Rap is the double edged sword of the music industry. The truly talented individuals end up having their careers cut short or live forever under obscurity because they didn't kiss some executive's ass to get on a big name label. Nothing proves this point better than the most recent Grammy awards ceremony. Now, anyone that follows the industry knows that the Grammys are a god damn joke. Countless classic albums and well deserving artists get snubbed nearly every year. But this year was certainly something special. Look through the nominees and winners for this year. I can't get through the nominees for the best rap performance without losing my mind and screaming gibberish at my cats.
People are upset about Kendrick Lamar not winning a Grammy? Please, someone explain to me what is so appealing about him as a rapper? I hear his music, and all I can think is that he's some Lil' Wayne wannabe. Aside from his fantastic verse with Tech N9ne in "Fragile", I've never heard anyone sound so bored while rapping. How am I supposed to enjoy the music when he sounds like he doesn't even want to record his own music? And while it may be all cool and reputable to claim Compton as a hometown, it's depressing as hell having Drake and Dr. Dre plastered over half the tracks on your album.
I look at the fantastic history of rappers that have been shit on by this, "The Most Prestigious Award In Music," and I can't believe that people are most upset that a song about shopping at a thrift store beat out a song about drinking. Do any of you people remember what rap music was like? The struggle that rappers have had to endure, trying to legitimize their craft as art that could be compared and vaunted to the same degree as music that had been on radio for over half a century? Hell, the Grammy for Best Rap Performance wasn't even a thing until 1989, right around the time some of the most beloved rappers were reaching their pinnacle. And it's not like the the rap talent pool is suffering some type of drought.
Snoop Dogg, Nas, Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, N.W.A, Ice Cube, Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Run-DMC, Jedi Mind Tricks. Clearly, the Grammy's voting committee has some sort of issue with talented rappers. But that's just the way the industry is. It's never been about giving the few tremendously talented artists credibility and a share of the limelight. It's always been about each person pushing their own slimy agenda, probably to squeeze just a few more dollars out of the public. But I'm not the only one with a bone to pick, countless musicians and journalists have slammed this sham of an awards ceremony, pointing out all of its flaws in a much more coherent way than I ever could.
So why am I even bothering to write this. I know that despite all of our heartfelt complaints and issues, nothing will change. No matter how many people cry foul over Macklemore "stealing" those Grammy's from Kendrick Lamar, the truth is that neither of them deserved to win. There were plenty of well deserved albums that didn't get nominated, instead the same fucking artists we've been listening to on the radio since the early 2000's are getting nominated every damn year. But what are you going to do, that's just the nature of the game, good talent being thrown aside.
People are upset about Kendrick Lamar not winning a Grammy? Please, someone explain to me what is so appealing about him as a rapper? I hear his music, and all I can think is that he's some Lil' Wayne wannabe. Aside from his fantastic verse with Tech N9ne in "Fragile", I've never heard anyone sound so bored while rapping. How am I supposed to enjoy the music when he sounds like he doesn't even want to record his own music? And while it may be all cool and reputable to claim Compton as a hometown, it's depressing as hell having Drake and Dr. Dre plastered over half the tracks on your album.
I look at the fantastic history of rappers that have been shit on by this, "The Most Prestigious Award In Music," and I can't believe that people are most upset that a song about shopping at a thrift store beat out a song about drinking. Do any of you people remember what rap music was like? The struggle that rappers have had to endure, trying to legitimize their craft as art that could be compared and vaunted to the same degree as music that had been on radio for over half a century? Hell, the Grammy for Best Rap Performance wasn't even a thing until 1989, right around the time some of the most beloved rappers were reaching their pinnacle. And it's not like the the rap talent pool is suffering some type of drought.
Snoop Dogg, Nas, Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, N.W.A, Ice Cube, Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Run-DMC, Jedi Mind Tricks. Clearly, the Grammy's voting committee has some sort of issue with talented rappers. But that's just the way the industry is. It's never been about giving the few tremendously talented artists credibility and a share of the limelight. It's always been about each person pushing their own slimy agenda, probably to squeeze just a few more dollars out of the public. But I'm not the only one with a bone to pick, countless musicians and journalists have slammed this sham of an awards ceremony, pointing out all of its flaws in a much more coherent way than I ever could.
So why am I even bothering to write this. I know that despite all of our heartfelt complaints and issues, nothing will change. No matter how many people cry foul over Macklemore "stealing" those Grammy's from Kendrick Lamar, the truth is that neither of them deserved to win. There were plenty of well deserved albums that didn't get nominated, instead the same fucking artists we've been listening to on the radio since the early 2000's are getting nominated every damn year. But what are you going to do, that's just the nature of the game, good talent being thrown aside.
