As a rule, I hate Carl's Jr's commercials but I'm terribly in favor of this one because I can interpret it as a dis to people that are like that in real life and can totally be in favor of that.
But additionally, it's such a catchy tune. I don't know why but I really, really like it.
I was telling Joy when we were at the show the other night- Sometimes I look around when I'm at hip hop shows and think for a split second: "Oh wait, I hate rap music." But then I realize that I just hate people.
I should qualify my statements by saying that I've been to some fine hip hop shows as well, but the bad outnumber the good for sure.
If you were at a rock show, on a Monday night, and nobody had taken the stage by 11:30, people would be looking for someone to punch. And yeah, it's not the DJ's fault specifically, it's just the concept behind the whole plan of how the show is supposed to go. If there are 3 acts and I was at the show for 3 and a half hours, how come I only saw 35 minutes of actual performing?
Biff NAILED it with the "hating" concept. When I was watching these dudes the other night and they're like "Portland doesn't like real hip hop?" I wanted to raise my hand and say, "I like real hip hop. I guess. But I don't like you. Your gold chains with mid sized medallions and songs about your 'hood are played out, boring, and retarded."
Don't poke me and tell me to get into your crappy music. It just makes my hate for you grow.
Oh no, not at all. The fault can be passed all around. Whoever puts on these shows needs to tell bands/DJs how long they have to play. Why that happens at every show except hip hop shows is beyond me. The bands/DJs need to respect the schedule. Dudes like Wock was talking about need to not end their set with 20 more minutes of freestyle or accapella raps. DJs need to realize that they are only there to take up time between the acts. Noone paid to see them. And the performers need to be ready to go when their time comes, and not too drunk or high to come out, as I have seen numerous times. The performers also need to come up with something that resembles a setlist, or at the very least a plan. The lack of setlists at rap shows is something that has always baffled me. Once again, in no other genre have I ever seen such a complete lack of organization. The lack of a plan leads to the accapellas or the ever dreaded freestyle "encores" that just go and go and go.
Every rapper/DJ needs to believe in the idea that less is more.
Is it all the DJ's fault, though, boys? I can't help but wonder if the artists themselves aren't at fault too for wanting to get out of there with as much money for as little work as possible? Not saying all, just some?
Yeah, Wock pretty much summed it up there. I can't count the amount of times that I have witnessed some jackass rapper get angry with the crowd for "hating" and not respecting his set. Meanwhile he just sucks. I have always found it a fascinating move to call attention to the fact that people are not digging your show. I have played various shows where the crowd wasn't into it. I certainly never announced whilst onstage.
I think the major problem with hip hop is the proliferation and acceptance of this concept of "hating." It is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. It gives all of these idiots the idea that it isn't them that sucks. It is the haters in the crowd that are jealous of their shine. I have been booed during a rap show. And I didn't think the people were "haters." They were certainly not jealous of my shine. They thought I sucked. And I am fine with that. Its people thinking that all of their detractors are haters that makes them think that they really don't suck.
And yes, they need to cut it out with the freaking DJs already. And the general disorganization of rap shows. Have these guys never heard of time slots? I am reminded of sitting through some no name playing for AN HOUR AND A HALF, only to see Killah Priest play for 30 minutes and Big Daddy Kane play for like 20. If I was BDK I would have been pissed. It was so late a bunch of people left. Awesome. And DJ: NOONE CARES. You know what? I own records, too. And lo and behold I know how to play them. You simply playing records on a stage is not a talent. So don't do it for like an hour and a half. And don't play music by the person I am there to see BEFORE they come out on stage. Are you that stupid? Oh yeah, you are. Unless you are up there with your shoe off and your leg behind your head, then just play for 20 minutes and shut up. Because I have played many rap shows. And it doesn't take that long for a rap group to set up. It takes about 10 minutes. So you are not doing anyone any favors.
Oh I could go on and on and on. But I have to go. So angry.
How do you even deal? I hate that sort of sh!t. I don't understand how people think it helps to chastise me for not "diggin' their flows" or whatever. If I don't like it, making fun of me ain't gonna help foolio.
Hip hop's not dead, it's just in a wheelchair with severly deformed legs.
Anyway, while we're on the subject, I was just going to post some hip hop related thoughts so I'll do it here. Specifically, on why I hate going to hip hop shows. Biff will back me up on this.
The reason why I'm frustrated: Went to a show last night at the Greek. My pal Coolzey from Iowa was in town, on tour with Sadat X (formerly of Brand Nubian). Talik bailed on me, so I had to drag the gf with me. I offered to go by myself, but she decided to give me some company. We got there at about 9:45, thinking that we'd roll in, I could talk to Z, we could watch his set, and get out of there at a decent hour. I didn't care about Sadat X, I never really listened to Brand Nubian and I don't have any allegiance there.
So, they do a "Monday Night Raw" (what a great moniker!) thing there every week, which is just a name for a bunch of DJs spinning. Fair enough, I've come to expect that from hip hop shows that I go to. But, these dudes proceeded to spin records for the next 2 hours, with their retarded hype man rambling on about the elements of hip hop and trying to get the crowd of about 25 people "hype." Finally, at about 11:45, these three girls got up and did a terribly thrown together set of freestyles and lame hooks that nobody cared about, and they proceeded to call out all the people (myself included) who were sitting down and not "feeling their fresh flow," etc. Meanwhile, they were half drunk and terrible. After about 15 awkward minutes, they gave up.
The next act was Cold Heat, two Italian guys from The Bronx who were wearing matching Cold Heat t-shirts and gold chains. They brought their fairly generic brand of thug rap and kept yelling about "real hip hop" and expressing their disappointment that Portland wasn't feeling it. I will never understand why hip hop groups insist on badgering a crowd to get into it when they don't feel like it. I didn't like their music, and that is why I was "playing the wall." Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were throwing the n word around. Bold move, especially considering some of the fellows in attendance. But the white guy with the chinstrap beard and the Zulu Nation shirt (complete with drawings of Africa and black fists) didn't seem to mind. Cold Heat's rapper did an a capella verse during their set which wasn't bad, whatever. Then, when their set was over, he was like "Who wants to hear some more a capella verses?" Nobody seemed to really care. He didn't seem too concerned and just went into it anyway. Then after that, proceeded to ask if we all wanted to hear another one. Seriously, no response from anyone. He told us all how he was just killing the mic tonight and needed to let us know blah blah blah and went into another one. After it was over he rambled on about real hip hop for a while longer and then finally left the stage.
After their set, the DJs went back up, and people started a breakdancing circle, which is all fine and dandy, but they kept it going for a good half hour while the hype man once again began breaking down the five elements of hip hop, which I never heard him actually name. The dancers were pretty good, so that was cool, everyone was having a good time.
Finally, they made the executive decision to let Coolzey do his set and he was awesome. But he only got to play for like 20 minutes because now they were pressed for time. We watched his set and got the hell out of there.
So, part of my frustration was that it was a Monday night and I didn't want to be out late, but mostly I am sick of going to these shows and having to listen to DJs for hours and then having the rappers come out and do 15 minute sets. And people droning on about "real hip hop." And people pointing out, while they are on stage, how much everyone doesn't care about their music. The guys from Cold Heat rhymed "business" with "business" in one of their hooks. It was something like "Never take it personal, it's always business/ Hear these five words: mind your own fcuking business."
