The 2013 Future Thoughts....

It’s a new year. And you know what that means…a lot of resolutions that are going to be broken within the next 30 days. (Let’s be honest here we all know that one person who says they are going to work out, live better, budget better are going to be at the bar, drinking beer eating double fried wings) What we do want to talk about though is what we hope will happen in the year. That’s what this post is about what I’m hoping gets resolved about hip hop culture in the year 2013…

Can we see more diversity in the subject matter of the songs we hear?

We all hear the same thing out of most of the music we listen to. The grind of working in the streets till the late night hours, on the corner whippin work. Or how your life now is so lavish that you have to want more cars than the dealer ship or more girls then a playboy issue. I want to see the diversity between artists, venture out and showcase those skills you talk about having. I want to hear about your life growing up with your family. Biggie did it in “Juicy,” yes he mentioned what he did to make money but his main focus was showing how he went from rags to riches. Lyrical diversity is something that has always been something I favored for all artists.

Probability: 55%

Will this be the year of the emcee of the female kind?

Remember all those years back in the 90’s and first part of the 2000’s when female emcees were popping up everywhere and at least doing a semi decent album of sorts or coming out with something so classic that it stays in heavy rotation? I’m talking Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Ms. Jade, Rah Digga, Queen Pen, and Charlie Baltimore to name just a few. They came out with songs, on everybody’s remix. When their mixtape or cd’s were released they were must have they were up there with their male counterparts as far as being lyricist. Now we are in a day and age where that doesn’t happen. A female emcee often has to be over sexualized and give us bubblegum lyrics. I want a female emcee to show how she can hold her own with some of the major musical contributors in the hip hop world without going pop or completely changing her image.

Probability: 40%

Hip hop and Homosexuality…when will we all get along?

This is my going out on the furthest limb. We all know that this has been the biggest debate amongst all who are involved. One side is saying that they will never fully be okay with allowing an artist who is gay by any means fully into the realm of hip hop. The other side is trying to show that even though they are same gender loving, they can be just as lyrical and important to the culture as a whole. Yes I know this whole Frank Ocean came out and said he was bi…isn’t that what you’re wanting? Yeah, but let’s look on the grander scale. He had Jay-Z and Kanye West back him up. Let me see Big Dipper or Deadlee come through put out an album and become just as buzzed and accepted. That’s what I want to see, let’s see how open hip hop is. Last I checked hip hop was the minority being talked about and decimated on. Now that the upswing has happened, the discriminated have become part of the discriminators. Where is that lyrical unity I have heard so much about on many songs? If you can talk about all of your side chicks, why can’t someone talk about his side dudes or side chicks from the female perspective? (Even though that lesbian rapper, gay rapper double standard is another topic) Let’s see hip hop expand its ears.

Probability: Realistically….10%

Those are some of my thoughts towards hip hop in the year 2013 hopefully some of them actually come true and growth for the year happens.

The Osiris of this

Its crazy to know that I have been around for so many hip hop moments. The life span of some artists. Their passing and just moments in the hip hop culture that I would not have thought I would see in person. One of which is the passing of one of the major members of Wu-Tang Clan. The man who had more trouble then you could think of. Big Baby Jesus, Dirt McGirt the guy who wanted his money back. The O.D.B as you can see aka Old Dirty.

Can't believe that eight years ago that he passed. I think this was during the period when I was getting really into my hip hop. All of the styles and just revisiting classic albums and artists. Which would include one of the most diverse groups in my opinion...Wu-Tang. You had a crew of friends who melded hip hop lyricism and Kung Fu. Two things that are always a good mix. (Kung Faux for example) You had all these members and then you get to O.D.B. He seemed to be the crazy persona that every group has. He brought rugged gutter style with the ability to give you some crazy flows. He was a versatile artist, he was on hip hop, rnb, anything where he would talk crazy on. That was his appeal, he was able to be so out there that you knew that once he was on a song he was going to give you some gold. Just think back to when O.D.B and Moriah Cary got together for the remix of Fantasy. You know that there was a lot of doubt about this collaboration. Yet it goes down as one of both of their most memorable songs. Its just that spark of energy that he brings to the track.

He was just that kind of artist he may have been someone of a 'Hip Hop Folk Star," but he was someone that everyone could identify with. He may have had his legal troubles and did his fair share of dirt. In this day who hasn't, he just showed even you can go through trials on your everyday and still make it. He would have been 44 years old on the 13th. Rest in Peace to the Dirt Dog, Dirt McGirt, O.D.B., Ason Unique, Osirus, Dirt McGirt, Rainman, Big Baby Jesus.

In Retrospect

As any other day on my daily commute to work, I realized that I left my radio faceplate at home. Which is one thing I depend on as I drive; daily traffic reports, music to get me energized and the witty banter of the on air personalities. I haven’t done a quite drive like that in a long time. In reality it was actually something much needed, my mind just wondered thinking of any and everything thing that it could. My health was and is always on my mind as of late. Started reciting old rhymes that were recorded a while ago during the golden age of my hip hop life. Those thoughts lead me to one of the things I’ve never really thought about today. That one day I will no longer be known as “Crispy.” That eventually that will no longer be my nickname. No one will refer to me as that, it will just be Chris. This thought actually got to me. I didn’t know where to go from there. What will my legacy be? All the contributions and hard work…who will remember them or me? I can honestly say that this one of the thoughts that singlehandedly changed my whole mind state for the day.



Thoughts like this actually force you to put your entire life in to a different perspective. A perspective that you probably tried to push out of your head till you were older. Just think, eventually what you do now, will ultimately have others look at your life and conclude what kind of person you are.

Music Labels the new NBA

Music labels are just like NBA teams. They want to comprise a super team to combat their competitors. Some of these new labels are expansion teams like the Toronto Raptors were back in the 90’s. They try to start out fresh with talent to compete with the major labels. Look at the Sony Music Entertainments, Warner Music Group’s or Universal Music Group. They are the big three of music labels. They are figuratively your NBA teams that always make it to the playoffs. The ones you have no doubt will do well. You’re Lakers, Spurs and now your Heat. They try to produce super teams enticing other players (artists) to come along with them to maximize both parties’ profits and make them the most winning label. I treat those big three like your owners. With each owner each team has their set rosters. G.O.O.D. music is like the label to be at the moment. They have comprised a slew (yeah we doing words like that today) of artists who could be your NBA super team. Lets look into the artists on the roster; Kanye West, Big Sean, Common, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, John Legend. This is a record labels dream team, full of players who can contribute on a consistent basis. They fall into the team of Def Jam its just one big chain of command. It all leads to knowing the top three labels are running the music industry. It’s almost as if you have to be apart of a bigger team to try to make something for yourself as a player in this musical game.


Yet the bigger question I pose to you is what that means for the smaller labels (teams). Does that mean that they either have to fold or should they try to make it and let what ever happens happen for their musical career?

Mood Music

We all have a song or album in its entirety that once we hit that play button, the entire mood of your day changes. From a dull pain of the boring work day to the over stressed and over worked business day. All it takes is just one song, one album, one punch line to some that can jump start your mind. I can personally say there are lots of songs that all it takes is that beat drop to get things started. Think about it… remember when “Knuck if you Buck”, came out. Think about how much energy you felt run through your body as soon as the beat came on. No matter what you were doing that song came on and you knew it was going to get crunk. You could be driving your car down the freeway; beat drops it all goes out the window with your previously calm demeanor. You are now shaking your imaginary dreads in the air probably doing about 70 speeding for no reason. Just because you felt that song take you back to 2005 and the moment when you first heard the song. It’s not always about the hard energy songs either. Sometimes a song can take you in the totally opposite direction. Look at Drake, (yes I am about to get some people in their feelings) Marvin’s room is something we all can relate to. That drunken phone call you know you shouldn’t make, yet you are still calling that guy/ girl up just to try to change and convince them that you still have feelings. Nine out of ten times, you are going to not get energy off of this song. Yet, you will sing this song loud in your home thinking about the last time you drunk dialed someone and how you were all in your feelings. Even at the workplace, you can have your Pandora on full blast at your desk and soon as Drake lets that first tear filled note across those speakers you are going to start into your last phone call. We all have done it, singing that course as if your life depended on that last note to hit correctly.

That’s the main thing; music especially hip hop is a gateway into ones emotions. You can feel mind swaying trying to decipher what your next emotion moving song is going to be. You even set yourself up for your feelings. Take a moment and look at your playlist titles. I bet there are few of the playlist based off of an artist and more of the playlist when you are in your feelings. Mood playlists consisting of, “Monday commute” which we all know isn’t always the best time of the day.

Back again here is the Incredible

It’s been a while… to too long. In the time which I’ve been away, I have a new job. Worked with kids volunteering and started freelance writing on the side. I have put my creativity on the back burner. (The worst thing I could have done to my career.) I have decided to start my blog back up for real this time. I cover more than just music, I write about everything from my perspective. Yes it’s been said and done before but no two views are ever really the same. I want more artist’s spotlights and more different articles. 

Something I do want to focus on, the elements of Hip Hop and show how we as people are a product of hip hop. The Dj, Emcee (MC), Graffiti and Breaking (B-boy/girl); can’t forgot about beat boxing either. Hip Hop has been an ever-changing movement/ genre/ lifestyle. It has touched everything and everyone at one point or another. My blog will reflect getting more influence by the elements. 

Plus there will also be the comedy and funny stories that I have done before. I am going to do better and I shall. 

Deeper than Hip Hop- Why so much hate?

Why does Hip Hop (Rap) get a bad rap from many non-listeners? It is as if they believe everything they hear about the genre. Oh it’s misogynistic views towards women mean that’s what all those so called “artists” speak about. The lyrical content is only about drugs they have sold or have smoked. Oh no talks of drugs then it’s the women. Wait women…let me rephrase that, the bitches, hoes(whores), skeezers, jumpoffs, breezys, tricks, sluts, run thoughts, etc. The only other thing they talk about is their “bling bling,” lifestyle. You know those hundred thousand dollar cars, their new mansions and the jewelry that could snap the neck of a small child. These arguments though valid to some, to others including hip hop scholars like myself, that is far from the truth.

Many don’t realize that there is more depth within the lines of these songs. Yes, songs about killing yourself (Suicidal Thoughts), hustling to make ends meat (Grindin). The phrase “Deeper than Rap,” is going to be the definition to many of these songs. These lyrics and countless more paint vivid pictures to showcase their struggles as musicians. Sometime the face value of a song is only the gateway to the truth meaning.

Now the main topic that those against hip hop haters is the treatment of women. Groups have said that all the males do is degrade women. Noting some of the worst artists as, Too $hort, (Uncle) Luke, Notorious B.I.G, Three 6 Mafia and countless more. Now yes things may have been said or videos shot but even those songs are party songs. Not saying that is the reason why they are okay to do what they have done or said. Yet, we do not discuss other genres that have done or artists who have mistreated women. It is as though their genre gives them a free pass. When Jordan Knight came out with his song (Give it to You), Everyone loved that song, making it on chart after chart. Even though the song itself was filled with hypersexual lyrics, and innuendos throughout. Oh it is just a harmless pop song that the kids wont catch. So is the song “Make it Clap".” Yet the rap communities lyrics are always under a microscope. Same premise just because the genre is different they treated the Busta Rhymes as though his song was the worst. Why is it that the microscope of hip hop is ten times stronger than any other style of music? We focus on how every song is misogynistic towards women. Songs like Dear Momma prove a point. Look at 2Pac, people deemed him as the worst yet when Dear Momma cam out everything was okay. Then you have his song, “I get around.” That instantly made him a misogynistic person.

This is Part 1…

O.C

These two thoughts have been floating around in my head. Both of which I have posted, just in case you have not read them. Here are both of them combined. The first is about new hip hop artists as a whole. The second is about so-called musical saviors. Read them and let me know what you think.

A lot of ya’ll cats make hip hop cause your bored. You never really realized what the true meaning of this vast culture was. You are only in it for your name sake. If you took a minute to actually think about it. You are doing exactly what hip hop doesn't stand for. Glorifying ones self for personal gain. Education is a facet of hip hop. Come on now, that’s something that we all should know. Yet to some people hip hop is their meal ticket and by no means am i knocking that hustle. Do you young blood. but like the quote says there are too many emcees not enough fans. Sometimes an emcee needs to be a fan before he EVER decides to step to the mic trying to rock it..for the ahem greater good/ saving hip hop from the riff raff/putting the city of blank on my back.

Whats the fate of your favorite genre? Are you ready to do what you can or can’t to save it. Yeah that's right I'm talking to you up and coming artist who feels as though you are gods gift to music. the one that must “change the game so that the future can thrive” yeah let me just be the first to say you better do what you do u lil dreamer you. In reality. You are about the twentieth person to say some shit like that. and you see ain't shit change but the day. You want to spark change then listen to other artists and collab. do something new and stop trying to say your the new fresh sounds that music needs. unless you are gods gift and starting a new musical renaissance u ain't gonna do shit but drop a few albums maybe get a buzz that will last a lil while then end up at Costco grabbing carts talking about I'm the next MC such and such. Again I'm not trying to knock you what you do your craft is good. but you have to have realistic goals. You can’t take over the game in a day. you better rent that game first figure it out then make your moves. remember its chess not checkers. Simple bitches need simple games. If you want complexity then you need to evolve and grow up.

Use your Ears not your Peers

Oh the good ole days of Hip Hop (No this isn't a ran or bashing) Everyone has those nestalgic moments. Where they quote Rakim, Big or some other classic by which we guage what music should sound like. The question is what makes our ears the personal real hip hop level. We just go with what sounds good with a mixture of peer pressure. If a few view an artist as garbage our mindsets automatically change to have a distaste for that artist. We all have been a part of this situation.

Yet we then turn around and criticizes the whole "hip hop game." We get mad at the total lack of new artist being around and improving the overall "quality" of music. We as bloggers and listeners wont listen. We only put out whats going to either become commercial or underground success. What about those who need growth and guidance? What do we say about those...nothing, they get the silence. There are so many untapped listeners and artists that we are constantly shutting out of all facets of music. We say we want better, we want substance. Shunning stuff others deem bad.

So to listen or not to listen...that is the question...