SOHH ATLANTA
The daily pulse of the Atlanta hip-hop scene
Ludacris Talking Retirement? Some Of You Rappers Need To Take His Lead. Just Ask LL Cool J!
Posted on September 11, 2008 5:59 AM
Written By SOHH Gyant
Ludacris is making headlines this week amid talk that there could be a sudden "rap retirement" in his near future.
According to published reports Chris "Ludacris" Bridges is contemplating retiring from the microphone. It's no secret that the hip-hop industry is dying a slow death. What used to be an obscenely generous industry that kept everybody paid is slowly turning into an industry of death leaving most of the industry bruised, battered and BROKE!
Rappers aren't making the money they used to. Fans have almost stopped supporting rap artists all together with illegal downloading. And while Mr. Bridges is still in a top tier category, any viable businessman with common sense knows that rap just isn't what it used to be.
If the talk is true, I personally applaud the other King Of The South. A lot of times rappers are slow to get the memo that they can't rap forever. Just look at Lil' Wayne. What's he going to do with his life once the buying public just doesn't care anymore?
Most people almost never have a plan B prepared for when their career fades away. It's clear that people like LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes are going to have to have the mic snatched from their paws rather than walk away a legend. And that's never a good look.
But don't get it twisted; Ludacris is still at the top of his game. But even his new single with Chris Brown isn't getting the response from previous Luda tracks. And his Gangsta Grillz mixtape "The Preview" didn't fair too well either.
Though it's obvious that his career is far from over, I think it's good that the rapper turned actor might be focusing on just acting in the near future.
Someone tell LL Cool J to do the same. Did y'all see this??
Is it me or is LL Cool J losing his swagger with each passing day. The legendary MC and top selling recording artist has turned in his unique swagger for cheesy ass commercials and I'm calling for it to end.
Check out this new commercial of LL endorsing a new product from Old Spice.
Old Spice, are you kidding me?? Don't tell me that the homie has spent all that money and time on his body just to end up being a spokesman for an old man's cologne.
I'm not hater! I am all about getting that money, but after 24 years in the game I'd like to think that LL isn't strapped for cash like that.
First Sears and now this. What's next, a commercial for foot pads?
SOHH NOT Hip-Hop.
Talk to y'all lata,
--SOHH Gyant
Email:sohhgyant@gmail.com
Why does this gay dude GAY-NT, I mean GYANT keep dissing LL Cool J? Wasn't someone all in his face about two weeks ago? Like a bitch? I mean this girl, I mean dude keeps taking it upon himself to throw these jabs at LL, for what? Did you hear the Exit 13 album dude? That is probably the hottest album this year, so why do you keep hating? It's getting accolades on the internet, in the industry and from publications and periodicals, so why are you hating so much? You just can't help it can you? You just hate just to hate. LL took upon himself and made his brand name available to families that can't afford expensive clothes and you diss him for it? Do you diss Stephon Marbury for doing the same? Why can't LL have a little fun, which we know is not all true? Why can't LL do a favor for Old Spice (he is 40 ya know) and have Old Spice do him a favor, like be a sponsor for his world tour. GAY-NT, I mean GYANT, if you don't understand business moves, shut up. Take the dicks out of your mouth first. You are so damn GAY, I mean GYA.
So LL should pass up 200 mill from sears ? So jordan I guess was real "strapped for cash" when he was taking in millions every year from endorsments right ? Not to mention Exit 13 is a dope album. You are a hater.
LL COOL J STILL MATTERS AND WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE PUT AGE LIMITS ON THINGS,WHEN OTHER RACES DON'T!! LL IS TO BE RESPECTED. THIS IS RAP NOT SPORT. THIS DUDE IS ONLY 1 YR OLDER THAN JAY Z BE EASY,EXIT 13 IS A CLASSIC MULTIPLE STYLES AND FLAVORS ARE BEING DISPLAYED ON THE CD,BESIDES LIL WAYNE 30 AND OLDER RULE HIP-HOP!!! CHECK THE FACTS!!
ludacris is indeed a smart man, and i think Game and Lupe were too if they were thinking about retiring. i mean, dont get it misconstrued, the rap game needs these cats, but businessmen are gonna be businessman and the profits for rapping just aren't there anymore. it's no longer a viable hustle, so now rappers have to be become versatile with their hustles and buy stocks and bonds; commodities and the like, which is every one of them should be doing anyway. Speaking of LL, it's a damn shame the man has went this far in the game to play himself so short - doing Old Spice commercials. Not a good look L. Queens is starting to become ashamed of you (like we weren't already - remember the Todd Smith album?)
let's start rip/hip hop over...
reporting from Al Asad, Iraq. Out.
can't stand luda RETIRE SOON!!!
BWHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA!!!!LMAO @ LL....What black people do you know where's Old Spice. Now they are trying to attract a younger and interracial audience by calling it "Swagger". Man please, "Old Spice" still smell like nasty old ass spice. That shit stinks. I wouldn't wear that shit if someong bought it for me. I have been calling for LL's retirement for the longest now. That baby song w/ The Dream, well, everybody knows how wack it is but them 2. LL it's a wrap dawg and you know it. Please stick to making movies, cause that is something that you do very well. Luda may have a future in movies but you are clearly the better actor of the two. And honestly out of all the rappers turned actors, you are the 2nd best of them all behind Will Smith of course. You really got skills on film. Stick to it. But it's a wrap for rap. lol.
I've been catching heat on here for saying the prescise same thing, "YOU CAN'T RAP FOREVER."
Hip Hop started as music for kids by kids but it eventually became dominated by people who had to wait for adulthood to master child's play. SLOW ASS N*GGERS!
Back in the day rappers were teens to early 20's and then done. Exit stage left. But when cats from out of NY got into the game the age limit kept rising and the subject matter changed dramatically. At 17 or 18 the average rapper from down south is talking about "Superman that ho." In NY we had LL at 16 and Rakim, Nas, KRS, Kane, G Rap, EPMD, Run-DMC and so one at 18 or 19. Why that is I'll leave to everyone's reasoning.
Out west NWA were all in their mid-20's when they came on the scene. Ice T was a grown ass man when he did Colors 20yrs ago and Hammer took the cake because he was in his late 20's jumping around like a Mexican jumping bean. Even Luke and the 2 Live Crew were some old dudes and late bloomers in the rap game. Hell if you put me on a lil league baseball team I'll look like Barry Bonds too. There's a bunch of ringers out here. That's for sure.
If people really miss the days when rap was about skiil and craft they'll be glad to see all these +30yr olds get the fuck on. These old dudes changed the game for the worse. I'm old myself but I'm good with it and play my position. I'm not trying to dress and talk like people who could damn near be my kids.
It's been high time these old dudes give the kids back their music AND style. The only place I wanna see an old rapper is on an old school tour and they better be doing them old school hits.