Lupe the Genius

In my innocent desire to actually listen to the radio for once instead of just Cd's, i scan the radio stations hoping to catch a new hot single from an up and coming artist. However, every channel I switch to is only filled with rappers and singers talking about their cars, money, or hoes. I wonder if this ever gets annoying to anyone but me? I suppose not if the highest rated radio station in Atlanta (V103) is solely playing this kind of music 24/7. So much for that innocent desire. I have never understood why we, as young black people, have always conformed, accepted and praised these artists who have no problem speaking down on us in their songs, and then make their way to the bank to cash the fat checks we contribute to. Many say (including myself at one point) that it's not the words we listen to, but the beat. Then we have to realize that as we are still moving to the beat in the club, others around are watching us dance to a song entitled "Drop that d*ck off in that hoe", where there are numerous obscene lyrics that appall myself such as, "F*ck that b*tch like you mad at her, she a nasty hoe". I'm not sure what could have possessed this artist to actually make a song about something as inappropriate as that, but I bet his record sales are sky rocketing by the sales of the young black women he is exactly talking about in that song.
Having said this, I would like to introduce to anyone who does not know or have not heard of, Lupe Fiasco. This young black man is a lyrical genius in a sense that he is one of the few that I would put in the category of a "True Hip-Hop Artist". His lyrics speak of so much more than just material things, but he seems to have a purpose in his songs, someone he is specifically trying to reach out to. He puts thought into his words, not just making sure they rhyme. In his new single "Dumb it Down" he not once brags about how many cars or money he has. He doesn't even talk about the club and girls shaking their bums all over the place. He talks about not conforming to what many think the ideal rapper should look or sound like. And in the hook he has someone telling him to "dumb it down" for the kids. To add some bling and money to his songs. To put in a couple lines about "making it rain" in the club and pouring champagne on some b*tches. Not to shed any light among the youth, but to keep them in the dark to what really matters. But Lupe bluntly replies, " Bishop G, they told me I should come down cousin, but I flatly refuse I ain't dumb down nothing". Genius.

Just by that one verse alone, it makes me respect Lupe so much more because he is not letting any other hip-hop artist out there today influence him and his music in any way. He needs to be the artist that our youth are looking up to these days, not 50 cent or Plies. There is more in life to strive for than just a nice car and jewelry. Rappers out now are simply filling kids heads with false dreams. Not everyone can be rich and famous and have 12 cars and 3 mansions. But these kids are thinking that is what they need to have in life in order to be considered successful. So they do whatever they need to in order to show people that they are "ballin", even if it means doing illegal activities. "You're only as powerful as your possessions". Don't strive to be rich. Strive to be comfortably wealthy and happy in life. All this bling and nice cars, doesn't impress every girl. It impresses and attracts the gold digging girls. The girls that don't care what you look like if you have a Charger or Lexus. The girls that are only putting up with you LAME self to get the benefits. They want your money, not your love.

I know this blog seemed to turn into a whole different subject, but I'm really tired of seeing my peers and friends walking around with this mindset that is just not as "perfect" as they put on. I want them to realize that material things aren't going to always make you happy. Someday, you'll have everything you've every wanted, nice cars, clothes, jewelry, and a chick. But, you'll still feel as empty as if you had nothing at all. Maybe then you'll see what I mean.