Miley Cyrus' Frustration With the Industry Taken Out On Kendrick Lamar

Recently in an interview Miley Cyrus called out Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar on their "violence and drugs in their music videos" and was quoted as saying both are "bad role models", to which I could not help but laugh when I read it. Now sure, you may say "alright Geff chill, it looks like you're just defending any rapper/rap artist who gets some flack thrown their way." This statement would be correct to a degree. But for Miley Cyrus to call out Kendrick and Taylor Swift on violence, drugs, and "politically incorrect things" in their videos, it's like Kobe Bryant calling out Gilbert Arenas for being a ball hog. This is why I'm glad I'm here; to make points.

Now the point of this is not to bash either (okay maybe a little Miley bashing) artist, but to point out each artist's content and see where the flaws AND great things lie. We'll start with Taylor Swift. In her latest interview with Marie Claire magazine, Miley was quoted as saying (speaking about Taylor Swift's Bad Blood music video featuring Kendrick);

 "I don't get the violence revenge thing. That's supposed to be a good example?  And I'm a bad role model because I'm running around with my (breasts) out?  I'm not sure how (breasts) are worse than guns."

Okay, so Taylor Swift's video features some guns and swords (and is supposedly a subliminal diss to Katy Perry, which I find hilarious that beef isn't just found in hip hop now, but that story is for another person to write). In a music video for a song called "Bad Blood" you wouldn't exactly expect flowers and dancing in fields, would you?  If so, I wonder what your stance on bad blood is.  But I'm not so much concerned with her opinion on Taylor's music video, it's her comments on Kendrick Lamar;

"There is so much sexism, ageism, you name it. Kendrick Lamar sings about LSD and he's cool. I do it and I'm a druggie whore."

Okay, now this comment does not make any sense whatsoever. This is the biggest bit of evidence that Miley (and probably many other Kendrick bashers) does not understand Kendrick's music. If you really listen to Kendrick's "For Sale?" interlude, Kendrick is speaking on "Lucifer", Lucy being a short name that he uses to reference Lucifer. Kendrick talks of what Lucy could bring him if he "signs his deal with the devil."  Some of Kendrick's lyrics in the interlude go as follows;

"My name is Lucy Kendrick, you introduced me Kendrick, usually I don't do this but I see you want me Kendrick, Lucy give you no worries, Lucy got a million stories, about these rappers that I came after when they was boring, Lucy gone fill ya' pockets, Lucy gone move ya momma out of Compton inside a gigantic mansion like I promised, Lucy just want your trust and loyalty, avoiding me? it's not so easy I'm at these functions accordingly, Kendrick, Lucy don't slack a minute, Lucy work harder, Lucy gone call ya even when Lucy know you love your father, I'm Lucy, I loosely heard prayers on your first album truly, Lucy don't mind cause at the end of the day you'll pursue me, Lucy go get it, Lucy not timid, Lucy upfront, Lucy got paperwork on top of paperwork, I want you to know that Lucy got you, all your life I watched you, and now you've grown up to sign this contract if that's possible."

https://youtu.be/REDMPXa4hVQ
(Here's the link to the song, for some reason I couldn't find a version to put directly on the blog. *I do not own these songs, videos, or the rights to them.*)

Oh yeah, I definitely see where "Lucy" could represent a drug after hearing these lyrics. Kendrick admitted to having depression (on the album) and even openly admitted in interviews to having problems with prescription drugs for quite some time in interviews after To Pimp A Butterfly was released. So is Kendrick perfect?  No, he's not. But for Miley Cyrus to judge Kendrick on "talking about LSD" in a song that clearly doesn't talk about LSD, is a classic example of an artist that has had enough of the BS and needs to take it out on someone else. But how do you expect not to get any flack when you sing about drugs, pose nude, twerk, swing around naked on a wrecking ball and tour in a thong-ed out leotard (I can't tell if it's a bathing suit or a leotard, y'all can be the judge)?  Kendrick brings these drugs/bad lifestyles to light to shed light on them and hopes for a better tomorrow for the youth, not to brag about how he's killed a man or how many drugs he's done. For Miley to do her own thing is fine, but when it comes to judging others and saying they're "bad role models"; Miley has no right because she's just as bad. Hip hop will not take another L because some die hard fans of Miley misconstrue her misplaced anger, and have no understanding of what the message of Kendrick Lamar's song truly is.     














            

 

The Battle For Music Streaming Supreme: Who's Your Pick?

Since TIDAL dropped ain't shit been the same... no Drake. Or better yet, no Kendrick cypher verses (sorry, trying to be clever with "punch lines" as the real heads put it, how's that working for me?). Music sales have been down for just under the past 10 years or so, because... the internet. All of the money that artists rake in now is mostly from streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, etc. Music streaming is the move nowadays it seems, more music for a better value is hard to argue, but what kind of value is each of these services giving you, you ask?  Leave that to me. I went through each streaming service (out of the 3 big ones making waves, TIDAL, Spotify and Apple Music) and laid out some details for which ones benefit YOU the consumer the most, because as they say, the music is always right (or something like that).

Spotify
Spotify is my current streaming service of choice, I had an account (non payment, so I deal with all of the advertisement bull) before all of the wars for best streaming service started with TIDAL and Apple Music, but since the latter 2 have started to threaten Spotify's reign on streaming, Spotify has upped it's game to the next level, the biggest plus being it offering 99 cents of premium service (no ads) for 3 months. If you're unfamiliar with Spotify, you can find practically any and every band, group, singer, or rapper's music on it, and they add music as the releases roll out, sometimes the day of said release. If you're unsure of what you'd like to listen to, Spotify builds playlists in the "Genres and Moods" column, if you're out partying with the squad then you can find that party playlist, or if you're at home chilling you can find that "chill out and do laundry" playlist, and everything in between. Spotify has an unlimited service which is 4.99 per month for no ads and unlimited streaming on strictly desktops and laptops, while the premium service is 9.99 per month for unlimited streaming and no ads, available for use on multiple devices (iPad, phone, computers, etc.). The only notable complaint I have as a Spotify user is the disconnecting that sometimes occurs with it, you have to disconnect and reconnect to your internet to get it to work again, but that could just be my crappy internet (middle class problems).

TIDAL
The service that started these wars was TIDAL, and it all started with that crazy commercial that included practically every notable musical artist known today (or most of them). This commercial probably grabbed your attention (as it did mine) when it mentioned something about "bringing music back to the artists" (not a direct quote, but Jay Z mentioned something of that nature). I can see a little of the "benefiting the artists" factor with a couple of upcoming bands and singers being featured with some of their music, which is a cool and different thing to do for a streaming service (it all lies on who has the best EXCLUSIVE content), but finding where this benefits the people is just a bit harder. TIDAL's premium (standard) service starts at 9.99 a month (or 8.49 with 6 months pre paid), which includes the standard music quality, but with high definition music videos. TIDAL's HiFi is a little more on the expensive side at 19.99 per month (or 16.99 with 6 months pre paid), but this includes what TIDAL describes as "lossless High Fidelity sound quality." Now with all of that being said you could make your own judgments about TIDAL, but follow their Twitter account and it shows that the subscribers feedback does not lie. Many people have come out and said that TIDAL's live streaming of concerts (these concerts included Jay Z's "B Sides" concert, another perk of being a TIDAL member I suppose) is given in crystal clear high definition, although the exact resolution was not specified. Sort of expensive to pay, but you're not just paying for the music in TIDAL, in seems, they're stressing quality as a top priority.

Apple Music
Apple Music is another streaming service that had just recently launched (as in within the past week) and was looking to make waves (not necessarily TIDAL waves, but you know.... sorry, I had to). Apple Music hasn't had the huge promo that TIDAL has, but supposedly last night it had aired an exclusive Zane Lowe interview with the one and only Eminem (which I need to find somewhere because, c'mon, Eminem). Not only this, but supposedly Drake is releasing his next album exclusively through Apple Music, and supposedly Dr. Dre is having a big part in the streaming service as well (though it's hard to tell what right now). Apple Music describes its experience as such: "To deepen the connection between artists and fans. To give you personal recommendations from people who know and love music. To reimagine radio with a 24/7 global station." Apple seems to be edging out Spotify as the best price (for right now) with a free 3 month trial, but the subscription entails over 30 million songs for 9.99 a month, or 14.99 for family (who knows what the "family" subscription means, possibly more members? No details on this yet). When you start your subscription all of your already obtained music (somehow) automatically appears in the Apple Music library, and Apple's "experts" (who knows what kind of experts, supposedly actual artists) make suggestions based on what you like. The Beats 1 radio station is "24/7 radio, including music, interviews, and culture" (so it says on the website). The connect aspect seems to be the post interesting of the features, it says fans can "see, comment on, like, and share whatever exciting material an artist chooses to post. Unreleased demo tracks, an acoustic version of the latest hit, a video shot in the studio," etc. This to me sounds like something I'd kill to see, but only for some rappers. I surely wouldn't pay to see behind the scenes material of Taylor Swift, no disrespect to Taylor, but not my cup of tea musically. Lots of dope features, just needs some tampering with just as all musical services do.

So there's a (hopefully quick and helpful) review of what these music services all entail. I included all the details I could about each one down to the prices, now it's on what your preference is. I'm personally a fan of music with no adds, so I like Spotify's premium idea (even though I don't pay, so I do deal with ads), but Apple's idea of taking behind the scenes content to a new level is truly for a die hard rap fan such as myself. The idea of exclusive concerts, interviews and album releases like TIDAL and Apple Music are doing is taking things to a whole new level. For instance, Eminem is God to me, so seeing him do an exclusive interview that I could (hypothetically) only see on Apple Music's website certainly draws me to Apple Music strictly for that factor. I live for behind the scenes content. But I need to know what you think! Let me know which streaming service you'd go with based on the details and why either on Google+ or in the comment section, I'd love to hear what you think. Music streaming is taking over, does this mean death to physical albums?  Hopefully not, but only time will tell.                                 










       

Stupid Pop Songs That Take Out Rapper's Verses

I have a very strong loathing of radio music. My area's go to station for the top 40 hits (more like top 10 songs over and over again) is Mix 102.7 (not really a mix when it's the same stuff over and over again guys, I hate to be the one to tell you). Now a lot of people like hearing the songs Mix 102.7 plays, and I'll admit there may be 1 or 2 songs I don't mind hearing, but every single day with the same songs you grow to hate is not an element anyone wants to be in (just so you know I don't listen to this station by choice, it plays every day at my work establishment).  My extreme disliking of Mix 102.7 aside, there are definitely a few pop songs with certain parts and portions I actually enjoyed hearing; that is, before the station CUT THEM OUT. The great thing about rap nowadays is that it has gone mainstream, mainstream enough for it to not be too foreign for you to hear a verse from one of your favorite rappers on a pop song every now and then, and there were a few songs that weren't classified as rap that (for a hot second) had a dope verse or 2 from a rapper. Allow me to introduce to you to...radio pop songs that have verses from rappers that don't play on the radio.

California Gurls - Snoop Dogg

This song is 2 completely different songs when you play the version with Snoop, and when you take Snoop out of it. With Snoop it really does have that West Coast sound and feel, as if summer just got here (and it's VERY close now ladies and gents, be excited), your cup is filled with gin and juice and you're ready for beaches, warm weather sports like basketball and football, bon fires, and many more things that you just can't do any other time of the year. Take Snoop out of the equation, and that feeling, and everything that comes with it is lost.

Payphone - Wiz Khalifa

Another song that has 2 completely different vibes to it with and without the rapper's verse is Maroon 5's "Payphone". Now I used to be a fan of Wiz, not so much now, but he makes this song so much better with his verse, as soon as he starts it out with "Man fuck that shit", you already start jigging just a little differently than you did when the song started, and it's pretty cool how the beat switches up when his verse hits. But the radio made another decent song bad again... it seems to never fail.

Jealous - B.o.B

                                  (*I do not own these songs, videos, or the rights to any of them*)

I hate to admit that this song is actually pretty catchy, and even though Bobby Ray just jumped on the remix not too long ago, this song is pretty dope with the B.o.B addition. The beat is (kind of sort of) catchy, and it's funny because being a B.o.B fan (not so much a "radio" B.o.B fan), I thought about how Bob would sound on this song (which can be a good or bad thing), and right before my eyes, voila!  He jumps on the remix and makes it a decent song, though this is indeed another case of a rapper getting shunned, because this version does not play on the radio.

I hate to hate on anything (ironic as that sounds), but top 40 radio music really does irk me to no end. I only hear it when I have to (at work), when I'm in the car or anywhere else you better believe I'm making it a point to switch that channel when Taylor Swift comes on. Nothing against Taylor Swift, I'm sure she makes some semi decent music, I wouldn't know because I don't listen to her whole albums, but her radio hits are seared into my brain for good. Dammit. I have heard however that her newest song "Bad Blood" features 2 Kendrick verses and I'm pretty excited about that, hopefully that will get some radio play and they don't take out Kendrick's verses (they probably will). Anyways, I have a short PSA for Mix 102.7 as well; you suck. You play the same crap every single day and it's incredibly annoying, why not switch it up a little bit?  Do you really need permission from artists/labels/radio program directors to play something DIFFERENT, even if it's on the same album as other singles?  Of course I would hate the radio being the rap die hard/hip hop head that I am... we're supposed to hate it.      



 

          


   

Grammys (Kanye's Drunken Antics) Recap

Oh Kanye Kanye Kanye....why do I love you so much?  This is a simple answer; your media persona is priceless. It's literally like...impossible to ignore. I don't even listen to your music as much as I'd like to say I do, but when it comes to "Kanye on TMZ" I just can't ignore clicking. In case you haven't heard, the Grammys were yesterday (I really hope you knew this), and Kanye had returned for the first time in 6 years (since the Taylor Swift incident, but apparently it's cool because Kanye and Taylor are tight now), and in true Kanye fashion (in multiple meanings of the word). The red carpet was obsessed with Kim's crazy dress as usual and of course the man himself never disappoints when it comes to his wardrobe (at least doesn't disappoint rich people, or sponsors for that matter). But the focus wasn't on Kimye's wardrobe, or Kimye as a whole for that matter; because Sunday February 8th was Kanye West's night and he made sure people knew it.

First off, this happened. Kanye just about had a (probably drunken) flashback and walked up on stage like it was his job and ALMOST told Beck who he believed deserved this award. Of course afterwards during the Grammy after party Kanye was interviewed along with Kim and Khloe Kardashian and spewed his true thoughts on the matter, but at least this time he didn't snatch the mic. Baby steps Kanye. I hate to make this comparison, but Kanye is a real modern day Charles Manson. His thoughts get heard no matter what, he makes sense to some but is crazy to most, and his following is probably a bunch of crazy psychopathic murderers (no I'm kidding of course on the murderers part, my true beliefs on being crazy don't define one person, they define what these people think of this one person, not everyone is going to be on the same page all of the time, not saying Charles Manson is a great guy of course, but crazy people like to try and change the way things are).

So that was really funny, and Kanye at any award show draws any type of attention no matter the case, I find this hilarious because most people will hate it and say he's a jackass and is too opinionated for his own good, yet the Grammys and E Entertainment Network continues to invite him and give him the time of day to show up. What does that say?  I'm too into other things at the moment to give this a full breakdown (or else I really would), so until the next post enjoy Kanye's Grammy after party comments along with Kim and Khloe in the interview below. No matter how crazy Kanye seems to be (or at least looks to the public) you certainly can't deny that he brings up points that others are afraid to. I couldn't find the full Grammy after party interview online, but it shouldn't be a hard Google search if you'd really like to see it.

  









        

This Is Hip Hop... And We're Okay With You Not Approving

I'm going to try to be as short and as to the point as possible with this one, but I felt some things needed addressing. Maybe I feel like the appreciation for hip hop isn't as high as I'd like it to be (though it never really is), maybe I feel like people still think hip hop can't invoke positivity, or maybe I'm just tired of people saying hip hop is "ignorant garbage that has no message". Though it is certainly a mix of all three of the aforementioned details above, I can honestly tell you I see at least one thing every day that reminds me why hip hop is so different and special, and here's what reminded me today.

                                              (*I do not own this video or the rights to it*)

That's right, Kendrick Lamar freestyled over Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" beat. I'm not entirely sure of what to think of this particular freestyle, or event, or whatever you choose to call it. No, that was actually a lie, I certainly know what to think of it, I believe its FUCKING BONKERS AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT. This freestyle comes with an interview from K104 Hip Hop & RnB with Dee Dee In The Morning, and while the freestyle is as dope as Kendrick Lamar gets, it's the interview I was more focused on. At about the 3:50 mark he explains the meaning behind his lead single "i", and it is impossible not to respect it.

Which leads me to my next question:  are there still people out there that are stuck in the caveman age?  Are there really still people that think hip hop can't be positive and bring people together?  I certainly hope not, but it would be pretty funny to have these people be proved wrong by a song that Kendrick specifically says "represents a whole community of people that feel like they have nothing to live for, for the people inside the walls of the penitentiary, and for the people on the outside that come to my shows, these kids that feel like they have no self worth." If you can't listen to Kendrick's "i", and be moved, or even just listen and respect the message, then "i" have nothing to say to you. Your opinion can't be changed and you shall be ignorant forever.

Kendrick's "i" isn't the only thing I wanted to touch on in this post though. His freestyle over a Taylor Swift song opened my eyes a little more wide than normal, and I couldn't help but think to myself "damn, this is hip hop." To say I had a small epiphany would be accurate (though some wouldn't call it that, have it your way though). In case you don't know how hip hop has originated, well... THIS IS IT. Flipping something into your own and making it that much more dope IS HIP HOP. That's pretty much like, the DEFINITION of hip hop. Didn't anyone see the Art Of Rap?!  This is how rap originated!  And I bring up this point because this isn't the only thing I've heard as of late that flipped the script on how people hear music.

Wu Tang's own, the legendary Raekwon just put out a mix tape titled We Wanna Thank You, and it is just as dope as you could have possibly wished. Why do I bring this up now?  Well, I'll tell you. In case you haven't given it a listen yet, Raekwon doesn't go over any original beats or production from his own camp, but rather he takes old songs and puts verses on them. I have never heard anything like this. If you listen to hip hop, you hear samples taken from past music in songs every day, but The Chef takes these old songs and just raps over them, instrumental and all!  He even includes vocals from the actual songs and includes them in his versions. Some of the remixes on the tape include "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by the Spinners, "The Girl Is Mine" from Michael Jackson, "You Used To Love Me" by Faith Evans, and he even goes over another hip hop classic, Ice Cube's "Today Was A Good Day" briefly. This is definitely a worthy mix tape to check out if you're a fan of Raekwon, or even if you just want a good listen from something a little different.

So I have one point to make here, one request that might sound like a demand, and it certainly is a demand to those who don't give it the chance it deserves:  stop sleeping on hip hop. If you don't approve, it is not what you think it is, and it's because you haven't given it the chance it deserves. That's precisely why!  It's not rocket science. You don't start to like new music by listening to the same stuff you always listen to. If you don't listen to it because you have given it a chance and simply don't like it, that's certainly more respectable than "I've heard it on the radio and don't like any of it." You couldn't get it any more twisted by setting the bar at radio rap. If you say rap doesn't invoke thought and positivity, I'd stop you right there and show you Kendrick's "i", hell, I might even show you a Logic interview. The thought process of hip hop is changing, and it's for the better. If you say you don't listen because rappers are ignorant and don't pay homage to the oldies and the greats, I'd show you Raekwon's newest mix tape. Stop making excuses. But, people will do what they choose, and people will listen to what they choose, which is entirely okay with me, and if you're a hip hop fan, it should be okay with you too, and I'll tell you why. It's because this is how it started originally: do you think hip hop was always approved of?  Go back and do some history research, hip hop practically lived (and STLL does) going against the grain. You can be okay with people hating for no reason, and it's because this is hip hop, and we're okay with you not approving, that's nothing new.    







     

  












     

Internet Video Blogs: Why People Love a Day in the Life of a Superstar

I'll admit, whenever I get online to do my check ups, (songs, videos, mix tapes, etc.) I do have the guilty pleasure of watching the occasional Wiz Khalifa DayToday blog. I haven't even listened to any of his new music since after Cabin Fever 2 came out. I'll tell you what though, when it comes to watching that man live his life there's just something sweet about those videos that make me tune in for the next one, and I can't be the only one. Is anyone else guilty of getting caught up in the life of a superstar in his/her/their internet vlog?

In a generation where the internet basically rules the world, musicians and artists (mostly rappers that I've seen, I don't know if Taylor Swift does the occasional "look at me and how awesome I'm living" video, although I'm sure people would watch) know how to keep up in this young and hip day and age. What's the saying, if you can't beat em, join em?  Not to mention all the fans that tune in, if these artists give a day for when the next one airs they'll be waiting by their computer like Eminem and 50 Cent (although probably not as patiently, who knows).

But really when you look at it, who isn't doing this nowadays?  Internet vlogs are the new thing so to speak, such artists as Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Action Bronson, Slaughterhouse, and many more love to keep their fans updated with things like tour vlogs, a simple day in the life, or even traveling and just trying new foods (Bronson's "Fuck That's Delicious," I'd imagine watching it I'd just get hungry). But speaking as a fan of them myself, I have to admit I love the idea. I've watched Wiz's DayToday's basically since season 1, I've seen almost every episode (regrettably), and when it comes down to it, some of these videos really do give fans what they wish to see; a day in the life of a superstar.

Seriously though, I'd very much appreciate to live this type of life style.  Who wouldn't?  I'm low key jealous watching Wiz's DayToday's. All you see this man doing is living his life; he smokes weed, he drinks, goes on tour and performs, occasionally hits the jewelry store for a new chain, I mean come on. Not only is this sort of thing just TOO cool for people to watch, it benefits the artist that much more. That gives much more head room for artists to not only promote themselves, but other artists and friends as well. As a die hard hip hop fan, admittedly I really do like to be the first one to let people know the news on not only my favorite artists, but theirs as well.

Isn't it amazing how simply watching videos of people living can cause so much envy for fans?  Could they maybe even be motivation for some people to do better to a point?  I suppose we'll see the next big artist on the come up documenting it all themselves soon enough. Watching Wiz that early in his career back in 2009 and 2010 and thinking about it all now is crazy. He sold out a little too much for my liking, but even just thinking about that time period is a crazy, yet wonderful thing. Artists on the come up surely should be taking notes if they haven't been already. Maybe there's something to letting people get to know you and your journey to "the top." Or maybe people just can't help but succumb to artists' insane vlogs and rich lifestyle. I'm not sure which one I'm more drawn to yet. Well, maybe I am, but just scared to admit it...