Its amazing how intelligent old school rappers were at such a young age

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Tbh fam...I think there are some Ill young lyricist out there...the problem is the culture vultures will push a lil this or young that and overlook the ones saying some Ill lyrics...plus the fact that the industry isn't developing these artist no more...I'm a big Nas fan but I know Large Pro help him become the Mc he is today...the talent was there...he just needed some early guidance...as I'm sure many of our golden Era ppl did...today cats either don't have it or shun it...which is why I can respect an Joey Badass or A.F.R.O...they embrace wisdom the o.g.'s...
 

Rev

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I say this often myself. Whether it's Nas, Prodigy, OutKast, Cee-Lo, Big/Pac (tho some likely shave a couple years off)...it's a lil fascinating to see that they were writing and rhyming that way at that age.
 

FruitOfTheVale

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Tbh fam...I think there are some Ill young lyricist out there...the problem is the culture vultures will push a lil this or young that and overlook the ones saying some Ill lyrics...plus the fact that the industry isn't developing these artist no more...I'm a big Nas fan but I know Large Pro help him become the Mc he is today...the talent was there...he just needed some early guidance...as I'm sure many of our golden Era ppl did...today cats either don't have it or shun it...which is why I can respect an Joey Badass or A.F.R.O...they embrace wisdom the o.g.'s...

This is very true

Mentorship in hip hop has fallen off big time
 

MalikX

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Yeah; it was crazy considering Snoop dropped 'Doggystyle' at 22, Nas dropped 'Illmatic' at 20, RZA produced 'Enter The WuTang: 36 Chambers' at 24, Biggie died at 24 and 'Pac died at 25.

There are countless other examples which I dont know off the top of my head such as Mobb Deep, but you have to respect that all that are listed were young adults putting together classic material at such a young age that their contemporaries just do not have the skill level to

Life was hard in the crack era. Made men grow up fast. Pac look old enough to be somebody wild ass OG uncle pushing mid 30s when instead he was younger than Drake, J Cole and Kendrick.

tupac-shakur07.jpg
 

John Hull

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Man how could ya'll not post the B Side? :banderas:nikka voice hadn't even changed yet




Woke up one morning, turned your radio on
Couldn't find your money and your brother was gone
You ran to the kitchen, all you found was a pone
Your knew your brother's habit, couldn't silence his own
Used it ten years and now he's grown
Lost his wife and lost his friends
The way he started is the way he'll end
Usin cocaine again and again
Bright one morning drivin in his car
Smoked some dust, this time he went too far
Flew off the cliff right over the side
That was his first car and his last ride
Now you wonder why he didn't quit
But I'll tell you the answer that coke is it
His life is an end, he couldn't get through it
I told him before that he shouldn't (do it)

[cutting up of]
(Do it!)

Now your mother's upset
There's only two sons left
You say that's something you could never do
But now your brother's fried look rubbed off on you
Gettin all high, actin all cool
Your younger brother's grown and he finished school
Takin care of your mother and your sister too
He chose his own way, he took his own fate
He used to idealize you but now it's hate
He tried to help you, you can't say that's it
He tried to put you in a Phoenix home, you caught a fit
And now you realize that coke is it
Your life is an end, you couldn't get through it
I told you before that you shouldn't (do it)

[cutting up of]
(Do it!)

The tragedy won't happen to me
Now your brother's in brain surgery
Yes, your brother's rich, he's a millionaire
While you're out on the Bronx and you're on welfare
Jealous of your brother all you do is cry
Went in the room, commit suicide
Now your brother blames himself for what you have done
As you know 3 minus 2 equals 1
You could say your mother's life was a gamblin bet
Cause she started out with three, she only got one son left
You think you're cool, a Casanova
But now your life is (all over) (over) (over)
 

OnlyInCalifornia

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:rudy:

Nas is a rare talent, but a lot of those great rappers were young and talking powerful shyt. Jeru couldn't have been that old when he made "Jungle Music."

Yea they were young but as young as a lot of other artists who come into the music business. Nas was one of the few to be 16-17 years old putting out bars like that and having a deal lined up. The other was Special Ed but he had basic rhymes.

Jeru was 22 when his album came out. Same age as J Cole when his first album came out...

Now if you want to argue they are better, I think that is another thread. The idea that back in the day everyone was young and dope and now everyone is 30+ trying to get in the game, isn't true. Unless you want to be selective.
 

Alexander Wiggin

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back in those days it was crack era and the streets were dangerous. a lot of cats didn't pass 25 so by the time they were 15 they already considered themselves as grown men.

add to that the 5 % influence saying knowledge is everything and the fact that in order to be signed to a label who HAD to have some kind of talent. It was more selective back then.
 

PhonZhi

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Rap is more "club" geared now. If you want mainstream attention you need a club record. More focus on beats, catchy hooks and simple melody, sing-songy type verses (think Fetty Wap). There's not much of an incentive to writing deep, thought-provoking lyrics anymore if you want that mainstream look.
 

Art Barr

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Yea they were young but as young as a lot of other artists who come into the music business. Nas was one of the few to be 16-17 years old putting out bars like that and having a deal lined up. The other was Special Ed but he had basic rhymes.

Jeru was 22 when his album came out. Same age as J Cole when his first album came out...

Now if you want to argue they are better, I think that is another thread. The idea that back in the day everyone was young and dope and now everyone is 30+ trying to get in the game, isn't true. Unless you want to be selective.


Kane, rakim and krs were all 19 when they debuted.

So, being young and showcasing knowledge of self with maturity was the norm back then.


Art Barr
 

The Coochie Assassin

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The most misguided quote is confusing someone who is "well read" versus someone who is intelligent, has always been a confusing conundrum. If you read a book, or heard a speech, or engaged in conversation with someone who is giving you information and you regurgitate the info, is that really intelligence?
yes
 

razassin

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nikkaz used to come from the struggle... these new nikkaz only see the fantasy life and wanna live it everyday... doin' hard drugs, wearin' shyt they cant afford, and the bytches think like that too... thats why this generation earning less than last generations and livin' check to check...

Im 28 and I come from the old school but I like to party and bullshyt like BIG so I kinda understand these young nikkaz... a few of them will grow, most will be depressed by the time they realize they aint got shyt and aint done shyt....

Like wise, this shyt reflects on the lyrics of each generation...
 
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