What Your Favorite Rapper Should SayAbout The State Of Hip Hop,But MoreThan Likely Never Will !!!

Long title right?I know,but,I couldn’t think of any shorter way to describe how
I really feel about how the game is right now!And the biggest problem?It’s not
how the labels sign and market adult language rap music to the kids!That’s
their parents job to police that!It’s not how the radio stations only play the same
10 songs in a row 24 hrs a day!And it’s damn sure not how your talent is judged
solely on your first week soundscan numbers!No!No!And hella NO!But,what DOES piss me off personally is how when these so-called Hip Hop magazines interview different rappers,and they pretend like the state of Hip Hop as we know it now is on some next level greatness!Like the game ain’t truly fucked up right now?!!!So in response to all of these half assed interviews that I painstakingly critique online…I decided to create my own mock interview where some boo boo online magazine that doesn’t really give two shits about the real culture of Hip Hop,but needs the money generated by the genre to stay afloat,interviews me!lol.
So,in short,this is my lil parody of how niggas ignorantly answer questions at these wack interviews!Not really,because my answers are little bit more in depth thought wise,but you’ll get the idea!lol.It’s crazy how artists try to tip toe around the tough questions as to not try and ruffle anybody’s feathers!But instead,I’m on some Mad Rapper shit!Word up!lol.Honestly,this would make an ill Boondocks episode for real!Maybe I’ll pitch this piece to Aaron!Shout out to Aaron McGruder and the Mighty Mos Def by the way for the ill Gangstalicious episode man!Classic shit homie!So if you ever get a chance to read this piece…Holla at your boy!lol.
Anyways,the name of this online magazine is TheGameReallySucksRightNow.com/!TGRSRN.com for short!Enough of the small talk,let’s get into it!So really open your minds and rock with me on this one!Peace!-Will a.k.a. Hip Hop Is Alive & Well/Tha Blogger 3

TGRSRN:What’s good Hip Hop Is Alive & Well?How you god?

HHIA&W:I’m good fam!Chillin’!Just workin’ my ass off you know.(interviewer laughs) You’re laughin’,but I mean that I’m literally working a real ass job homie!Ain’t shit sweet out here fam!But I’m still chasing my dreams,so it’s all good.I’m Gucci though.

TGRSRN:Right…so…since there are probably a lot of Hip Hop fans out there that never heard of you,give the readers a lil run down as to who you are!

HHIA&W:Word.Well,I’ve been grindin’ in this game since the early 90’s.Messed with several crews here and there,but nobody was really serious though.Hooked up with a cat by the name of Carlos Broady,who later went on to work for Puff up at Bad Boy.Shopped a few demos here and there.Got a lil feedback,but nothing ever really happened with that!So eventually,Los introduced me to his man DJ Paragon,we connected musically,and later went on to form The Order Of Assassinz!Which is a group and a business.Hashishinnya To The Grave!Now here I am talking to you.What?!!!

TGRSRN:Word.Being that you’ve been grindin’ for so long,what keeps you motivated to keep pursuing a career in rap?

HHIA&W:Well,to be really,really honest with you fam,and I know that this sounds hella cliché,cause nearly every rapper who never ever sell records always says this shit but…I really do love this shit homie!Straight up and down!As hella corny as that may sound right about now with the way that the game is playing out and all.But,I really do love making music!

TGRSRN:Word!That’s a bold statement to make right about now being that the industry is so ringtone driven,and your success is judged mostly on how your first week numbers pan out.

HHIA&W:Exactly!Exactly!That’s why I keep going man!I’m bigger than all of this Hollywood shit that’s going on behind and in front of the camera fam!Feel me?So I know that if I really keep at it,and go harder than any other artist and show these labels that I’m not no 15 minute nigga,that somebody who is ready to spend some real money is gonna eventually wake up and hopefully they’ll wanna hear some real shit!So here I am baby!(laughs)


TGRSRN:That’s what’s up!So,with that being said,how do you feel about artists who solely do this for the money?Do you have a problem with that?

HHIA&W:(eyes wide) Do I have a problem with niggas getting’ money?Naw man!Why would I have beef with that?But seriously,the problem that I DO have is when artists let the paper chase dictate their overall creativity!Then,that in turn dictates the music!So,if that’s your only motivation,which is getting’ that gwopp,then it eventually affects the way that you make music!

TGRSRN:Hmm…I see.You know,I’ve never really thought about it like that!

HHIA&W:And that’s my point exactly!Alot of people inside and outside of the industry don’t think about it either!Some don’t care,just as long as the money is flowin’.But,eventually,it’s gonna get to a point as to where the money is not gonna be so lucrative for rappers!To be honest,it’s reaching that point now!Cats have to secure other deals like commercial ads and whatnot just to eat.The music alone ain’t cuttin’ it anymore.Real talk,it’s like this,The Roots told niggas on their album “Things Fall Apart” that Hip Hop music as a genre is disposable music!And people never paid attention!The industry is tryin’ to fade this shit out just like they did with Jazz and eventually Disco!Now they’ve got so many different stigmas attached to the culture that media corporations don’t wanna really touch it!But they’re still able to capitalize a litte bit off of the music,so they’re just in the milking process right now.Sooner or later the shit is gonna play out though.Hopefully me and my team can get in and out before the bottom completely falls out of this thing!Word up!lol.Just like when Busta Rhymes was telling niggas that there was only 5 years left!Nobody listened!Same thing with the industry basically.

TGRSRN:So being that this is the case,why even continue to make music then?

HHIA&W:See,it’s like this man.(pauses) I’m an old head in this game man according to the industry standards.I’m thirty years and some change!So the industry ain’t messing with me on that level because they can’t market me to the teenie boppers!But if cats like me don’t stick around,who’s gonna have the younger cats that’s entering the game best interest?Surely not the labels!(laughs)

TGRSRN:So…what’s your solution for all of this madness within the industry?

HHIA&W:Well,to be brutally honest with you,there is no magic pill that dudes can take that would make everything be right in this game.Feel me?But,what myself and other cats like me will have to do is find other outlets for us to properly market our music!Then once we got our foot in the door,put other niggas that feel the same as we do on.Point blank.It’s gonna have to be a group effort!Ain’t no one team gonna be able to pull it off because the mega corporations’ movement is too big!Cause like I said before,ain’t no Interscope gonna sign no thirty plus year old rapper because it don’t make sense marketing-wise.I don’t care if you’ve got hot music or not!Now they might take your song and give it to one of their younger acts and put it out like that,but as for you performing that song in it’s original form…no way!
Now,don’t get me wrong,I’m not naive to the way that the game works,so I understand that in a sense.But,at the same time,you’re only marketing your product to one age bracket!So at the end of the day,you’re really alienating alot of people who would otherwise actually come out to the stores and by records just because they don’t fit the label demographics.

TGRSRN:Very insightful.We could actually talk about this hidden situation behind the scenes all day,But,unfortunately,we can’t.So tell us a little about what you have going on as an artist.

HHIA&W:Well,basically,what I have going on,to be perfectly honest,is just to secure a stable situation for me and my team!Shout to my nigga Tay Lee by the way!We’ve got a group called Soul Gritty which also moonlights as a songwriting/producing team.Plus my people Joe Brasco and J UniteUs out in Cali!My man Joe has an album out,and by man UniteUs is currently working on his solo joint.My team is on that,so be checking for that pretty soon!But,as far as industry moves,just basically trying to do a little ghostwriting and producing for other acts.And oh yeah,check out the new Steven Seagal flick when it drops!We on that joint too!I heard that niggas already have that on bootleg which is kinda foul,but whatever.It is what it is!Now,don’t get it twisted fam,we still believe in making hits!Whatever that means nowadays,(laughs) but we just have a different method as to how we approach our craft.But at the same time,we also realize what’s at stake behind the music and the politics of the business.

TGRSRN:Good interview.I’m really glad that we got the chance to sit down with you and get knowledge of the game from a different perspective.

HHIA&W:Well,that’s why I’m here fam.(laughs) All real story,no filler added!(laughs)

TGRSRN:Is there anything that you wanna let the people know before we go?

HHIA&W:Fa sho’!Fa sho’!Man…just be real with yourselves man!That’s all it is man.And all you old heads up there running these labels…QUIT HATING!Word up!Cause your boy is here to stay!

TGRSRN:Peace Will!

HHIA&W:One.

Hip Hop Is Channelling Freddie Mercury…lol

Not musically,but rather more stylistically for a better use of the term!!!LMAO!!!What is really NOT hood about the tight fitted jeans and shirts that rappers and Hip Hoppers alike are wearing these days?Where did this style come from as far as Hip Hop culture is concerned?Now,my boy told me that Run-DMC used to rock the tight fitted Levis back in the day but…I just don’t know homie!LOL.I’mma have to do a lil research of my own before I can truly confirm that info!LOL.Now,I can vividly remember back in the days we would rag on dudes who rocked the George Michael fitted joints!And I can candidly remember a couple of beatdowns being handed out to those who chose to go form fittin’ on us,but now very seemingly hood bred cats are embracing this style like that’s what’s really what’s up!Now,I know that your favorite rapper’s rapper rock the ass fitted jeans nowadays…but,does that really make it cool?I mean,really,I don’t know about you,but the “male camel toe” is Not a good look for any cat straight or gay!And lastly,no matter what you’ve been told…is SO not gangsta homie!LOL!Holla!-Will a.k.a. Tha Blogger 3
disclaimer:This blog is in NO way directed at anyone in general.If rocking the Mick Jagger fitteds is your thing,do you!But always remember this...IT IS WHAT IT IS!P-E-A-C-E

The Pitfalls Of Being The First African American President Of The United States!!!

Now…let’s be truly honest with ourselves fellow African Americans…Is being the “first” so-called “Black President” really a good thing???I mean,look at all the stuff that African Americans in this country get blamed for already!!!The cause of high crime rates!The monetary and physical depression of once thriving “white” neighborhoods as soon as that first African American family moves in!Warefare,crack,AIDS,shit man,the list goes on and on!Then on top of all that,add the title of “The 1st Black President” to that list!Awww suki suki now!This country is in for some big trouble now baybee!!!LOL.Can you imagine that if Obama is indeed elected President Of The United States,how many problems that plague America,hidden and mainstream media exposed will be blamed on him?No matter what it is!It could’ve happened ten years before he even got into office and it’ll still be son’s fault!Now,truly,that’s a hell of a lot of weight for him to carry considering that we’re already six years deep in a seemingly never ending “War On Terror”!The existing economy is so jacked up that it is almost mimicking Third World economies!Plus tack on the already “Fear Of A Black Planet” after Lincoln so-called freed the African slaves in 1863!Then later revisited by Public Enemy in 1990!Thanks a lot Chuck!LOL!But seriously folks,let’s say that Obama DOES beat McCain and wins the 2008 Presidential Election to become the “first” African American President in our nation’s history…WILL WE BE READY???And by saying “WE” I mean African Americans!!!Think about it!Are we prepared to back this man mentally as well as physically when it comes to breaking the cycles that haunt us as a people in our communities?I'm damn sure ready...the question is...ARE YOU???Stay peace!-Will a.k.a. Hip Hop Is Alive & Well

Breaking Into The Industry And/Or Having A Rap Career Past Age 30...Is There A Market For 30 Plus Rappers In Today's Hip Hop Industry???

When one hears the term “Hip Hop” (or as the younger generation of music consumers know it as today) as just simply “rap music”…what comes to mind?Is it the high school kid with the luxury of having their parents foot the bill for every expense that they can imagine from the latest sneaker to the trendiest clothes that they see on every rap video or internet site?Or is it the grown man/woman who is a student of the culture,with years of seeing the game transform and grow from the beginning,who loves the music,culture,and innovation of the culture,but also respects the hustle and sees the game for what it is,all while having a family and mad mouths to feed?Is Hip Hop/Rap a “game” or a “hustle”?Maybe it’s both?I think that’s for the individual who pursues this so-called “rap game” to decide but…what about the age limits or age requirements that are presented when it comes to getting in or even staying in the “rap game”?Who set those age requirements in the first place?Was it the young rapper trying to get a deal but can’t because all the older rap cats are still clogging up the lanes after so many years?Or was it the “old industry label heads” who doesn’t even like rap music,but knows that it makes him a lot of money and he likes that?!!!Also,in most cases,with age comes wisdom!And most younger artist don’t even think about publishing and all that!They just want to shine and be seen by their peers!Not saying that all young cats are like that but,the older cats want that paper to flow a lil smoother and more regularly because they have more responsibilities!Now,as we can see,there are alot of questions that need legitimate answers regarding this topic!And the sad thing about this topic is that no one with any real legitimacy in this culture seems to want to step up and give an honest and direct opinion/answer to this question!Now,take me for instance,I’m a 30+(36 to be exact)lover and creator of hip Hop music!I’ve had the luxury of being born in the early 70’s which has allowed me to grow up right along side the culture!I’ve seen it’s highs and it’s lows,as well as it’s golden and consicious/political eras!I am a fan as well as an artist and tend to carry the torch for both sides but…my question is this…when do I get too old to rap or listen to Hip Hop music?Surely,there’s plenty of rappers my age and older still making credible music right?So why the age limits when it comes to getting older and growing with the music?I’ve never understood the age concept myself,but many people have a “misconception” of who rap/Hip Hop is truly intended for!!! Many rappers nowadays even come into the game with that same concept of looking to get out before or at the age of 30!Now,it might just be me but,if you’re 26 or 27 and you’re just now coming into the game,that doesn’t leave you many options for a career in music now does it?LOL.Maybe that’s why alot of younger cats feel the need to put out 2,000 mixtapes(or street albums as they call it nowadays)before they even get an official release date on their debut album!LOL.I’ve never understood that either,but,whatever!Another thing that bugs me out is why is rap always so-called targeted to the youth,but more often than not have an adult content attached to it?How many “bust it babies” do you know in the 5th grade?How many 13 year olds do you know who can “make it rain” in the strip clubs every weekend?How many high school students own a Maybach or a Phantom?Shoot,how many adults own a Phantom for that matter?LMAO!!!But all jokes aside,I honestly believe that there is an audience and age bracket for every type of Hip Hop music that is being made today!Whether it’s Gangsta Rap,Hyphy,Crunk,Native Tongue,Conscious,or even this so-called “Hipster” rap with cats like Wale and Mickey Factz!Saying that Hip Hop is for the kids solely is just like saying that basketball or the NBA is strictly just for Black folks!I tend to believe that Manu Ginobili proves that it is not!LOL.But,for real for real though,think about it,most of our top rappers in the game are older than 30!From LL to Jay-Z!From Nas to Common!Even 50 Cent is over 30!So…who pulls the plug on 30+ rappers?Is it the youth who are consumers of rap?Noooo,I don’t think so!!!Most of the youth in this culture are driven and controlled by what is fed to them by Viacom Corporations!(Which is another story!)But obviously older rappers pose a threat to somebody in a powerful postion in the music industry,or they would truly be embraced more by the labels and media outlets!Now,don’t walk away from this and take my personal opinions as answers to the questions that I presented!My opinions are just that…my opinions!But somewhere down the line for this culture to survive,we have to choose our own thoughts!After we start doing that,then I’m quite optimistic that the music and culture will follow!!!Peace!-Will a.k.a. Hip Hop Is Alive & Well www.myspace.com/lyricassassin