Hey, Jay. Hove. Jig-....look, can I call you Shawn for the purpose of this? I want to be clear on something. I'm a big fan. Me and everyone I know? yeah, we're excited about Blueprint 3, damn near too excited. Just the other day, I checked the release date again, just to check to make sure that it isn't actually coming out THIS Tuesday. If you notice, Shawn, last year...on THIS very site, I wrote a borderline absurd piece arguing you, yes....you, as the greatest songwriter of the past 20 years. That said, can I ask one thing of you, Shawn? just one small favor?Don't become "that" musician. Not that guy. You know what I'm talking about. The "Oh, I'm getting older and insecure in my legacy" musician. Is that too much to ask? That I don't want you to become hip-hop's version of Van Morrison, putting out shitty live greatest hits albums for 10 years straight just to validate your once-greatness?
I understand 40 is right around the corner. Congrats on that, by the way. I mean, you're still at the top of the heap, and in rap's young lifespan, I don't think any one's made it to 40 without fizzling out, or becoming insane, and beefing with Nelly. A little KRS-One humor there, Shawn. I'm quick. You've even gotten so much larger than life, that rap fans, myself included, have tended to ignore some of your less favorable moments. I mean, going after Nas, admittedly was a bad idea, Shawn, no? I mean, what was that REALLY about? Yeah, after it was over, you made it as though it was just to promote records, but really. We hip hop fans saw through that. We know it's always stuck in your craw that Reasonable Doubt wasn't Illmatic. That by 2001, when the most scholarly of hip-hop scholars discussed the greatest albums of all time in the genre, with Illmatic on the highest horse, and Reasonable Doubt somewhere, anywhere below it. I appreciate that in 2001, you really felt that you had Nas on his heels, and struck accordingly. Nothing like a little payback for some long brewing animosity, right? ha, indeed I am right. But you didn't think "Ether" was going to be THAT intense, did you? I mean, damn, that takes the top spot of any diss track ever. I hate to say it, but you lost, Shawn. You lost, because Nas did in one track what you couldn't do in THREE. And the less said about the low blow in "Super Ugly", the better. Not only that, you lost residually. Yeah, Shawn...I'm all for making nice with the guy that just lyrically ate you alive. Good for hip hop and bla bla bla. But you SIGN the guy to the label you're PRESIDENT of?? And then spend two albums kissing his ass on guest tracks? Great career move for Nas, not so hot for you.
I can ignore that, the fact that in true, pure MC battles, you're 0-1. But you've scared off some MC's that should know better. Prodigy, 50 Cent, and at one point even Lil Wayne, Artists who out of respect, or just plain fear, have backed away. I respected your decision to retire in 2004, despite not understanding it. What I did understand was that The Black Album was the finest work you'd had since your first album, so it made sense to leave on that note. I even ignored your, well, awkward come back. Let's face it, man, I treated "Kingdom Come" like Harry Potter fans treat Voldemort. There was no need to jump on the kill your idols bandwagon there. You probably knew that wasn't your best effort, and I knew you'd be back. Why ruin a chance to say I told you so? (which I did, when American Gangster dropped). Shawn, you're one of about 3 current artists who are bigger than their genre, and since Johnny Cash died, you're one of about 2 that's actually living. It stopped being about "like" long ago, and just increasingly became about "respect"....Yeah, Oasis might not have respected you before Glastonbury in 2007, but I'll be damned if you didn't shut our friends across the ocean's mouths. Hip-hop appreciated your tasteful support of Barack Obama, not just making all hip-hop supports of Obama look maniacal. Hip Hop appreciates it when you go on talk shows, to defend the genre, speaking cooly, evenly, articulating, and shattering another stereotype each time. You've aged gracefully, in a genre that isn't supposed to age well, Shawn, again....well done.
But lately, there's been a change. I mean, did I LIKE "D.O.A." why, yes. I suppose I did. I LOVED it, on first listen. I think I loved the novelty of it, you know? sitting by the radio, waiting for that world premiere from an artist you enjoy? Pat Flex and the guys at Hot 97 on the back one time for all rap fans out there, by the way, Shawn. And hey, I hate autotune as much as the next guy who liked Wayne better 3 years ago, but there was something a bit bullyish about it, Mr. Carter. Far be it for me to come across as the old schoolhouse teacher, wagging my finger, and telling you to sit in a corner...but, really. I mean, go a little easier on those who have really helped your career. You pretty much spat on Kanye West without REALLY saying his name, likely because you knew he admires you far too much to say, or do anything, except for continue to hand you all of his best beats, and make 8-10 minute songs about you. And again, do I think it was necessary for SOMEONE to say what you said?....probably. But to think that "D.O.A." is going to go down as some kind of historical landmark of hip-hop is a bit skewed, even if NO I.D. did sample some of the cleanest sounding dirty horns I've ever heard. And now Game's picking on you again. He's calling you old, man. And boy, does that have to suck. Because let's face it, you're getting older. Yeah, 40's the new 30, but in rap years, you're fucking 72. But that shouldn't even matter, because again, you're still at the top of your game. You're hip-hop's first legend that's lived through the early-mid 90's, and still thrives now. I mean Nas does well for himself, but you're racing to a billion. You're our Bob Dylan. Minus the mumbling, and creepy shit. Remember what you said on 'Ye's first album? "Hove's a living legend and I'll tell you why/Everybody wanna be Hove, and Hove's still alive?" EXACTLY. It's lonely dodging bullets (literal and figurative) at the top, and you've been unscathed. So, why even respond to Game? why even do him the honor of putting his name in a song? to scare him off, like you did with Prodigy? no dice, Shawn. See, Game's not bad. And he's a bit tenacious, like most west coast MCs are. He's not going to quit. I'm not saying that you can't take him out, but man.... all I know is, Ice Cube is from the West. And that dude wrote "No Vaseline", which, until "Ether" (ahem, which was the track that slayed you, if we recall), was the best diss track ever recorded. Look, what do you really have to prove? to anyone?? you're certified, every respected person in hip hop, from KRS to Rick Rubin, respects you. I mean, LL Cool J doesn't, but he hasn't counted since....well, probably since he destroyed Canibus' career (but, between us, Shawn...really, that probably wasn't THAT hard to do, am I right?) Point is, you've lately been going into full on, "I've got to protect my aging legacy" mode. Lobbing random threats at Lil' Wayne ("He knows I can come for his head whenever I want"???), poking at Jim Jones more than you should, since he should have stopped being on your radar a while ago, and still. STILL defending your spotty tenure as Def Jam's president (I mean, it wasn't exactly bad.....but it wasn't good, and I'm pretty sure Russell Simmons is still pissed at you.), as though you have to do those things to validate yourself.
We fans always knew this time would come along, Shawn. The point where you got older, and the talent became younger, more diverse. Maybe this is just a brief phase. Maybe you're just a little jittery from the anticipation of BP3. But don't do it, man. Wynton Marsalis begs you...have you read an interview with that dude lately?? I mean, at what age, and stage of career mediocrity do you stop being the future of your genre? Oh, not you, I'm talking about Marsalis. I hope you continue making music in some capacity, well into your 40's, Shawn. Maybe even your 50's, if time allows. That's not the point I'm making. The point I'm making, and listen to me....is that no one is doubting your greatness anymore. This isn't 1998 for you, or even 2001, pre-Blueprint 1. We know you're great. Just because another, younger artist is being appreciated, doesn't mean that you can't be. You're amazing when it comes to fostering the careers of young artists in other genres. You've been great with Rihanna! sure, she's got a mediocre voice, but hey! ummm....... well, I forgot the upside I was going to shoot for there. And Patrick Stump? you let a 24 year old suburban kid, who looks like a dairy farmhand, from a pop punk band...and let him produce for you, and your artists, and now he's on his way to being a great young producer. Why can't you be that open to your own genre? I'm not saying it's all bad, but there's times when you come across like the kid with a magnifying glass, standing over a hill of ants. Yeah, you're bigger than rap. But you're not ABOVE it. "Swagga Like Us" was fun, but so forced it hurt to watch, and I mean, I'll say it if you won't....I think it's quite obvious at this point that Kanye West likes you a lot more than you like him. And there's nothing wrong with that. Stop trying to live up to your legacy, Shawn. Because it's already cemented, even if BP3 isn't perfect, we'll all ignore it's flaws, and still hail your presence anyway. And that's not sarcasm, it's true.
Oh, and one last thing....like, is Beyonce overrated?? like, well....you know....oh, you know what? never mind. We'lll talk about it some other time.
hahah nice.
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