We Don’t Believe You, You Need More People
(You can’t see it, but one of Prodigy’s tattoes says, “50 Cent Was Here”)
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I stole into my older sister’s room while she wasn’t home and helped myself to a few of the tapes that were sitting on her dresser. I took them upstairs to record them like I always did.
I popped one tape in.
It changed my life.
(Well not really, but when writing like this, it is often important to exhibit life-altering moments for dramatic effect I suppose.)
The brashness, the audacity, and gotdamn…the beats. I had never heard anything like it. Every beat was good and welcomed me into a world I knew nothing about but left me yearning for more.
(See? More dramatic totally flufftastic ass bullshit. However, by writing like this, it makes me seem like one of those folks who attempst to connect with his audience through vivid imagery. Please…follow along.)
It was NWA’s EFIL4ZAGGIN. That was in 1991. Fifteen years later, it is still one of my two favorite rap albums, along with De La Soul’s de la soul is dead.
Up to that point, I had been listening to rap sporadically, but I was 12, lived in Germany, and didn’t have cable. My rap was limited to videos our families would mail us from the US of VideoSoul and Rap City. That means I didn’t know shit.
[***Sidenote: In Germany, there was one English language channel that wasn't on cable, AFN. The Armed Forces Network. If it didn't come on AFN, more than likely, we weren't watching it. And that goes for most military brats overseas. You watched the shows the military wanted you to see, down to the cartoons. The one good thing was that there were no commercials. Needless to say, we depended on our family and friends to make sure we even knew what year it was in the states. ***]
My first real introduction to rap was through NWA and it helped to shape my preferences early. I was never that into New York rap. I liked certain folks like Nas and Jay, but I’d take some of that West Coast, DJ Quik/NWA/Dr. Dre/Ice Cube over most of it anyday. It was more laid back, kill you quick so I can party, type shit. I appreciated the “get to the point” storytelling. Plus, I didn’t care so much about lyrical content (though Cube was really spitting some shit back then…now, he sounds like a brillo pad), it was more about the beats to me. It still is today. That doesn’t mean I’ll listen to any craptastic rapper over a hot beat. Not at all. What it does mean is that if the beat doesn’t catch me, I won’t listen at all.
Now, there was a point where I started to get more into the New York foundation rap shit. When I moved back to the states, the South was coming into its own via Outkast, which was good, I was in the South. But New York was at its high point. I started getting involved, from Pete Rock and CL Smooth [my favorite rap song ever is "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"] to Nas to Mobb Deep to OC to LL Cool J, etc. I was never a big Mobb Deep fan at first, but that was before I fully listened to The Infamous.
My goodness gracious that album bangs. One of my favorite beats ever is “Trife Life”. That shit is so gangsta its crazy. And who can deny the gangsta of “Shook Ones Pt. II” or “Survival of The Fittest”. It’s a classic album. Hell, so is Hell On Earth. Mobb Deep made me fans for real. And I appreciate them for that.
Which is why it pains me so to witness the gay ass antics they are exhibiting lately.
Good fuckin’ Satan.
It’s bad enough that I have to hear about them signing to G-Unit, ESPECIALLY after 50 Cent clearly clowned them on his diss track “Piggy Bank”. When speaking to Jadakiss, he says, “…i’ll clown your little ass like Jay did Mobb Deep…”
Apparently, that little shot wasn’t enough to stop them from doing business. That’s fine. But Prodigy has really been making it difficult to remain a fan. I almost think he has a mancrush on 50. During interviews he never fails to mention that he will do whatever 50 says he can do. Yeah, they’re gonna keep creating the murda music we love them for, but they won’t do anything that 50 has a problem with. And for the record, most of the dicksuckery comes from Prodigy. Havoc hasn’t been as bad.
Well, it would seem that 50 has decided to return the manlove to Mobb Deep. In what had to be the hardest article to write without mentioning the homoerotic undertones, MTV scribes inform us that:
Mobb Deep, 50 Cent Get Tattoes To Prove Their Loyalties
“The Mobb Deep and G-Unit alliance seems to go deeper than just business ��� a true kinship and pledge of loyalty have been forged. Prodigy has the words “G-Unit” tattooed on his right hand and 50 has “Mobb Deep” tatted on his wrist. Fif also gave both Mobb members new Porsches when the ink dried on their contracts. The two sides knew right off the bat that things would work.”
How much do you want to bet that Havoc had to talk Prodigy out of getting 50 tattooed on his right hand???
I can ALMOST understand getting a G-Unit tattoo except that it’s so permanent. And we all know that 50 can drop a nigga in a heartbeat. And I’m sure that Lloyd Banks and Yayo have G-Unit tattoes, but they’ve been down since day one. It just seems risky knowing 50’s track record of wilingness to air out anybody who doesn’t have his back 135 percent. Though I guess Prodigy’s blatant willingness to bend over backwards for his newfound friend (pun intended) does indicate that he’s there for the long haul.
However, 50 Cent getting Mobb Deep tattered on his wrist? Well that’s just gay. I guess the t-shirts weren’t enough…he just had to have the M-O-B-B on his body too. If that isn’t manlove, I don’t know what is.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I wonder how many of their diehard fans are going to be able to look past the uber-dicksuckery Prodigy has been exhibiting and objectively remain fans. I can’t look past it at all. I damn near hate them now. You don’t see M.O.P. running around acting little bitches. They have their dignity thank goodness. But the Mobb? Shit, what does Big Noyd think about all of this? Hell, what does Queensbridge think??
I’ll always be able to fall back on The Infamous or Hell On Earth or Murda Muzik, and I let that uber-cornball ass 112 collabo ride…
…but this overly zealous 50-riding is really testing my ability to take them seriously. There is a whole new level of cockiness they are exhibiting. It’s almost like they feel 50 has made them valid.
I hope they prove me wrong because I’m a fan, but somehow…I’m afraid. Or better yet…
…they got me shook.
(Dude…was that not THE corniest ending line like fuckin’ EVER???)
January 27th, 2006 11:02
I never thought I would say this, but I am getting tired of 50. I just want him to go away.
January 27th, 2006 11:14
Hah @ Katalina… I’ve BEEN sick of that nigga. He is anti-sexy, looking like he rides the short bus. I don’t care how many muscles he has. Yuck. He’s terrible.
lol @ “manlove”… that shit is killing me. I agree though, the matching his and his tattoes are a bit much. Ewwww.
January 27th, 2006 11:38
This is sooo freaking Brokeback and so not real! Sorry but I’m on a this is really not real tangent between sports center and rappers beefing. Next week when my life goes to shyt I’ll be back on the distraction bandwagon and will fully embrace all that is meant to entertain us.
January 27th, 2006 11:45
I wish you would just admit it that you are gay. You would feel much better, LOL…I had to beat that person to the punchline, eh..sue me.
I want to know why you didn’t bring up money. Talented cats with a need to make a comeback will do anything for cashola, check ya boy Flava Flav on Vh. Money will make a thug eat sushi with chopsticks!(The After Party, 2006)
January 27th, 2006 12:27
Its truly a sad day, that is very Brokeback. (i had to im sorry, i know it was already mentioned, its just so damn funny!!!)
Gettin the names of ur artist tatooed on ur body? somethings amiss here and someone aint talkn. Whats really going on?
What has happened to Rap?
January 27th, 2006 12:47
LOL@ “What has happened to rap?” What has happened to it? Nothing. It was gutter when it was “created,” it’s gutter now (yes there are exceptions ala Outkast, but whatever), and it will be gutter from now on. It is essentially “anti-music,” i.e. it doesn’t promote originality (sampling) “real” talent (singing, playing own intstruments, etc.), and the list goes on. It is the gutter of our culture and frankly I’ll be glad when it finds its way back to the margins of society where it belongs (when rappers actually had somewhat of a soul). And co-sign on the commenter who mentioned money…it is the impetus, the reason, the core of all the foolery (see: “hellbound”
Mase, Nas/JayZ union, and the Mobb Deep thing), when you gotta eat, apparently all pride goes out the window.
P.S. I know this anti-rap spiel might get me banned from this rap-lovers’ site, but I just had to go there. End rant. Happy Friday!
T
January 27th, 2006 12:54
@T: Naw, it won’t get you banned from this site. However, I must mention that I’m often interested by folks assumption that sampling removes any originality from the music. Especially given the fact that much R&B has sampled parts. Even Janet Jackson albums are rife with samples. In some cases the originality isn’t in the fact that there’s a sample…it’s how the sample is used.
The ability to take a note, chord, etc. and remake it into something entirely new is quite original and takes some skill. To make it into something that folks want to listen to repeatedly is even more difficult. Take for instance Kanye’s new album. Aside from the Curtis Mayfield sample, how many other samples are even easily recognizable. And once manipulated, that’s where originality comes in. The beat for “Crack Music” is ridiculous…and parts of that are samples.
As far as the real talent part goes…rapping isn’t easy. Rapping in such a way that people actually like what you say or evokes emotion or respect as being a lyricist…that is even harder. I’ve tried it…the shit is not easy. Many people think its just rhyming words…naw…that shit is a task unto itself.
This is all my opinion and clearly subject to debate, but calling hiphop anti-music is a tad unfair.
and though it is subject to debate, you will be wrong. LOL.
i just had to throw that in there.
January 27th, 2006 13:06
Yeah T i disagree, i lovvvve or (i used to love her) rap. It isnt anti-music at all. just the quality of it is what im talking about and all these gimmicks that are walking around.
Rap or writing lyrics for that matter is very hard. ive tried it and i couldnt do it. To come up with words that make sense and have a flow to it is hard. Theres alot of thought that goes into it. Especially when u dont want it to sound like a nursery rhyme.
@panama the instrumentation on Crack music is crazy. I love that song.
and everyone samples everyone, unless u play every instrument known to man, theres no way u’ll have a totally original sound.
January 27th, 2006 13:13
welcome our newest contestant to “Let’s Make A Fool of Myself”…
…hailing all the way from Androgynous, CA!
…ladies and gentlemen give a round of applause to…
T
HOST: So T, when rap was created where were you at the moment it happened?
T: In the gutter right next to it! I was in line with Curtis and Albert for the free cheese and peanut butter.
HOST: Curtis and Albert?
T: Yeah…we were tight. They called us the ‘Gay Brigade’. You know…like Marvin Gaye; but without the ‘e’.
HOST: Right!?
January 27th, 2006 13:23
I am just going to turn away from my monitor very slowly. Then I’m going to pretend I never heard about the exchange of friendship braceletts–uh I mean tattoos!!!
The After Party Hostess
January 27th, 2006 13:39
LMAO @ builtfrom max..damn.
If hip-hop is the anti-music, I want to know what genre of music is worthy of being in the “margins of society” <—- That phrase speaks volumes by the way.
January 27th, 2006 13:53
LOL! its very hard to say Ladies first is gutter, or anything tribe called quest did, or Talib Kweli or Outkast. i could go on and on but im sure ya’ll get the point. and if someone says Will Smith is Gutter….Im movin to where T lives.
January 27th, 2006 14:21
This is what I’m talking about baby. All these gay references about dudes makes you suspect. Like I said before, I’m a loyal fan. It does not matter if you are gay. In fact it would be nice if you were. My skills are unmatched and I could turn a gay man straight. But seriously come on, I support you no matter what. Please stop the deception, you are too talented for this. Oh and by the way, if you ever consider going straight there is a technique I’ll let you know about. It is what a woman can do to you to make you scream like a girl. Oh well later, I’m too much of a freaky girl and I don’t want to offend you. Blessings and love!
A concerned US citizen
January 27th, 2006 15:04
Oh Lord, what is going on in the comment section today?
First of all, I was so nauseated by your “vivid imagery” (is that what we’re calling corniness these days? Uggh) that it was hard for me to keep my cookies down while reading the rest.
When I did read the rest, it read like a long, panama-length joke. I was waiting for the damn punchline. Please, tell me that Prodigy and 50 are not doing shyt I did when I was like 5, with my best friends, making them my “blood sisters,” only worse, cuz this is visible AND permanent. Uggh… how childish!!!
January 27th, 2006 17:08
Looks like we have another contestant for “Let’s Make A Fool Of Myself.”
My oh so concerned slightly freak-a-deaky sister…I thank you for your concern, again. You’re observation has been duly noted. Thank you…
You know, you’re continued diligence in this quest to get me to “come out” is actually a lot more amusing this go around than it was last time. Thank you for the continued laughs. Do return with more whimsical musings.
January 27th, 2006 21:19
LMAO @ T and Still Concerned for making total asses of themselves! Maybe THEY should get each other’s names tatooed on each other. Just a thought…maybe they’ll feel better.
Anyway, Mobb Deep has lost all credibility. However, before ‘Shook Ones’, they were already on the soft side. They had a song out (can’t remember the name) but they was on some straight wack, wannabe Kriss Kross type shit. The video was nothing like the hardcore image they ‘portray’ these days.
January 29th, 2006 11:02
Yo, I have been sitting here for a couple of days, checking back into this site to see if anyone was going to speak up on this matter but no one did and so I feel the need to speak up on it. And this is directed at builtfromwax and Monk…I feel no need to sugarcoat this. And I hope Panama leaves this up for a couple of days to make sure you cats read this…
I am not going to come at you two like you came at T. I can understand making your comments about Still Concerned because it appears that she is coming at Panama on his own site. But I don’t feel the need to speak up for Panama because I know that he is going to speak up for himself. But the stuff that you cats pulled on T is really foul…
T has her opinion and you may disagree with her opinion. It is one thing to critique a point or view that someone has. But she didn’t come at anyone with her point…she just stated how she felt. You can disagree with it…hell, I disagree with it. But yo, for you to come and do this whole “look who made an ass of his/herself”, that is when you have gone a tad to far…
Her opinion comes from her exposure or lack of exposure with hip-hop. We all form opinions based on those same factors. We are not asses because we do not know as much as others…we just try to come to the conclusions that we can off of our knowledge base…
She might have insulted hip-hop or whatever…but she did not come at you. So you cats need to take a second look at the stuff that comes out your mouths next time because what you two did on this post was highly uncalled for…my bad for ranting like this on your site, Panama. And I didn’t mean to talk for you, T…just some stuff I felt needed to be said…
January 29th, 2006 12:24
We dont see anything wrong with 50 and Mobb showing their new found affections for one another in the face of judgements and ridicule from society.
Sincerely,
Jake Gyllenhal & Heath Ledger and others from the casts of gay porn movies under the guise of art.
January 29th, 2006 16:17
@Mav:In no way was I speaking for Panama. Why are YOU speaking for T? I merely stated my opinion and reaction after reading their comments. You may think that my comment makes me look like an ass. That’s YOUR opinion. You’re entitled. It’s nothing personal. I’m not attacking their character or them as a people. Hell, I don’t even know them.
And just in case you didn’t notice how builtfromwax made his comment, it was said with a hint of humor. Chill out. It’s OK to laugh.
January 29th, 2006 20:30
@Monk: I see that he was trying to be humorous with his comment, but I think that he crossed the line a little bit. I spoke up for T because I felt that someone needed to say something…simple as that. I kinda felt it was out of place to call her an ass and I needed to speak on that. You are right that you and I don’t know any of these people personally, but I feel there is a certain level of respect that we need to give to people’s opinions. T is cool people to me and therefore I spoke up for her. We can all joke and play, but it is because we don’t know each other like on that level that we need to extend each other a certain courtesy because we don’t know how our comments will be taken…
January 30th, 2006 09:53
GASP! I can’t believe I was called…hmmm…let’s see “fool,” “total ass,” and other uh shall we say less-than-favorable names by commenters. I’m really shocked, in NO way expected that…especially since the OWNER of the blog didn’t insult me is such a way.
Dang, Hip-Hop lovers, chill. We’re actually not that different. I’m a 20-something Black chick who has the likes of Kanye, Common, Talib Kweli, Tupac, etc. in my MUSIC (not anti-music
) repertoire. I even tried to put a little disclaimer in there when I mentioned Outkast in my first comment…but I guess I didn’t make myself clear enough. ANOTHER attempt…
I am beyond anything else, like you all, a MUSIC lover. I appreciate REAL talent. Yes, rhyming and putting together a “song of talking” that’s actually interesting HAS to be a skill. But I’m coming from the standpoint of a Stevie Wonder, an Aretha Franklin, a Ronald Isley, a Lionel Ritchie, etc. Sorry, but you CAN’T HONESTLY tell me “rap” even comes remotely close to the quality of MUSIC as the aforementioned. You.just.can’t. So, that’s all I’m basically saying. I’ve heard rap aficianados such as yourselves claim over and over that “back then” rap meant something, actually had something to say (ala “Ladies First” as someone mentioned). Back then, it was in THE MARGINS (that’s for the commenter who said that speaks volumes, lol), that is, oftentimes when “music” forms become mainstream, they lose their integrity, enter: rap. Yes, there are some who manage to shine in spite of (look at aforementioned list), but you have to admit it’s not a significant number…and you have to admit that on the whole, modern-day rap has done more harm than good for BLACK culture.
That’s all I was saying…dang yall.
Happy Monday!
P.S. Thanks for the defense, Mav.
P.P.S Sorry so long…
January 30th, 2006 09:55
Oh yeah, and how dare you compare me to the “concerned” commenter…sorry my comment IN NO WAY reflected hers/his…I’m so insulted at that.
Okay, just had to get that out, gone on this subject…
January 30th, 2006 11:43
I think what irked me about T’s sweeping generalization is that she had 10,000 exceptions to her own argument. LOL
In the beginning, rap was SUPPOSED to be marginalized. That was the point. NOW??? Heck no, it’s more mainstream than I would even CARE for it to be. There are songs that are not positive, songs that are not uplifting, but as a gabillion people have said, you find in rap what you can find in society. The positive, if you’re looking, and the not-so-positive if that’s what you seek.
You’re in your 20’s, so you were not around when hip hop made its debut on the scene. I’m 35… I’ll be 36 this year - so I was damn near the midwife at that birth. So before you go condemning a genre of music and believing the hyperbole and propaganda that you hear on TV… put down the Ying Yang Twins and dig in the crates, pull out some Spoonie Gee, some Funky Four Plus One More, some Treacherous Three, go back even before the people who claim to be the rap pioneers (like Columbus claiming to have discovered America) and learn the REAL beginnings of rap. Marginalized? Absoulutely - and rightfully so… but a detriment - and more detrimental than good? I disagree with that assessment as it applies to the entire genre.
January 30th, 2006 12:44
Rap music more bad than good??? I think not.
January 30th, 2006 13:13
Hey Still Concerned,
Im sayin’…I think I might be gay…so…ummm…I’m sayin’…can I beat those? I’m tryna do the straight thing…you gotta email address I could get at?
January 30th, 2006 14:22
@T: We’ll have to agree to disagree on the “quality” argument of rap music versus older music. To me its an apples to oranges comparison anyway. Two separate genres. You don’t compare rock ‘n roll to celtic music, or classical to techno, so why are you comparing the “quality” in rap music to 60’s and 70’s era soul music? I hope it’s not just because they’re both majority black. They each have different qualities that make them good or bad and they don’t necessarily all overlap. Because Jay Z doesn’t sing like Lionel Richie doesn’t mean that he is any less talented. They are both songwriters. And you can’t tell me somebody like Nas isn’t as talented a songwriter/poet as many of the very singers (of whom many did nothing more than actually sing…much like the “talking” rappers you speak of…and some of them couldn’t actually sing that well either) you claim were providing quality music.
And for the record, I’m not saying Stevie and ‘nem aren’t quality. Clearly, they stand the test of time b/c they are quality and they are loved by millions.
Moving along…I’m often intrigued by the rap has harmed black culture argument, mostly because it seems like the people who make these arguments solely take what’s placed in front of them and generalize it onto the masses. And I’m not saying that rap doesn’t have problems…it does. However, it seems a little shortsighted to assume that modern-day rap is harming black culture as a whole. It sounds like the argument of all the black conservatives who like to blame rap for any and everything wrong with black culture. And I know you have cited examples of (I’m assuming) non-black detrimental rap, but you still feel as if rap is destroying the house that Malcolm and Martin built.
I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind enlightening (please) me, for shits and giggles and cuz I like to debate and argue, on how exactly rap is harming black culture?
And I’m playing nice…I said please.
January 30th, 2006 15:28
I had to stop reading at the “exchange of friendship bracelets” comment. LMAO!!!
January 30th, 2006 15:35
Hmclemens, I don’t know baby, I may be a bit too much. I don’t want to overwhelm you, especially since you’re confused and all. And Maverick, I’m not coming at Panama at all, it’s all love. I’m just concerned. Monk, I do have a nice tattoo of a butterfly in a pretty place. And Panama I’m so hurt by your comment daddy. You said I was slightly freaky deaky. No baby that’s not true. I’m very freaky, if we ever had the pleasure of trying this errr one position, I’d show you. Oh well talk to you later! And to everyone else smooches.
A concerned US cictizen
January 30th, 2006 16:29
Are you telling me two quarters is still making headlines? Nuccas who place another’s man name on their bodies are truly suspect. Truly.
January 30th, 2006 17:17
Yes, 50 and Prodigy have a thing going on. And it has more to do with their private lifestyle than their public personas. I mean, I can understand if my brother, my father, or son [if I had one] passed onto the next life and I had inked their likeness on me to continue to represent them amongst the living. But to have 50 tat your crew around his wrist and for the MO-B-B to have the audacity to get G-Unit on them — should be considered some sort of hood treason or something like that. Those guys were the Infamous — take no prisoners, shook ones pt. II-type MC’s. Now, they are too busy riding the 50 vibrator to understand how janky they are within the public. I don’t get it. Next, you’ll have Ma$e talking murder shit [Oh, wait -- he is...] while sporting that shiny suit draped up in G-Unit emblems.