JUST A THOUGHT…
As I sat in my room in vegas I watched lil wayne on “the view” and I gotta say
what I see is somebody who knows exactly what their doing. I asked the lifers on
twitter a few days ago if they thought somebody that didn’t work as hard could
knock him off his block interestingly enuff the responses were 5050. The
producer, ceo in me won’t allow me to except a split decision. As far as I’m
concerned wayne is the bar. He’s got the streets, the pop shit, a image, a look and
a sound. From this interview I can tell he knows this and to me that’s when a
artist is most dangerous. I bring this up because people constantly wanna give me demos that are nowhere near his level so I wonder. Do yall view rap like boxing? Cause I’m starting too…it doesn’t feel like everybody is fighting for the same belt or title.
@jduv123…Thanks bro!!! I try to keep it 100 on here!!
SPOCK
As a consumer and long time listener of Hip Hop music I would have to say Wayne holds up the title right now for most active and marketable artist in the rap game.His image is a brand in itself and his work ethic is far past the majority of other artist in this game.He deserves to be number one.
As far as lyricism goes most of the general public that judge it don’t even have a wide perspective of the music they hate and love.When you speak of word smiths you think of people like Jay Z, Nas, BIG,BIG L,
Black Thought,Common and even Ras Kass (who most of the world has slept on) as Mcs who set the bar.
Wayne is a strong talent but has a ways to go before his name goes down in the history book as the greatest and that’s why he is working so hard.I’m proud to see that brother getting money and hope the best of success to him.
Jd…….Now as far as the people giving you demos,you have to remember that 99 percent of these young hopefuls really are not ready to be in the spot light and they need artist development like all the other popular artist of our time have received.
I think half the problem is that some of the better artist that are super talented don’t have the capital behind them to be in the same spots as you are to hand you a demo.
I listen to unsigned artist everyday that are so good at what they do and have such a great story to share with the world that the only way I see them not going anywhere is because they do not know anyone in the music industry. The artist are out there waiting in the wing.Its now time for the game to find them because at the end of the day the industry is in the business of selling music and sometimes that means not waiting for a independent record to gain spins in a small market where a label rep can say he found someone new but actually beating the pavement looking for the next Rakim or the next Jay Z and trust me he or she is out there and ready to go round for round with the big boys.
In response to your youtube vid….
Heavyweights:
TI
Jay
Lil Wayne
Nas
Kanye
Middleweight:
Common (Training to change weight class)
Lube
Andre 3000 (To be honest, he’s in his own class)
Pharrell
“I Got Next Crew”:
Drake
LiL Brother
*Lupe for the middleweights
I have not historically been a Lil Wayne fan, I did not purchase any of his material (since the Hot Boyz)until the Dedication Mix”tapes” came out… The Cater III is tight work though. As much as I hate to say it Weezy and UGK are the only ones in the superheavyweight class right now. (UGK did drop an album in the last 12 months so they still count.)
In the Heavy Weight class I would have to go with: T.I., Jeezy, T-Pain(like him or not he is hot right now), Luda, Rick Ross, Kanye
Middle Weight class might be….hell its too many to name but Project Pat has to be near the top of this class… dude has skills even though he gets no play outside the south.
LightWeights… anybody with a song that we only know of because it is also a Dance… If the shoe fits..
LIL WAYNE–HEAVY WEIGHT
JAY-Z–HEAVY WEIGHT
KANYE WEST–HEAVY WEIGHT
T.I.–HEAVY WEIGHT
NAS–HEAVY WEIGHT
EMINEM–HEAVY WEIGHT
T-PAIN–HEAVY MIDDLE WEIGHT
DIDDY-HEAVY MIDDLE WIEGHT
SNOOP DOGG–HEAVY MIDDLE WIEGHT
LUDACRIS–HEAVY MIDDLE WEIGHT
FAT JOE–HEAVY MIDDLE WIEGHT
BUSTA RHYMES–HEAVY MIDDLE WIEGHT
COMMON–HEAVY MIDDLE WEIGHT
YOUNG JEEZY–HEAVY MIDDLE WEIGHT
NELLY–MIDDLE WEIGHT
RICK ROSS–MIDDLE WEIGHT
AKON–MIDDLE WEIGHT
FABOLOUS–MIDDLE WEIGHT
TWISTA–MIDDLE WEIGHT
LUPE FIASCO–MIDDLE WEIGHT
BUN B–MIDDLE WEIGHT
JADAKISS–LIGHT MIDDLE WEIGHT
BOW WOW–LIGHT MIDDLE WEIGHT
SOULJA BOY–LIGHT MIDDLE WEIGHT
JIM JONES–LIGHT MIDDLE WEIGHT
SWIZZ BEATS–LIGHT MIDDLE WEIGHT
RON BROWZ–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
YOUNG DRO–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
YOUNG JOC–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
PLIES–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
MIKE JONES–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
THE GAME–HEAVY LIGHT WEIGHT
SLIM THUG–LIGHT WEIGHT
YUNG BERG–LIGHT WEIGHT
TYGA–LIGHT WEIGHT
SHAWTY LO–LIGHT WEIGHT
BiRDMAN–LIGHT WEIGHT
GUCCI MANE–LIGHT WEIGHT
OJ DA JUICEMAN–LIGHT WEIGHT
E-40–LIGHT WEIGHT
MIMS–LIGHT WEIGHT
LIL BOOSIE–LIGHT WIEGHT
FLO RIDA–WEAK LIGHT WEIGHT
This list wasn’t about how much I like the person but it was on LYRICS, SELLS, IMAGE, & PROGRESS.
I know two brothers that will knock lil Wayne out and take the title and then have a go at each other because they both are solo and both are as we say in the ATL the LONG WAY! The mix tape they gave me was so hot I can’t take it out my car and then I burned it to have one at home. Some artist just need guidance and a chance. They are out all the time sellling or just giving away mix tapes just to get the music out. The names are if you see them on the street SLIM AND CARTIER HERB . YOU HEARD ME!
I think the ATL has a lot of Artist that just need the exposure. Lil Wayne is good but I was not feeling the last CD he dropped. It was just a lot of free styling with hooks and good beats if you ask me. Not to take anything away from him but the last one NAH!
Are we basing heavyweights on talent or income earned ?
NOW JD COME ON MY DUDE!!!!!!! wanye is not setting the bar lyrically some of the shit he says is just like a BIG WTF, i think people like wanye because he has alot of swagger and style. but lyrically i dont think wanye could fuck with kanye or jay. Wanyes songs sound hot because he has some dope ass beats but the problem with wanye in my opinion is that he comes out with so many songs he dilutes himself. To me The Carter III was ight, it was a disapointment for me especially since he had been dropping all these hot songs on mixtapes and shit and the album was just okay, he shoulda took all those hot songs he had ready for the mixtapes and put them on the album. also i wouldnt consider him a person that sets the bar because of what he talks about if u listen to wanyes songs they all talk about the same shit, just on a different beat. kanye and jay talk about life and the struggles they go through thats why so many people respect them and shit its just not some nigga talkin bout how he will shoot you and how many bitches he fucks and all that shit other shit. Jay talked about losing his nephew in his lyrics and reminiscing on the times where he didnt have a pot to piss in, not alone all the truth jay has in his lyrics about niggas being fake and just the shit you through in life period. i just cant imagine myself listenin to any of wanyes songs five years down the line and still thinking its hot. WANYE DOES NOT MAKE CLASSICS PERIOD!!!!!!!!!
AND FOR NIGGAS SAYING DRAKE IS A HIP HOP HEAVY WEIGHT HE AINT THE NIGGA JUST GOT IN THE GAME YOU GOTTA ATLEAST BE IN THE GAME FOR A GOOD FIVE YEARS TO BE A HEAVY WEIGHT( not to mention sell out concerts as the main act and have a couple of platnium and gold albums), YOU JUST CANT HAVE SOME HOT MIXTAPES AND THINK ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU AT THE TOP!!!!!
IN ADDITION I WISH NIGGAS WOULD STOP WEARING ALL THESE TIGHT ASS JEANS AND SCARFS AND ALL THAT GAY SHIT YOU NIGGAS LOOK LIKE BITCHES!!!!!! RAP AND HIP HOP HAS LOST ITS SENSE OF INDIVIDUALITY AND STYLE, TOO MANY DUDES IS BITING!!!!!!!!
AND AS FOR NIGGAS WITH THE WACK DEMOS YOU GOTTA REMBER JD NOW DAYS ITS REALLY EASY TO MAKE A SONG ITS NOT LIKE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN U HAD TO FIND SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY HAD ACCESS TO A STUDIO AND SHIT CUZ EQUIPMENT WAS SO EXPENSIVE, AND TO GET IN THE STUDIO AND MAKE MUSIC YOU HAD TO HAVE TALENT AND SKILL!!!! THESE DAYS TOO MANY NIGGAS TRYNA ROCK THE MIC FOR THE FAME, MONEY AND BITCHES INSTEAD OF MAKING GOOD MUSIC AND LOVE FOR THE GAME
i know im late as fuck on this i just saw the video on da tube and i had to come comment about wayne and i think the only way wayne is really setting the bar is with album sells to me thats what makes him a heavyweight right now in my opinion and jd please keep it all the way fuckin really LYRICALLY what the fuck wayne be talkin about? the only carter that was hot was the first carter i give him that i congrat wayne for sellin a mill in first week or whatever the sells were but i dont see what the hype is bout either i think LYRICALLY ROSS is killin with dat deeper than rap shit, LYRICALLY TI is da shit even tho i think jada could have went a lil harder on his new shit he still rockin, i aint really fuckin wit nobody else like that i mean i hear some hot songs dat i be rockin to but as far as those artist dat just has the hot songs they dont go hard lyrically to me, i fucks wit jeezy and luda too
What u think about DRAKE jd…i think that drake is on a whole another level lyrically speakin…im surprised that alot of people havent taken to DRAKE..he speaks on inner thoughts and not jus material an dances those things like most up comin rappers do…”Say Whats Real” is my favorit track from Drake listen to it and tell me what you this ~Danzel
Is this based on sales/commercial appeal or talent?
Talent…..Busta is the heavy weight….. one of the only few who is versatile and DOES NOT use auto tune……
If Wayne is setting the bar, then I’m sorry sales will never return to the 90′s peeks…. I Will change this….really….people really need to think about music differently…..what’s hot right now won’t even be played in 10 years…..
Are we talking mainstream or all of Hip Hop Music ?
This is really just a matter of (taste and like) at the end of the day.
If the discussion is based on lyricism then anyone could argue who there favorite is _based on personal preference.
You say Nas I say Jay Z,you say Lupe I say Kanye West.
There has not been a true contest of skill where Wayne was actually in a rap battle against other mcs and declared a winner.This is more a case of who the political rap machine has decided to make the poster boy for the time passing. I think Wayne is a hot artist but with ten million rappers per state I’m sure there is someone out there who would surprise you.
Heavy Weights-
Wayne
Jay
TI
Nas
Jean GRAE (had to put a Layla in the list!)
Eminem
Method Man
Ras Kas
Kanye
Snoop Dogg (LONGEVITY)
MiddleWeights-
Busta
The Game
Jada Kiss (If he were more consistent would be in the HEAVY’s For Sure)
Black Thought
Lupe
Bow Wow
Common
Jim Jones
Qtip
Rick Ross
50
Ghostface
Lil Brother
E40
Too Short
Twista
Nelly
Lightweights-
Souljah Boy
Camron
Juelz
Jim Jones
FLO RIDAH
Heavy Weights: To me based on consistency, quality, image etc…
T.I.
Wayne
50
Jay Z
Kanye
Luda
Jeezy
Middle Weight: Close to being heavy, but lack annual release consistency
Nas
Twista
Common
Busta
Shady
Jadakiss
The Game
Light Weight: and most underrated
Royce Da 5’9″
Joe Budden
Wale
Black Thought
Lil’ Brother
Sheek Louch
Juelz Santana
Joell Ortiz
Talib
Mos Def
Ghostface Killa
Fab
Elzhi
Redman
Cassidy
B Sigel
Feather Weight: nice, but need just a bit more
Rich Boy
Jim Jones
Rick Ross
Rhyme Fest
Freeway
Feather Weight undercard: respected but M.I.A.
Nelly
Lupe
Ja Rule
Lloyd Banks
Mike Jones
The Clipse
Paul Wall
Lil’ Scrappy
Method Man
Da Brat
M. Bleek
Obie Trice
Rah Digga
Young Dro
I-20
Slim Thug
Heavyweights: (artist who can make a “great ALBUM”!)
Jay-Z (from the image to the music – impact)
Nas (quality lyrics)
Kanye West (creative quality)
T.I. (hit maker)
Lil Wayne (markets himself very well)
Light Heavyweights: (artist who makes “great ALBUMS” but don’t have the “POPULAR image” impact)
Common (why do we forget his lyricism)
Ludacris (great ability to make songs)
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy (an animated artist w/ lyrics
Lupe Fiasco (another amazing lyricist)
Middleweights: (Great Artist with “good” albums aka Mixtape Kings)
Jadakiss
Fabolous
Cassidy
Lightweights: (Artists Who Can Rap All Day, but have great albums “yet”)
Drake
Kid Cudi
Wale
Charles Hamilton
Training:
Busta Rhymes – is making his comeback
Eminem – making a come back
@ JD & SWAT 2812
WHAT HAPPEN 2 COOL BREEZE? HE IS STILL AROUND??????
On reading the comments a lot agree Wayne got the hot beats but lyrics are ok. The heavy weights in the game are Jay Z, and Kanye these two set the bar because beats, lyrics and individualism are all set by them not what they thing the radio will play. They do their own thang and that is what music is about. Honestly I’m not feeling a lot of the rap thats out. All this dance shit rap so called music is crazy man. On the comment I read about these two niggas Slim and Cartier Herb my boy was playing that mixed CD and man I tell you we did not change that shit the whole day. The one Slim got some crunk shit and his brother Cartier Herb is the new lyricist straight up. My boy said their other brother E Lewis does all the beats. Man its so much talent out here its crazy. Niggas just need a chance man. By the way they aint trying sound like no body. The are just straight real and the beats are the shit man. Man I tell you I thought that was a CD that was out. Them niggas are the next heavy weights. Real Talk For Real. And if you did not know that shit is hittin in the ATL niggas!
Just got online and saw someone else heard that Slim and Cartier Herb CD. Jermain I know you said you keep getting these demos that are not hittin check them brothers out. I tell you and the people out there reading you wont be dissapointed. The ATL has so much talent its a shame that the real talent don’t have the conects or the money and have to hope someone will hear their shit. Meal while we are being fed garbage like Stanky Leg and shit like that because the industry think we all are just about shaking a stanky leg and buying shit. Whats up with hip hop? May be the AR people need to be just as hungry as the talent out here and get back to work in the streets and stop feeding into You Tube. Shit the lady in Great Britain got more hits than Soilder Boy does that mean she the next great female hip hop heavy weight. Real Talk.
It’s me again on Jay A and Kanye they are the HEAVY WEIGHTS. Kanye was wearing tight jeans while every one else was showing their boxers and his beats and lyrics are the shit and Jay Z man he is in a class all his own. And they don’t give a damn if you like it or not they just keeping it real to them selves. One more thing the female on the mix CD from Slim and Cartier Herb is hittin too.
From my p.o.v. Its hard for some people to get their demos heard now because everyone is starting to sound the same. Its like if person A makes a song with a catchy pharse then persons b-f think they can too. Case in poin the term swagg thats all u hear in songs these past couple of months where is originality? Then if you can tell a mofo how to dance in your song then dammit you got a hit now, yall rememeber a few years ago that song the Dip was out but it was’nt on the damn radio every hour. Wayne is like any other entertainer in the bizz today that has talent. He knows what he is good masters it and then trys to challange himself outside of his relm. look at J. Foxx what if he only limited himself to comedy yeah he funny as hell as Wanda, but if he didn’t try we would have missed him as Ray. So why not do a rock album even if its not hard rock thats the category it falls in dammit you got market it someway! But i will say this i have have a song that I have yet to hear another rapper do its a song off a local rap artist that goes by 607 from his album Devils Violin, he raps the same song fowards and then backwards and it all make sense and he his from Little Rock Arkansas.
I’d have to say you’re right JD, Lil Wayne is the top heavyweight. he is hittin all areas which is makin him richer by the sec. BUT hes on every song on the radio tho so its almost as if we are being forced to label him as king when there r other artists like and KANYE & Q-TIP who i believe should be heavyweight also but you dont see them gettin much promotion all over radio as much as wayne. KANYE & Q-tip deserve to be heavyweights because first of all Ye is constantly pushing the envelope and Q-Tip always brings that quality music but just isnt promoted or marketed right like wayne. Insure if they wanted to be featured on a bunch of songs like wayne they could yknow?. T.I could be king due to his last album paper trail but still, even his songs are constantly on the radio like wayne and plus he had a mtv show that im sure helped him get more exposure. Bottom line, Lil wayne and T.I are heavyweights due to their promotion and marketing right now cause of the radio, but i believe Ye and Q-TIp equally should also be considered heavyweight because of their quality of music. The battle should actually be whose making quality music and pushing the boundaries of music right now as to whose just puttin words together and force feeding us. There are tons of artists out there that could easliy snatch the titles but the industry is so fucked up right now that they’ll never get the proper exposure. nah mean? its like, if your gonna feed me something, feed me something actually ” good”. radio is killin careers i tell ya.
I think the most hardworking, underrated rapper in the whole country right now is Mitchy Slick. From San Diego California, there isn’t a mixtape or album he puts out that doesn’t sound good. I always say if he got the same push as a Jeezy, he would be on the same level. And I can vouch for everything he spits is 100% true. So he is my pick for forvarite rapper.
Jd, I am and avid Living the life fan, and I had 2 leave a comment about the April 28th post about lil Wayne . U had someone write u and read aloud about them saying image is nothing. That is flat out bullshit!!! In the 80′s when run dmc came out with addidas sweats, shoes wit no laces, and kangols everyone wanted that style. In my book that’s image. Same wit the 90′s wit baggy jeans and lumber jack shirts or the oversized leather wit the combat boots. Lil Wayne is the total package. And if a nigga don’t like it then obviously its them that need 2 step they game up. If u think about it every legend that we discuss nowadays has possesed a certain image and swag, from rakim, run dmc, biggie, even Mary j blige. They r all icons. Obviously he’s not an avid follower of music or entertainment period, cause if he knew anything, he would know that even people like these artist have molded and shaped the game, and bottom line right now Wayne is the heavy weight and that’s all it is 2 it, shit hit got niggas wanting 2 rock wit they cocks out LOL !!!!!
Hey JD,
I Agree.. I’m Not Trying To Send You A Demo.. I’m Just Asking For You To Try To Hear Me Out And See Where I’m Trying To Go With Music In The Industry.. I Feel Partnering Up With You And Learning From You Will Put Me In The Position To Make History And Excel Like Wayne.. I See And Get The Same Feeling When Studying And Watching Wayne.. He’s Set His Focus On His Talent And I’ve Learned To Grasp My Gift Also.. I Have A Vision And A Plan.. I Just Need The Right People Supporting And Motivation This Movement.. My Manager Wants To Sign Me To His Label And Once My Name Gets More Publicity In Order For My Contract To Cancel A Label Would Have To Buy Me Out.. You Think It’s Worth It?
-Infinity Da Silva
Hey JD,
I Agree.. I’m Not Trying To Send You A Demo.. I’m Just Asking For You To Try To Hear Me Out And See Where I’m Trying To Go With Music In The Industry.. I Feel Partnering Up With You And Learning From You Will Put Me In The Position To Make History And Excel Like Wayne.. I See And Get The Same Feeling When Studying And Watching Wayne.. He’s Set His Focus On His Talent And I’ve Learned To Grasp My Gift Also.. I Have A Vision And A Plan.. I Just Need The Right People Supporting And Motivation This Movement.. My Manager Wants To Sign Me To His Label And Once My Name Gets More Publicity In Order For My Contract To Cancel A Label Would Have To Buy Me Out.. You Think It’s Worth It?
http://www.myspace.com/infinitydasilva
-Infinity Da Silva