Forgive & Forget?
When things get super-ugly between yourself and another individual and you are publicly calling this individual the enemy and saying that you are at war with said individual, will that relationship ever truly rebound? Can you truly & whole-heartedly connect with this individual and say "let bygones be bygones"? This has been the question that has been on my mind since Jay-Z & Nas joined forces and are now looking like Cheech & Chong on the MTv special. I can remember all too well in the not-so-distant past when these two were in a lyrical tug-of-war. Vicious lines like "Eminem murdered you on your own sh!t/ You a d!ck-ridin' f@990t.../" and "You's the f@g/modeled for Karl Kani & Esco ads/ went from Karl Kani to Esco's trash.../" Hmmm...is it really a case of "lets do this for Hip-Hop" as they've been promoting or is it a smoke screen in order to get down to business and get some $$$$ together. Opinions vary. Some fellow artists have gone on record to support the cause and some are just outright confused and even somewhat disappointed with Nas. How can you ham it up and act like you close friend with some one who said that they left condoms on your daughter's baby seat!?!? I personally think that it's a little bit of both money motivation and ego check. Ego checking in Hip Hop is a rare thing. Most artists that start feuds never mend them [eg. LL Cool J Vs. Kool Moe Dee, Canibus etc.] and some never live long enough to resolve theirs [Biggie & 2Pac]. So I believe that in that respect their union is admirable. One the other hand, I gotta wonder is Nas is selling himself and dignity to the highest bidder. Everyone knows that his last LP, the double album "Streets Disciple" was severely under-promoted and managed. And I'm pretty sure that Nas was none-too happy with this. I also believe that since he was at the end of his contract with Columbia Records [his only recording home until now] and obviously looking for greener pastures. But what major label pastures are left in the music industry today. Let's see...BMG/Sony is the pasture he wants to leave...Warner Bros. is home to Cam'Ron and Mr. Exec-Jim Jones..ah..not a good move since he his issues with the Dips...Interscope..home to Curtis 50 cent "Mr. Interscope" Jackson?...aah definitely not a good move. So what is left? Good 'ol Def Jam, home to Shawn "CEO/President" Carter. Did Nas swallow pride for a fat check and a new lease on his slowly dimming rap career?....probably. Is this move still a good move for hip hop and the possible resurrection of east-coast hip hop?...DeFinately.
1 comment:
Personally I beleive that they planned this whole thing together to launch their careers to another level. That was the best battle in ages and it revitalized the kid named "Nas". Although his sales never matched the status of "Hov" it rejuvenated the creativity and sharpness of "God's son". The last two albums were classics just like Common's last three. However the audience/buyers only like ignorance and child-like craft i.e. Dipset, G-Unit. (They have good music but material is garbage.) If anyone knows Mr. Jones everything he says should be taken with a grain of salt. He only is concerned with his well being. He tries to keep it "real" but he is well known for his no-shows and back pedalling. i.e. the time he apologized to Flex and Angie after balsting them on Power 105 in NY. Why would anyone be surprised. Truth be told he could have gone anywhere including Interscope or Atlantic. Nas did well with out promotion. Def Jam needed him more than the opposite direection to solidfy their roster. There is no one out there that the fans would respect than signing Nas to their team. I think it would have been worse if he signed to Murder Inc or Roc-a-fella. that would be a stunt move. (remember we used to call chicks "stunts".)
-HipHop 101
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