>>You make salient points…but Mach would probably ask why
>you
>>don't give that same advice to Hermes or Gucci?
>
>Gucci isn't art though.

It is, in a way…but whatever, its not hard to make the same argument for "Art". I mean, art is very expensive and often exclusive to people of wealth and/or influence. You can't just go cop a Basquiat, as Jay-Z loves to remind us.

I mean, I get it- and trust me I
>wouldn't expect anyone to debate him on his hustle.

No, I get it. I think it's fair to ask questions, just like it would be fair for him to not care

>
>I'm just not comfortable with hip hop records that can only be
>purchased by folks with a lot of spare cash and/or kids that
>are probably making poor financial decisions lol

Reasonable.

>
>I guess I don't like the idea of hip hop being divided by
>class like bags and fashion and shit.

Yet, like all art in our hyper capitalist society, it clearly can be.

>
>I'd just be curious to see him address a couple of those
>points/questions.

He would probably say something similar in a lot more words and with an unusual but intriguing allegory thrown in.

>
>>
>>The price is not part of the conversation by accident.
>>
>>
>
>Word. And it probably helped build his buzz at first. I
>guess my point though is, he seems to value his art...yet his
>pricing distracts from his art.
>
>
>Not only does his pricing take over the convos about him, but
>his shit gets bootlegged.

One might say that you can get a fake Gucci bag, or a printed copy of a Michelangelo, so what? Does that somehow remove the value of the real Gucci bag, or detract from the owner of the real Michelangelo?



>
>
>>Not saying his approach can't be criticized, but that is the
>>simplest answer to your question.
>
>Like I said, I wouldn't want anyone to try and convince him of
>anything. I'd just be curious to hear/read his response.
>
>But he's done 3 interviews in like 4 years or whatever so I
>won't hold my breath haha.
>

Agreed.

And again, I think there is nothing wrong with asking those questions, but I also think he kinda has answered them already if you really listen to his music and peep how he conceptualizes Mach Hommy as an entity.