Good Videos! Anyone??? By Steph

Good Videos! Good Videos! Come out! Come out! Where ever you are!!!!!!!!!

When is the last time you’ve seen a hip hop  video that was so good you wanted to watch it over and over again?  (I am going to exclude Kayne &  Jay-Z). Crickets…I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a video that I was blown away by.  I understand that budgets for videos have dramatically decreased but why can’t people still find creative ways to make good videos.  I blame both artist as well as directors.   Artist because they keep accepting these same video treatments that those directors throw at them.  Directors because they are suppose to be the visual architects who make the song come to life and hopefully make people like the song even more.   These videos just aren’t doing that for me.  Ok, honestly the last video that I liked was Lil Wayne’s video for  “6’7” because of the Inception concept but even that video I didn’t have a desire to watch over and over. 

I was completely disappointed by  Ace Hood’s “Hustle Hard” both the original and the remix video.  It was such a hard song that it needed a strong visual to commitment it but that did not happen.  The remix video even more because that was the more popular version of the song.  They took so long to release the video and honestly they shouldn’t have released one at all because the finished product was terrible!  I think I could have directed a better video then that.  All the director did was literally take everything that was said in the video, threw some beautiful  girls in workout outfits sprinkle in a few rappers and put in front of a green screen.  Really?!!!!  And it looked cheap! (in pray it didn’t cost any money lol) Every video can’t be money, cars, hoes and the hood!  Give me something different.  Even if I may not understand the complete concept I will appreciate the fact that something different was tried.  

I really wonder if some artist watch their videos and think to themselves “This video is some bulls*it did I really pay for this?!!!” because I know that what I think when I watch most of them.   Now don’t get me wrong some of the videos are cool but I don’t have the desire to watch them over and over again, which to me defeats the purpose of making a video at all.  I laugh everytime I see these behind the scenes or sneak peeks at the videos because in the end they leave a lot to be desired  and set the public up to be disapointed by the finished product. Will I never again see a “Victory” type video???    I know that records aren’t selling like they use to but I need labels to open these video budgets up; and artist and directors  have to use some originality and spend the money wisely.   I want  to be left in awe when I finish watching a video, is that too much to ask?!!!

Written By https://twitter.com/#!/thinmint215

Am I Too Old for this Generation of Hip Hop?

Am I Too Old for this Generation of Hip Hop?

Say I’m a dog but I don’t even bark/Got em biting this swag like a shark - YC

“Racks on Racks” by YC is ruining my life!  Its one of the worst songs I have heard played on the radio in a while.  What disturbs me even more is the fact that I dance to it when I hear it in the club; as much as I try not its like I really can’t help myself. That fact alone says something about it but what?  That it’s actually a good song that I like deep down or it’s just catchy? I pick the latter.  From YG to Travis Porter to Lil B I can’t relate to their music.  So am I just too old to appreciate today’s young hip hop generation?

In the past few years hip hop has definitely shifted and I can’t say that I like the way its going.  Songs that I believe would have never seen the light of day before are now radio hits.  Did they really play a song called “You’re a Jerk” and showcased a video that had young MEN in the video dancing with jeans on as tight as mine?!!! BBM confused face!  This cant be life or at least hip hop life…

I subjected myself to listen to ONE Lil B song…I can never get that 2 minutes and 42 seconds of my life back!  It was terrible there was nothing good about it, not the lyrics, the beat or the artist. He wasn’t even on beat.  I can however appreciate the hustle of Lil B.  Even though, I believe that people who enjoy his music snort coke and are likely to commit a crime while high on said drug.  He did it has way.  No major label backing, no million dollar budget, just him, his team and the music he loves.  Which is what hip hop is is all about but I can’t appreciate anything about his music. Maybe I’m just spoiled.  I came up on Big, Pac, Jay, Nas and Snoop.  Classic records back then were coming out back to back.  Today if we get just a good record we’re extra excited.  Like “Yo did he hear that new (insert artist here) record?!!! Its really good, u need it!” Its like we take whatever we can get nowadays.  

I was talking to my homie Rap the other day and he said “You would think that this generation of rap would be great because they are artistic and free but instead they are just reckless, rebellious and crazy with it.”  I think he’s right! I understand that diversity is needed in all genres of music but come on, how much of THIS do we really need?!!!  You guys can’t really think this stuff is good.  Catchy? YES! Danceable? Kinda! Good? NOOOO!  And I believe you need all of those elements to make a hit/good song.  OK! OK! OK! We can let one or two bad song thru as a hit every once in a while but WHO IN THE HELL LEFT THE GATE OPEN?!!!

By Steph https://twitter.com/thinmint215