Mr. Eric Woods [dot] com

On the way home today I listened to the radio and to my disgust as usual about 85% of the stuff played was BS! So that prompted me to dig into my collection and listen to some classics from back in the day….not THAT far back in the day, lol. Like from the late 80’s to late 90’s. I don’t know why but the music from that time just sounds so much better. Maybe because there were real Emcees on the tracks and real lyricists. Mind you I’m mostly talking about the 90’s. If I was to go back to the 80’s man there are soooo many tight Emcees I could name I’d be here forever!

Nas illmatic

The problem with the hip-hop/rap/R&B (rap and bullsh*t) of today is just that in my opinion. There are no lyricist anymore. No stories to tell, no point to be made, no message to send. Just a bunch of fools talking about the same damn thing with no substance and mediocre beats. MONEY, CARS, and BITCHES.  Where the hell did the Hip-Hop industry go wrong? Maybe the A&R’s aren’t doing their jobs, it seems as if anyone can get a deal these days. Hot or Not, lol. 

The GZA's classic Liquid Swords Album

Another thing I sometimes think about is the fact that maybe I’m just getting old?….or something like that . What I consider real Hip-Hop is probably considered old stuff now. I always seem to forget to factor in my age and when I grew up into that equation. So yea, to the young kids now whats on the radio is probably the new “thing”. Kinda like the change over when I started really getting into the music. The music changed from Emcees like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane to Emcees like Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas. When that change went down I’m sure there were a lot of people thinking just like me. Saying that the new music is no good and the old is better. So now that change has happened again and I find myself on the other side of the fence this time. 

I can’t sit here and totally say I don’t like the music that’s out now though, because if most of these songs do come on in the club I more than likely will start two stepping to it lol. That’s more than likely because of the catchy hooks and hot beats. Other than that the music is still pretty mediocre in my opinion. So other than that its pretty much useless to me. I haven’t heard a Hip-Hop/Rap album in YEARS that I can listen to from start to finish because like I said before the stuff now lacks substance. Like I can pick up a album from back in the day like the Liquid Swords album for instance and there is actually a point to every single track on the album. A message to hear. OTHER than money, cars, clothes and bitches.

Az Doe or Die

Everybody out there can’t be on the same damn page though and I’m willing to bet that there are tons of real lyricist left but unfortunately we won’t hear them because their flow isn’t what people want to hear now. Also known as being “commercial”. For that reason I always find myself listening to either the older music or up and coming artist, just to get away from the regular everyday radio crap and listen to something different and/or new. 

So with all of that said I think I’ll go back to the collection pick out another classic to listen to and chill out whilst I have a drink