"People there's something you should be considerin', things could turn bitter when you don't use discipline."
Haven't posted in a bit. A lot of things have been on my mind about hip-hop. A lot of things have been happening as far as hip-hop. I will get some negative things off my chest later on, but I'll start with the brighter points. For instance, rather than focus on the loss, I'll focus on the life and rhymes of GURU, a true hip-hop mc, architect of thought provoking lyrics and all around artist. If you haven't heard of Gang Starr, go type it up on youtube now. Guru never really achieved Mass Appeal like the song said, but he surely was an inspiration, and listening to his lyrics fills people like me with hope. At a time when people were saying rap wasn't about anything but guns and violence, Guru was an exception. He gave lessons, told stories and rapped in his own unique style, behind hot beats. Even splitting from the group that gave him a name, he continued to pursue the music he had a passion for, questing for the essential sound from his soul with solo projects and collaborations, including Jazzmatazz.
"Just because I want to, it don't mean I will. And just because I'm angry, it don't mean I kill."
Today a song about Discipline would be laughed off the radio, but Guru provided knowledge to young people listening to his music, taking responsibility for the the blessings he earned. Many people don't value these things, and I think its a real shame that music like this isn't what's popular.
"Instead of preaching death in my songs, I breathe life."
Rap music today is a lyrical culture which prizes mechanic musicality, bartering for talent, self-indulgence, and the pursuit of ones desire not only to be recognized, but idolized. In a game where a rapper's worth is now judged by the cleverness of his punch lines, what can the music be called but a joke? Rap music isn't bad. But rappers today are solely concerned with glorifying their own made up legends, constructed by themselves and packaged for the mindless. When a new artist like Drake, isn't talking about himself and his entitlement, he doesn't have enough life experience to offer something interesting to say. We understand you worked very hard with little or no help to get to your fame. Once you've received the power you've sought, is this how you use it? To preach about...yourself? We understand you are famous and now people are after your money. You're so busy talking about how big you are that nobody really ever got the time to know you.
"I'm doin' me."
A few weeks back I watched Anderson Silva, an extremely popular and talented MMA fighter make a fool of himself, displaying the ugliness of pride for the association and millions of fans to see. Mocking his opponent, refusing to stand toe to toe, running around the ring just to prove his own self worth as opposed to the man looking him eye to eye, he made a mockery of the fortune he was given. He spit on his God given talent. He didn't give back to the fans, his opponent or God with a performance of his skills. Rather, like a child, he chose show everyone that he could do whatever he wanted, that he is better. That he does not value anything but himself. That he is an ugly person on the inside. He doesn't deserve what he's got.
You may see where I'm going with this, but I'll say it just to clarify. Musicians are doing the same thing, squandering their talents on their own fancies. They don't care to give back to young people with what they really need, a positive voice. And the excuses for their selfish behavior will never end, but blaming others for their own actions is a trademark of the generation as a whole, so why be accountable? So they continue to make music for themselves and only that.
In one song Wayne diagnoses the pitiful situation. Drop the World at one point reveals his struggle and pain, the ice he chooses to coat himself in...then reveals his blind, stubborn response to anyone who contradicts him, offensively giving off the power well beyond his means...
"So I pick the world up and I drop it on your fucking head. Yeah, I could die now rebirth motherfucker. Hop up in my spaceship and leave Earth motherfucker. I'm gone. Motherfucker, I'm gone."
I learn from these people. I learn to the best of my ability that I will keep the darker sides of myself from coming out with success. I have them. It is my choice not to spread them. Not to preach them. But many people see these characteristics and prize them. Emulate them. It's sad the amount of young people's lives will be ruined by this music, it truly is.
Instead of getting defensive, instead of justifying the music with the person's story, instead just listen and try to understand. As a generation, we all must grow up. These young men have been given way too much responsibility, way too fast, it is true. In the same situation, it is only their behavior that will inspire some to act differently, their choice to pursue the glory traded for a another's choice to be a man. For all his pride, at least Kanye took a stand. For all his anger at least Pac spoke his soul. For all the riches at least Big revealed his faults...
...for all the temptations, at least Guru had discipline.
The music is what I'm talking about. Your life is your choice, but you don't choose your audience, they choose you. They gave you what you have. Don't leave them by the wayside. You didn't ask for them, but you got them. They look up to you. Take care of them. Instead of satisfying the jealousy of a hater, satisfy the hunger of the kids who just need something to lift them up, your music. Giving back in the face of the overwhelming force telling you to take for yourself makes you not only an artist, but a hero.
RIP GURU 1966-2010
