Danny Brown revokes Big Sean "Detroit niche"

[the 7th mile]

They don't have to have one sound, as Slum Village, Black Milk, Royce Da 5'9", nor King Gordy sound alike. But they all do seem to have something that unifies them (I'm gonna say it's the culture of each city). I just think gradually as hip hop/rap has reached a near apex, everything has become so deluded and over exposed that it takes away from what makes (or what made) regions unique. If you were to throw a bunch of current rappers names in a hat and pull them out, you wouldn't know where they were from unless you went to wikipedia. Too many of them seem to be missing the soul and the culture of their city. Basically a bunch of rapping bodies.

Ok somebody gets it...repped

 

[the 7th mile]

Agreed.

The "Dilla"-inspired sound from the late 90s-early 2000s is actually unique to Detroit and I've heard a lot of artists say that's the sound you recognize when you think of the D. The offbeat drums, soul samples, etc.. Slum Village, Frank N Dank, Phat Kat, Black Milk, Proof etc all kinda took after that

Yet dude up there named a bunch of rappers who just sound like typical Southern rappers talking about "Nah this is the REAL Detroit sound".. I bet dudes like T3, Proof (rip), even Em would take offense to that and they've been doing their thing way longer than these new cookie cutter rappers.


What it sounds like to me is the same exact thing happening here in the DMV, specifically DC. Dudes in the hood think they're too hard to listen to anything other than trap music.
They just latch on to artists making a certain type of music (Fat Trel, Shy Glizzy etc who are exact clones of the Chicago rappers) and say "REAL n's in DC mess with this right here" so they don't seem soft

Wrong...I posted those artists because they are the hottest in the city, and their music represents the hood of Detroit. Im from the hood of Detroit, I can identify with their music because i've seen or lived EVERYTHING they talk about. These are artists who came up in the city, and grinded here first before anybody took notice. Organic buzz, they got the city to embrace them first before anything. We all know how Big Sean got signed. Rapping fr Kanye at WJLB, where he had been an intern or whatever. He wasnt buzzing in the city, he wasnt doing and selling out local,venues. He couldnt, because _s dont feel him or his image enough to get behind him. Ppl from Cass knew him as a rapper but thatd about it. Nobody even knows what neighborhood he is from....NOBODY. He gets love but will never be embraced like DBCO and other ppl who got their buzz in the city first.

 

[thealumnus]

No he shouldnt. Its like yall looking at what im saying but not comprehending it how you want. I said I was proud of Big Sean, happy for his success, and he puts on for the city...where am I or anybody else hating? I said I dont blame him for not rapping with the typical D sound. All I said is he is not a representation of Detroit period. I was out downtown last night (you know, living while most of yall were living online), nobody looked like Big Sean. Nobody talked like Big Sean. Nobody was playing Big Sean. Meanwhile, ppl looked like DBCO, ppl talked like dbco, and ppl were playing dbco. Same for Vezzo. Same for Jeezy, Same for Gucci. They are more "Detroit" than Sean. Sean has a Cali swag, and thats cool. He is making it work so more power to him, but he does not represent that Detroit culture one bit.

Hey, I was downtown in the D last night myself. 

I know Detroit has an obsession with Jeezy,but you really think he's more "Detroit" than an artist like Sean? 

 

[bradnsu]

What rapper are really bringing there city sound to the world?? Honestly all these clowns sound the same I thought KEEF was from ATL when I 1st heard him..Look at KDOT he don't really sound like he from COMPTON but he reps the city pretty hard..There is ZERO diversity in the rap game right now man..Almost every rapper is rapping over SOUTHERN TRAP type beats & thats the main problem...I look at WAYNE the same way how ya'll from the D look at BIG SEAN ***** really stopped listening to WAYNE after CARTER 2 he not reppin this city & he rarely be down here...SOULJA SLIM is pretty much the only rapper down here with MURALS all over the city we loved that dude cuz he represented what NEW ORLEANS was really about..

 

[thealumnus]

Isn't Sean from the Westside? He used to stay over on Northline I believe. Correction: A quick google brought up an interview from 2011. Link and quotes are below. As I said I'm far from a Big Sean fan , but i think he mentioned that in a song on his 1st album. I understand what you mean with this I guess what I'm not seeing is the whole "The City is behind them" argument. I've heard thus before about artists from other cities.  I'm not from a hood in Detroit by any means and I am not trying to speak for " The Hood". 

Now,I can speak for good rap music vs average or mediocre music or rap ability. I'm speaking on this bc we are talking about buzz in a city. I think at some point there needs to be a line drawn. Being a street dude and being a good rapper are two different things. Some people have to grind harder in cities bc truthfully they aren't nearly as talented. I went ahead and listened to all the artists mentioned in this thread yesterday( some I had never heard of) I understand people in the hood know these dudes personally but Sean raps circles around 90% of these dudes. More power to anyone who likes them but Doughboyz Cashout sound like inferior versions of Jeezy clones. 

I'm seriously starting to wonder if "Hoods" despise success. I mean seriously this argument of " We don't mess with so and so..." has been made as long as I can remember now. Everytime someone gets blows the "Hood" tries to revoke that persons membership saying that "They dont rep the city,talk like us or show how things are, etc..". 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/big-sean-interview-detroit-finally-famous_n_1101304.html
[h1]Big Sean Talks Growing Up In Detroit, Being 'Finally Famous'[/h1]
Talk to me a little bit about growing up in Detroit. You're now "finally famous" -- what was life like before?

I grew up on the west side of Detroit -- 6 mile and Wyoming -- so I was really in the hood. And I would go to school at Detroit Waldorf and that was not the hood. Growing up in Detroit was good. I had a good perspective, a well-rounded one, and not being one-sided. I would go home and have my hood-*** friends and have my ghetto friends and then go to school and have my Jewish friends and all kinds of races, and it was all good. I think that gave me an open mind that was necessity.

Do you think Waldorf affected your music?

Waldorf definitely did. We used to have to write our own poems and make and write our own textbooks and just be creative and artistic and poetic, and I think that really gave me a head start on what I was gonna do for the rest of my life, which was be an artist.

Was it difficult to transition to Cass Tech for high school?

It wasn't difficult. I'm the kind of person who adjusts pretty easy to things. I always have. I think Cass gave me a great experience that was needed, too, just like from the music side. That's where I'd always battle rap, that's where rap was really competitive.

You've said you had a high school teacher who discouraged you from pursuing music. What would you say now?

I'm not going to name her -- I don't want her to get any flack. The point of story is: Nobody can see your vision like you do. She told me I was throwing my life away if I didn't go to school, that it was the dumbest thing I could do turning down my scholarships for something so unsure and rocky. But that was just her trying to be protective and not really knowing what it really was. Nobody can see your vision like you. I also learned that you create your own world no matter what.

Has Detroit influenced your music?

For sure. Definitely just growing up in general influenced me; Detroit happened to be where I was. I feel like the city definitely has made an impact on my life and made me who I am. Detroit has an unmistakeable soul -- nobody can duplicate the soul we bring to the game. From Motown to J Dilla to Eminem to anything. It's definitely a city that's full of originality and the fact that I can be a vessel of that. As far as I think, it had a lot to do shaping me as a man.

When you're in Detroit, where do you hang out?

I'm at Sweetwater [Tavern] downtown a lot. They have the best wings in the world. The studio. My mom's house, my grandma's house, my dad's house, it all depends. Just kicking it with my friends. I'm in the casinos, they're always fun. I'm in there sometimes chillin', kickin' it. I like them all. Oh, and Southern Fires.

Your video for "I Do It" is all about swag and brands and possessions. You name-check brands a lot. Is that what fame is about for you, the material goods?

Not at all. Fame to me, being famous, doesn't mean you're successful. To me they're two different things. I have a place in Detroit and in L.A., and my mom is decorating my place in L.A. and she's so excited. Just hearing my grandma's voice like, "Oh baby, I'm so proud of you," telling me she loves me. Big Sean is this and that, hearing them say all that -- that's success to me. Fame necessarily isn't really tied to success at all. Fame is just being recognized for doing what you do, whether it's good or bad. Osama bin Laden was famous. I include fame in my [album's] name, "Finally Famous" -- I put "finally" in front of it because we worked our *** off for it. It's more of a lifestyle thing -- that's something you worked for.

You mentioned your mom and your grandma. What do they think about some of your more explicit songs?

They think it's fine. They just know I'm having fun with it. The like songs like "So Much More" that are about being at my grandma's house. Songs like "***" and "Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay" -- when it comes on the radio, they turn it up because they're proud.

Do you have any cars? Would you buy from Detroit automakers?

I gave my car away to my brother. I haven't been home all year. I haven't had time to drive anything. I definitely need to keep it American, need to keep it GM. You may see me riding around in a Benz, but I gotta support American muscle.

What do you think about the Lions' Thanksgiving halftime show controversy? Would you perform at the game?

The Lions come out to "I Do It," they come out to my songs sometimes, so that would be great. I would love to perform at halftime.

Who's your favorite artist you've worked with so far?

Kanye was one of my idols. Wiz has been one of my good friends, it's tight working with him. Nicki is great. Everyone I work with is great. If they weren't great, I wouldn't work with them.

If you could work with any artist in Detroit music, alive or dead, who would it be?

I wanna work with J Dilla and Eminem, too. They're the greatest. Eminem had a lot to do with my upbringing, he's one of my idols I used to look up to. J Dilla changed the game and made it possible for a lot of producers, like Kanye West. That sample sound didn't exist. And Royce da 5'9 is my homie.

Are there any other up-and-coming Detroit artists that you think deserve attention?

Dustin McFly, Earlly Mac. What's that group with two girls? Roc Stea'd. Yeah, people like that, for sure.

What's one thing about Detroit you wish people knew?

I want people to understand the soul of Detroit, the heart of the city. But I think that's something that people from there see and people who aren't don't get to a chance to see the beauty of Detroit and it's portrayed in the wrong way. But I don't think that's something people can understand if you just tell them. They probably have to go there for themselves and see.

 

[$tacy]

Big sean had 0 buzz before ye. He got booed at cass talent show way back when

 

[the 7th mile]

Isn't Sean from the Westside? He used to stay over on Northline I believe. As I said I'm far from a Big Sean fan , but i think he mentioned that in a song on his 1st album. I understand what you mean with this I guess what I'm not seeing is the whole "The City is behind them" argument. I've heard thus before about artists from other cities.  I'm not from a hood in Detroit by any means and I am not trying to speak for " The Hood". 

Now,I can speak for good rap music vs average or mediocre music or rap ability. I'm speaking on this bc we are talking about buzz in a city. I think at some point there needs to be a line drawn. Being a street dude and being a good rapper are two different things. Some people have to grind harder in cities bc truthfully they aren't nearly as talented. I went ahead and listened to all the artists mentioned in this thread yesterday( some I had never heard of) I understand people in the hood know these dudes personally but Sean raps circles around 90% of these dudes. More power to anyone who likes them but Doughboyz Cashout sound like inferior versions of Jeezy clones. 


I'm seriously starting to wonder if "Hoods" despise success. I mean seriously this argument of " We don't mess with so and so..." has been made as long as I can remember now. Everytime someone gets blows the "Hood" tries to revoke that persons membership saying that "They dont rep the city,talk like us or show how things are, etc..". 

Northline????? Never heard of it, maybe Northlawn?? oh is that where he stayed? Either way that still doesnt answer what hood he is from, just what street he lived on. What main street did he stay off of on Northlawn? Like, im from 7 mile....But all this is beside the,point.

Its not about who's the hardest, most street, or none of that. Trick Trick is the biggest goon in the city....You think _s riding around banging his ****? **** no. Its about image, the image of our city and our culture. Coney Island, faygo, cartiers, al wissams and pelles, timbs, crazy whips and rims etc...Not leather vests and skinny jeans. Nobody said DBCO or anybody were better rappers than Sean. But they are a better representation of the city and who/what you will see when you come here.

 

[leclutchjames]

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[SneakerProSr.]

DBCO do represent the hood of Detroit and that's all who will ever buy and listen to them.

Dilla is rolling over in his grave right now.

 

[the 7th mile]

This is Big Sean, on some Detroit ****...So he's from 6 mile? Or 7 mile? Listen to his verse...Or linwood...just provez my point that nobody (including him) knows where he is from.

 

[$tacy]

A chick I kno that went to cass said he from rosedale park tho, ***** named a dub used to hoop over his crib. Rosedale park is the nicest neighborhood in detroit I was there over my cuz moms crib last night. Not a knock on him but ****** a liar. Jeezy can walk thru any hood in detroit n go unharmed, sean hell no. But his old tapes like I said were cool but anybody who knows me will tell u I always thought he was corny/lame. I respect what he is trying to do with other local artist tho

 

[leclutchjames]

This is Big Sean, on some Detroit ****...So he's from 6 mile? Or 7 mile? Listen to his verse...Or linwood...just provez my point that nobody (including him) knows where he is from.

He says he's from 6 mile, grandma 7 mile, dad Linwood.

At the end of the day tho he is from Detroit and its not like he's faking in his music like he was some huge d boy. If you say his FF tapes were good/ok then there's no way you can deny Detroit which is his best work to date(not including HOF Since its not out)

 

[Magic33]

Sean needs to fall back and stop responding, he's only going to lose in this situation. His fans are way beyond Detroit, and he only has something to lose. He doesn't rap about street **** anyway. TI had something to protect.

 

[Peep Game]

What rapper are really bringing there city sound to the world?? Honestly all these clowns sound the same I thought KEEF was from ATL when I 1st heard him..Look at KDOT he don't really sound like he from COMPTON but he reps the city pretty hard..There is ZERO diversity in the rap game right now man..Almost every rapper is rapping over SOUTHERN TRAP type beats & thats the main problem...I look at WAYNE the same way how ya'll from the D look at BIG SEAN ***** really stopped listening to WAYNE after CARTER 2 he not reppin this city & he rarely be down here...SOULJA SLIM is pretty much the only rapper down here with MURALS all over the city we loved that dude cuz he represented what NEW ORLEANS was really about..

- Same here

- I actually think KDot is a very good representation of the good of California. You can tell right off the bat that he bleeds Cali as you can feel the pure soul in his rhymes. The Snoop and Dre cosigns help, and honestly, I think "Compton" and "maad city" with MC Eiht are the best tracks on his album. Really, all 4 TDE members represent Cali very well, with Jay Rock doing it in the "traditional" sense.

- Even have to agree with the part about L_l' Wa_n_. Thought in his prime years he was more than tolerable at best to me, he was still putting on for New Orleans. Since like 07 though, you'd swear he was from Miami or the overexposed parts of California.

 

[dat dude chris]

The era of city repping rappers is dying cuz of stuff like this...

Danny Brown a cornball tho
Boldy James >>>> both of them

 

[stopcappin]

View media item 535047

 

[thealumnus]

View media item 535047

That's what I'm talking about. Happy to see these two young men work it out.

 

[sosmoney23]

What rapper are really bringing there city sound to the world?? Honestly all these clowns sound the same I thought KEEF was from ATL when I 1st heard him..Look at KDOT he don't really sound like he from COMPTON but he reps the city pretty hard..There is ZERO diversity in the rap game right now man..Almost every rapper is rapping over SOUTHERN TRAP type beats & thats the main problem...I look at WAYNE the same way how ya'll from the D look at BIG SEAN ***** really stopped listening to WAYNE after CARTER 2 he not reppin this city & he rarely be down here...SOULJA SLIM is pretty much the only rapper down here with MURALS all over the city we loved that dude cuz he represented what NEW ORLEANS was really about..

Keef's "Bang" & "Back From The Dead" mixtapes dont sound anything like ATL music. Neither does his Finally Rich album. He started riding that trap sound hard when he linked with zaytoven & bricksquad a few months back.

 

[degenerate423]

dude look like a dope fiend and a homo

I guess that's the "Detroit" look they are talking about...

 

[guzzy]

Keef's "Bang" & "Back From The Dead" mixtapes dont sound anything like ATL music. Neither does his Finally Rich album. He started riding that trap sound hard when he linked with zaytoven & bricksquad a few months back.

Trap and Drill are basically the same. Hard bass kicks, hi hats and snares. Whats the difference?

 

[216301baller]

drill= 100% killer music
trap=hustlin killer music with a few bad ******* in it lol

there's a difference

 

[Peep Game]

LOL

 

[bluedeniro]

the only reason keef even remotely sounds like a atl rap is because part of chicago urban culture is following minor trends in atl, or pick a down south major city, its always been that way. Its like
chicago is the number one consumer market for anything hip downsouth per say. Thats part of reason artist like 2chainz, yo gotti, gucci mane, young jeezy, rick ross can always tour strong there, not matter what stage of their career they are in. Most of the midwest is like this though.

Drill music is also 100% filth, i would be able to tolerate it if it was articulate better, but who am i kidding the only ones that do it are kids.

 

[ninjahood]

Sean jus doesn't represent the city and how we are. If u never heard him rap n seen his appearance u automatically would think he was in tygas crew or something. Nobody hates that man, we are all proud but when it comes to best DETROIT rapper neither him or eminem is in the discussion. Detroit, jus like chicago, bay area, texas, atl etc have our on sound thats different from other music. Thats why everybody is behind the doughboyz they are the first with the detroit sound to get on and if they are a success labels will come get other artist from here and the world will be familiar with this sound. (the chief keef drill music effect)

i understand exactly what you're talking about..

its like that washington heights show on MTV, that people hated because it didn't accurately portray how people felt their

hood was really like, so you substitute tv show for rapper.

 

[ninjahood]

All this talk about Sean doesn't represent "US"...that's corny.  You make it sound like Detroit is only street ****** that dress a certain way.  I'm pretty sure theres people that dress like Sean, listen to music and make music like Sean and have been doing it before Sean was even on.  

Same thing with Wale in DC, Asap in NY.  Always going to be one group of people, thats usually the minority that are stuck in old ways and can't embrace something new.  **** your old ways b.

These issues only happen in hip-hop and it's terrible and more of an identification of what we are as a culture.

NO ONE in NY rocks with da fact that he bit houston culture repping harlem, it came across mad phony...

thats da problem i can tell these detroit NTers appear to be having...

having a authentic feel is important to alot of people, having a phony image and then claiming a certain hood could have real bad

ramifications if done egregiously