The Saga Continues

I was browsing through the most recent issue of XXL and I read the Rick Ross story. By now everyone in the know, knows about Rick Ross being a Correctional Officer prior to his rap career. In the words of XXL, he was, "Hip-Hop's Milli Vanilli." Damn.

 Despite the time he tried to deny his ties to the law, Ross was openly willing to admit that he indeed used to be a C.O. Either, he's a hoax: he was a C.O. and made up his image, or, his lie is air tight: he stated that he took the job for reasons of the street. "I don't care either way." What really matters in this era, at least to me, is the music. Cocaina pusherman or not, his music is still damn good, and no matter what you'll never take that from him. I admit, Port Of Miami wasn't that good to me. From what I've heard of Trilla, he totally stepped it up, and Deeper Than Rap looks even more promising. I wish Ross the best of luck, he seems to be handling the pressure quite well.

"Guess who's back, back again?" It's been three years since Eminem was heard on a full length album, and five since he put out his own release. Em' is back on that Eminem shit. I had the chance to see an excerpt of his interview for next month's issue. He talks about how T.I. and Lil' Wayne are really the only ones still doing it...Hmm.....He also discusses how today's music is watered down to "The hook and the beat." He says there is no more substance, which is true. It seems all you need is a decent beat and a catchy hook, it doesn't matter what you say on the verse. The part that is usually ringtoned is the chorus anyway.

This circulates back to the Rick Ross issue. New York rappers are pissed off because they feel the South is the reason lyricism isn't important anymore. I don't think it's the South's fault. Music is expression, and that's how the South gets down, partying, Sizzurp, and getting Crunk, ha! South rappers accuse other regions of biting their sound. Joel Ortiz justifies this by saying, if that's what's hot, and they play nothing else, you can't help but to adapt. Ortiz feels like he sunk to a bullshit level after making a "strip club" song for the sake of being played. He also got pissed at his label for trying to pair him "other" artists. He talked about how Saigon's label wanted to match him up with Pretty Ricky, really?

What is this business coming to? I'm feeling like M.T. Bag is the only hope for this game, but I fear by the time we make it into the rat race, the business would have imploded by then....No more Hip-Hop? That's why n!99@$ are a super group, save the music.

P.E.A.C.E