The Sports Wannabe

True rap is dying.

While this may sound like bizarre version of a lecture your grandfather told you, this one is true.

Soulja Boy exemplifies all that is wrong with the current state of rap and hip hop music. He has achieved success with the catchy yet moronic lyrics on his single “Cranky That (Soulja Boy)”. While repeating one’s name over and over on a track has become commonplace in the rap game, no one matches Soulja Boy’s embedded marketing techniques. His CD is titled “souljaboytellem.com”. He has released youtube clips of himself teaching viewers how to perform the dance from his first single. He commonly sports his signature sun glasses with his name printed on on the lenses.

Even Soulja Boy acknowledges that people are mostly attracted to his persona, not necessarily his “music”, as he explains in this interview.

His second single, “Soulja Girl” (because we needed more soulja _____) uses the same “YOOUUUUUU” chorus as his first single. Yep, that is creativity. He has also been kind enough to repeat his name roughly 45 times in “crank that” to make sure those of us with short term memory issues don’t forget who to send the hate mail to.

Plies, another rapper who has just burst onto the scene, is a stark contrast to Soulja Boy. Plies, a strong advocate those who cannot afford adiquite representation in the legal system, speaks about many social issues in his music, as well as what is actually on his mind (frequently women, but in a respectful way while telling it like it is). He also shows humility and appreciation for those who support him. At a recent show I attended, Plies thanked the crowd numerous times, once explaining that he understands what one might have given up to pay for their ticket and how much that means to him. It was a genuine display from someone in an industry that is as arrogant as they come.

While this is an encouraging beacon of hope, he most likely will continue to be overshadowed by rappers peddling instructional dance recordings and promoting misogyny, ignorance and shear stupidity.

If you really want to listen to this garbage, do so. But first listen to the greats that paved the way for these stereotype feeding morons. My suggested list would include:

• Tupac
• Notorious BIG
• Snoop Dogg (earlier releases)
• NWA
• Dr. Dre
• The Game (”Dream”)
• Public Enemy
• Jay-Z
• Eminem (”Stan” “The Way I Am” “Cleaning Out My Closet” “Lose Yourself” “Mosh” and many others)
• Kanye West (”Jesus Walks” “Through The Wire”)
• Outkast
• Nas
• Lauryn Hill
• The Fugees

And there are many more. This is what we should be celebrating. This is what rap was intended to be, an avenue for voicing what you think and feel, not an audio track for aerobics.

Till the next time I sprain my ankle trying to crank that,

Samuel