quote:

Originally posted by Lupe:
"Them other nigga's I don't Vibe with."

-'Hi-Definition' Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

Hey Guys...Much Love to ya'll...I'm taking this time out to inform you beautiful guy's and gal's about a few things that seem out of order and rather odd to me...I pose the question...

Does the media in hip-hop conspire to create controversy and tension in the culture just for the sake of publicity?

Vibe.com recently started a campaign with the intention of crowning one lucky artist from the vast talent pool of hip-hop as "Best Rapper Alive" (FYI the notion of someone being the "best" of something especially in a category as subjective as music is a rather impossible idea to bring to fruition with any credibility. Its based on bias and political maneuvering when in the public realm. I mean in private you simply like what you like as it fits to how you live your life and how you feel at a particular point.) I do find these rather unfounded events entertaining and even in some instances rather valid when a large amount of research and an unbiased, objective approach is taken using damn near scientific methods to make a list of criteria that tests artists in various formats and divisions to really reach a conclusion that is "This Person Is Based On This List Criteria Is The Best Of Something..." But when these spectacles are done just for the sake of manifesting publicity and controversy at the expense of someone's physical safety and overall state of mind I find them rather disgusting and an abomination of the lowest caliber.

I thought at one point that is was "Us vs. Them" however much a misconception or an overwhelmingly idiotic notion when you take into accounts the odds that are against "Us". "They" have superior weaponry, superior discipline, vast amounts of resources and lack morals and ethics to the highest degree. The fight against them in a rational mind seems rather futile but in a mind taught to believe that the "pen is mightier than the sword" and the weapons of the weak can overcome the mighty weapons oppressive when in the hands of the righteously motivated few. And that you had allies in your elders and in the trusted institutions that were set up to safeguard the truth and use it to empower the individuals who were under their charge. Our source of unbiased, uncontaminated truth that was our beacon to the North guiding us in the darkness to freedom and enlightenment. Faith is ignorance and faith is tested when you become informed and that is what makes you strong. All you have to do to make people weak and keep them weak is to let them have faith, let them be tested by becoming informed and let them even feel that they are becoming stronger but make sure the information they are tested with is tainted and poison. And to make sure they keep taking the weakening poison make it so that they give it to themselves. I ain't a saint. Never claimed to be. But I did believe in ideals and I believed in "Us". And I fought for "Us". I continue to wage war against "Them". Sacrificing wealth and fame for the sake of the state of mind of "Us". I started to realize in the course of my career that "Us vs. Them" is now "Us vs. Us". Our institutions of information are just interested in creating spin, feeding controversy and pumping out useless information in between vibrant ads for things we don't even need from companies without souls.

Why would you create a forum under the guise of "friendly competition" in which you pit individuals whom have at present or have had in the past friction in the real world in direct competition with each other in a virtual setting that you know will re-ignite feelings of ill will amongst the constituents of these people and quite possibly the individuals themselves???

This is insidious and reckless action. And I will not be apart of it.

So I humbly ask all of my fans and friends to boycott any voting and refrain from any participation whatsoever on my behalf in the Vibe Magazine and Vibe.com "Best Rapper Alive" Tournament.

The love and continued support of my musical career and my endeavors outside of music that you guys give are immensely satisfying accolades in themselves. The shine of any trophy on my mantel pales in comparison to the light that I see in the smiling faces of my fans...

Peace & Much Love To Ya!!!

Lupe...Z q

quote:

Originally posted by RhythmAndPoetryFiend:

quote:

Originally posted by Lupe:
Does the media in hip-hop conspire to create controversy and tension in the culture just for the sake of publicity?

...yeah.

I didnt know bout this Vibe shit and wouldnt vote anyways.

Alotta the kids on this board make lists of "best rappers" and claim anyone in unalignment with their oppinion on their fav rapper should "kill themselves"... lol... and yet... NOW i see everybody sayin "maaan fuck this shit... its all subjective... you cant compare..."... I dont wonder why lmao.

It seems to me, Lu, that your takin it more gravely than it is but i dunno... maybe you personally saw someone get hurt from this "best rapper alive" shit. But i think its fine for them to have debates and have "friendly competition" since their mean is money. And I dont really feel like they can be at 100 blame for some rappers lil beef in real life causin in someone gettin hurt. Thats mostly the rappers fault. Their grown men, you cant treat em like kids by tryin to keep em seperated and havin the "parents" (in this case vibe) be fully responsible.

I can agree that these debates and competitions may result in idiotic violence. But debates and competitions can IDEALLY be held without resortin to "fuck u/kill yoself" or violence (or shit even yellin... ive done it before ). Its mainly stupid peoples fault (i.e. certain stupid rappers/fans). Now sayin the media is well aware of the beef this shit might fuel then they are partly to blame as instigators. But again... its not entirely their fault.