buckshotstheone
03-07-2011, 04:27 PM
Today I look at whether or not there is such a thing as being "too deep" with hip hop lyrics?
http://www.reppghhiphop.com/2011/03/07/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-deep/
What do you do when the internets as well as “professional” reviewers have shitted all over your newest wack ass album that your fans had to protest to even get released? You give them even more reason to clown you by pulling out excuses for why your label sucks and how they are out to destroy you. So what should be a “sorry I dropped a shitty project” has now become “my label says I’m too deep (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14285/title.lupe-fiasco-told-by-label-dont-rap-too-deep)”. Word?
Now first of all, even if someone says your music is “too deep”, repeating that comment still only serves to boost your ego, to show people that you’re somehow way beyond their simple level of thinking. It’s a complaint that the recipient can easily turn into a compliment in their own twisted mind, and when you got nothing else going for you I guess it makes sense that you’d hold on to that. So apparently Lupe’s Fiasco (yeah that’s right) is saying that his label told him his music was too deep and that’s why he sees himself 5 years from now in Africa making rock music (no really, he said (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14258/title.lupe-fiasco-to-move-to-africa-make-rock-music) that). So is there such a thing as “too deep” and if so is it really a bad thing or should we be ashamed that we don’t appreciate the lyrical depth that some artists offer?
The simple answer is yes. No matter how much you love some super crazy lyrical hip hop, there’s a reason ain’t nobody checking for that shit, cause it ain’t universally appealing. If Slaughterhouse, a group comprised of 4 members, each with about a 20,000 fan following (aside from Joell who got about 4 ugly bitches and kids who got picked last in dodgeball) can flop with an album that really was pretty damn good, then that should be enough proof that lyrical hip hop will never sell, and when you take an epic street anthem like “B.M.F. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MVzP4MaJ0)” and get all preachy and pretentious with “Building Minds Faster” it’s no wonder your record label, who may be shady but at least knows what sells, doesn’t wanna release your garbage ass album.
Even back in the day the most complex wordsmiths made shit simple, because every good speaker knows that in order to reach the masses you have to speak in a language that they will understand. You can be the most brilliant mind on the planet, but if only 5 people can comprehend your great messages then you ain’t gonna get anywhere. Pac put shit in the rawest terms possible, and he a legend (and I don’t even like him). KRS-One was one of the most important lyricists and his words were extremely simple yet powerful. Jay constantly gets called out for being simplistic, which is funny cause he’s one of the most complex MCs in the game, but he reaches millions of people with his words, and the truly smart see through the basics and catch that deep message he portrays. What’s that shit, “I dumbed down for my audience and doubled my dollars”?? Exactly. If you just spit super hyper metaphorical metaphysical bullshit then people are just gonna tune you out.
I love that intelligent rap as much as the next mafucka (minus the nerd glasses, skinny jeans, sport coat and sandals) but I also understand that there’s an audience for that and you gotta market to that audience and expect only that audience to pay attention. Lupe’s biggest problem is his ego, he thinks he’s this incredible rapper when really he average. His music is dangerous to play in the car not cause of the pounding speakers but cause it makes your eyes heavy and you likely to crash from falling asleep. But “too deep”? Man that’s the biggest insult to your fans like “label saying yall too dumb to handle my shit”, oh word? Well how about you use that huge brain (pause) to find a way to appeal to everyone so your apparently brilliant message is actually heard instead of being tossed in the discount bin faster than it took for it to even be released?
http://www.reppghhiphop.com/2011/03/07/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-deep/
What do you do when the internets as well as “professional” reviewers have shitted all over your newest wack ass album that your fans had to protest to even get released? You give them even more reason to clown you by pulling out excuses for why your label sucks and how they are out to destroy you. So what should be a “sorry I dropped a shitty project” has now become “my label says I’m too deep (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14285/title.lupe-fiasco-told-by-label-dont-rap-too-deep)”. Word?
Now first of all, even if someone says your music is “too deep”, repeating that comment still only serves to boost your ego, to show people that you’re somehow way beyond their simple level of thinking. It’s a complaint that the recipient can easily turn into a compliment in their own twisted mind, and when you got nothing else going for you I guess it makes sense that you’d hold on to that. So apparently Lupe’s Fiasco (yeah that’s right) is saying that his label told him his music was too deep and that’s why he sees himself 5 years from now in Africa making rock music (no really, he said (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14258/title.lupe-fiasco-to-move-to-africa-make-rock-music) that). So is there such a thing as “too deep” and if so is it really a bad thing or should we be ashamed that we don’t appreciate the lyrical depth that some artists offer?
The simple answer is yes. No matter how much you love some super crazy lyrical hip hop, there’s a reason ain’t nobody checking for that shit, cause it ain’t universally appealing. If Slaughterhouse, a group comprised of 4 members, each with about a 20,000 fan following (aside from Joell who got about 4 ugly bitches and kids who got picked last in dodgeball) can flop with an album that really was pretty damn good, then that should be enough proof that lyrical hip hop will never sell, and when you take an epic street anthem like “B.M.F. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MVzP4MaJ0)” and get all preachy and pretentious with “Building Minds Faster” it’s no wonder your record label, who may be shady but at least knows what sells, doesn’t wanna release your garbage ass album.
Even back in the day the most complex wordsmiths made shit simple, because every good speaker knows that in order to reach the masses you have to speak in a language that they will understand. You can be the most brilliant mind on the planet, but if only 5 people can comprehend your great messages then you ain’t gonna get anywhere. Pac put shit in the rawest terms possible, and he a legend (and I don’t even like him). KRS-One was one of the most important lyricists and his words were extremely simple yet powerful. Jay constantly gets called out for being simplistic, which is funny cause he’s one of the most complex MCs in the game, but he reaches millions of people with his words, and the truly smart see through the basics and catch that deep message he portrays. What’s that shit, “I dumbed down for my audience and doubled my dollars”?? Exactly. If you just spit super hyper metaphorical metaphysical bullshit then people are just gonna tune you out.
I love that intelligent rap as much as the next mafucka (minus the nerd glasses, skinny jeans, sport coat and sandals) but I also understand that there’s an audience for that and you gotta market to that audience and expect only that audience to pay attention. Lupe’s biggest problem is his ego, he thinks he’s this incredible rapper when really he average. His music is dangerous to play in the car not cause of the pounding speakers but cause it makes your eyes heavy and you likely to crash from falling asleep. But “too deep”? Man that’s the biggest insult to your fans like “label saying yall too dumb to handle my shit”, oh word? Well how about you use that huge brain (pause) to find a way to appeal to everyone so your apparently brilliant message is actually heard instead of being tossed in the discount bin faster than it took for it to even be released?