Rappers age in dog years, or so it seems. Its not like rock, where Social Security recipients from Link Wray to the Rolling Stones cross the country year after year. Where are Slick Rick, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane? There just isnt the same sense of tradition and nostalgia in raps audience.
A lot of that has to do with record companies totally marketing records just to youth, says Phonte, fellow rapper to MC Big Pooh and DJ 9th Wonder in the hip-hop group Little Brother. Those are the biggest record buyers, but look at that generation thats the ADD, MTV, 400-channels generation. They are on for whatever is the flavor of the minute.
Calling themselves Little Brother in a nod to rap antecedents such as Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and the Roots, the Durham, N.C., trio made a huge critical splash with their debut LP The Listening. Their soulful meditations on life recalled the jazzy, bubbling warmth of the Mos Def and Talib Kweli rap duo Black Star, and put a spotlight on 9th Wonders production skills. (Success from The Listening subsequently scored 9th Wonder a track on Jay-Zs The Black Album, which led to work on Destiny Childs Destiny Fulfilled.) The accompanying buzz prompted Little Brothers jump to Atlantic Records for their follow-up, The Minstrel Show (out Tuesday, Sept. 6).
And while The Minstrel Shows smart lyrics and playful tone are an obvious commentary on the present state of commercial rap, the songs never address the issue head-on.
If I make a song saying I think 50 Cent is bad for hip hop, and cats see me at a party dancing to [50 Cents] P.I.M.P. which they will then I look like a hypocrite, Phonte says. So it aint about us beating muthafuckas over the head with songs, like, Yo-yo, hip hop is The Minstrel Show, yo, hey-ho. Its about providing an alternative.
This is what we think hip hop has turned into. Now what were going to do is let this album serve as a representative of what we think is missing in hip hop. Instead of talking about what we think is wrong, were gonna show them what we think is right.
Phonte would like to see more of this attitude, rather than the backward-looking longing for the old days of conscious rap that sometimes grips underground rappers.
I think part of the problem with underground rap in the past has been that so much of it has been romanticized, and we cant go back to that, he says. You cant be getting up in youngsters faces, looking like the crotchety old man. All you youngsters dont know, back in 94 when we were beat-boxing. They have no frame of reference for that shit, so what you have to do is give them an alternative.
But more than anything, he vows Little Brother wont bow to pressures to pander to the youth culture like most major-label rappers these days. For him, keeping it real is keeping it true to himself.
Yall either gonna feel me for me, or youre just not going to get me, Phonte says. If you dont get me, thats fine. But Im not going to dumb myself down to get to you. Yall niggas gonna have to smarten up.
Friday, Sept. 9, at the Blind Pig, 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-8555. The Away Team, Darien Brockington, Joe Scudda and Chaundon to open.
Chris Parker is a freelance writer. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.comWe welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
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