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The Wrap-Up 2008: Issues and Beefs of the Year
Posted on December 31, 2008 9:33 AM
2008 has to be -- by far-- the most monotonous year in hip-hop. Correction: it IS the most monotonous year in hip-hop. For the past couple of years we've seen the same six acts dominating the rap scene. And I can name all 6 without even thinking: T.I., Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nas, Jay-Z, and 50 Cent.
But when we say "dominate," do we mean in terms of sales, buzz/controversy, or both? You decide. But the point is, Nas's statement couldn't be more true, because despite the same old acts being able to push a few albums, rap is still struggling to survive on its death bed and has been doing so for more than long enough. When will the fight end? I believe 2009 will either flatten hip-hop's wavering lifeline, OR make way for change going into 2010.
I don't see any change coming, at least for New York. But then again, I'm never optimistic. And this is why:
#1. Jim Jones's relentless obsession with Jay-Z. This started back in 2006. But 2008 has
proven that Jimmy's unyielding fixation with Hov has done NOTHING FOR HIM. For the past 12 months we've seen dead dis records falling on deaf ears, endless "I Hate Jay-Z" interviews, and constant "Jay-Z did a song so I'm gonna redo it" madness. When a n*gga is sucking the ball sacks off another dude with no shame and shows no signs of letting up, there is definitely an issue with cats not being able to carry their own identity and make their own careers without having to use another n*gga's genitals.
Moral of the story: Hip-hop is all about riding off the next dude's name.
#2. 50 Cent pulling a bitch move on Rocsi. "106 & Park" VJ Rocsi told the truth and said to cop that Kanye because "50 is wack." MONTHS LATER, Curtis got on the radio and tried to expose her as a "jumpoff." Maybe she is a whore. But regardless of what she is, what a bitch move. This is how you handle this situation? N*gga, just admit you're wack. Doing what he did basically revealed how much of a sensitive "thug" he is and that his ammunition has run out. Not to mention his camp telling folks at SOHH that I'd better relax with the evil 50 Cent blogs or else "he's not gonna give you an exclusive interview." Man, this clown needs all the interviews and hateful blogs he can get. Nobody outside the net even knows about his stupid little album.
Better take one of those "nine" implanted bullets out of your skin and hope it works, 'cause YOUR CAREER IS DEAD!
Moral of the story: Instead of these rappers forcing themselves to become more innovative, they point their fingers at others and try to redirect the negative attention for someone else to carry. Real rappers never have to use an industry jump-off to cover their tracks. If they fall off, they blame themselves.
#3. Def Jam has been converted into an R&B label.
Moral of the story: ... Need I say more?
#4. The internet has birthed a generation of e-thugs. 2008 has shown that this trend has spread like a deadly virus and continues to do so. To all the internet stans who make blogs your life and start making comments as if you're going to find the blogger and body them: stop it.
Moral of the story: Consider this for 2009: These rappers don't know you, don't give a damn about you, and are not paying you to "defend" them. In fact, a lot of these rappers you care so much for are PROBABLY NOT KNOWN OUTSIDE OF THE INTERNET. And if they are, their albums don't get any further than Z-Share. Realize that this is the INTERNET and not REAL LIFE. Since you practically live online, why not make this one of your New Year's resolutions?
#5. Bloggers who go on skitzo blog rants... like Prodigy. Yes, I saw your little "blog" that was written to me. Because I suggested that you were losing your mind with your outlandish (and very long-winded) blogs, you got your little panties twisted in a bunch, wrote me a hate letter, and had your little camp send it to a SOHH staffer. But if you realllllllly wanted me to respond, you would have posted that on your stupid little website. Which means that unless its sent to me DIRECTLY or accessible by the public, it's not legit and therefore isn't worthy of being entertained.
Moral of the story: This is what NYC rappers have been reduced to? Ruthless internet thugs? Don't you have sickle cell or somethin mothaf*cka? If you're gonna come "find" me and "handle" me, you'd better make sure I don't have Lil Wayne's Blood goons standing on my block, cause after that blasphemous line you spit in "Pearly Gates" the last place you're going is to heaven. Better get me before I get you.
#6. Diddy's last attempt at cashing in on Biggie. After Biggie died, Diddy became one of the biggest and richest cornballs in hip-hop. Not to mention all his failed projects who became more tax write-offs than anything else. The Dream, Da Band, B5, Cheri Dennis, the Cheri Dennis replacement that came and went quicker than a gust of wind, Danity Kane, Cassie, Yung Joc, Mase, and maybe a lot more signees that we don't even know about, have all
FAILED. Yet Diddy decided to release six singles/videos from off of his own album. Go figure.
FAILED. Yet Diddy decided to release six singles/videos from off of his own album. Go figure.
Moral of the story: This Biggie movie is Diddy's last chance to cash in on someone other than himself. Because Diddy may have an ear for talent (with the exception of Cassie... and Yung Joc), but he has no clue on how to bring his success back to that of the '90s. All he's done is make a foolish mess of himself with all this half-ass crap he's been putting out. If you ask me, he's leaning on this movie to make this year at least partially productive.
#7. The ROC? Or The BRICK? Jadakiss, one of the best in the game, is not moving a muscle. We heard two or three singles, saw one Def Jam sponsored video that didn't do a thing, and saw some low-budget video production for a song I don't remember the name of. This has been going on for the past 3-4 moths. If Def Jam hasn't been taking him serious and is STILL not taking him serious, they never will. Consider this another Def Jam Internet Promo Album of 2008. Another Untitled. They should be paying Young Sav and Steve-O double their salary for doing all the damn work.
Moral of the story: Do I really need to state this? Well f*ck it: Look at what has been happening and continues to happen to WHAT'S LEFT OF REAL RAPPERS, thanks to these fake, half-ass labels who are STILL looking for bubblegum acts that can crank out the next Ringtone hit -- even though this trend quickly came and went. But what do you expect from a watered-down r&b label?
#8. Fat Joke aka Fat Joanna aka Fat MIMS aka Fat Joe still embarrassing The Bronx. So what's it gonna be, n*gga? The South Bronx or the Southern region of the United States? Papoose can't figure it out. Neither can all the Bronx cats that got together to make that dis track AND video. You say in your rhymes that you're a real thorough Bronx dude who doesn't talk to police, yet you alienated every last one of your Bronx "panas" and were in the "NY Post" as "cooperating with authorities." Then you wonder why you can't sell a damn CD to save your life; you have so much bad karma coming back to you that your joke of a career has been cursed worser than the Kennedys. Now all of a sudden after repping Florida, you wanna come running to Ron Browz because of "Arab Money" and "Pop Champagne." Give me a break.
Moral of the story: There's too many of these Fat Joes in New York who have no identity-- and no talent. And bad ghostwriters. And for some reason they keep getting put on. And they'll sh*t on anyone they have to and suck any industry exec's ballsacks they can in order to move ahead.
#9. Joe Budden's claims that New York crowds don't support their own artists, so "fuck New York." Well not if these rappers are riding off 4-month-old songs and are pushing their careers through the internet! F*ck you expect, n*gga?
Moral of the story: Joe Budden's claims were not far-fetched, but you have to look at the circumstances. However, instead of worrying about a city you don't even rep even though you're from Queens, you need to worry about your loose ass girlfriend being run through by New York rappers.
#10. The end. I think I've said it all. And I'm really not being lazy. There aint sh*t else to say. Cause aint sh*t else been going on. Just how did I manage to compile a full page of material about a year that did basically nothing?
And that's my beef with New York rap of 2008. So for 2009, you can expect the same sh*t to continue. I don't know why people take the concept of the "New Year" so literal. It's just jumping from one month to the next like all the other 11 months in the year. With the same habits continuing on.
But nevertheless, have a safe New Year's Eve, and New Year's. And remember, this is only the internet.
8 Comments
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RECKLESS YOU'RE A HERB...DONT EVEN TRY IT,,YOU GET PAID TO BE AN E-THUG, AND UR LIST WAS HORRIBLE GUY.NOT VERY ENTERTAINING JUST SOME RANDOM BS THAT YOU PROBABLY DONT EVEN REALLY KNOW ABOUT.SOHH YOU NEED SOMEBODY OVER 25 TO DO THESE BLOGS.THIS KIDS A SHITHEAD ~1
This blog was too biased for my taste & not entertaining at all. You're trying way too hard.
What a joke. You call other people e-thugs yet you participate in the same manner. So you're a hypocrite and an idiot.
everything but that homo lust jim jones has for jay is bullshit. fat joe did sell out the bronx. i agree with those two. everything else is not entertaining. i agree.
Your a damn hypocrite..gonna get lil wayne goons on prodigy? Shut up, and the sickle cell comment was low pussy
Dude... you tried way to hard to diss people. I know you were just trying to make a point, but your still a journalist. You had a whole bunch of facts mixed up. And you offered no solutions. Every knows NY is struggling, but this don't help.
Diddy has nothing to do with the Notorious Movie. Its executive produced by Wayne Barrow, Biggie's Manager. Same director as Soul Food, GIVE IT A CHANCE! The soundtrack might be Bad Boy, but other than that point the finger at Miss Wallace if you have a problem.
And Please Don't e-Thug and criticize E-thugs. We need to bring back that Haitian n@gga to rep NY on this blog.
have a happy new year reckless, i enjoy reading your blog, but sometimes i think you are a bit harsh and your words are hurtful. why dont you try to use it and expose new acts? people you think have talent, instead of criticizing the ones you think that dont? i know you do that sometimes but maybe you should do it more often.
hypocrite, wack, diddy and fat joe mentions are not accurate