Critical Minded hip hop dx

[STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER]

Critical Minded
Sunday - April 13, 2003
Article By: J-23 (jeff.ryce@hiphopdx.com)
Critical Minded
J-23

(Herc & Flash go the playground, my favorite Nelly song, free Ras Kass and f#$k Priority, 50 Cent vs. Big/Pac, and all the reasons I love R&B)

Before we get into some hip-hop shit, allow me to speak on a more serious issue. I am sure many of you have varying opinions on the ongoing war with Iraq, and whatever your feelings may be, it is your own opinion and you are entitled to it. I am not going to preach my own opinions (for once), but I just want to encourage everyone to deconstruct the messages and images that the ‘powers that be’ are trying to program into you. Seek the truth behind what is going on and exercise your freedom to think for yourself. Peace y’all.

Ahhh, from the corrupt world of politics to the corrupt world of hip-hop. So, it looks like the real reason behind the Benzino/Source/Eminem beef is that an 8 year old child, in his infinite wisdom, has suggested that Eminem invented hip-hop. Word is that Herc and Flash approached the kid on the playground to see if he speaks the truth, hey, maybe they were wrong all along. They over heard the kid telling another that, “my Dad is the strongest ever and he could beat up your Dad with one arm.” They decided they had better back off…

One of my worst nightmares came true last week as I was within earshot of Nelly’s “Air Force 1” playing on the radio. Amidst my kicking and screaming “make it stop,” an acquaintance was quick to defend Nelly’s “fun music.” Fun or not, that fucking song is terrible even by his standards. I am not talking about the subject matter, that is rather appropriate actually, it is the seizure inducing beat and incoherent lyrics. I’m sorry Nelly fans that are reading this, call me a hater all you want, but he sucks. “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes.” What the fuck is that? That is fucking baby talk.

Ahhh, now I feel better. Onto to some real music, Little Brother is the lick. Simple as that. Between “The Listening” and “God’s Stepson,” I have been in mid-90’s hip-hop heaven in the past weeks. What an appropriate name “The Listening” is though, cats just don’t listen these days. Like Jay asked “do you listen to music or do you just skim through it?” It takes multiple listens to get a feel for an album, listen closely to the beats, to the rhymes, just listen dammit.

“Yo whole damn style is bitten!” The following message is for R&B: GET OFF HIP-HOP’S DICK!!!! For fuck sakes, shit is getting ridiculous. How many booty-ass R&B songs have straight up jacked a classic hip-hop beat in the past year? The last one I heard was some bitch singing over “Shook Ones Pt.II.” You do not sing over “Shook Ones,” it is the very definition of a rugged beat. It wasn’t made to have some dime a dozen singer whining about her baby daddy or whatever the fuck she is saying. So to Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez, Blu Cantrell and any of the others that have been jacking dope beats to disguise their lack of talent, fuck you, get off the nuts. That isn’t it though, don’t forget all the other clowns acting like they’re rappers. B2K, y’all are singing horrible songs to 13 year old girls, you aren’t thugs. Lose the rows, lose the throwbacks, stop frontin, stop perpetrating, and please, stop making music.

Damn Homie! Jay and Nas got put on blast by the New York Press, they reported that a poll indicated the two emcees were named among New York’s most hated. NYC is always quick to hate, just ask the Knicks. But really, are people hating them? Or their success? Jealousy is a motherfucker.

Okay, this is the last profanity laced rant, I promise. For those unaware, I am a die-hard Ras Kass fan and this situation is really pissing me off. Why did Priority even sign him if they were just gonna fuck him in the ass for 4 years? Why not let X buy out his contract like he offered? Why waste one of hip-hop’s greatest talents? That shit is criminal. Fuck’em Ras, your fans aren’t gonna forget about you. So to anyone at Priority who has been instrumental in fucking Ras’ career, you know what you can do...

That much talked about 2Pac/50 song has dropped, which now gives 50 songs with Big and Pac in the last couple months. Of course, people compare him to the late greats, just because he has been successful as of late, totally disregarding the fact that he is nowhere near them talent wise. Don’t get me wrong, 50 is cool, but he ain’t no Big and he ain’t no Pac. Just listen to those songs, those are verses that Big and Pac did that were never meant to see the light of day and they still sound nicer. 50 certainly gets some nice shots at Ja on that Pac collabo. Have y’all seen that new Ja video? What a fucking clown, I refuse to believe he thinks he is fooling anyone outside of 13 year old girls at this point.

Love me, hate me, feel free to tell me Jeff.Ryce@hiphopdx.com