S. Samuel
Hip-Hop pioneer Rakim recently talked about witnessing Jay-Z achieve success in the rap game and explained why artists should be inspired by his accomplishments.
Rakim also said the fellow New York-bred emcee has opened the door for younger generations.
“I think as far as records, business, if it’s clothing, Jay-Z man,” Rakim said in an interview about his current favorite rapper. “We gotta start respecting those that’s making a large foot print in the game and when you look at what Jay-Z’s doing from his records to his business moves to his clothing to bong bong to his bong bong, that’s the measuring stick right now for all of the young brothers coming up. Don’t do what he’s doing, do as he’s doing and as you learn what made him successful. Don’t follow his footsteps but figure out what made him successful and get that paper y’all.” (Blok TV)
Last year, Jay talked about nearing 40 and still wanting to have a long-run in hip-hop.
“I hear it all the time — ‘Yo, he should let the young guys, the new generation of guys come in,'” Jay explained in an interview. “But you don’t become the front-runner in music because someone lets you. You have to claim your shoes…If you grow up listening to hip-hop, you love hip-hop and that’s the end of it. But if you’re a 30 year-old rapper still trying to make music like you’re 15, then you’re making it narrow. At my age, I can’t relate to a 15 year-old. I deal with mature and relevant topics for my age group — it has to all be based on true emotions. The more diversity and the more mature we make hip-hop, the bigger the net you cast.” (Reuters)
Rakim also discussed the age-factor with SOHH last fall.
“Yeah, I think what’s happening is, rappers are becoming, especially for people that love a rapper, rap and hip-hop come to party,” Rakim explained. “You can’t just put it down. It’s not likesports where you know, you lose a step. You can lose skills in rapping of course, but it’s a little different man and I think sitting back and watching the R&B genre, you got, at any awards show and you see brothers like Al Green come out and tear it down. It’s longevity in R&B…I just touched 40, but still, I don’t plan on stop listening to rap anytime soon and I don’t plan stop rhyming no time soon and it’s that tug-of-war with the fans. Every time you see the fans or go to a show, they’re like ‘Yo, do another album,’ so it’s like that love between the two, the fans and your music. I think we should stretch out our age limit as far as hip-hop ’cause if that’s the case, I think when brothers grow up they just want to leave rap entirely and listen to other genres of music so I think there is room for a little mature sound of hip-hop, for the older, grown and sexy, whatever you wanna call it.” (SOHH)
Last month, Jay-Z broke ground at the construction site of a new arena which will be the future home of his NBA team, the New Jersey Nets.
Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz today joined Forest City Ratner Companies Chairman and CEO Bruce Ratner, Barclays PLC President Robert E. Diamond, Jr., and NETS investor and cultural icon Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards. The 18,000-seat world-class sports and entertainment arena is being developed by Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), which will operate the arena in partnership with Mikhail Prokhorov‘s Onexim Sports & Entertainment. The Barclays Center will host more than 200 events annually, including professional and collegiate sports, concerts, family shows, and NETS Basketball. (Market Watch)
Check out Rakim speaking on Jay-Z below:
I used to be a huge Kanye fan. When College Drop Out came out that was probably the first time I ever got into music that deep. To this day it’s my favorite album. Late Registration and Graduation were also superb albums. After that Kanye still made good music but he couldn’t pull another classic out again to save his life. His antics and bullshit is only second to Game. He went from Jesus Walks to devil worshipping from Gold Digger to getting the biggest ho pregnant. Kanye what happened?
did you hear my beautiful dark twisted fantasy? that’s my second favorite Kanye album behind college dropout, the whole album rides he talks on social and racial issues, i feel like that album is slept on, it was definitely over-produced though, but in my opinion still amazing, it was the only album in 2011(even recovery) that i actually listened to the whole damn thing
Nope that stupid ass album cover he made and the singles he had out mfe me not pick it up. I know I can’t judge things without listening to it but dude cared more for controversy lame art and clothes than he did music.
the cover thing was stupid, but don’t judge a book by it’s cover, and i listened to albums on youtube before i decide to buy, and i heard greatness, you can say what you want, but everytime you cop a Kanye album you get your moneys worth and i’m dying to hear his sixth album in 2013, which I already know I’m getting, MBDTF was awesome
The biggest ho is having her first baby at 32 years old and you know most of the men she have been with. Can you say the same about your girl or ex? People are too judgmental over the internet.
Ummm when did the age or the amount of kids have anything with a person being a ho? The fact the chicken is still legally married and about to have another man’s kid is just one example of her long list of HOdom
Devil worshipping? Really? Really six people? Devil worshipping?
Please, guy. What has marriage really meant in America the last two decades? Nothing. List half of her long list of HOdom. Shock us, please. She’s an attention whore and opportunist but you commentaries be going off the deep end. I thought no sin is greater than another in GOD’s eyes
Fornication is just as bad as adultery, right? I am sure you have or
dreamt of some premarital sex.
Man Kanye be bragging about her sex tape like he was in it. Seems like it bothers yall more then it do him
Great point!
Beautifully said!!! I get tired of all the she a hoe references, when cats be dealing with even worst hoes at home.
I liked that album a lot also.
fuck you sohh and fuck the whole Kardashian clan, shit every nigga in hollywood has anyway, tired of the media whores
Amber Rose mad as fuck Kim done stole her shine lol
This is not TMZ stop reporting on this piss whore.
Kanye west sucks , his music is garbage, but anyways, i you gonna tied down a ho , look at this nigga lol lol, she probably the best thing he ever had lol lol
i really just want to give up. i dont know why this is even news. A whore got pregnant while she was still married to another man. surprise, surprise. fucking media nobody gives a shit. two attentions whores trying to create more attention.
Oh my lawwwwwwd honey! Kanye issa gettin’ fat. Hmmmm Mmmmm honey chil! I TELLS YUH!
In other news, I farted, ate 10 hamburgers in one sitting, and got fatter.
This shit depressing, Kanye’s a letdown.
If u buying Kim’s sex tape to see her pussy i’m sorry to tell u that it was only amateur video…hahahaha