Well I think it comes down to a question of would you be into rap as much if you couldn't rap anymore? That's a question I'd asked myself and others that I'd used to mess with and it seems that (speaking about them) they couldn't separate the two.
 

the difference is simple...SKILLS...its unfortunate that this culture has become saturated with all of this shit...that only holds the whole culture back...not to sound righteous...what's the youth of our culture going to learn from everything thats put out there?? How does it make anything better? dangling jewels and cars and all this trivial bullshit in front of our kids...only to make it seem that you don't need to work hard for it...so kids grow up wanting to be like that....just tryin to get over...or they end up with fucked up priorities, wanting a car, rims, or jewelry, not even thinking about a house or land...not to say that all music should be serious...weneed fun music too...but it doesn't need to be sooo ignorant....some shit I see and hear is just embarassing....sorry don't mean to rant, but I have strong opinions on this subject...what's my 4.5 y/o daughter supposed to learn from this shit...I agree that celebrities shouldn't be roll models, but what do u expect...when some child in some ghetto somehere, whos family ain't got shit, is watching some nigga on TV acting like he ain't got no sense, with a fly ass girl, $100k car and a $50k grill in his mouth... what's he gonna feel like when he has to find a job at $7/hr
 

churchhhhh!!!
 

It's also kinda like sports, the best make it but even the fans still play around in their backyard. You can't complain that someone loves something so much that they wanna do it themself, I agree that too many try to go big but that's just trying to go pro at what you love.
I don't hear basketball players complaining about too many kids idolizing them and tryin to be them ya know?

The only problem with hip hop is that the mascot/bullshit rapper is becoming the main attraction, and there's Kobe sittin on the bench wondering why they don't wanna see him anymore.


Agreed?
 

and homie with the basketball analogy.....I feel what you're saying about people playing sports in their backyard and so on.......but with sports there are proper structures in place to make sure the skilled get the best opportunities to make it....and if you do make it but don't have the skills to back it up you will get found out........

and in addition....those fans playing bball in their backyard still watch and love the nba, still support their team....still buy their fave player's jersey.


Fans of rap who turned into rappers don't do that shit......
 

Alright alright, you win!
 

"where are the fans that don't wanna be artists?"

^ A-Smash


Good question Reks....what seperates the pack?
IMO its talent.


That undeniable feeling you get in your soul...that makes your face scrunch up....gets your breath taken away....when you hear someone with real real talent.

All the things which they got us focused on right now - hustle, grind, image, buzz, ten second ringtones....are something any average joe can come with if they have the time and money needed. Give me someone with something you can't hustle up or buy ......give me someone with talent everytime.

 

Its the corporate and profit minded people that have got shit really f up. I know there is a serious amount of talent out there that we don't get to hear because they don't seem marketable and profitable to the execs. I am a big fan, but most of my love goes out to artists from earlier days.why?.well that is before the big execs saw all this money they could bleed out of hip hop.

I think most real hip hops fans do there share of raps..maybe some mixin,scratchin, beatmakin..others write graff some try to do all of it. Technology has brought tools that allow kids to record without studios also closing the gap between fans and artists..Maybe that is the only hope for someone who cant get a deal from these money hungry execs who wanna keep servin up bullshit.

It was once about the skillz..wish we could go back to that. Goin back to the b-ball analogy, imagine the slop that would be on the court if the NBA followed the same route.

 

It definitely seems like the majority of hip hop fans are also aspiring artists now-a-days. I actually approached you and Statik at the bar at the hip hop unity fest a few months back and you both seemed pleasantly relieved that I just wanted to tell you both that I appreciated the music, not peddle some mixtape or myspace address on you guys. (It was nice to meet you both by the way).



I think the easy accessibility of hip hop music is both it's blessing and it's downfall. To be an "artist", you arguably just need a voice and some ideas in your head. That is how all the greats started out, but unfortunately it also allows any wack idiot the opportunity to create a myspace music page, put a bunch of glittery chains and rims all over it, and claim that he is the next messiah of hip hop music.



Personally, I make beats. In the 5 or 6 years that I've been fucking around with it, I've never really attempted to create a "career" out of it. I don't really try to promote my music to people, because I essentially do it for myself as a labor of love; as one of my favorite hobbies. I can't think of a better way to spend my time and money than to head down to the local record shop, buy a few albums, and then bring them home to search for the perfect break. I think what gives people like myself a bad name are dudes who download a free copy of Fruity Loops and a week later go buckwild posting shit like "I GOT BEATS FOR SALE, FAM!" on myspace pages far and wide. It's clear that people like that aren't making music for the passion they have for it, but instead they are making it for attention, recognition, the image, money, etc etc etc. The same applies for MCs as well. Fortunately, an artists sincerity and passion, or lack thereof, is often reflected in the final product of their music. This makes it easy for me, and other people with half a brain, to recognize if something is worth appreciating.



I guess my point is that it is definitely still possible to be an artist and a true fan, but it seems like less and less hip hop listeners are able to achieve this. A SINCERE fan/artist is able to gain inspiration and motivation from his favorite MCs and producers, whereas an INSINCERE fan/artist only sees established hip hop musicians as stepping stones or launch pads for their own career.
That's the way I see it, anyways!
 

Artists are original, fans are imitators.

 

Skills......

9 out of 10 fans suck anyways...

That is what is bad in our culture.



 

Theres too many chiefs and not enough indians put it real simple

Everywhere I go

and I mean everywhere

and I be ot (thank god for grantin me the ability to have a mind that desires to leave the cnfines of the hood I was raised in)

It NEVER ceases to amaze me how everywhere I go there is someone who either produces or they rap or etc etc


I dunno

I think we all on the same page here

The shit is saturated enough as it is


But you know...the blind leading the blind.....
 
 

Theres too many chiefs and not enough indians put it real simple

Everywhere I go

and I mean everywhere

and I be ot (thank god for grantin me the ability to have a mind that desires to leave the cnfines of the hood I was raised in)

It NEVER ceases to amaze me how everywhere I go there is someone who either produces or they rap or etc etc


I dunno

I think we all on the same page here

The shit is saturated enough as it is


But you know...the blind leading the blind.....
 
 

I agree with what everyone is saying but also keep in mind that the fan has become the artist mainly because of the media. An example would be American Idol. It gives people hopes and beliefs that anyone can be an artist. I don't watch any of that bullshit. I am anti reality television because of the fact that it took away the exclusiveness in music period not just hip hop music. People saw morons doing outlandish shit on tv and became famous from that? And the only reason why television companies even present reality television shows is because its cheap, they don't have to pay shit for royalties. They can find someone with little to no intelligence and know that people get a thrill from watching that and make bank off it. Me personally I have been making music since i was 14 and I know that I wont ever get signed a major label which really doesnt bother me because i could make music my whole life and not sell one record but as long as i got through to someone, thats enough to satisfy me for a lifetime. I think being humble in music will get you alot further then being cocky and arrogant like most artist that i see and hear on myspace and other networks. I believe that truly separates artists from fans. In order for music in general to uplift from this "stump" the record labels should give artist more creative control and be fearless to take risks. Alot of artist will argue that pirating music is killing the industry but i disagree because in reality, if there is an artist that you truly like, and when i say like i mean you love their entire album, people are going to go out and spend that 15 to 20 bucks on the album. If you have 2 good joints and the rest are boring then they are just going to download those specific songs with no guilt because of the fact that they saved money by not spending doe on a half assed album.
 
 

In any music genre your going to have a shit load of people who want to be artist. Basically, its the media; the root and cause of that. They focus on magazines, shows, & music videos to show the glamor of being a "star". They show how poor cats come up to owning record labels, clothing lines, fucking mad bitches, getting anything they want; all that with there "talent". They set the trend; now everyone wants to do it. Anybody could sing; anybody could rap, but if there wasn't money involved i bet u anything mothafuckas wudn't fuck wit it or pursue it. When hip hop first originated alot of ppl ain't fucked wit it until money first appeared.
 

The "Question" itself is the overall problem, simply cuz there is no real answer. Plenty of excuses and opinions, but no definite answer. However, there should be a dividing line between the 2, especially cuz its business involved. It's only become a problem now becuz the artist are no longer eating the same. Without doing show after show, u'd be damn near broke. The mirage Hip-Hop has built up over the years has came back and bit it in the ass. Millions of dollars from the jump, multiple cars, jewelery, big houses, if your poor u'll think, "why n the hell should I support these artist. Shit if anything ima take their spot, obviously its easy money"- so the cosumer thinks. Hip-Hop's prime factor of income (The Fan) has become its worst enemy (The Competition). The only thing that can change the fact is simply "Respect". Respect for the artist, realizing that this music actually is keeping his/her lights on. While the Artist has to respect the fan, being considerate of his/her subject matter, and quality of music they wish to make money off of. Thats the grey area missing.
Then on another note, if its all just Art anyway..... Who actually has say so over it???..........
Reks stay up!!!
 

yeah everybody recording these days and tell you the truth im no different.  But you can tell in the first ten seconds of listening to an "artist"  if they are a weak clone wannabee.  the game is fucked up right now because there are a million emcees in every city watering it down.  and albums dont mean shit anymore you only make money selling ringtones and club bangers.  FUCK IT.  Let it go back... i will kick it with my homies or kick some shit at a party like ive always done with my homies.  I also BUY ALBUMS because of the sound quality!!!  mp3s dont sound worth shit in my system.  People like you and termanology and well shit there are a lot of people with some fucking talent that dont get heard, are gonna keep doing your thing regardless no matter what kind of bling rap is selling.  same here. fuck, me and my friends are doing shows with a metal group because they are real as fuck and they are friends of ours.  i say fuck what everybody is doing the real shit gonna shine regardless

much respect REKS

-lanchester