On July 20 2012 06:28 McDrew wrote: He's essentially just ragging on people who do stupid shit. There isn't any subtlety or creativity in his lyrics, and personally any sort of meaningful message (which I don't really see) in this song is spoiled by all of the negativity.
You obviously don't like it because you never been in such a position and or never had such friends i guess...
The things he says in this particular song are interesting, but over all he seems to be the exact same as everybody else. I also remember last time I heard about him he was trying to grab up attention with some Tyler the Creator diss or something. I love the backpackers talking about "real hip hop" though. I like ATCQ as much as anybody else, but it's not like they are all about a message. I used to like underground hip hop more, until I realized it was almost all about talking about how "nobody wants to hear my message, it's so hard putting out real hip hop..." This is sorta what this reminds me of.
On July 20 2012 07:13 Custard wrote: The things he says in this particular song are interesting, but over all he seems to be the exact same as everybody else. I also remember last time I heard about him he was trying to grab up attention with some Tyler the Creator diss or something. I love the backpackers talking about "real hip hop" though. I like ATCQ as much as anybody else, but it's not like they are all about a message. I used to like underground hip hop more, until I realized it was almost all about talking about how "nobody wants to hear my message, it's so hard putting out real hip hop..." This is sorta what this reminds me of.
I think you missed the true message of most underground hip hop.
On July 20 2012 07:13 Custard wrote: The things he says in this particular song are interesting, but over all he seems to be the exact same as everybody else. I also remember last time I heard about him he was trying to grab up attention with some Tyler the Creator diss or something. I love the backpackers talking about "real hip hop" though. I like ATCQ as much as anybody else, but it's not like they are all about a message. I used to like underground hip hop more, until I realized it was almost all about talking about how "nobody wants to hear my message, it's so hard putting out real hip hop..." This is sorta what this reminds me of.
I think you missed the true message of most underground hip hop.
It's hard to get to that when the majority of it is comprised of whining about how "real emcees" don't make it anywhere. Hip-hop is still my favorite genre by far, but I just can't stand backpackers and underground rappers who only talk about how persecuted they are and how "nobody keeps it real", or "nobody has a real message." I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine, a similar thing would be how the "hashtag" style of rap is so popular. It just bothers me.
On July 20 2012 05:21 BroOd wrote: Every time I see posts like this I get excited because even though I don't listen to that much rap or hip-hop (comparatively, at least), I love unique voices and original approaches. Unfortunately, in my mind, Hopsin is neither. In place of eloquence or striking word craft, it's another middle-of-the-road rapper with ham-fisted, on-the-nose lyrics and insulting, patronizing delivery. He sets up these inane amalgamations of stereotypes that are supposed to be at once hyper-specific and universal, but it comes across, at least to me, as him propping up scarecrows and then knocking them out with his titanic right hooks. It's accusatory, self-satisfied and doesn't really have any depth to the commentary beyond some Foxworthyesque, hokey "you might be a waste of life if..." routine. Then, almost inexplicably, he lays the weight of his criticism, which from the narrative you would believe was aimed at the people whose avatars he was barking at in the video, at the foot of modern rappers and rap culture. Lazy, lazy, lazy.
I think Saul Williams was more compelling in his indictment of rappers, anyway:
But, that's just me speaking as a relatively ignorant consumer of this genre.
I don't know why you think this is better, this guy doesn't actually say anything. There are no punchlines, no insightful criticisms, just him rambling.
Hopsin is not the most technically sophisticated rapper, but he revives something that Eminem used to be known for which is parodying hip hop culture. There are very few rappers who do this nowadays. Yes on occasion someone might throw in a few lines dissing wannabe thugs (though often they are just used to help build themselves up as a real thug in comparison) or dedicate a verse to dissing a popular rapper, but Hopsin actually crafts well thought out attacks directed towards the aspects of hip hop culture he dislikes.
The three characters that Hopsin berates are not "straw men". While there may not be many people who fit the description of any single one of these characters perfectly, there are certainly a plethora of people who share many of the negative attitudes and habits of these three characters. And as a musician, I suspect Hopsin probably finds himself in the presence of these characters more than anyone of us here assessing the video.
On July 20 2012 07:13 Custard wrote: The things he says in this particular song are interesting, but over all he seems to be the exact same as everybody else. I also remember last time I heard about him he was trying to grab up attention with some Tyler the Creator diss or something. I love the backpackers talking about "real hip hop" though. I like ATCQ as much as anybody else, but it's not like they are all about a message. I used to like underground hip hop more, until I realized it was almost all about talking about how "nobody wants to hear my message, it's so hard putting out real hip hop..." This is sorta what this reminds me of.
I think you missed the true message of most underground hip hop.
It's hard to get to that when the majority of it is comprised of whining about how "real emcees" don't make it anywhere. Hip-hop is still my favorite genre by far, but I just can't stand backpackers and underground rappers who only talk about how persecuted they are and how "nobody keeps it real", or "nobody has a real message." I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine, a similar thing would be how the "hashtag" style of rap is so popular. It just bothers me.
I see where you are coming from, but i feel the "nobody keeps it real" aspects of underground is more filler than the main idea. Thats the thing about underground, the true meaning is never in your face, but very cryptic and subtle.
I can think of a LOT of artists that have something real to say, but ill post Killer Mikes "Reagan" as it is a fresh track. + Show Spoiler +
lol I think since 2001 (Up In Smoke Tour) this is the 2nd time I listen to a whole rap song. Rap in the 90's was great now its crap hope for more from this guy really like his style.
On July 19 2012 16:35 xodarap wrote: This track is just like every other track dissing the entirety of rap culture over the past twenty years. Nothing new. I was expecting an actual message similar to ATCQ or De La Soul.
I'm sorry? Telling the mass of retards to smarten the fuck up and contribute to society is a pretty good message to me.
It's easy to tell people to 'smarten the fuck up and contribute' when you come from a priviledged background. Rap isn't about that shit. It's gotta be real.
That's a good way to look at it... Has to come from a shitty background to REALLY GET IT -.- "It's gotta be real", nothing about the message I heard was unreal.
This gotta come from the ghetto to understand bullshit really frustrates me, a lot of people have been poor and got away from it (including myself) because I put my fucking left foot forward... I come from shit, and I think it was "real" enough for me to equate the message. I didn't know you needed to be in the shit to see the shit.
To many stupid fucking kids, with stupid ideologies and stupid ideas of what is fun... To many stupid fucking parents who allow there kids to do whatever the hell they want. You want to know what's "real"? Human beings being idiots, one thing that's never changed, no matter the carrier of the message.
And if this is not "new" than the entire rap community (which evidently must be a piece of shit since it's been "dissed" so hard) should simply peace out, because I'm tired of gangstas from the motherfucking hood walking around in 200 dollar shoes living in 500 a month rooms raping/killing and shitting on everyone around them because they're "ill" or "tough"...
TLDR: This shits real, because the message is real, you don't have to be in it to know it. I heard the message, I was living in a one room house with 6 people (2 parents 4 kids) and I completely agreed with it.
EDIT: If you like this type of message, I'd check out the album Harakiri by Serj Tankian (released recently) it's sick but it more or less deals with the world (not just people from poverty)
but my favorite (for symbolism, gotta watch the video) is this + Show Spoiler +
Sigh, that's not what I meant by 'real'. I didn't mean that your struggles are not 'real'. It was not an attack on struggles of people who are not from ghettos. But a rap song that does not represent the ghetto is not 'real'.
I do believe that you gotta be from the ghetto to truly understand the ghetto. I don't know your background, so I don't know what struggles you faced. But if you think your experience translates fully with other 'poor' people, then you are mistaken.
On July 19 2012 15:49 xodarap wrote: I'm over shock value rap. Also, this guy brags about being a high school drop out. He's nice for what he does, but it's just not my cup of tea anymore.
He says he dropped out of highschool and is embarassed. He actually compares that decision with his life to a miscarriage. You clearly didn't listen to what you're talking about and labeling, and thus you are undeniably clueless on the topic.
I love this guy and people have praised him to be the black eminem lol. Definitely sick and tired of rappers that are like lil Wayne recording pseudo-rap songs.
On July 19 2012 16:35 xodarap wrote: This track is just like every other track dissing the entirety of rap culture over the past twenty years. Nothing new. I was expecting an actual message similar to ATCQ or De La Soul.
I'm sorry? Telling the mass of retards to smarten the fuck up and contribute to society is a pretty good message to me.
It's easy to tell people to 'smarten the fuck up and contribute' when you come from a priviledged background. Rap isn't about that shit. It's gotta be real.
That's a good way to look at it... Has to come from a shitty background to REALLY GET IT -.- "It's gotta be real", nothing about the message I heard was unreal.
This gotta come from the ghetto to understand bullshit really frustrates me, a lot of people have been poor and got away from it (including myself) because I put my fucking left foot forward... I come from shit, and I think it was "real" enough for me to equate the message. I didn't know you needed to be in the shit to see the shit.
To many stupid fucking kids, with stupid ideologies and stupid ideas of what is fun... To many stupid fucking parents who allow there kids to do whatever the hell they want. You want to know what's "real"? Human beings being idiots, one thing that's never changed, no matter the carrier of the message.
And if this is not "new" than the entire rap community (which evidently must be a piece of shit since it's been "dissed" so hard) should simply peace out, because I'm tired of gangstas from the motherfucking hood walking around in 200 dollar shoes living in 500 a month rooms raping/killing and shitting on everyone around them because they're "ill" or "tough"...
TLDR: This shits real, because the message is real, you don't have to be in it to know it. I heard the message, I was living in a one room house with 6 people (2 parents 4 kids) and I completely agreed with it.
EDIT: If you like this type of message, I'd check out the album Harakiri by Serj Tankian (released recently) it's sick but it more or less deals with the world (not just people from poverty)
Sigh, that's not what I meant by 'real'. I didn't mean that your struggles are not 'real'. It was not an attack on struggles of people who are not from ghettos. But a rap song that does not represent the ghetto is not 'real'.
I do believe that you gotta be from the ghetto to truly understand the ghetto. I don't know your background, so I don't know what struggles you faced. But if you think your experience translates fully with other 'poor' people, then you are mistaken.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. But I hope it helps.
^^agree Living in the ghetto is an experience. You can't simply just read a book on it and make claims of how you know of what it is like. Life in poor social conditions is not something everyone can escape. It requires a lot to be even able to live in such conditions.
So I just wanted to post this for all the people who are making judgments on Hopsin based on one song and "not saying anything new". And for people who are going back in the catalogue and isolating songs to say he's just about shock and the same kind of shallow rap artist.
(skip to 5:35 to get at what I'm talking about)
He does have lots of stereotypical shallow rap songs, and he hates that he gave into that image. People don't have to remain on the same stance for their entire life.
but yeah, sure. Tupac was amazing and had plenty of deep songs. He also had songs about nothing but sex. You can't go calling a piano player shit because they're not as good as Mozart if you actually care about the human library of art/literature/music ever expanding beyond the distant past. And you can't tell someone trying to advocate and educate, "but we already know that people need to be educated". The point is, they're still not. It's still an issue, and it still should be heard. It might be a beaten dead horse to some people because of what circles they run in and what they listen to, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be said to a wider audience.
The point isn't the flow or the production value, its about his content/message. [in reference to the minimal OP (video)] But that falls on its face, because although he can call everyone out and try and smack them back to reality, he ain't got no solution or cure - he's just smacking them. What a whole load of good that'll do. If he really believes in the message he puts out, and is truly behind what he says (which, by the way, would be revolutionary compared to the message of conventional mainstream Hip Hop, and the values it propagates), if he wants a change (rather than some more loose change), he needs to present a solution and a way out, along with the problem.
Yes I am disgusted with the things he calls out, and I'm glad to see people with actual quality try to make a dent in the current music industry landscape, but what's really important to me is if the person is real, if their message and values really match up with their lifestyle, if its coherent, non-hypocritical, and thus trustworthy. Kid's cool, but not that hot, cause he's only got one side to that 'change' coin, and that flaw quickly makes it look like he's just in it for himself, uninterested with his impact.
If you want real people, who spit fire but also have 'the way out' in their message, take a good look at Christian Hip Hop heavy hitters Lecrae, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Tedashii, Shai Linne etc. Reach Records. I'm not an undercover advertiser for CHH, only that these guys are more legit than any other rappers out there (yes that is a challenge) in therms of how well their musical abilities, impact, message and lifestyle are completely self-consistent and transparent. Get real man, Go Hard instead of half-assin'
My friend just linked this to me, I not being a person who likes the R&B and Rap genre, really liked this song. I think that it has a great message wish more people would listen to guys like this.
Very refreshing beat and lyrics. My buddy told me that he does all of his own mixing, editing, and writing he also opened his record label.
I fully understand the implication of praising the guy for one track, but the simplicity of it, lack of refrain, lack of repetition, makes me like the guy. I don't want to jump on the bandwagon of "omg he is best in the world", so can someone link me some good rap with lots of words and no lalaaaa bitches, dope and cheese. I am not praising the guy being the messiah of rap, I saw his other clips which are just like normal hip-hop: "yo yo, refren. yo yo bitches and hoes" but damn, I really like this particular track. EDIT: For example I always come back to this track, Dutch Dope DOD, clip is amazing
EPT
