G5: Rap’s Weirdness
1. Apropos of nothing, B. Rich’s “Whoa Now,” featuring a great sample of “Movin’ On Up,” and an introduction to Baltimore, pre-The Wire. This track was huge the summer that my parents finally caved and got cable… to say the least, it was a formative summer of rushing home to watch 106 & Park and Rap City after my summer job.
2. Dave Bry has a straight-forward take on the boom in rap talent of late over at The Awl, “Rap is good now because rappers aren’t afraid to be weird.” I’m tempted to agree with him, but I’d change the thesis a little bit: it’s because rappers aren’t afraid to be themselves these days, whether they’re “weird” (as Bry thinks Lil B and Odd Future are) or not. Guys with loads of talent, like Freddie Gibbs, Yelawolf and Big Krit, to name three of the more recognizable up-and-comers, spit about their lives and experiences, whatever they may be.
Of course, to put it as such is to assume that authenticity is the most important thing for hip-hop fans, only a few months after a year in which Rick Ross had the record of the summer and Drake sold more than a million copies of Thank Me Later. Nothing against Ross (and everything against Drake), but their successes just might suggest that my premise is flawed.
Really, it seems that rap is good now because there’s an excess of talented rappers just starting out, regardless of their weirdness. Undoubtedly, some will falter and some will inspire even stranger music in the future. For now, let’s enjoy what we have.
3. I don’t mean for today’s links to be all rap, but… The Daily has a quick take on eskay and Nah Right’s commenting section. Interesting read for those who don’t venture into NR’s comments too often.
4. Kid Cudi has split from his management and production team. The good news, to some, is that Plain Pat and Emile “are free to actually pass their beats to tolerable or maybe even great rappers.”
5. I respect that musicians today have to make their money from alternative sources, be them branded content or whatever else, but this Daft Coke thing seems like a terrible move for Daft Punk and a great one for Coca-Cola. In other relevant Daft Punk news, the Tron: Legacy soundtrack remix album is out April 5th.
6. (Bonus Track): John Roderick of The Long Winters throws down the gauntlet to music writers. He acknowledges that having something insightful or different to say about every band or artist is difficult, but in taking stock of the state of music journalism, implores critics to avoid certain hackery. Required reading for music journalists.
