Ok, I’ve gotta say something about that irreverent lil wayne.
I’m a total ride or die rap/hip hop fanatic. I doubt that better ‘do me baby’ music can be found at this point in music history (kina marvin honestly can’t hold a candle to the LLs et al. … Ok, maybe Prince, with his song ☺). And yes, I realize (to paraphrase a talk show caller) that the old school stuff was about ‘spend your life with me’ whereas new school is about ‘get me through the night’. One step at a time, neh? And considering how equity on homes has been eroded by the current global meltdown, maybe (to use that tired metaphor) buying the milk (as opposed to owning the cow) makes most sense round about now?
[Digression: can’t wait to clap eyes on the full length RocknRolla. What was that? ‘Cause of the abs that are at the start of the trailer? Of course not (quickly dabbing the drop of drool that’s escaped from corner of her lips). It’s just that I don’t care if Guy makes the same movies over and over again, I love ‘em! The trailer has the promising (wannabe bad ass) sound byte: “There’s no school like the old school, and I’m the headmaster”. Ooooo can’t wait!]
Most times though, rap/hip hop’s ‘do-me-ness’ is ruined by the lyrics. The beat’s tight, the rap lyrics are starting to send you, then the rapper throws in some macho BS that totally kills your buzz!
But do let’s get back to lil’ wayne. I’ve heard enough of his collabos on the radio, didn’t really pay much attention to the lyrics. Then I happened to watch the video for ‘Girls all around the world’ and it struck me that I’ve heard those lyrics before. Now, his total irreverence has to do with how he takes some lyrics from that early rap song, Paid In Full, which was all about serious business, getting paid, and empowering black folk (notably, Eric B and Rakim). When he says “… thinkin’ of a master plan”, then gives another ka-retarded giggle and continues, “no I’m not, shorty on my mind…” It replaces one type of machismo with another: totally undoes the original “tough guy tryin’ to get paid so don’t get in my way”; replaces it with “I’m all about this girl and it doesn’t matter if she distracts my money makin’, ’cause there’s plenty more (money) where that came from”. It completely dilutes the original’s tough guy message. But boy is it layers of funny – the play on words and lyrics.
Then I listened to Mrs. Officer and had a good laugh… until he got to the “Rodney King said beat it like a cop”. Now, I’m familiar with that there ‘beat it like a cop’ phrase, and it is hilarious when used in that song’s context. But surely, is nothing sacred? Rodney King’s suffering (and subsequently that of Reginald Denny and all whose businesses and livelihoods were destroyed) should really not be used in this context! I was starting to enjoy your mischievous lyrics Mr. Carter, then you went and killed my buzz.
