Two Fridays ago, I came home from a long day of work and logged onto my Twitter account at about midnight. I was about to scroll through to see what people were talking about. To my surprise, I saw something I would never imagine seeing as the #1 trending topic and that was rapper Jay-Z.
While scrolling through the feeds, everything from those past two hours focused on Hov. Atleast 80% of the tweets. It was amazing and a true testament to arguably the greatest rapper of our generation and his legions of fans.
But what I failed to see once in those two hours was criticism. Every tweet I saw ranged from “Death of Auto-Tune” to “Na, Na, Na” to “Your jeans too tight, colors too bright, voice too light” and “Hip-Hop is alive once again.”
Most of them came from honest fans; but the rest came from individuals I didn’t expect much objectiveness from – the biased bloggers who would rather close their site than ever criticize the God MC.
But since DJ Mister Cee and Funkmaster Flex gave a memorable intro to his track; and his lauded performance at last weekend’s Summer Jam; the question I’ve been asking myself is: “What did Jay-Z exactly kill?”
Considering who he was on stage with at Summerjam, it obviously didn’t discourage T-Pain from continuing to use the voice box. Oh, but I forgot, the song doesn’t apply to T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. It only applies to folks like Ron Browz and DJ Webstar, who Jay probably felt were taking it too far. But these individuals took the technology and found a way to make money off it. Didn’t you once say you “Can’t Knock the Hustle?” So why are you knocking theirs?
As the song spread, the resentment for Jay-Z was evident from forum members to artists.
“He’s just mad because Browz produced Ether,” said one member of the SOHH.Com Hip Hop forum.
“He doesn’t let the youth do their thing. He can’t stop what the radio plays. A hot record is a hot record,” responded DJ Webstar.
In response to Webstar’s comments, Carter said: “He doesn’t know any better.”
But I actually think he does. Why? Because there has been no death. The only thing Jay accomplished with this song is to make himself look weak amongst Hip-Hop fans that can judge him objectively.
Frankly, you just can’t come out of nowhere and proclaim death onto a piece of technology, but not when your friends, who you seem scared to criticize use it. Especially considering when the majority of BP3, a month ago according to Kanye West, was comprised of the tool Roger Troutman made famous. Oh, and don’t forget that you are killing Auto-Tune, but collaborating on your lead single with Drake, who has used it numerous times as well.
And in the four days I’ve been following the talk about this song, the only criticism I heard is that the song may not be all that. I never heard anything from the new voices of Hip-Hop, the bloggers, about how Jay came back with a cliché, catchy named song that is no different than Nas naming a track and an album “Hip-Hop is Dead.” Both have the same purpose and that’s to spark controvery/buzz.
Not one blogger called Jay out. Ni uno. And my question to you bloggers is this:
“Why can’t you criticize Jay on something that he deserves criticism on?”
It’s not like you’re ever going to get the opportunity to interview Jay. Its not like this is 96 and he’s making the rounds on Public Access TV shows and today he’ll sit near a land-line to talk with every blogger on the net. No, that’s not happening. I just can’t understand how Hip-Hop fans I’ve spoken to can criticize Barack Obama; but when it comes to Jay-Z, their silent.
That’s the problem with Hip-Hop as a whole; from the unsigned artist to the freelance writer and blogger. They all want to fit in and don’t want to do anything to risk the chance of not gaining membership to a community of “Stans.”
These bloggers/writers aren’t even writing their own opinions. They are just following the general consensus because they don’t want to feel left out. They form their opinions from threads on forums and comment posts.
Now before you all get into a craze, this is not a Jay-Z hate fest. I’m a Jay aficionado. He’s probably my favorite rapper ever and the first album I bought was Vol 1 from the Music House store on Dyckman Street. A few months later, I purchased Reasonable Doubt, his first LP and I’ve never missed one since.
But when I think of “Death of Autotune,” I flashback to BP2 when Jay said:
“But I’m sorry Miss Rosie Perez/ I call a Spade a Spade/ It just is what it is…but you can’t give cred to everything dude says.”
That line was directed at Nas, but can also apply to Jay himself in this situation. So because he says something that means it stands? Now, don’t get me wrong, I rather hear Ron Browz and Webstar produce songs than sing on them. The same goes for some of the other acts who use “auto-tune.” But who is Jay-Z to say what belongs or doesn’t on the radio; or what is and isn’t Hip-Hop?
DJ Webstar: “He’s 40 years old; he doesn’t know what kids want to listen to.”
When Webstar made this statement, many people said he was ludicrous to say so. But it’s not that far from the truth. How many kids do you know that were pumping American Gangster more than the Carter III? Please tell me how many?
Maybe it’s because I’m in NY and some 17 year old kids here may listen to Hov. But outside of NY? There is a world outside of here you do know that right? Jay-Z ain’t on everyone’s radar like that especially at 17. Their generation is Lil Wayne. Our generation was Jay and those other great 90’s artists that made it into this decade.
I coach a HS basketball team in this city and I heard about Wayne 3x more throughout the season than I did Jay. Wayne was the craze before and after Jay-Z album dropped.
Really though, It just makes no sense to me how people allow Jay to play this role. Who made him in charge of the art and when was he awarded this position? It’s not like this piece of technology hasn’t produced some good songs outside of the trio he mentioned.
“Sexual Seduction” by Snoop Dogg.
“Pop Champagne” by Ron Browz.
There have been plenty of other songs that may not pass a “NY Hip-Hop” test, but are still enjoyable to me.
But, in the end, no matter what anyone says or what power you assign to him, this song is essentially worthless. Is it a good song? Its alright. But did it make the mark Jay wanted it to make? I think not.
A prime example would be what occurred last week while I was listening to Hot 97. “Death of Autotune” came on. Ironically, right after, they played “Dancing on Me.”
So Jay can wish whatever he’d like onto a certain piece of technology, but when kids half your age are the ones voting and calling radio stations for these songs; the power you thought you had is virtually non exisistant…
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11 responses right now ↓
1 Goddess Intellect // Jun 16, 2009 at 11:33 am
“So Jay can wish whatever he’d like onto a certain piece of technology, but when kids half your age are the ones voting and calling radio stations for these songs; the power you thought you had is virtually non exisistant…”
BOOM BOOM!!
I lovessssssss this post..you just put all the hip-hop bloggers & yes-men to death IMO lmao
Nah but really….when I heard the song I got excited, instrumentals were fun but more importantly the lyrics resonated the majority opinion every 25yr old+ hip-hop fan…the dislike for the skinny jean epidemic, outcries for the real mc and overall nostalgia for an art form that needs to progress already.
This topic and song def gets ppl heated…check out a good argument & post over @ 3Ways: http://www.threewaystotakeit.com/jayz/
As for Jay…D.O.A is just mirroring his mid-life crisis…have u seen dudes hair lately?
2 admin // Jun 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Thanks a lot girl. I appreciate it. That link had some interesting commentary. This song has really sparked some serious discussion. I just feel like he was reaching with this one.
3 admin // Jun 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm
He needs to cut that hair something serious by the way.
4 terryohms // Jun 17, 2009 at 8:52 am
First I really enjoy the blog, About the Jay-Z thing, i really feel the song was’nt intended for the 17yr old fan or those that listen to mainstream radio. I think DOA was targeting his rap peers and and 17yr old future mc’s, the song is a critique on the lack of creativity within the genre right now, it’s not just about his hate for autotune. Thats the reason he excluded t-pain, lil’ wayne and kanye becuase they were at the forefront of the sound and all did something totally different from one another. I personally think we need someone to challenge the genre to be more creative and musically daring or it will remain “pop music” as opposed to rap music, who better to do that than an older and still relevant rapper like Hov.
5 admin // Jun 17, 2009 at 9:40 am
Terry – I was thinking exactly what you are when I was writing this. I knew that would be a counter argument and its a good one because its partially true. I do feel like half of it was meant for an older hip-hop crowd who was tired of the unoriginality. My beef with Hov was that he was about to join the gang and make an autotune album weeks ago and then suddenly made a switch. He can do whatever he wants of course, but i just felt like it was a rapid switch. It also felt like he was reaching to me. To me, it was the first sign of a rapper who despite his greatness is getting old. Instead of coming out with a regular old song; he came out with a song that he knew would get him immediate attention and spark controversy. In most cases, any Hov track would get the former, but usually not the latter. Thanks for the response though and the kind words. Its much appreciated.
6 terryohms // Jun 17, 2009 at 11:20 am
There was a scene in the movie “Fade to black” where Jay is speaking to a young rapper in the studio. The young rapper tells Jay that he has to ryhme and sound like whats popular(hoes,clothes,money) in order to get popular and Jay is bascically telling him to stop following and Rap your own experience and your own truth. The scene in many ways captures what the song is about. I agree with you that Jay could have done it another way in order to avoid sounding like an out of touch preacher, because the way you uproot something that’s become stale is to come out with something unique and fresh (50 cent crushing ja rule 2003-04), something Hov didn’t do and maybe can’t do at this point. DOA is just the musically form of that conversation in Fade to Black, hopefully someone will listen, although I doubt it. keep up the good work.
7 dubs // Jun 17, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Who cares what Jay Z thinks?
But I do and always will party and listen to his good tracks.
That auto Tune is getting out of hand…yes, a lot of artist do not have talent that use it. And then they act like they are global stars who eventually should and probably give respect to artists that help make way for them.
It comes down to this…don’t buy it or request it if you don’t like it. And you have a right to say its trash or good to the entire world.
What JayZ did did not tarnish his image…he can continue to sell millions of records if he wanted to.
8 dubs // Jun 17, 2009 at 1:27 pm
TerryOhms quote above says it all:First I really enjoy the blog, About the Jay-Z thing, i really feel the song was’nt intended for the 17yr old fan or those that listen to mainstream radio. I think DOA was targeting his rap peers and and 17yr old future mc’s, the song is a critique on the lack of creativity within the genre right now, it’s not just about his hate for autotune. Thats the reason he excluded t-pain, lil’ wayne and kanye becuase they were at the forefront of the sound and all did something totally different from one another. I personally think we need someone to challenge the genre to be more creative and musically daring or it will remain “pop music” as opposed to rap music, who better to do that than an older and still relevant rapper like Hov.
WELL SAID!
9 Ricky // Jun 18, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Completely agree on all levels.
10 Travis // Jun 27, 2009 at 6:35 am
I totally agree that Jay-Z is just a mere human being just like anyone else in the music industry and the world. A world where ideas(at times can get us into critical arguments about direction),creativity,artistry,styles and trends are constantly changing. Music and its styles are much more relevant and ever changing now in these times we live in than it was years ago. We know what the 50′s,60′s,70′s,80′s,and 90′s sound like. But now in this century music is much more expansive than it was in the last decades perhaps because of an increase in knowledge of music to create something new and rediscover the old.
What does this have to do with Jay-z you may ask? First of all,Hova is apart of the development of hip-hop in this millenium. He paid his dues to the music and got paid in the process. Not only was he sucessful he was very lyrical and artistically challenged MC’s or other rappers ; not directly but proved something a lot of good entertainer’s (that claim to be hip-hop) can or cannot do ; to be original.That is what Jay-z’s argument is about and I feel him on that level. There’s something about that great classic rap s#@t that can’t go missing in the midst of tons of musical genres that branch from hip-hop.
Jay- z is doing what he does best expressing himself lyrically without fear of what others think about his opinion. Jay-z is gifted and i’m a fan of his real hip-hop style of music(big ups to JUST BLAZE also) and all producers that collaberate with him.
However like i said hova is just a mere man with beliefs and opinions and I will not bash him for that. I will disagree with him for the fact that in this ever changing world of music when it’s time for someone else to shine or experiment with something new you shouldn’t knock their hustle completely(in which Jay-z is not ; he’s just battleling ) for the way I see it the music is all good.
So the hustle with the vocoder,the way the younger cats nowaday’s are prepping their style around is hot with the music now and it’s no problem to me. I love the stuff being put out.
But with that being said you can never have another Jay-z. So i’m feeling both in my i-pod. Good music is good music. I hope those remarks he made doesn’t comeback to haunt the jigga man though. Recognize real Hip-Hop and know what trends,and pop music is. Peace to all.
11 Travis // Jun 27, 2009 at 7:03 am
That hair is not as fresh as his lyrics does anyone agree? C,mon I know you do!
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