(ThyBlackMan.com) What’s going on with everybody, it’s been a minute. Been ripping and running getting some career goals out of the way. I know it’s been a couple of week ssince this came out, but I felt compelled to quickly harp on the news of Chicago rapper Chief Keef being dropped from Interscope. Without further ado, I’d like to cover a few points on why not to be scared or worried when a rapper of his caliber comes around again. Of course, this is directed at Bobby Schmurda, OG Maco and all the other hot commodity rappers being used or will be used by superficial record executives and a youth today more concerned with vine-music.
You see, today’s music is the equivalent to fast food music; it tastes good, made quickly with little thought or innovation and will only be around for a limited time before the product runs stale/new product comes out. For Keef, singles and tracks such as “I Don’t Like” “3Hunna” and “Love Sosa” featured lyrics of the rap standard today; women, violence and careless acts of mischievous behavior. The teen group of today enjoyed his music and antics, but soon other acts such as Trinidad James, Rich Homie Quan,
Young Thug and now Bobby Schmurda have eclipsed Keef’s popularity and fame. And without a meaningful single or street hit since “Love Sosa” came out late 2012, the Keef buzz has finally went by the waste side, prompting Interscope to drop him from their label.
But, it’s no surprise why rappers have been falling off the face of the music earth. Look at the past 6 years trajectory of one hit wonders in rap. Just a sample;
2009, GS Boyz “Stanky Legg.”
2010, Cali Swag District “Teach Me How To Dougie.”
2011, Kreayshawn “Gucci Gucci.”
2012, Chief Keef “I Don’t Like.”
2013, Trinidad James “All Gold Everything.”
2014 Bobby Schmurda “Hot N***a
One hit wonders come a dime a dozen, but public dismissals are something new. When the rapper has paid his due to the company, they are let go. Sort of like a pimp after he is finished with a short term prostitute. Chief Keef and Schmurda both rap about violence, sexual conquests and drugs. Why? Because it sells and generates controversy, interest and a youthful fan base waiting to glamorize the next movement. Because the landscape of gangsta rap has changed, veterans such as Gucci Mane, Jeezy and Yo Gotti know how to carefully manage their field with club hits, trap songs and occasional songs about women. They didn’t get to this point with luck; took careful risk taking and great songwriting/support.
But they also were marketable due to their female fanbase and urban crossover appeal. For Keef and Schmurda, they haven’t generated much outside of their respective hits and personas. This is usually a death knee to record execs; not that they are truly complaining, just means that a rapper of their caliber time is usually up. In the end, the rapper fuzzes out while the label cashes in. And waits patiently for the next small thing to come so that they can milk out what they can from them. Harsh reality, but sad truth.
For up and coming rappers, Chief Keef’s fall from major label grace should be viewed as a cautionary tale for those who want to pursue this career. In today’s music landscape, record executives just want to make money in a low risk, high reward system. And unless Bobby Schmurda has another hit on his hands, he could find himself in the same boat as Trinidad James and Chief Keef. The moral of the story? Set out to make a career and not live in the moment. Plenty of entertainers have moments. Legends have careers and lifetimes.
