As Usual

We Got it 4 Cheap 3: The Spirit of Competition is up and running. So far, after a couple listens most of the wordplay is beginning to sink in. I feel what separates Vol. 3 from the first two installments is how much is going on in each song. Ab-Liva and Sandman show improvement with better word selection and improved dexterity to the beats of each song. Also, Malice or Pusha slow down their wordplay a lot – moving in another direction. Beat selection is good – go from intense to old school to just out there (Rainy Dayz?). This is great stuff though and definitely shows how the duo is expanding their vision as artists. Each installment these cats release they raise the bar higher and higher – Watch out in ’08. Also, funny how this mix tape challenges most major albums that have been released in the last six months in the rap game – shows what’s going on and how its all changing.

Slow it down

What’s the difference between Lil Wayne and the Clipse? Lil Wayne has over saturated the market with mediocre tracks that lowered his credibility. Shortly after the Carter II was released he slowly started releasing tracks that showcased his flexibility and creativity as a rapper, then we are treated to the Dedication II and Da Drought 3 and the people know Wayne can bring it. The same goes with the Clipse – they gave the fans a taste of their lyrical prowess on We Got it 4 Cheap Vol. 1 and 2 right before Hell Hath No Fury was released. So when do the two similar artists separate? Recently Lil Wayne has been releasing track after track spewing nonsense every which way and in the long run that lowers his credibility. In the past when fans heard a new Lil Wayne single they knew it was going to be good – but not so much anymore. First thing I imagine now when hearing a new Wayne track are T-Pain vocal techniques and scattered garble (Hello Brooklyn?) Yet, Clipse are on pace with giving the fans what they want. Yes, they are getting to a point where they have to start rapping about different subjects than drug life, but in the mean time they’re creative and pushing the envelope forward.

So what’s all this mean? Think of it this way – For artists to survive in this new age they’re the creators and balancers of the buzz that is created around them. People may say Wayne’s work is getting leaked but lets be serious – How come We got it 4 cheap vol III hasn’t been leaked yet? the Clipse’s camp has loyal followers who know how to keep work under wraps or people in Wayne’s camp are purposely leaking his material, or it could go both ways. Regardless, it’s been worked that the artist that keeps control of their content and releases quality over quantity is going to win out in the long run. Because the people trust what’s been given to them and can count on what’s coming. And lets not forget – Lil Wayne and The Clipse are the influencer’s of the Rap Game right now- all that Bape shit and everything else… So what about the bottom of the pile? How about all the cats who are trying to keep up with whats already been set? They’re doomed to failure. Later on I’m going to talk about how artists have to diverge from whats been set if they want to survive – especially pertaining to the Rap game.