'Mezmorized' features the lazy, Pitsburgh drawl of Wiz Khalifa, whilst undoubtedly not the best rapper, the beat is an airy g funk haze of the catchiest variety. The subject matter is right up my alley; smoking weed with other peoples girlfriends in nice cars, or in Wiz's words, 'Takes nigggas hoes and smoke hella trees with em'.
He paints a picture of a world I wish to inhabit:'Bitches holding weed, rollin trees with their pretty feets up'. The girls Wiz rolls with are of the flyest variety, 'she don't smoke, just hit it once while she light it'.
'Continue to smoke and remain g as fuck, polo socks match my polo hat', the Polo reference had me buggin' out cause if you know me you'll know I'm slightly obsessed with Ralph Lauren apparel.
'I be blunted with my diamonds and my big chain...'. Wiz Khalifa's nonchalant misogyny, arrogance and materialsim have me sold '. , the track captures a dream world where you can ride around with pretty women in your expensive automobile smoking drugs all the time. I wish.
Similarly whilst J-Cole, the latest signing to The Roc isn't necessarily the best rapper, it's something about the ridiculous beat, the energy and the amazing video that has me feeling this track.
He's a bit like the mutant offspring of Drake, Joe Budden, Juelz Santana & Jay Z. He sounds like Drake but you can hear the influence of Juelz Santana and Jay Z. Notice he's got the Andre 3000 sample in the track, 'Who else want to fuck with Hollywood Cole', perhaps a nod to one of his favorite rappers. The video is very, very nice and was shot in J Coles' home town in North Carolina, where Little Brother is from.
I guess the significance of me posting this kind of music, is that for the first time in a while I don't feel that bad about a lot of new music that I'm hearing, because for a long time I've felt very strongly about the quality of new rap music coming out of America. This year Roc Marciano, Jay Electronica, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross and Curren$y have saved rap for me. I don't even think Drakes that bad, at least he fucking rhymes and makes sense and has some sort of flow unlike other sucessful rappers who have none of these attributes. (Wocka Flokca?)
He's also on this track with Talib Kweli, Jay Electrronica & Mos Def...where he gets outshined: Jay Elec kills it with the Coming to America references and sophisticated descriptions of his art, 'Black Elohim Annunaki Rap...' and Mos Def gets deep, coming with the ill flows and deep references about 'ley lines' and the 'black power grid', young J Cole gets out outshined some what.
I guess the significance of me posting this kind of music, is that for the first time in a while I don't feel that bad about a lot of new music that I'm hearing, because for a long time I've felt very strongly about the quality of new rap music coming out of America. This year Roc Marciano, Jay Electronica, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross and Curren$y have saved rap for me. I don't even think Drakes that bad, at least he fucking rhymes and makes sense and has some sort of flow unlike other sucessful rappers who have none of these attributes. (Wocka Flokca?)
Whilst Jay Electronica's form of Afrocentric, sci fi rap is very ill he hasn't come with more than a few songs and a mixtape, he needs to deliver an album. Drake is nothing but a sweet boy and J Cole, Wiz & Currensy don't seem to have the content or lyrical diversity of an Elzhi or Raekwon. Rick Ross is a very good rapper, his track with Jay -Z - 'Freemason' is a very clever song, and it's catchy as fuck, John Legend sings the hook! But Ross seems only capable of talking about cocaine, cars, money, weed and women on most of his other songs.
I'll be interested to see if what these newbies are capable of, Jay Electronica is looking promising but what about the rest?
Although we find ourselves entrenched in our own religious following of the golden era, it is only recently that we have begun to accept that times must and inevitably will change.
ReplyDeleteIf nothing more than a yardstick to measure wackness with, this latest offering coming from the states in 2010 is becoming, for the first time, worthy of consideration.
Although use of the lower chakra is sadly, in post-modern commercial rap, found in abundance, it is encouraging at least to notice influences from our founding fathers in this latest new breed. That being the case, the current demand for this subject matter in mainstream rap music is far too high to dissuade those who supply it and to urge them to rediscover a passion for the pursuit of knowledge of self.
History has shown that no sub-genre of music has genuinely survived more than 2 generations so we must accept the fact that, although this latest wave bears the same name and resemblance as our first, our last and our everything, this is no longer Hip Hop and long since has it been, this is a new genre and as far as they go, it looks, for the time being, rather promising I must say.
Bé