Focusing in on him as an artist, and as an artist only --- business ventures outside of music, aside --- I don't understand the hype with this dude. Don't bring up his charitable work, rocawear, etc...
I'm talking about his music. There's no doubt that he's gifted, but when I think of him, one quote comes to mind, "I dumbed down for my audience and double my dollars" --- that's from his song 'Moment of Clarity'. After I heard that, I lost all respect for the dude. If you actually, think about it, that's an insult to his fans [you]. What he should've said was, he dumbed down for corporate america. Why did he think he had to 'dumb' down for his audience? Does he think his fans are incompetent and lack the ability to comprehend meaningful work? This is coming from the supposed 'King of NY' and self-proclaimed 'best rapper alive'? You can't tell me Biggie, Nas, Big L, and the other NY greats before him would've said or done that.
Again, there's no doubt that he's gifted, but he's a hypocrite. He's made a lot of meaningful work, but I don't understand how people put him over Big or Pac, or even Nas. Nas never sold out.
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