Apathetic Apologies
Sorry for the lack of a column last week. I’d like to say that I was in deep shock about the death of Proof, but that would be a lie as I can’t really tolerate anyone affiliated with D12.
I’m also kind of pissed that his death was the result of gunplay. It’s like a rock star Oding; it’s cliché at this point. But it also continues to tarnish Hip Hop’s image, or at least digs Hip Hop deeper in the hole.
The Darkest Day of My Adulthood
So, earlier this year the Hip Hop community was all abuzz over Nas signing to Def Jam. Everyone was excited about the prospect of Nas getting label support from a place notorious for building superstars. Finally Nas was going to live up to expectations.
I’ll admit it; I bought into the hype. The idea of Nas and Jay-Z not only making peace, but also potentially collaborating seemed like a Hip Hop fan’s wet dream. Still even when I heard about the signing, something in the back of my mind wasn’t sitting quite right. I couldn’t place my finger on it, but there was something that I wasn’t digging about the announcement.
But upon reflection, with my friend Jason Torres, I finally figured out what it was; Nas’ career is kind of a disappointment and signing with Def Jam was a huge letdown.
Y’see Nas was like that dude who sold weed in high school. Maybe he even got successful enough to drop out of school to focus on selling weed full time. But he was the cool guy that you kind of looked up to on some level. But then you went off to college. And when you came back, years later, he’s still the guy who’s selling weed, which isn’t as glamorous as it seemed in high school. In your mind this guy should be running things on some Nino Brown type business, but he’s still peddling weed, like a chump. That is who Nas is.
Nas was the dope when he first came out, when he was full of potential. But as time passed he clearly got stuck in a rut. Nas was always biggin’ Ill Will Records, but that never went anywhere. As opposed to other MC’s oh let’s say Jay-Z, Nas is still on the receiving end of checks. It’s very sad. Nas is still an employee.
What’s worse is that he’s Jay’s employee. Jay, the guy who talked greasy about Nas’ baby’s mom. Jay, who most people believe that Nas killed in the same battle. But clearly Jay’s got the last laugh. It’s Jay who’s signing Nas’ checks. It’s Jay who Nas has to turn his tracks into. It’s Jay who ultimately controls Nas’ success for the next few years. So no matter how sick Nas’ lines were in Ether, at the end of the day Jay is Nas’ boss.
And that is why it really does bug me to hear that Nas had signed to Def Jam. It was like realizing that the guy you looked up to and idolized when you were younger, is kind of a loser upon closer inspection. It’s not quite as bad as realizing that you were an idiot who enjoyed Scooby Doo as a child, but it’s close.
J-Dilla Gets His Props
It was pretty dope to see J-Dilla’s passing get the amount of coverage it got in Hip Hop publications this month. XXL, The Source, Urb and Scratch all paid tribute to the producer. Dilla even managed to appear on the cover of Scratch, in a bittersweet piece of irony. I pick up quite a few magazines and reading the tributes reminded me not only of his impact but also how much I’m really going to miss him.
1994
Mike Eagle pays his respect to Proof.
Shawn Smith continues to bash K-Fed.
Kyle discusses Gen Y.
Aaron gives props to Ghostface.
1999
Ian has even more Radiohead news than usual and news about the plight of Michael Jackson.
Phil has more on Byron Crawford and Luda’s public beefs.
What I’m Listening To Right Now
1. Sufjan Stevens – Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State
2. Murs & 9th Wonder – Murray’s Revenge
3. The Von Bondies – Lack of Communication
4. Chocolate Genius – God Music
5. David Holmes – Bow Down to the Exit Sign
