SOHH NYC
New York is back, forget what you heard
THIS is why Q-Tip Will Never Sell (to a Mass Audience) Again
Posted on January 21, 2009 9:31 AM
Too much boom bap. Too much truth. Too much rhyme and reason. Too much consistency. Check out the video below.
Q-Tip f/ Amanda Diva - "ManWomanBoogie"
I can put money on it that even after watching this video for a second time, either the video, concept, or rhymes-- or two out of three if not ALL three-- will go directly over peoples' heads. How do rappers like Q-Tip, who stick with the strict script of non-pop rap and continue to incorporate a strong message in their rhymes, survive in these days? I know how... do it for the love. Not for a check. Because there are people who will still want to do tracks with you, there are people who will still want you to perform at their venues, but there wont be a lot of people who will spend money on an album that sounds like real rap.
The album on which this song appears, namely The Renaissance, did peak at #11 on Billboard. But did it sell? Not like it would have years ago.
But in any event... hats off to Q-Tip. One of the very few who choose not to sell out.
Speaking of selling out. This garbage right here fits perfectly. Puff Daddy aka Shiny Suits aka P. Diddy aka Diddy is doing what he does best: spittin other n*gga's rhymes.
This unreleased track, a dis to The Lox, is old. But one thing has never changed about this joint: It's GARBAGE. Apparently, Shyne wrote the rhyme. Not sure how true it is, but Kanyeezy supposedly did the track. I don't know, man. This track is kinda wack.
Diddy is already a cornball. Listen to how corny this dude sounds trying rap hard core:
"Thats why I pack glocks that hold shots, nothin less than 50/ ...Tryna be where I live at, where I sleep/ where my kids at, don't do that/ I have fools with tools, where your kids go to school at/ Where you break food at, where you think everything cool at/ Where you n*ggas get bricks at, take sh*ts at/ Count cash, take baths, f*ck your bitch at/ Who you n*ggas tryna stick up?..."
-------> Puff Daddy "F*ck Yall N*ggas
NEEE... GROOOW... please.
And the hook is corny too. Diddy is a prime example of a sell out. Not that any of his post-Bad Boy Era projects actually worked. But you know...
I thought it wouldn't sell because the produces he chose to work with have not produces hot music in decades....If it don't bang in the trunk, make you want to dance, or at least have a diverse complement of instruments in it those with educated years wont fcuk with it....If he wants his words to be heard then he needs to write a fcuking book as music is for dancing.
Why are you blaming the consumer and not the producer? If I tried to sell you a siht sandwich would you buy it? No because that's not what you like and if I was selling what you like then you would be more likely to buy it. Q-tip wont sell because he does not understand what the consumer wants.
COSIGN THAT (see, Reckless, we give props when it's due)
Q-tip will forever be one of my favorites and most respected MCs. It's because he's vintage, intelligent, and lyrical. It's because the tracks he rhymes over are quality and grown, not following fads. AND, it's also because he's mature and self-assured enough to NOT b*tch-and-moan about why he's not selling like the current crop of crap artists.
This is not for the immature, so there's no point trying to chase after numbers. Take a look at the other dude who "just wants to dance." LOL. He doesn't want the rhymes to say or mean anything - just some gurgling, drunken, slurred speech with a touch of auto-tune, so he can dance. LOL.
Even Tribe's material after their hayday - "Electric Relaxation" and "Find a Way" will forever be in a class of their own. I bump that today, as in right now, in my IPod.
So how is it that Kanye can make "alternative hip-hop" and go platinum, but Q-tip's records (which are 10x better than Kanye I might add) can't move any units?
Simple... fads and name recognition.
Erm that story on Diddy aint true. Them lyrics are from a track called 'run this city', u can find it on a album by Clinton Sparks. And its not about the LOX. U need 2 stop hyping beef up and get some real stories, ur source of info is wacker than diddys lyrics.
To SuperDave:
This topic goes round and around all the time but people just don't get it.
Kanye West "Thru the Wire"
Eminem "Cleaning out my closet"
Kanye "Jesus Walks"
Kanye "It all falls down"
Eminem "The Way I Am"
Eminem "Stan"
Jay-Z "Girls, Girls, Girls"
The list does on......
The point is none of these songs are songs you can dance to in the club. And all these songs have story elements and tell a message. So why is it that some people are allowed to put there music out and have it pushed for a mass audience to "judge" and some are not. Have you even listened to Q-tip's album? One should not limit themselves to what you are allowed to be exposed to (I've worked in the music industry so I know what I am talking about). There is room for dance songs and songs that make you vibe. Tip's album has both. It is hot!!
The only reason people even know Kanye's name is because he put his "long" producers money behind his promotion---Rockfella wouldn't because they thought Kanye would not sell for the exact reasons you think Q-tip should quit the game. Don't be fooled ya'll!!
THE JOINT WAS DOPE BUT THE VIDEO SHOULD'VE BEEN GREENSCREENED!
QTIP AND AMANDA KILLED IT IT WAS FRESH BUT THE EXTRAS WERE BORING!
I SAY REDO THE VIDEO GREENSCREEN IT
STRAIGHT NO 1 JOINT!
HOLLA QTIP WE CAN DO IT 4 U!
i been bumping Q-tip since i was a shorty and will be checking out this album i heard about it but i have so much going on in my life but i am gonna check it out BlesS
p.s Alot of American have been dummed down so they dont know what's real and only dance to whats fake HA
sohh reckless...
q-tip never sold out? what about vivrant thing and that other single off that album no one remembers. check your facts before you blog.
and diddy doesnt need to write rhymes...he writes checks