After their freestyle, Immortal Technique & Diabolic weighed in on the Flocka/Lyricism debate. BTW when I say to Immortal Tech “maybe they built an orphanage” that’s a reference to the actual orphanage he helped to build in Afghanistan last year.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
DOPE
Is your radio show available in podcast form? Otherwise I think you gotta do a at least monthly podcast on topics that fall under the umbrella of hip-hop (wich we know is far and wide). I can just imagine it now… a two part series that just wants to take a look at lyricism in the rap game. Not trying to answer the question but give exposure to the issue.
I enjoy the music, and I prefer actual lyricism as opposed to some of the stuff that’s coming down the pike these days. Great interview, Smooth.
I’m really glad that you’re posting more often now, but I’m wondering if it’s just an of-the-moment thing with all these WFF comments. I hope not. I’m digging the change to Nil, the increase that’s been coming. Nice comments from you, Tech and Diabolic.
i dug both of these videos and no disrespect intended but i love when immortal technique picks out a word he’s gonna use in a sentence that doesn’t actually mean what he wants it to mean; it’s endearing cuz he’s still saying important accurate stuff
the whole lyricism in hip-hop thing is a very complicated issue. if you take lil wayne for example, his rise in popularity came when he figured out rapping 6 years ago and noticeably started idolizing and emulating good lyricists like jay-z. but also at the same time nas’most successful songs were the ones that were not as lyrically strong as his earlier work. it’s a double edged sword. I think some form of verbal skill is important in achieving real success in mainstream hip-hop but you may have to grade that lyricism on a sliding curve. both nas and mobb deep have certainly dumbed down thier rhymes in attempts to crossover. Because an average mc tends to have better luck surviving in today’s meat market than a complex mc does.
“We know a smart free black man just pisses ‘em off!
What they like is when we glisten and gloss
Flashin millions but still takin a loss…” KRS ONE~The Perfect Beat
Love that Common Market beat…keep it up J.
JKing ..that was Real. ..nicce
Honestly, it all boils down to BALANCE. Mainstream balance, specifically. Because the radio/TV outlet has abandoned the balance of lyrical/party/gangsta/conscience/bling and gut out the lyrical/conscience part and left in the other, the youth don’t have the other part portrayed to them. So, in the end, they dont like it, cause they never had it.
Know this:
People FEAR what they don’t understand, and people HATE what they FEAR.
I appreciate Jay and his commentary/videos. He’s funny, bright, and articulate. Immortal Technique also seems both diplomatic and thoughtful. What I don’t like is that this video reminds me of something I saw Rhianna do on MVT. Enough. Lose the camo and guns. And please stop saying that making a clever rhyme about Indira Ghandi amounts to “lyricism”. I respect you guys and I want to support you, but out here in the real world we don’t need to see more re-runs…
You’ve got a great thing going on here guys. We’re talking three honest professionals talking their trade. I am a big fan of this wave of media and simply wanted to thank y’all for taking the time to do what you do.
Keep the trend up and you’ll know longevity first hand.
-Kellen