Editorials

8.1.2008

From the exhausted mind Of “Big Keith” –

“I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.” Groucho Marx

I’m sick of Ed hardy in hip-hop. I hate white sunglasses.  When did it become street to wear bedazzled shit. (They sell it nickelodeon channel 23)?

The point I am here to make is simply this… Wearing tight clothes used to be a no no.

Wearing snug jeans and bootleg kicks does not make you cool. The point of this was to make your own impact on the culture. (This is not a street thing it’s a culture thing) to dress like a teenager when you are in your mid to late 20”s or 30’s you need to take a look in the mirror. This also with doing any flavor of the month dance and or fashion trend should honestly get you shot.

• I’ve been asked why I don’t do the Soulja boy.  Besides the obvious (it’s wack) man I weigh 300 pounds I am not built to bounce around I’m tired and I got a bad knee. My point is I’m too old for that shit (and you probably are older than me) so put 2 and 2 together.

I don’t support songs with dances. And it has nothing to do with hate (see hate me now inspired by Nas) that shit is not dope. I understand and accept the fact that is for a younger group of people and that’s cool if they are dancing and not killing each other I do not see a problem. However, I do not like it. Moving forward, I’d like to address “cocaine flows”; simply, if you are going to rap about selling drugs and destroying the community, you could at least be dope. Beanie Siegel, U.G.K., Scarface, T.I., and The Clipse are dope. They bring lyricism to the table. The truth is just because you like a rapper doesn’t make you that rapper. Beanie Siegel has been criticized openly but, if you listen to a song like, “What Your Life Like”, and you will hear that same drug dealer talking about life on the inside of a prison cell. At least it provides a more in-depth (see thought is a hell of a tool) perspective

Into that lifestyle to show you (again I’m pointing out vivid imagery/personification) that it is not as glamorous as some do believe.

I am not trying to come off with an elitist point of view, I just believe that skills on the microphone hold a higher value than some mediocre rappers beats, his outfit or what corny ass trend he is following that will pass in a week kind of like the Harlem shake, bankhead bounce, the chicken head cabbage patch or whatever else makes you get up out your seat at the club. All I am saying is that if you cant rhyme I, along with a lot of people, aren’t feeling that shit, sorry.

And in my experience most of the people who get upset about my stance realize one sad fact; I’m talking about them.

And If I struck a nerve feel free to respond @ www.myspace.com/thepuertonegro

- “You need haters in your life”- Kat Williams

Hate is a word that describes intense feelings or dislike.

I just had to put the original meaning up there as a reference point. Recently I have played some music from various sources and I’m 50-50. Some of it I don’t care for and the other half I REALLY don’t care for. And that is in regards to artists on all sides of the spectrum.

Now, it can be noted that, of everyone who is involved in the show, I go through the biggest transition from underground quality and overall a high standard of music that we try to provide on “The Social” on WWW.MIXTAPEBROS.COM Every Wednesday From 6 to 9, I then go to work (a nightclub here in Las Vegas) and here your run of the mill full blast bullshit that we’ve come to know and see on B.E.T. or your regular radio station. For example, we could play Ghostface Killah’s “Nutmeg” or MF Doom’s “One Beer” (Either the original or the Madlib remix) then I have to suit up and go to work to hear Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” or wack ass Gucci Mane (all of his shit is wack prove me wrong) So you can imagine my frustration.

(Side note: That has to go in my top ten for wackest shit I’ve ever heard in my life. He topped Snow’s “Informer” IMO)

• Well to get to my point, I was asked if I bought “The Carter 3” and my response was simply, no. (Now I can tolerate Lil’ Wayne in spurts (still can’t understand “Lollipop” to this day. Something bout a thug bottles, and candy, sounds really sweet) this nigga said I was “hating” on Lil Wayne. Ok first off, I could give a fuck about that nigga, only because I’m 1000% he don’t give a damn about me. Hate requires emotion and conviction, not wanting to buy an “Okay” (I said it) rappers album full of rhymes I’m not in a rush to hear. To imply that to go against the grain is immediate opposition is really incredibly stupid. Just because I am not easily impressed with okay music does not mean I hate it, it means like the people who follow it I’m just not fucking with you. No hatred put your Kat Williams quote away.

A difference of opinion is a powerful thing; I mean sparked this article, and many debates under the same topic. To all signed major artist; If you notice your sales declining it may have to do with what your putting out. People are really getting tired of this I’m a super drug dealer shit, then you turn out to be a prison guard, not real at all. To unsigned artists, an immediate comparison is VERY BAD. If you can be cast as this type or that type, the average listener will say fuck it I will just listen to who he sounds like. And if you get negative criticism remember one thing, you are a recording ARTIST; you are subject to open and even harsh criticism.

• As I have sat back and watched reactions to artist’s music when it doesn’t get the response they thought they should have received. Just because you like Scarface or Jay-Z doesn’t make you that rapper. Instead listen to criticism for what it potentially is: the opinion of a future fan. What a concept huh?

From the “hater”, openly and honestly

Big Keith

Respond @ www.myspace.com/thepuertonegro