This is the real Rick Ross!
So, this past weekend I hung out with Cashmere Agency’s Ryan Ford (former Executive Editor of the Source), the League’s Fahiym Ratcliffe and Tarik Ross. Boy ol’ boy did I learn a lot about hip-hop. I mean, you guys might not know this, but I didn’t exactly grow up in a hot bed for rap music.
So in the spirit of sharing, I’ve documented the top 5 things I learned while hanging out with these cool boys.
1. Hip hop can be dead to you but not dead
Yes, lots of people think hip-hop sucks right now. But according to these hip-hop aficionados, the spirit of hip-hop is still alive, even if it’s not present in mainstream music. Young people are still motivated by the same need to express themselves.
2. Asking people who their favorite rapper is is like asking them their favorite color
I learned this one from Ryan Ford. There are so many rappers out these days, it’ hard to chose, and it’s not really all that important because next week another one will show up.
3. The Boss is really just a different Ross
We actually ran into the original Rick Ross, a former Los Angeles based drug dealer who the rapper Rick Ross named himself after. Apparently, the rapper Rick Ross’ whole image is contrived and based off another person. How weird is that?
4. A culture is more true without corporate intent
This one speaks for itself. According to these guys, rap music was a lot better before money got involved.
5. Outkast could be the new Marvin Gaye
As in they make classic music. 20 years from now, your kids are going to be listening to Outkast in the very same way that we we listen to Marvin Gay. Good music never dies.
Few new MCs have as much buzz as J. Cole right now. The first artist signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation has been tearing up the mixtape circuit and has recently been talking about the production for his debut release. He says he wants to make it a classic.
While he definitely has the skills, both production and rhyming, he should maybe consider not working with the Neptunes. After all, a classic is supposed to be memorable, I haven’t heard a stand out Pharrell beat since the mid-2000s. Even the best songs on the Clipse’s new album weren’t produced by Pharrell.
But the pictures after the jump indicate that it may be too late. J. Cole might have already been duped into giving that guy way too much of his production budget. Also after the click, check the video with J. Cole talking about his upcoming record. The video comes courtesy of the Los Angeles Leakers the photos were jacked from thehoodnerd.com
![#NewMusic: Phil Ade “PhilAdeFriday2″ [MIXTAPE]](http://99problems.org/wp-content/plugins/simple-post-thumbnails/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/thumbnails/20645.png&w=300&h=100&zc=1&ft=jpg)
