Ol’Otis
The Picasso of the Ghetto
to me that's one of the things that's fukkin/fukked up the game
That type of art is not supposed to imitate life
That type of art is not supposed to imitate life
When did the whole "keeping it real" element come into hip hop?
- Thread starter Ol’Otis
- Start date
What do you think "keeping it real" means?
It's not the same as the Chappelle skit, I'll just say that.
Fred.
I can't recall when it started, but I think it really became a problem when reality spitters went from "reporting" what was happening in the streets, to trying too hard to pass themselves off as one "those dudes." At that point I think brehs really about that life felt obligated to check them. Which was kinda fukked up to me because often enough the more creative types from the neighborhood tend to not get too involved with the fukkery. Ice Cube comes to mind. Truth be told I'm not overly concerned how authentic a nikka is if his music is good. I say that cuz there's too many real nikkaz who have absolutely no business holding a microphone. I'd rather watch Deniro play Jimmy Conway than James Burke play himself.
Mandarin Duck
Majestic and Highfalutin
But it just seems like there's a segment of hip-hop fans now and days who hold your level of "realness" higher than any ability on the microphone you may or may not have.
First rapper that comes to mind when I think of this shyt is Maino.
Palm Tree's & Blunts
Big timah timah
people like authenticity. Me personally I could care less. All I want to hear is good music.
Oh no doubt. I blame that on Curtis Jackson. Its no coincidence his "debut" was the last of the crazy sellers. He had the perfect storm of Dre, Em, Interscope........0hhhh and he sold dope, his mom died under questionable circumstances, he's beefing with a NY criminal legend, got shot 9 times, built like LL, etc..
No surprise other artists all of a sudden got shot thinking they needed to appease the fans you mentioned. I.e. Gravy shot in the azz on his way to an interview. Game's story of being shot in a dopehouse robbery, etc.. Then you had Gucci who killed someone in self defence and Soulja Boy with his make believe story of killing someone that was never reported on in the news.
That said is it the fans who expect too much? Or is it the rappers who feel the need to perpetrate a fraudulent lifestyle because they think its the only way to sell some records. Funny how the game changed when "fans" wised up. Now its Kendrick who subtly displays his Piru affiliations (Rigamortis video) while marketing himself as a good kid from a dysfunctional environment. The game done changed.
Mandarin Duck
Majestic and Highfalutin
This made me realize he just might be responsible for this shyt Breh
When I think back on how hard Interscope was pushing his whole being shot 9 times thing
Then think about how hard Jimmy Iovine wanted to get behind Keef and essentially make him the next 50
Only difference is there was no need for the Record labels to push his lifestyle because he did it himself with this being the social media era
iFightSeagullsForBread
The Working Class Hero
Only certain artist come to mind when people touch on this, i'd say it's an individual basis, not a genre specific thing
Three Six Mafia never had to wave pistols in videos, neither did Mobb Deep. There's a distinct reason for that.
But some did.
Three Six Mafia never had to wave pistols in videos, neither did Mobb Deep. There's a distinct reason for that.
But some did.
Jean Jacket
NOPE
Around EPMD's "Crossover"... One might argue with RunDMC "Walk this Way" ....the former was basically the effects of selling out...and the latter was the rap rock fusion that set it in motion.
So we're just gonna forget about Irv's connections to Supreme? He wasn't a saint either.
To me, it happened with the rise of Snoop and his subsequent murder trial.
Ohh no doubt. That's why I mentioned 50 beefing with a legendary NY criminal legend. The Snoop murder trial is a good example too.
Early-'90s...
it was when 1- there had been a huge push to create rap/pop stars, after the success of Hammer/Vanilla Ice/etc., it was becoming a popular formula that was being represented as 'rap' in that era... and 2- the gangsta music also influenced a lot of artists to come out as 'studio gangstas', and trying to out-do each other with the hardcore theatrics... people were against both of these things, and out of that came the demand to keep it real... 'keep it real' even became a popular catchphrase in itself around '94-'95.
it was when 1- there had been a huge push to create rap/pop stars, after the success of Hammer/Vanilla Ice/etc., it was becoming a popular formula that was being represented as 'rap' in that era... and 2- the gangsta music also influenced a lot of artists to come out as 'studio gangstas', and trying to out-do each other with the hardcore theatrics... people were against both of these things, and out of that came the demand to keep it real... 'keep it real' even became a popular catchphrase in itself around '94-'95.
