. they were fuckin' appaling.
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
Tim Westwood's opinion of the man and performance in question...
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/glastonbury_2008_boom_westwood.html
I know very little about Tim Westwood but ... he comes across as a complete tosser in that article. And I ain't fronting you cats
As for Jay-Z I thought it was an great performance, really enjoyed it but personally prefer NWA, Public Enemy or, for some old school hip-hop, Run DMC "Tr-Tr-Tr-Tricky"!
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
Well I don't know about all that but I did like Jay-Zs scarf on Saturday. Where can I get one like that? - it'll soon be winter...
There is still some brilliant music being made by the likes of - off the top of my head - Panacea, Shape of Broad Minds, Roots Manuva, E-LP, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Common, Mos Def (not for a while, I'll grant you), MF Doom, Ghostface, Lil Wayne, the Roots etc etc etc that doesn't conform to simple gangsta posturing.
Frankly, if you want to dismiss the entire genre as being one trick then that's your loss. You'd call anyone saying "all rock is men in parka jackets singing nonsensical rhyming couplets over Slade b-side backing" a complete fool and you'd be right, because there is also the bed wetting piano playing side of things to consider.
Frankly, if you want to dismiss the entire genre as being one trick then that's your loss. You'd call anyone saying "all rock is men in parka jackets singing nonsensical rhyming couplets over Slade b-side backing" a complete fool and you'd be right, because there is also the bed wetting piano playing side of things to consider.
the crux of the matter, imo. i've seen better live hip-hop, but it was still a decent show overall. and significantly better than any oasis perfomance i've ever seen.
And then there's all the stuff that's outside the mainstream.
--
My point was that Jay-Z's a pop act and shouldn't be taken too seriously, even if some people choose to believe all sorts of stuff about him.
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