Hip Hop's Money Problem

I know what the title infers. Hip hop's got a cash problem, but it is not what you think, I promise. This is not about the countless rappers talking expensive watches, cars, planes and exploits with famous women. I could write a book on all the psychological effects and syndromes associated with hip hop infatuation with paper. Nor is this a referendum on the economy or the state of the music industry in the information age.

No folks, this problem is not about the chase of money, but the problem that arises once that rapped-about speculation becomes accumulation. Hip hop has a long standing relationship with rappers detailing riches they don't have. What has happened to our favorite artists once they finally get what they were rapping about? What happens to the hungry for a deal rappers who have honed their skills with the help of top Ramen and the urge for success? Many of these former greats are still putting out music, but the product is significant lessor than when we first heard their work. When one reaches their goal or at least reaches financial security, the music, at least its' quality, comes into question. Is it actually possible for Dr. Dre's soon-to-be [or never] released Detox to reach anywhere near the impact of The Chronic album? Can Method Man recapture the hunger and grim that he displayed on Tical, or are we forever left with 4:21?

While some attribute the fall of these rappers to just becoming wack, I have a different theory. Artists taken before our time never got the chance to "fall off." The Notorious BIG never had a chance to come out with a sorry, pop influenced album. I think we can all agree that Snoop Dogg's "Doggstyle" album is one of the most influential hip hop album ever. The same can not be said about his most recent effort "Ego Trippin'". I don't really want to add Tupac in this discussion because I personally disliked EVERYTHING Suge did to his discography. His hungry was never in question, and you have to be around for your downfall.

The difference can be seen in conversations with hip hop fans, especially when dealing with Jay-Z. Shawn Carter is the posterboy for this theory. A genius level lyricist and mainstay on most hip hop top five ever lists, among most of people's best rappers, there are common arguments on what his best album is. To most hip hop historians and heads, Jay-Z's best work was his first, Reasonable Doubt. While this album didn't sell close to some of his more recent releases, this is his best work. Jay-Z in his most raw form, the concepts and lyrics have been stolen and plagiarized by many a rap artist. Even his creation style has been copied. Every new rapper out claims they don't write their lyrics down.*

*On a completely different tangent, most of these rappers who claim they don't write their rhymes, in fact, need to. Maybe THAT'S why there are so many sucka emcees. And these sucka niggas. I digress.

More than a few regard The Blueprint as Jay-Z's best work. I disagree. I believe it is his second best. In fact, I mold Jay-Z in the mold of rap's Michael Jordan. His career has almost mirrored his Airness', down to the constant retirement talk to the grandeur of each comeback.

Skip to recent events, and Jay-Z, once the most respected emcee in the game has become young rappers object of disrespect. In a battle with Jay, Joe Budden was quoted comparing Jay to Jordan, alluding to the fact that most fans nowadays only remember Jordan from that famous crossover by Allen Iverson. Different and obviously lessor opponents are challenging the thrown. Everyone is trying to hand the King of Hip Hop thrown to undeserving rappers. Nowadays, it's wack to like Jay-Z and what was once taboo now seems to be on everyone's tongue, that Jay-Z is washed up.

To that, I say yes and no. Thus, the theory.

"Success breeds complacency."

Hip hop is an art form that is most cultivated in hunger. Literally and figuratively. All these greats of all time came from extremely humble beginnings, where the lack of anything feeds the aspiration for everything. Wu-Era Method Man was a BEAST on the microphone. The grime of the Wu was the lighting rod for their popularity. The poverty of his position kept the hunger for more sharp. Currently, Method Man has aged and achieved enough success that the hungry, grimy Tical is most likely dead and gone. The same is 100 fold for a rapper of Jay-Z's stature. The success of Rocawear, top positions at companies like Def Jam and LiveNation, even the marriage of mega-star Beyonce has dulled the microphone fiend in Jay-Z. While every rapper claims to have too much money to address up and coming challengers to the thrown, Jay-Z is the only one telling the truth. Carter explained his own transformation best;

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a BUSINESS, man."

The writing on the wall has come for other popular rappers as well. Eminem, who is recent released his Relapse album, is up next. With his long lay off, many hip hoppers are looking to see if the King of Scream is back to his old exploits or if he's just the next in line to make money and fall off. A common sentiment shared by many people I have talked to have said things to me that I put in line with blasphemy. Such as things like, "Lil Wayne is the best rapper alive," or "Rick Ross is the next step up from the Notorious B.I.G." That last one makes me want to punch people. I usually attribute that to people being stupid. Don't get me wrong, I respect the hell out of Wayne. As someone who loves Southern rap, I've been rocking Wayne from "The Block Is Hot," but this is out of the question that he's even close to the best rapper alive. The only thing I'm willing to give Wayne is that he wins the Most Improved Rapper in Hip hop award. His skills have only gotten better [minus points for all the damn autotune]. But to me, he's not even the best rapper in the South [I give Ludacris, Bun B, Andre 3000, Scarface and TI the nod first].

The problem is, no one has come to claim the torch. The older heads give respect to the guys that are out, but even in muted conversations, common comments are that these current players in the game don't compare. One thing that was noticeable before is that there has always been a baton hand off between the eras. The Whodini's gave way to the Run DMC's, who gave way to the Rakim's, who gave way to the Wu Tang's and Biggie Smalls'. Death naturally handed the ball off to Snoop, Jay-Z, and Nas. However, there was always someone to pass the torch to. However, Snoop, Jay and Nas do not have competent replacements yet. Options like the Game, 50, Wayne and Jeezy are leaving a lot to be desired as the next crown holders. I prefer T.I. and Ludacris, but are they even acceptable King Emcee candidates. To illustrate this point further, Diddy said that Wayne reminded him of Biggie. Really? If this is what we are accepting, I'm not gonna be said that my music still falls off a truck, because I am not buying this. And therein lies the problem.

No acceptable alternatives forces these older generation emcees to keep on pushing. I don't blame them. Even while I am coming to terms that Reasonable Doubt 2 will never happen or sadly disappoint, I still want to see it. While Jay-Z on American Gangster wasn't wack, it wasn't up to the standard I had hoped. Method Man, Snoop, Eminem, Nas all have this burden. Great rappers who are still rapping but will never reach the height of their old works. Even while I disliked Method Man's 4:21, it was still among the most hot titles released at the time. Same with American Gangster, Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, Snoop's Ego Trippin, etc.

There's not a doubt in my mind that there are available emcees to take the thrown. Rappers like Skyzoo, the Slaughterhouse collective, Termanology, Torae just to name a few. The problem is, most of you have probably never heard of them, and they are not the pop song, dance track type. Unfortunately, the mainstream hip hop that used to be classic has become plastic. Hip hop heads are now going elsewhere for real music because the Soulja Boy/Plies/Gucci Mane archetypes aren't cutting it.

So as long as garbage is mass manufactured to hip hop, I hope the Jay-Z's and Nas', the Eminem's and the Method Man's continue dropping albums. Because while they don't meet our sometimes lofty standards, I'll take a half ass Jay-Z cut over whatever new fake trap rapper they try to force feed us.