S. Samuel
G-Unit leader 50 Cent has injected his views on what is missing from hip-hop and why artists like Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame have earned his co-sign.
From Fif’s perspective, hip-hop lacks authenticity and true-life experiences.
“When I offer aggression, I offer it from an author, a real place,” Fif said in an interview. “It’s who I am; it’s who I had to be. Not even by choice, but to survive where I came from. So a lot of actual artists don’t have it. They don’t have that thing. Waka Flocka, ‘Hard in the Paint,’ Gucci [Mane], those guys have that…It’s just a lot of the other artists, I don’t believe them. I believe hip-hop is in a struggle of being artistic or [having] authenticity–which one matters? Because a lot of them that write music that has a street-life theme to it haven’t actually been exposed to very much of that. It’s starting to feel like it doesn’t matter. I’m watching it, and I’m like, Okay, it sounded great, but ya lyin’.” (XXL Mag)
Recently, ex-Flipmode Squad member Rah Digga spoke with SOHH about artists needing to return to the basics.
“I think the females and everyone out just needs to keep making their music and bring it back to the basics,” Rah explained to SOHH. “A big problem with not just females but artists in general is that they think they have to make some kind of grand stand re-entrance or they have to put on some crazy production or something to make it in the industry when the answer is real simple and plain, take it back to basics.” (SOHH)
Despite often being categorized as pop, Black Eyed Peas‘ frontman Will.i.am recently affirmed his contributions to hip-hop.
“If there’s anyone that’s the personification of hip-hop, I’m probably the most hip-hop n*gga out of all these hip-hop n*ggas. But hip-hop editorial and blogs and even some of the hip-hop fans don’t see it that way, which is cool,” he said in an interview. “I’m going to win. I’m going to win and win bigger than all these n*ggas are winning…Hip-Hop is limiting itself and that also goes for editorially. Magazines and websites are the gatekeepers of what people think hip-hop is, but they actually end up limiting what hip-hop can be…If Nas calls me for another track, I can do that. But at the same time, if Usher calls me I can do [an ‘OMG’] as well. Songs like ‘OMG’ are international hits, not just hits on American urban radio. I’m talking about the f*cking world!” (VIBE)
In May, rap veteran Nas stated his observations on hip-hop’s highs and lows.
“It died several times, but I do believe in the heartbeat of it right now,” Nas said in an interview. “There are a lot of new artists, and artists that have been around, who are kicking a** right now. I just wanted to give a boost to people and to myself, to push people to go harder. It’s a different world now.” (Wall Street Journal)
Check out some recent 50 Cent footage below:
