Posted on 11/28/2005 8:03:01 AM PST by SDGOP
50 Cent and Kanye West are the only ones selected to be GQ's "Men of the Year" who have no false modesty about it — both of the hip-hop stars justify their big egos in the mag's pages. But they also have more on their minds
Photos from this story Busta Rhymes Cuts His Hair
50 Cent, Kanye West In GQ's 10th Annual "Men Of The Year Issue"
than just themselves. Like George W. Bush, for one. 50 thinks the president is "incredible ... a gangsta." "I wanna meet George Bush, just shake his hand and tell him how much of me I see in him," 50 told GQ. If the rapper's felony conviction didn't prevent him from voting, 50 said he would have voted for Bush. Meanwhile, Kanye basically called Bush a racist on national television, and has since rethought his strategy for speaking out. "When NBC edited it out on the West Coast, that was a wakeup call," West told the magazine. "It let people know how censored we still are. This is supposed to be America, but you can't get your opinion out. There's all kinds of things I want to say, but I need to pace myself, to make sure my opportunities to say these things aren't taken away too abruptly." Kanye says after giving us entertainment, his next goal is to give us "inspiration." 50's next goal? He wants to market a condom. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at mtv.com ...
I agree that Britney is no talent. There are lot of hip hip and rap artists that have no talent either, but 50 cent and Kanye West aren't among them.
Actually the social conservatives hated Led Zepplin. There were always allegations about them being satanic, engaging in backward masking and of Page even being possessed. You think that "Stairway to Heaven" was a favorite of social conservatives of the time?
I have respect for artists that write their own songs. 50 cent and most other hated hip hop artists do exactly that. Many of the artists that are praised for playing their own instruments were barely competent and were heavily augmented by studio musicians for recordings.
I'm laughing so hard I can barely see the screen! That's fantastic. If you did it, I hope you send it to the WH.
Maybe the 10th time, someone can get it right...
LZ still gets airplay today, as do the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
Once Hip Hop "hits" fall out of favor, they're never seen again.
If longevity is any basis for the assessment of music, Rap comes up short, however popular the genre might be.
LOL - actually he was only shot at 9 times. He was hit only 3 times. Three times is still a lot though.
Wow, thanks for the flashback.
Krokus, Saxon, Ratt and Twisted Sister - Rock On!
Gang signs ping.
Those that listen to Led Zepplin today weren't 50 years old in 1973. Sure, a lot of 50 year old people like Led Zeppelin today, but they were in their 20s when Led Zeppelin was popular.
People said the same thing about 80s music and you are saying now about hip hop and 80s music is still around and doing very well.
Hip hop and rap have been around for over 25 years so its not like it's only been around since 2003. Remember Curtis Blow with "Basketball"? KRS-1? Run DMC? Beastie Boys?
Classic rock is great - The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, the Who and Clapton are some of my favorite artists. They are greats and they've stood the test of time. A lot of classic rock bands weren't that great though and didn't stand the test of time. Some were only one hit wonders. It happens in every genre.
Dr Dre, Emimen, 50 cent and even Kayne West are supremely talented. They might not be in a genre that a lot of social conservatives like, but that doesn't invalidate their talent.
Your personal experience is anecdotal and in no way typical of the view that conservative Christians of the time had of bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
BTW, you've never heard of the allegations that allegations of Led Zeppelin's music being satanic, engaging in backward masking and of Page even being possessed? Stairway to Heaven is even still talked about as being a satanic song.
Funny! I actually wouldn't be surprised if Clinton as a stunt would wear Gangsta apparel. For W... For a man who so honors the office that he always wears a jacket in the Oval office, somehow I doubt he would go for it!
"Dr Dre, Emimen, 50 cent and even Kayne West are supremely talented. They might not be in a genre that a lot of social conservatives like, but that doesn't invalidate their talent."
Indeed. You wont hear that from alot of people here, obviously, but it is true. Truly, IMO, there is no person on this earth who is better at rhyming words over music than Marshal Mathers, he is some kind of lyrical prodigy, especially if you have ever heard him just freestyle off the top of his head. There's just not a another living person who can touch him, not even close.
Alot of people will go online and read the lyrics for one of his songs and then post it and act as though they get the message. If you haven't listened to it, you don't get it. Intonation, cadence and the way that things are said means everything as far as the message in the music, and the actual lyrics mean nothing without that context. I challenge anyone to pick up one of his CD's and listen to it before they form an opinion, especially one of the more recent ones, and not hear three seconds of a radio single or read the lyrics somewhere. You will have to admit there is insane talent there even if you don't personally like it.
I have a rare old recoding of a radio show Em was on where they had a beat playing, and the hosts of the show just spit out a random word from the dictionary, and Em would spit out a perfect, very intricate rhyme as if he'd spent the whole previous day writing it.
Alot of people end a sentence with one sylable, and then end the following sentence with a same-sounding sylable and call it a rhyme. The closest thing I could compare Em's rhymes to are Tetris pieces, all licking into place, many interlocking sylables, etc. He's been doing it his whole life, he's got a masterful command of the English language and of his own voice, and very quick wit and a good sense of humor. I have been a fan of his since "Hi, My name is.." and I'm happy to admit that any time.
He's this kind of verbal ninja and it will be years 'till we see another rapper come long who can match him, if ever. (Since it appears he is now returing to spend time with his daughter, which is apprent in his latest radio single)
And he discovered 50, anyone that coems out on his label I can almost guarantee before I listen to it that I will like it, and I have never been wrong so far. (Except maybe some D-12 stuff)
Bones
Throw in some LA Guns, too!
You may have missed the commercials during the Super Bowl (and at other times) using hip hop music that was well over 10 years old.
And hell, Sugar Hill Gang was played for just a minute in Dodgeball as well and how old is that song of theirs, "apache."
I have to disagree with you slightly here. Eminem is definitely in the all-time top 5 of Hip-Hop lyricists. Judging it from a Hip-Hop perspective, that's what Eminem is. A lyricist. Yes, a lot of his work is vulgar. Not all of it can be described that way.
As you already know, Eminem's song "Mockingbird" is outstanding. There's no other word for it. Does he ever inhale during that song? It doesn't sound like it. For those of you who have no idea of what that song is about, it's a dedication to his daughter.
I would advise people here who are so adamant in their "hatred" of rap/Hip-Hop to just be quiet for a moment and listen to "Mockingbird." Even though he's rhyming with considerable speed in the song, every word is understandable and clear. And the music is not heavy with bass. It's a piano and light percussion. That's it. I would say that it's every bit as uplifting as Nick Cannon's seriously pro-life song "Can I Live?" And that is Hip-Hop, too.
Anyway, let me get back to my disagreement with you. I wouldn't put Eminem as #1 of all time. He has some stiff competition for that title. Rakim and Slick Rick immediately come to mind. And I may be dating my Gen-X self saying that. I'm still a child of the '80s.
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