Who Can Save Hip Hop?

"Cause if you're askin' - "Why is hip hop dead?" There's a pretty good chance you're the reason it died man. There's a pretty good chance your lame ass, corny ass, is the reason it died man. You don't give a fuck about it; you don't know nothin' about it. You want this paper, be a hustler. You a hustler, you ain't a rapper... get your paper man. You know what I'm sayin? But this rap shit is real. Bitch. This shit is real bitch." - Nas, "Hope" off the 2006 album, "Hip Hop Is Dead."

If you're a Hip Hop fan, you're probably a little upset about the state that the rap world is in right now.

Now, when I say Hip Hop fan, I mean real Hip Hop fan. I'm talking about the fans that appreciate more than just the music, but the craft. I'm talking about the ones who actually listen to the lyrics, and not just bob their heads to the beats.

Don't worry if you don't fall into this category. This decade, there's alot more casual fans than diehard ones.

And because of this, what once was Hip Hop music has morphed into pop songs over club beats, loud bass and autotune. When rappers like Soulja Boy, Slim Thug and Jim Jones are making multiple, popular albums, it should tell you all you need to know about the rap game.

The popular saying now is that Hip Hop is dead. I'm not as pessimistic, but I'd say the rap game is definitely on a respirator right now. It's in need of new life, and it needs it quickly.

So I've decided to take a look at some of the major players in Hip Hop right now and see which (if any) can be the saviors to bring Hip Hop back to the promised land. This will be an ongoing investigation that I hope to finish up by the end of the summer. Each installment will examine three or four rappers, break down their pros and cons, and offer analysis of their chances of being a savior.

Keep in mind that I'll only be examining artists with legitimate influence in Hip Hop. What that means is there may be some underground rapper that you love, but no one else knows about. As good as he is, if no one knows about him, he probably won't be changing the game anytime soon.

Think of it this way. Biggie and Pac are regarded as two of the best rappers to ever live. As good of rhymers as they were, they also sold millions of albums and had a very broad reach in society. That's why they were so important to Hip Hop; they appealed to the diehards and the casual fans, and allowed fans of all walks of life to enjoy rap music.

At the same time, rappers that aren't even trying to make any semblance of effort in there lyrics will not be considered. So the Cam'rons and Rick Ross's of the world... sorry. Put together a coherent analogy and then we'll talk.

This will be a work in progress, but I think a worthwhile exercise that (hopefully) will generate some discussion.

Alright, enough explanation. Let's get this started.

***

EMINEM

"See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ, the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which that as they paint me
as a monger of hate and Satan, a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain't the case, see it's a matter of taste
We as a people decide if Shady's as bad as they say he is..."
- Eminem, "Renegade" off of Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001)

Slim Shady seems like a good person to start this discussion with. I think it's safe to say he's got the influence to be considered. There are many people out right now that think Em's the best rapper in the game right now. And, after a lengthy hiatus, Mr. Mathers has a new album dropping soon.

PROS - Lyrically he's one of the best rappers of the last decade, and you could argue one of the best ever. Looking back at his catalog, and you can see that he has some trully remarkably lyrical songs ("The Way I Am," "Stan," "Sing For the Moment," "Lose Yourself," "Like Toy Soldiers" just to name a handful). Em also has the tendency to raise his game when rapping with other greats. His verse on Dr. Dre's "Forget About Dre," was unreal. He out-rapped Jay-Z on Renegade, even prompting Nas to bring this up in "Ether" during his battle with Jay ("And, Eminem murdered you on your own shit"). Eminem seems to have a firm grasp on the fact that he's one of the best, and seems to take the pressure of that seriously.

He's also become a pretty savvy producer and businessman, learning quite well from his mentor; Dre. He certainly has all the tools to bring good Hip Hop back....

CONS - ...But does he have the passion? Eminem has been one of the most recognizable rappers for 10 years now. And as good as he is, there has been noticabely slippage. His first two albums (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP) were amazing. His third one (The Eminem Show) was great. His fourth one (Encore) was good (at best) and you could see by that album that Em had figured out exactly how to make a platinum record. He still had great songs on the album, but he also included too many songs that brought little to the table ("Puke," "Big Weenie," "Just Lose It," etc.).

Slim Shady also hasn't made a full-length album since 2005. During that hiatus he suffered through some personal issues - like prescription pill abuse and the loss of his best friend (and main person that got him into the rap game), Proof. So there's legitimate concern that Eminem may not just have the drive to be the best anymore.

ANALYSIS - In my opinion, Eminem is a Top-10, and possibly Top-5 rapper of my generation. He's got the full package - ridiculous rhymes, great flow, understanding of how to make a memorable song, tons of crossover appeal, etc. But the negative reports I've heard about him the last couple of years concern me. It's been these types of problems that made Eminem into the rapper he was. Unfortunately, they may also be the obstacles that prevent him from reaching the extremely high bar that he set for himself.

I think it's very important for both Eminem and the Hip-Hop game, for his newest album, Relapse to be good. There have already been some leaked songs on the internet. I have yet to hear them (I prefer to listen once the finished product is ready), but from what I've heard, impressions have been mixed. That being said, Eminem is trying his damndest to keep these tracks under wraps until the official release date, so who knows if the songs on the internet are even legit? His first single, "We Made it," is terrible (but it's always been Em's style is to put out a catchy, pop first single). I, along with millions of other fans, will be buying his album on May 19th. Unlike others, I'll be listening to see which Eminem we'll be getting - 1999 to 2002 Em, or 2003-2008 Em. If it's the latter, Hip-Hop won't be leaving its death bed anytime soon.

50 CENT
"Momma said, everything that happened to us was part of God's plan
So at night when I talk him, I got my gun in my hand
Don't think I'm crazy, cause I don't fear man
Cause I feel when I kill a man, God won't understand"
-50 Cent, "U Not Like Me" off of 2002's Guess Who's Back?

The next candidate is Em's protege and everyone's favorite beef-starter, 50 Cent. I first heard 50 back in 2000. He recorded a song called "How to Rob" that was played on Hot 97 in New York, that talked about him robbing every relevant rapper at the time. Back then, 50's main concern was getting rich. He's managed to keep that theme for his entire decade-long career.

PROS - First and foremost, he has the public's attention. Ever since his first commercial release - 2003's Get Rich or Die Trying - 50's been a household name. For good reason, as that album was great - mixing club songs, thug songs and surprisingly witty lyricism. 50 has a knack for making the simplest lines come off as funny and sharp. Although his persona is revolves around him being a thug, he's actually a very intelligent rapper and businessman. The above lyric is from his 2002 album Guess Who's Back?, which is what started his accent to the top of the rap game. I actually had that album, and it was very good, and from then I expected big things from 50. Apparently Eminem did too, because after hearing it, he signed 50 and the rest is history.

What works in 50's favor is that his rhymes are authentic; he lived the lifestyle he's rapping about. Having sold drugs, gotten shot nine times and lived to tell about it is capitivating to fans. He's got a little 'Pac in him in that way (minus the astute lyrical talent). He also can absolutely kill a club song (hate him or love him, but you can't tell me you weren't bumping "In the Club," or "Outta Control"). He's even got some acting chops, making his marketability one of the highest in the game right now.

CONS - Let's just say he learned quite well from Mr. Shady when it comes to learning how to make hit songs and records. I mean, take a listen to "Magic Stick" and "Candy Shop." Same style and flow, and basically the same song re-packaged. And both did very well.

From a pure lyrical standpoint, 50 ain't the greatest. All the trully great MC's have always had a great deal of lyrical talent (Biggie, Nas, Rakim, 'Pac, etc.) and 50 just doesn't have it. He's also fairly one dimensional - how many times can we hear about how much bling you have, cars you drive and hos you bang? And don't get me wrong, getting shot nine times and surviving is nothing short of remarkable. But do we have to hear about it all the time. You're a tough guy. We get it. You also lived in Connecticut for a while but I notice you never seem to bring that up.

ANALYSIS - 50 always has and always will care solely about making money. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Like Nas said - you want this paper, be a hustler. But I don't consider 50 an MC anymore. He's an entertainer. His best talent lies in writing singles and catchy songs. If you need anymore evidence, just know that before blowing up, he was a ghostwriter for Diddy.

The problem here is fairly obvious. It's hard to save Hip Hop when your main concern is going triple-platinum. This is the same guy that started a fake fued with Kanye West, just to build hype for the release of his album (Curtis).

Curtis Jackson is a helluva businessman. Unfortunately, most businessmen could care less about real Hip Hop.

JAY-Z

Too much West coast dick-lickin, and too many niggaz on a mission
Doin your best Jay-Z rendition
Too many rough motherfuckers, I got my suspicions
that you're just a fish in a pool of sharks nigga, listen...
...I don't follow any guidelines
cause too many niggaz ride mine
so I change styles every two rhymes
-Jay-Z, "22 Two's" off of 1996's Reasonable Doubt

PROS - Talk about longevity. Jay-Z's been going strong since 1996. That's incredible, especially when you consider that he can put out an album today and it'll still go double platinum. The guy's nearly 40 and can still make quality Hip Hop music. Amazing.

Scanning his extensive catalog and there's really not many of his solo albums that I don't like (with the exceptions being The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse and Kingdom Come). Jay-Z's a good lyricist, with a great feel for songs. Such a good feel that supposedly Jay freestyles his lyrics, remembers them and goes straight in the booth to record. Now that's talent.

It goes without saying that Jay is an incredible businessman. He started Roc-A-Fella back when he released his first album (Reasonable Doubt) and made millions with the label. The various ways he's made money is extensive (and will take too much research to figure out). Let's just say that Jay has had arguably the most successful career of any rapper. Ever.

Jay "retired" a few years ago but has since made a comeback. Although Kingdom Come was a disappointment, I thought that his 2007 concept album American Gangster was extremely well done, and proves that Jay still has the ability to bring his A-game. He's the Godfather of Hip Hop right now. He demands and receives respect, which is well deserved, considering how much he's done for the rap game.

When examining his whole career, Jay-Z is one of the best rappers of all time.

CONS - Notice in the "Pros" section that I said Jay-Z was a "good lyricist." I like Jay, but it's time to take a closer examination of his career.

It can't be overstated that he got killed by Eminem on that "Renegade" song. When rapping with the best, you have to hold your own. Same thing with "Brooklyn's Finest" - a song featuring Biggie off his first album. Jay was good, but Biggie outshined him.

Then there was the much publicized beef with Nas. If you want the full background, click HERE, but I'll just give you the pertinent details. Jay-Z basically started the fued, and came out with a great diss song, "The Takeover." At that point, everyone was loving Jay since the song was so well done. Then Nas released "Ether," and in my opinion (and just about every other true Hip Hoppers opinion) annihilated Jay and won the battle, proving once and for all who the best rapper since Biggie and 'Pac's death was.

Jay-Z has had an amazing career. But it's hard to be considered the best when you can't step up with other greats. When the biggest criticism that can be levied against you is that you may not be as good as Biggie, Nas or Eminem, I think you're doing all right. But when you're being asked to save Hip Hop, it becomes a legitimate concern.

ANALYSIS - Bottomline, Jay doesn't have to save Hip Hop. The guys' weathly beyond anyone's wildest dreams. He's probably the most widely respected MC in the game. When he does decide to make albums, everyone buys them. Oh, and he's banging Beyonce. I'd say life's pretty good for Jigga.

Jay may not be able to save Hip Hop, but he definitely can use his influence to steer it in the right direction. Stop doing songs like "Swagger Like Us," and start telling the current crop of rappers to step their game up. Jay would be lying if he said he thinks Hip Hop is good right now. He was coming up in the heyday's of Biggie and Pac's careers. He also said when Biggie passed that he was the new King of New York. Well part of sitting on the throne involves giving a shit when the rap game is in disarray. I'm not sure if Jay really does.

That being said, Jay-Z is still making better albums than 90% of the rappers out right now. Who knows? Maybe a few more Jigga classics could go a long way in starting to move Hip Hop back in the right direction.

***

So that concludes our first installment of "Who Can Save Hip Hop?" I hope to continue these periodically for three reasons. 1) To really examine the rap game and its major players. 2) To see if Hip Hop is really dead and 3) If it is dead, can it be saved?

And if you hated this post, don't worry. We'll be going back to sports for the next blog post.



Photos Courtesy of Google Images

2009 NCAA Tournament Awards

So that's it. March Madness is over. Your bracket burned two rounds ago and all you were hoping to see was a competitive championship game. Carolina was the Goliath, filled with NBA first round players and having just come off a Final Four run last season. And Michigan State was the perfect David, seizing the moment during the last two weeks, gelling together and playing with unmatched confidence. On top of that, they were playing in Detroit, which was pretty much a home game for them.

The hype was high and after last year's spectacular final, there was hope that last night would provide similar theatrics.

Instead, the game was over by halftime. And for the second time in five years, we had this...


As a Carolina fan, I was thrilled by the result. But if you were just a fan of basketball, last night's final, in a word; sucked.

So to make up for the lackluster final, we'll give out some Flavors of Lovelace Tournament Awards and put a final bow on the college basketball season.

***

BEST TEAM - North Carolina

Fairly easy pick here. The Tarheels were clicking on all cylinders for nearly the entire tournament and showed the talent and firepower that made them the preseason No. 1. When they really got going, there was no one on their team you could stop on the offensive end. Wayne Ellington couldn't miss. Ty Lawson was unstoppable. Tyler Hansbrough was Tyler Hansbrough and the rest of the team all did their part.

What put the team over the top though, was their commitment on the defensive end. They played with a sense of urgency, and were swarming to the ball. They finally figured out that scoring 100 points, but giving up close to 90 would catch up to them if they didn't dig in on defense. If you watched the Oklahoma game, you saw this first-hand. Blake Griffin still got his stats, but he was facing double-teams and traps every time he touched the ball. They made him uncomfortable, which is all you could do when you're facing a future NBA All-Star.

Whether you like North Carolina or not, if you're a basketball fan you have to appreciate just how good this team was. You just do.


BEST COACH - Tom Izzo

I admit, I didn't see Michigan State coming. I saw a team that was good, but was very beatable, and I thought that they just didn't have the talent to beat the top-tier teams.

And looking at the team, I still don't think they had the talent. But what I forgot to consider was just how good a coach Tom Izzo was. He made up for the team's shortcomings by getting his team to play efficiently, controlling the pace and getting them to run when they had openings. They played great team defense and believed that they were a Championship-caliber team.

In the three games before the final, Sparty knocked off the defending champion (Kansas), the No. 1 seed in the tournament (Louisville) and the most dominant team in the tournament going into the Final Four (UConn).

You don't get lucky three times. Credit goes to Izzo.

Feel free to brush your shoulders off, Tommy.
You earned it with this year's Tournament run.

BEST PLAYER - Ty Lawson

An injury about a big toe was the dominant story of the first two rounds. That's how important Ty Lawson was to a Carolina team stocked with talent.

And when he came back, he showed why he was so important. Lawson was the best player on the floor every time he was out there. His ability of being able to play 100 miles-per-hour, while still being able to stay completely in control made him absolutely deadly in the open floor. It got to a point where every time he rose up for a three, you expected it to go in. Every time he drove the floor and drew contact for a foul, you expected him to make the lay-up for a three-point play. Plus he didn't make many mistakes, posting a nearly 5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio in the tournament.

Ellington and Green were great in this tournament. If you think that's not a direct correlation to Lawson's play, than you're not watching the same game I am. Hansbrough will be higher regarded in Carolina lore, but Lawson's the reason this team won the title.


BEST OVERACHIEVER - Villanova

In a chalk-filled tourney, 'Nova provided us our best glimpse of a true Cinderella. They were scrappy. They played with heart. And most importantly, they played smart. Scotty Reynolds didn't shoot the ball that well, but the guy's a gamer and Dante Cunningham, at times, looked like a star.

I think what was most impressive by the Wildcats is how physical they played. Their tallest guy was 6'8", but they were deceptively hard to score on in the post. It wasn't the 1985 team, but this 'Nova team was still plenty impressive.

Dante Cunningham, Scotty Reynolds and Co. made this
a season to remember for the Wildcats

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM - Memphis

Memphis started out the tournament by terrifying the entire nation in their first-round, near defeat to Cal State Northridge. At the time, that game looked like just a minor scare. In hindsight, that game told the whole story.

Not playing anyone during the season caught up with the Tigers this year. I'm not saying that as an indictment on the team or their scheduling; they played who they had to play. The problem is, they weren't truly tested enough, and when they faced some adversity in the tournament, they didn't respond well.

Sure, they destroyed a Maryland team with far inferior talent, but they looked completely outmatched against Mizzou. Memphis was a favorite to make the Final Four, and a darkhorse to win it all. Instead, they bowed out in the Sweet 16. For a team with such talent and lofty expectations, that's a failure of a season.


BEST SURPRISE PLAYER - Cole Aldrich

Maybe Cole's play shouldn't have been much of a surprise. I mean, the guy averaged a 15 and 11 during the season and was the second best player on Kansas all year.

But Aldrich was a beast in the tournament. Check out his stat line: 17.7 points, 15.7 boards, 5.3 blocks. That's putting in serious work. And in the words of the infamous Ice Cube, Cole even "fucked around and got a triple double," dropping a 13-point, 20-rebound and 10-block performance against Dayton in the second round.

He seemed to get better every game he played in the tourney, and if he and Sherron Collins return, Kansas should be right in the mix for a National Championship next year.

Nothing against Cole, but I figured you rather see
these Kansas cheerleaders. You're welcome.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER - James Harden

I don't know if you knew this, but apparently James Harden is a legit high lottery pick. No, seriously.

You'd never have guessed after watching him in the tournament. He averaged 20 points, five boards and four assists during the season - in the soft Pac-10 - and then i have no idea what the hell happened to his game. He scoring dropped dramatically, as he scored 10, nine and 10 in his three tournament games. He couldn't throw the ball in the ocean either, shooting a stellar 19% from the field.

Is that what you want for from a guy you're taking with a Top-5 pick? Didn't think so.


MOST EXCITING TEAM - Missouri

Missouri's style of play was thoroughly entertaining and head coach Mike Anderson deserves most of the credit here. A disciple of Nolan Richardson, Anderson had his players play a frenetic press-defense that led to more turnovers, more Tiger possessions and more easy points.

And since I don't know what else to say about Mizzou, just enjoy these highlights of their Elite 8 run.

"THE MELO AWARD" - Tyreke Evans

Named after Carmelo Anthony, who was awesome as a freshman and raised his game in the tournament, taking Syracuse to the National Championship. So why am I picking Evans, who clearly didn't lift Memphis (who, coincidentally, was the most disappointing team)?

Because Evans was the only Tiger player who showed up, that's why. It's pretty impressive when a 6'6" freshman, that's built like a prototypical shooting guard, can move over to the 1-spot and run point for a team that won 27 straight games.

In the Mizzou disaster, he was still great, dropping 33 points. The kid can fill it up with ease, and he has such great control over his body. He doesn't really blow by you, but always knows exactly how to maneuver around his defender to score. He'll be a great NBA player.


"MEA CULPA AWARD" - (tie) Danny Green and Michigan State

"It takes a big man to admit his mistakes, and I am that big man." - Michael Scott

Even here at Flavors of Lovelace, we make mistakes. I owe apologies to both Danny Green and Michigan State. Let's start with Green. In my Sweet 16 Power Poll, I wrote:

"North Carolina tends to go through long stretches where all they want to do is score, score, score. The best example of this is Danny Green. Last year he came off the bench and provided energy, scoring punch and rock-solid, perimeter defense. Now? I can't tell you how many times I see him play lazy on defense, then jack up a bad three-point shot in transition on the other end."

Well all Danny Green did in Carolina's run to the Championship is morph into the most versatile player on the Carolina roster. He made threes in transition, made smart decisions and was a force on the glass. What was even more important is that he started to commit on the defensive end again. He did all the little things that a Championship team needs. My bad Danny.

This is what I wrote about Sparty in that same post:

"But it's hard for me to take a team seriously that nearly lost to Penn State the first time they played, then got beat by the Nittany Lions at home. I've seen first-hand that Sparty can go down. I don't think they can get enough scoring if they get caught in a high-scoring affair..."

I thought they couldn't win in a high-scoring game, and at first, maybe they couldn't. But instead of trying to outscore opponents, they controlled the pace and forced teams to play their game. They completely owned Louisville, holding them to just 52 points. Then, they showed that when forced to score, they can, dropping 82 on a UConn team that almost everyone had penciled into the final. So yeah, sorry Michigan State.

Pop that jersey Danny. You earned it.

BEST PLAY

This tournament, for the most part, was pretty uneventful. But one play easily stands out as the sickest of the tournament; if not the year.

So enjoy your last bit of college basketball. You may not admit it now, but when it's July and baseball is the only sport on, you're damn sure going to miss it.

Photos Courtesy of Sports Illustrated's John Biever and Google Images