Another Thought Process Edition: RAP REALITY – Don’t get your Heart Broke. Written by: Rick Sharpe Rapindustry.com

Disclaimer: This article is strictly based on opinions. You are entitled to your own opinion.

His posters are all over your wall. You have his first cd, all his mixtapes, and you even co-sign his terrible entourage of childhood friends turned rappers. This is your guy, this is who you root for and you’re about to get a chance to see him up close and personal. He’s performing at a local club, and of course you’re there. You got your best fit on, a fresh cut, even a few dollars to blow. After showing up an hour and a half late, he finally arrives. The club is peaking as he hits the stage and puts on a show almost worth the wait, drops a freestyle, throws out a lil money, a lot of reckless talk, etc.. . While you’re partying you snatch a STRAIGHT PIECE!, swap numbers and along with the few drinks you’ve had this is a night to remember. The Show ends and you race to your car. Reality has set in, it’s three in the morning, you’re still tipsy and you have to be at work at nine, but to you it was all worth it. You wake up with a massive headache and end up calling out, not realizing your area supervisor came in that day. You don’t lose your job but your margin for error was just sliced in half, and you can kiss that raise goodbye. Reality again!

You call the girl you met in the club a few days later, take her out to eat and end up at her crib watching re-runs, clowning her baby pictures, and playing cards. When you bring up the show she goes on a tirade about how fake and lame your favorite rapper is. She explains how his mom still lives in a bad area, how he was a nerd in high school, that his current car is leased, tells you he’s not really from the hood, and shows you a few pictures of him before his deal, not flattering stuff. Your heart cringes as you’ve just had your millie vanillie caught lip synching, hero crushing moment. He’s who you wake up to, what you ride to, what motivates you and you’ve just found out that it’s all a lie. All the songs, all the interviews, all the outrageous talk, it’s all a lie. You feel betrayed, misled, cheated and develop a slight hatred for the rapper. It seemed so real, he seemed to relate to you on a personal level. He spoke your language, dressed like you, and talked about all the things you aspire to. Reality again!!!! He suddenly isn’t even a star to you anymore, just another lame. You somehow now feel above the person you just looked up to a few days ago, but his video will continue playing along with his song on the radio and the show doesn’t stop. You’re on of the few who know the truth but millions more may never know. He pimped you, you’re on of his hoes, and as dedicated as you were he won’t miss you, remember he has over a million of you.

It’s odd to me that so many fans vouch for rappers that they don’t know personally, and defend anything not showing the rapper in a positive light as hating. What have they done for you? Paid a light bill, donated to your charity, given you gas money? No, if they saw you at a store right now they wouldn’t even know you and you’ve spent tons of money supporting them. Ask one for 20 dollars the next time you see them, and check out the response. I say this to say it’s time we start taking the music for what it is, and stop buying into the characters. A lot of these rappers (not all of them) have fashion consultants, a team of press consultants and more, all which are provided by record labels who mold them to look and talk exactly how they would like so they reach their target audience. If you’re not making six figure following a rappers lifestyle more than likely will lead you into debt, and for the most part it’s just a portrayed lifestyle. I won’t say they never did but think about it, you’d have to be an asshhole to still be selling bricks with five or ten mil in the bank, what you could be giving up for what you’re making, it just doesn’t make sense. There are plenty of other ways to put your partners on with that kind of cash without the risk. They might not really have those mil, may just not care.

I could name countless moments where rappers have been shown not to be who they say they are, but does it really matter? Their music doesn’t suddenly change when you find out something. If you liked a song before you got wind of a rumor chances are you’re still gonna like it afterward. Lots of the things being used to denounce an artist’s credibility are stupid. Having a job isn’t cool now? getting shot is?, not being in jail, or not killing people means you aint a “real nigga”, being just a rapper aint cool?, it’s not cool to get paid for something so easy without risking your freedom? yeah right, if you believe that you got the game messed up. I do agree you shouldn’t pretend to be a street cat if you not,( I’m with you on ban fake rappers coalition) but looking at the state of the economy being a succesful (just) rapper is a blessing. Some of you shouldn’t be afraid to say thats how you came up, its true. A lot of rappers are pimps in their music and have wives, some rap about the best california herb and don’t smoke. Some of these dudes don’t even write their own stuff! There are a few real cats out there, but there definitely are a lot of fake ones. Rappers (for rap fans) have a bigger influence on the community than doctors, politicians, teachers, and a lot of other people, and where have they led you?, to the pinnacle of cool and the depths of financial burden. Kobe Bryant is probraly the greatest player on Earth, and while you may disagree with personal decisions (selling out Shaq, the Colorado fiasco) you have to respect his game. I’d still pay to watch him play, but I don’t think we’d be rubbing shoulders in the club or playing spades at a barbeque together. We should treat rappers, all musicians for that matter the same. Follow common sense, knowledge, vision, and not just people with money, especially if they aren’t breaking bread with you. Support the music not the character, and for the most part don’t believe the hype!