If he knows there is an audience for this that wants to hear him rapping on boom bap sample beats
Instead of throwing us a bone in the form of a freestyle/free track on a boom bap beat during each album cycle (Recovery was the Alchemist verses on Westwood, I think there was one before that for Relapse)
Just do a goddamn project with a real hip hop producer or use some good beats on an actual album
At the very least the Bad Meets Evil should've had non keyboard beats
Give us an album, or a mixtape, or a collaborative project with great (NOT SHITTY KEYBOARD BEATS) production and no silly voices. Once, just once, in your entire 15 year career
Otherwise you can keep your "One freebie with 'real hip hop' appeal that happens each album cycle
4. "This is the weird thing to me" In response to Reply # 2
Artists in Em's and Jay's position feel like they have something to lose.
Their mainstream fans are going to eat up anything they put out because they're the cool rappers to like. Those fans don't actually have an opinion on the music. They listen because they think they're supposed to.
On the other hand, you have fans who really take music seriously and complain every time the album is on some pandering bullshit. So you lose all of those fans right there.
Sure, you'll go platinum with the mainstream but you lose respect and you don't go multi (as an example...I know the numbers vary).
But there's a no lose with giving the heads what they want. You keep the mainstream and add on the base. That's nothing but a plus.
I understand in order to get to their level they needed to say "fuck the heads" on some level but like I said...at this point in their career...they can do what they want.
That's why I respect a dude like Nas who says "fuck y'all little hoe bitches I'll go gold with it"
Obviously it can land somewhere in the middle but when you get to a certain stage...you earn the right to make what the fuck you want.
And it seems like these bullshit albums is what Em wants to make.
5. "RE: This is the weird thing to me" In response to Reply # 4 Wed Nov-06-13 12:30 AM by cheesecake
I think I agree with this. Plus, Em and Jay and already legends. They should be focused on their legacy at this point and concern themselves with making classic records, not just keeping up with mainstream appeal. You're right, it definitely can land in the middle. To me, that what makes classic records, when you find a way to walk that tight rope and release an album that is both rooted in fundamental dope songwriting, beats/rhymes, and still be of the times. This is what Kanye excels at, and is why he has more classic albums than both of them even though he is a lesser rapper and hasn't been around as long. Really, I think the root of it is that Em is so far removed from society that he has a skewed perception of things and is probably a little crazy. And Jay is just lazy. lol.
15. "You're missing the point" In response to Reply # 12
>and he does it for all the reasons you just laid into Jay & >Em >
Regardless of our opinions on the music...it's all about the process in making the albums.
I don't like some of the non-commercial songs Nas does and I like some of the commercial songs Em/Jay do.
What I'm saying is...Nas did a song like Summer On Smash and didn't release it as a single. Therefore he obviously made the song just because he liked it regardless if we think it was trash or not.
Nas gives you a couple of commercial type of tracks and then sticks to what he does...again regardless if we like it or not.
Jay and Em in my opinion give you a few of the non-commercial tracks and then spend their time pandering.
That's the difference to me.
Look at Jay's PSA. That's the type of shit he could do all day and have both the commercial and the heads loving. But he chooses not to...which is his choice.
I'm just saying at this point in their careers....they can do what they want and it will sell period.
That's my whe point. My point didn't need a "Nas raps on wack beats (in your opinion) because that has nothing to do with it.
Em can do an entire album with Primo and go multi-million plat.
It's a win win...commercial fans listen to whatever he drops and the heads will cop it as well because it's what they want. And he adds to his legacy as opposed to getting these trashed reviews despite selling a lot.
20. "RE: But they should and have no reason not to" In response to Reply # 18
>>Jay nor Em will ever make an >>album like Life Is Good. > >Agreed that they have more to lose but aren't they a bit >beyond that point? > >Like I keep saying...they can do what they want and still move >units and set trends.
I would like to think that they are beyond that point but it's obvious by the music they continue to release that they aren't. More Em than Jay. Jay still makes a few joints I dig. Em not so much. It's like he forgot how to make good music. Jay still surprises me from time to time. Jay rapping over Gonjasufi was a welcomed surprise for me.
****************************************** Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks
6. "but if that's what he's been doing and who he's been for 15yrs..." In response to Reply # 2
...why should he switch it up now?
i agree with u, btw. he's a massive talent lost to mediocre beats. but the truly all-round dope shit from emcee down to music moments have been few n far between.
actually this is not true, he hasn't been doing the same thing for 15 years. He hasn't evolved and aged gracefully is the problem. He keeps going in these weird directions, namely going back and forth between trying to be shocking and doing these broad stroke pop records. Both of which are lame directions - the shocking thing worked in a big way for him in the beginning, because at that time it really was an artistic statement and worked with him being white and from a trailer park and all that. But everyone's over it now.
That's why this track is so refreshing, because we get to see Em cut out the bullshit and just do straight up dope hip hop. This would have been a great time for him to mature and do that kind of record especially with internet nerd and nostalgic rap gaining so much traction.
16. "eminem has complete freedom" In response to Reply # 13
no one is gonna make him release a Lasers type album unless he wants to. like it's been said, eminem can sell any type of album he wants to make. if he wanted to make a boom bap album, it would sell.
23. "selling is relative tho." In response to Reply # 17
if Em worked with the beat minors or premiere or even EL-P type producers, he wouldn't sell at his normal levels. It would basically be his Lost Tapes for a few hundred thousand fans vs selling 5-10 million like normal.
I want that too, but his motivation and label prolly woulnd't want this to happen.
22. "I said the same thing in the album post" In response to Reply # 2
>If he knows there is an audience for this that wants to hear >him rapping on boom bap sample beats > >Instead of throwing us a bone in the form of a freestyle/free >track on a boom bap beat during each album cycle (Recovery was >the Alchemist verses on Westwood, I think there was one before >that for Relapse) > >Just do a goddamn project with a real hip hop producer or use >some good beats on an actual album > >At the very least the Bad Meets Evil should've had non >keyboard beats > >Give us an album, or a mixtape, or a collaborative project >with great (NOT SHITTY KEYBOARD BEATS) production and no silly >voices. Once, just once, in your entire 15 year career > >Otherwise you can keep your "One freebie with 'real hip hop' >appeal that happens each album cycle > >
------------------------- “Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.”-- Warren Coolidge
Ashley Ayers Member since Dec 12th 2009 12331 posts
Wed Nov-06-13 05:23 AM
10. "One thing I can really appreciate about Em..." In response to Reply # 0 Wed Nov-06-13 05:23 AM by Ashley Ayers
is that he's still putting forth an effort to rap really well. After all he's accomplished and all the respect he has, he could be on cruise control like Jay, but he's not. He's still releasing 6 minute songs of intricate rhyme patterns and at least attempting to push himself, lyrically. Whether I feel the particular song or not, I can respect the effort every time... so props to Em for that.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
The Lesson
#/media/File:Firefly.png)
