Comments on: “Say Something” [Feature From the June 2012 Issue]

By: J.D. Senior Writer of the defunct Select Music Tabloid

J.D. Senior Writer of the defunct Select Music Tabloid — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 22:41:24 +0000

I know there are a lot of underrated mcs like AZ, Mysonne, Thirstin Howl III, Pharoahe Monch, but I would honestly go with El-P as the top in that category. From Company Flow days till now, he’s been phenomenal on every side of hip hop, it’s rare to see someone with multiple talents, but to excel at all is amazing. I know Eminem has been crowned as the King of Hip Hop, and please, I am not turning this into an Eminem VS El-P diss, both are very talented. But if you really look back at their catalogs, Eminem has done some goofy tracks singing Ba Bum Bum Bum Ass Like That, chasing teachers with staplers, he did have aspirations to join ICP and just skated being a heavily mocked artist. He was steered in the right direction and marketed to the right demo, and helped with beats from the master. If you just take a meaningful track like Stepfather Factory and really listen to the lyrics, there really is no contest on who the better rapper is, you might prefer Eminem’s voice, but El-P was out of Eminems league even in 97 with End To End Burners, and has only gotten more experienced, the fact that he’s slept on so heavily is a shame. But whether it’s music or comedy, the masses will always prefer a Dane Cook over a Louis CK or Patrice O’Neal so those in the know are almost that much more treated.

By: Blaq_Kratos

Blaq_Kratos — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:28:34 +0000

I find it ironic that XXL has a piece on the message in hip-hop being gone on the same issue that has Waka Flocka on the cover. Like Mike said, promote the rappers with a message and not these clowns who poison our future. Follow me on twitter too @Blaq_Kratos

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:29:45 +0000

Common and The Roots, in particular, made stellar projects in 2011 which provided sociopolitical commentary and had a “message”. And Big KRIT and Kendrick Lamar drop messages in their music as well.

And what does making a Gap ad or movies, for that matter have to do with having a message in music unless the message is anti-corporations or endorsements? Having a message doesn’t mean you can’t make money. Greed is the evil not money itself.

Maybe this site should do more to promote those who do have something to say beyond glorifying luxury or making simp music about strippers.

By: broski

broski — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:09:17 +0000

XXL remember when you guys would have a ton of comments on all your stories. All that force feeding Mac miller asher lil b etc etc has caught up hip hop is over. Nobody is going to save it cause all these clowns make techno over produced rap songs to be on a clear channel owned pop station which isn’t hip hop.