I might get myself in trouble for this one, but for today's column, I had to say something about the ri-damn-diculous rap that has taken over the mainstream. Though I've questioned Bill Cosby's desire to make a rap album in the past, I can now see where he is coming from as the rise of the Gucci Mane and co. continue. Do weigh in on the issue, I can take it. With no further ado, I give you today's Kyles Files topic.
Rap fans, the war for your immortal souls has begun.
On Nov. 24, Bill Cosby officially releases "The Cosnarati: State of Emergency," a rap compilation bereft of misogyny, materialism and the "n-word."
Approximately two weeks later, Gucci Mane will unleash his first studio album, "The State Vs. Radric Davis."
The two albums are on opposite sides of the spit-kicker spectrum.
Cosby, who does not rap on the album, presents us with a handful of no-name MCs. The result is an occasionally heavy-handed, but good-hearted, treatise on the tribulations of street violence, the importance of strong parents and the necessity of respecting women.
Gucci, on the other hand, presents us with popularity for all the wrong reasons. In fact, he is currently grounded in his home state of Georgia due to legal woes, according to The Associated Press. And unless the bandana-bearer's album represents a total departure from his current persona, Gucci's drug references, rampant materialism, brushes with the law and speak-and-spell rhymes make him a poster child for what ails mainstream rap.
So which will you support--the mindless or the meaningful?
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Why not both? Because the industry has evolved--for the worse.
I grew up listening to a balance of rap music. It was easy to admire the "street knowledge" of NWA, alongside the bass-shaking of 2 Live Crew and edutainment of KRS-One. Sometimes you could find it all in one effort.
Case in point: Ice Cube's classic "Death Certificate," which meshed the streets, sex and politics in one prolific package. But today is different. If Cube dropped "Certificate" now, my guess is it would be dead on arrival, unless he snared a couple of cameos from OJ da Juiceman.
Mainstream music is so far over the line in the negative direction that you can't balance musical tastes without extra-special effort. Just try and avoid hearing the infectious, but insipid, "Wasted" from Gucci or the embarrassment that is "Becky," courtesy of Plies.
You couldn't even catch a break from the Terrible Trio--Gucci, Plies and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em--during BET's most recent Hip Hop Awards.
The MCs of the moment so dominated the program that it could have been mistaken for a concert. It was telling TV.
And as a rap consumer, I'm willing to fight to get music airplay back in balance. It could be mere coincidence that Gucci and Cosby will clash on store shelves.
But if it is a message from the MC cosmos, I want to send the right message back.
I choose Cosby's form of expression over Gucci's self-destructive one any day. Here's hoping my fellow hip-hop heads will do the same.
Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio 