"The more nikkas said they aint write down lyrics...the more it started to sound like they didn't" - Joe Budden

Everybody's "next to blow" Drake was caught up in a little bit of drama recently. Seems the Internets were a bit in a tizzy about a radio appearance where waynes ghost writer Drake "free" styled instead of freestyling.

“It shouldn’t be your tag line: ‘I don’t even write.’ Well, if it’s not quality product, who cares? We can tell,” Drake said. “Maybe if you took the time to write, your sh– would be a little better…"

MTV Shows

Dude caught a lot of flak in comments sections and I must admit I understand where the anger is coming from. We have failed to differentiate between "free" styling and freestyling, so now every young cat with a note pad and ad libs claims they can do it.

But this is no fault of Drake's. Besides, young homey makes a great point here. Mutherfuckas need to start taking more pride they craft! I mean, I get the whole "im-so-good-i-don't-need-to-work-at-it" attitude....but really.....I mean really?! If I am not mistaken the genesis of this whole non-writing was Biggie's legendary studio sessions. But that was Big, and when he did it, it sounded much better than the semi-organized-stream-of conscious stuff that rap cats are passing off for songs these days. (no shots)

"I peddle to the corner like a child on a big wheel"- Pusha T

The legendary Gil Scott Heron told us that the revolution would not be televised, but dude never mentioned anything about vlogging. After watching the Malice of the Clipse on his appropriately titled vlog maliceoftheclipse.com, I could not help but have grand dreams, if not visions for the future.

Malice Video Blog 1 from Malice of the Clipse on Vimeo.

Homie is not the first rapper to state the obvious - “I either never have, or no longer do, sell crack all day long” - however, he is the most recent. What makes this more interesting is the fact that Malice, along with his brother and partner in rhyme Pusha T, have damn near perfected their craft in "crack rap." Some would say murder music was to Mobb Deep as crack rap is to the Clipse.

The whole thing got me to thinking... what if several other rappers came out and said the same thing? That, in effect, the stuff that they were rapping about was a lie. (See future post on why telling all truth on wax is a ridiculously unreasonable and incredibly limiting and unfair expectation). What would happen? Would fewer aspiring rappers feel the need to rap about drugs/excess/etc? Would fans keep buying their music? If the former happened, record execs would still be happy...right? Would they actually begin to seek out talented artists? Would fewer artists aspire to or feel compelled to write exclusively about excess and materialism?

Its fun to dream.

zero to sixty...

Olympic level track athletes have the ability to get to their top speed in a short amount of time. They work tirelessly to shave tenths and hundredths of a second from their lap times. We hear announcers talk about athletes getting a clean start out of the starters block.
Many rappers also pride themselves on the first few bars of the rhyme begin the strongest. In many ways - along with the beat-it can be the difference between holding the listeners ear for the entire verse. Inspectah Deck is one MC that wastes no time hitting his full rhyme stride.

"I leave scientist, mentally scared, triple extra large
wild like rock stars who smash guitars
poison bars from the god blow holes through your mirage..."

from, Above the Clouds - Gang Starr

"I bomb atomically
Socrates philosophies and hypotheses can't define how I be droppin these
mockeries
lyrically perform armed robbery
Flee with the lottery
possibly they spotted me..."

from, Triumph - Wu Tang Clan


I can't believe I forgot to add Guillotine (Swordz) from the OB4CL album!
Not only does Deck start off strong, but he completely blacks out on on the rest of the track.



"Poisonous
Poisonous paragraphs smash ya phonograph in half It be the Inspectah Deck on the warpath
First class
leavin mics with a cast
Causin ruckus like the aftermath when guns blast
Run fast,
here comes the verbal assaulta
Rhymes runnin wild like a child in a walker
I scored
from the inner slums abroad
And my thoughts are razor sharp I sliced the mic from the cord
First they criticize,
but now they have become mentally paralyzed with hits that I devise
Now I testify, the rest is I Rebel INS your highness, blessed to electrify
With voltage of an eel
truth that I reveal'll
Crush the amateurs who screamed to keep it real
Caesar black down hoodied up and fatigues
Part time minor leagues receive third degrees
Attack like a wolf pack once I pull back the God - U
and bust through like a fullback"


I know there a bunch of others so put me on!