"Guru told me to slow up the flow...

...cuz science and metaphors will slow up the dough" Jay Electronica

Recently I have been listening to a lot of GZA and trying to see how minimalist approach to using words can help me become more economical with my language as well.

After hearing this "freestyle" by Lupe it made me think even deeper about the concept of minimalist spitting. No doubt this southern style of flow is currently in vouge so perhaps this could be the key to re-injecting the genre with a few songs that are not dumbed down, but skillfully intelectual. Lord knows we could use a little more balance.

The key word is balance cuz, while I favor Lupe's version of this song, Rick Ross's goes real hard too. Just saying we need space in the game for people to shout out Demetrious Flenory as well as Malcolm X. But the bottom line is that we need more MC's Building Minds Faster than the others are "Blowing" Money Fast.

Also, did I mention that Lupe is a fucking monster!?!?!

"It's Mostly the Voice" - Guru

"I hit studio didn't know what to write

First line should it be about the hoes or the ice?

fo-fo's or Black Christ?

Both flows would be nice

Rap about big paper or the black man's plight?" Nas

That Nas line was in my head when I was first starting to think about what to write in response to the passing of Keith Elam. It is hard because there are so many different angels to take. First of all, he was an MC's MC. Great delivery, versatile content, and of course, that voice. But also he is from Roxbury so I always held a special place in my heart for him. While I don't really remember any specific songs of his from those early days, I do remember there were two groups with the name "Gang Starr", and that they had a lil beef around it. Years later I actually shared a few brief words with him one time about about 11 years ago. I think i'll start there.