For years now, hip hop as been thought to have had a negative influence on society. Blamed for damning moral crimes such as drug proliferation, gang warfare and Vanilla Ice. It seems that many people – including your correspondent – have largely failed to grasp the apparent intricacies of this alleged music genre. Having not listened to a hip hop song since MC Hammer was first solvent I decided to find out for myself whether this industry has shed it’s superficial and sometimes immature traits, or whether it still clings to the same image that attracts the ire of parental groups and the cash of suburban teenagers across the nation.
I spoke with aspiring rapper “Young G Pain”, fresh from signing a deal with a major record label.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Good afternoon…Who are your friends?
[Young G Pain] These my, err, boys. Big Deez, Real Killa and that be Mo Stax.
[Entertainment Correspondent] A pleasure, but we usually only allow interviewees in the studio.
[Young G Pain] Oh I got you. Yo fellas, some privacy, please.
[Big Deez] Yeeeah.
[Big Deez, Real Killa and Mo Stax leave studio]
[Entertainment Correspondent] So I understand you have an album coming out: “Son of Tragedy”?
[Young G Pain] Yeah man. Doin it real big right now, you know wud it is, cop that fo sho! June 09. Smoke n Mirrors Records. Straight outta Hotlanta. ATL you know how we do.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Right, and what are the main themes you’ve represented with this release?
[Young G Pain] It’s about the struggle, the hustle you know what I’m saying. I’m giving the fans a look into my world.
[Entertainment Correspondent] And what exactly do you mean by “hustling” ?
[Young G Pain] Um, you know…getting that green by any means. It’s the only thing my daddy taught me. Stunting like my daddy!
[Entertainment Correspondent] I’m not quite sure how that related to my question…Anyway, the first single on your album is titled “Grind On It”. Could you explain the meaning, coherently?
[Young G Pain] Ain’t no meaning, dis the club song yo. Just tryna get the ladies on the floor, get people having a good time. Don’t pay no mind to the words, just bounce.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Sure. Now, you’re relatively new to hip hop. How would you compare yourself to other artists?
[Young G Pain] I gotta say I’m like top 5 right now. Just ain’t many dudes on my level you know. Once the album drops ima be following the greats like Pac, Big…Flava Flav…Soulja Boy…
[Entertainment Correspondent] …You mean follow into a continuous string of contrived “beefs” with other artists for publicity after creating soulless dance tracks for momentary fame only to be eventually ostracised by your own fans and ultimately relegated to Z grade celebrity on an MTV produced reality show alongside women named Mercedes and Chardonnay, just to make ends meat while possibly cutting your life expectancy in half?
[Young G Pain] Um…that’s that’s just how we do.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Ok, but do you think it’s possible for hip hop artists to express themselves non threatening ways…like Will Smith?
[Young G Pain] Sheeit, that fool selling out! He ain’t bout nothing. Quittin the hood to go live with his rich uncle. That ain’t me, that ain’t what I’m bout yo.
[Entertainment Correspondent] You understand that was just a TV show? It wasn’t real…I mean, it was a loose representation of his persona, but I don’t think you’re best placed to argue over fictional characters.
[Young G Pain] Whatever yo. This jus who I be and ima keep telling it like I see. I keeps it real fo sho.
[Entertainment Correspondent] By wearing you jeans down to your ankles? Ahem. I mean…Another aspect of hip hop is the famed freestyle. Perhaps you could demonstrate?
[Young G Pain] Yeah yeah, das wus up. Just drop the beat and I get it cracking.
[Entertainment Correspondent] I’m sorry, there are no “beats” in the studio. We don’t normally listen to your kind…of music.
[Young G Pain] Whatever yo. I jus go a cappella.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Keep it clean. This is most certainly not BET.
[Young G Pain] Yo, yo. Uh, check mic check 1 2 uh, uh…
[One minute later]
[Young G Pain] …Yo, what, what. I’m in the studio on ML double N, letting loose a freestyle from beginning to end. When I do dis right hurr I go hard in the paint and I’m so hot right now, you jus mad cos you ain’t. Drove in on fresh chrome 22 inch wheels, but I still can’t afford to pay my light bill. But that don’t even matter cos as soon as the hype builds, I be the greatest of all time so you know I gets mine. Now that I got a deal first thing I’m gonna do is buy me a grille, so I can eat all my meals with the taste of steel. Cos I be so real, ladies jus gotta look and they be catching a thrill. But I make sure I get paid first then I get laid, cos I ain’t afraid to tell a whacked out chick that she she gotta behave. Yo dis moment right now I got it locked on sight, spitting words on the track that I ain’t even write. And even if I run out of lines I got 9s, and I’m blasting mine so don’t waste my time. Step to me dumb and it’s chalk outline. Cos I let dem things go. That’s on my last word, and I call it the outro…
[Entertainment Correspondent] I didn’t quite “get” all of it, but I’m sure it was packed with irony. Quite a talent.
[Young G Pain] Yeah, yeah. I’m hot right now. Album coming June 09, you know wud it is. Cop that fo sho.
[Entertainment Correspondent] Right, another plug. Let’s leave that for a moment and talk about the issue of artists that portray a fictional lifestyle in their lyrics, so called “sucker MCs”. Your thoughts?
[Young G Pain] Um, I don’t really know cats who like that, all my peoples come real yo.
[Entertainment Correspondent] So you would affirm that your own lifestyle matches your lyrics?
[Young G Pain] I…I…you know…well– OK, I can’t do this any more!
[Entertainment Correspondent] Do what?
[Young G Pain] This isn’t me OK, It’s just a character I portray for the record label. My real name’s Kevin…and I like Will Smith, but the label say I’ve got to be ‘gangster’ to sell records. I wanted to rhyme about positive things…they weren’t hearing it. Said if I didn’t ‘rep the hood’ I wouldn’t get paid…and I needed the money. I’m not even from Atlanta, they just kept saying ‘the south sells’ and I went with it. I don’t even understand myself sometimes, it’s scary.
[Entertainment Correspondent] How awful. This must be so hard for your and your friends?
[Kevin] Friends!? I don’t even know those guys! I signed the contract and they show up the next day. I tried telling the label I wasn’t going to put up a front like that but they–
[Bang on studio door]
[Big Deez] Yo Y.G. You still in there?
[Kevin] Ahhh, yeah yeah. fo sho.
[Big Deez] You hittin this chick or what? We gotta go check dem fools from Do Rag Records. Snatch their chains or something. So em wus up!
[Kevin] Err, sounds good guys. I’ll…be out in a minute yo. Sit tight.
[Entertainment Correspondent] You shouldn’t take this. Stand up for yourself.
[Kevin] …Yeah?
[Entertainment Correspondent] Yes. Show them you don’t need to conform to a stereotype to sell records. You can make it with your own…obvious talents.
[Kevin] Yeah!
[Entertainment Correspondent] Fight back. But you’ll need something to bargain with.
[Kevin] I have an unregistered weapon? It came with the contract.
[Entertainment Correspondent] That’ll work. Now go emancipate yourself from commercial slavery!
[Kevin] But I could get myself hurt, or even killed.
[Entertainment Correspondent] You’ll sell more records that way. Ladies love a bad boy.
[Kevin] Your right. I’m gonna do it. Arrggh!
[Kevin runs out of studio brandishing illegal firearm]
[Entertainment Correspondent] That was easy.
Image source: Flickr.com
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