"We Require Rappers To Be 'Real' Before They Lie To Us": WHY IT SUCKS TO BE A RAPPER LIKE RICK ROSS

[meek meals]

[h1]Why It Sucks To Be A Rapper Like Rick Ross In 2014[/h1]
BY  DAMON YOUNG  | MAR 4, 2014 | 12:47 PM |  PERMALINK

“Drug Dealer’s Dream”—a track from Rick Ross’ Mastermind—begins with an electronic bank voice giving someone their account balance.

“Your checking account available balance is $92,153,183.28. This reflects the most current information available on your account.”

Although there are no words to explicitly indicate this is Ross’ account balance, since this is a song on his album—and since his subject matter primarily consists of him reminding us how rich he wants us to think he is—we can assume it’s supposed to be.

This brings two things to mind:

1. Rick Ross is very rich. Richer than anyone I know, and likely richer than anyone reading this. But, he’s not that rich. Estimates of his net worth place him between $25 to $35 million dollars. Which is a lot of money. But it’s not $92 million. And, even if it was $92 million, no one worth that carries exactly that much money in their checking account.

Much of rap music exists in a state of believably unbelievable hyperbole. A paradox where we (rap fans) require for rappers to be “real” before we allow them to lie to us.

But again, Rick Ross is very rich. And I’m sure a recording of his actual account balance would be impressive. Lying about it seems as pointless as a guy with a 10 inch **** telling everyone it’s 12, but he does it anyway.

2. This makes no sense. Unless you’re a rapper. And then it makes perfect sense.

Much of rap music exists in a state of believably unbelievable hyperbole. A paradox where we (rap fans) require for rappers to be “real” before we allow them to lie to us. For instance, we know that rappers like Jeezy  don’t sell drugs anymore. (Well, we hope they don’t.) We also know they’re prone to exaggerate about the drugs they did sell. But as long as there is some inkling of proof that, at one time in their life, they did sell drugs, we allow them to rap to us about selling drugs now. And these raps tend to be increasingly implausible lies. Rick Ross’ success despite his pre-rap career may seem to contradict this paradox, but it doesn’t. His lies are so big, so outrageous that proof ceases to matter. When you buy an island, no one asks to see a receipt.

And this is why 2014 might be the worst year to be a rapper—or more specifically, a rapper like Rick Ross.





It’s been over a decade since Jay-Z asked if we listened to his music or just skimmed through it. Although he was speaking about a personal matter, that line reflected a feeling rappers and rap fans have had for years when defending rap music. Those critical of it weren’t really paying attention to it. They were just listening to the hook and not the message; the cuss words and not the content or the creativity.

But now...well...let me say this.

I heard Mastermind  in full last week, and I thought of using the bank account quote when first thinking about this article. But, although I remembered the quote, I didn’t know it word for word, so I googled  the album and found a link that gave me the lyrics of each song.

Mastermind  had not been released yet.

It’s a bit unnerving how easily we negotiate the weirdness of the act I just described. The access the immediacy of the Internet gives us is so ingrained in us that something like finding the complete lyrics of an album that hasn’t been released yet doesn’t sound strange until you make a point to say how strange it us. We live in an era where everything—even things that technically don’t exist yet—can be found, proven, debunked, scrutinized, and assessed immediately. You don’t have to wait for an album’s release to hear it. You don’t have to wait for Rap City  or your local radio station’s daily countdown to listen to the music you don’t happen to own. You don’t have to rely on OHHLA to find a (somewhat) accurate lyrical transcript.

The same ridiculously oblivious and ridiculously obvious hyperbole that got him signed by Reebok in 2012 got him dropped by Reebok in 2013.

In theory, this cultural development should have boded well for rap music. After all, if people were able to listen to lyrics more critically, the craft would be appreciated more. But what actually ended up happening was that this availability allows both people familiar with rap music and people not that familiar with rap music to see how ridiculous some rap lyrics tend to be. Especially when read out of context on a monitor. And, since everyone can create content now, everyone can also be a critic. Instead of having to call in to a radio station or organize a long-to-develop protest, those upset or disturbed by the content can give the rest of the world immediate access to their thoughts.

This dynamic has been especially jarring to rappers like Ross—artists who've made careers out of progressively nihilistic music and haven't proven  to be socially palatable and/or savvy enough to take advantage of the change. The same ridiculously oblivious and ridiculously obvious hyperbole that got him signed by Reebok in 2012 got him dropped by Reebok in 2013.

If Rick Ross drops an awkward throwaway lyric about a murdered Black teen in 2001—or even 2005—it’s likely forgotten about by the next song. Maybe someone at Fox News or The National Review would mention it, but that type of coverage would do nothing but make rap fans circle the wagons around him.

Today, though, it’s a story. The man who never needed a receipt is now forced to produce copies of them. And, surprising no one, he can’t seem to find them.

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http://www.complex.com/music/2014/03/rick-ross-rapper-in-2014​

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Good read. Really interesting look at drug/street rap and the part about us requiring rappers to be "real" before they lie to us for their whole career was very honest.​

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Where is the line drawn for you? Ross gets a lot of flack for lying but most rappers are talking about drugs they do not or did not sell . . . criminal activity they do not or did not participate in​

 

[mean aura]

It's only entertainment - Jay Z

 

[victor page]

 

 ​

Ross gets a lot of flack for lying but most rappers are talking about drugs they do not or did not sell . . . criminal activity they do not or did not participate in​

And they get called out for it.

Ross wasn't the first person to be called out. He's just the biggest clown to be called out.

 

[benny bugatti]

Hot button topic on NT.

Man, once I found out Dr. Dre and Ice Cube weren't really killers I stopped caring whether dudes were authentic. I just enjoy the music

 

[victor page]

Ya'll don't find it incredibly ironic that these are the same people that sparked the entire notion of "keeping it real"?

Now it's entertainment. At some point...a line has to be drawn somewhere. Exaggerating is one thing. An ENTIRE persona? That's just something else.

I mean look at this *****



And before anyone posts Hawaiin Sophie or some ****...understand the difference between a sound and a style evolving with time. This is the equivalent of wrestlers portraying different characters.

That GQ article on Ross is a perfect example of what im talking about. He believes in that persona even when the cameras aren't rolling.

 

[benny bugatti]

 
Ya'll don't find it incredibly ironic that these are the same people that sparked the entire notion of "keeping it real"?

Now it's entertainment. At some point...a line has to be drawn somewhere. Exaggerating is one thing. An ENTIRE persona? That's just something else.

I mean look at this *****



And before anyone posts Hawaiin Sophie or some ****...understand the difference between a sound and a style evolving with time. This is the equivalent of wrestlers portraying different characters.

That GQ article on Ross is a perfect example of what im talking about. He believes in that persona even when the cameras aren't rolling.

You listen to the lyrics? He's talking about Teks, bricks, and bodying dudes.

You can call Rawse a fraud, but it's not like he switched up the persona. Just rocked different gear.

 

[victor page]

 

[dipsetgeneral]

Ever since that CO picture leaked Ross been looked at as a pretender. Shoulda' kept it real from the get-go

 

[benny bugatti]

Ever since that CO picture leaked Ross been looked at as a pretender. Shoulda' kept it real from the get-go

It was known before then, but yes I think we all know Rawse should have fessed up. Could have just said "I did it to feed my kids, and got into some other **** afterwards"

 

[Maximus Meridius]

The drug and killing talk is entertainment for me. I love rap music, there's plenty of songs that are motivational or that can get you through some stuff but when it comes to the drug and killing talk I don't take most of that serious. From any rapper. Rappers from the 90's or rappers now. I'm not expecting somebody who basically gets paid to entertain to be 100% or 70% or even 50% real.



A lot of these rappers probably grew up in the hood and saw or heard a lot of the stuff they rap about and just put their names to it. That's why I respect Kendrick so much. If you listen to his lyrics he's basically saying the same **** that "gangster rappers" say but he's telling it to you from the perspective of somebody that grew up around it and watched his family and friends go through it.

 

[waukeganwill]

Only rapper I believe is Fredo

 

[Scarborough]

Drake never lies...

 

[rocyaice]

I can't believe after all these years this is still a topic of discussion lol. I won't pretend to know what Rawse does or doesn't. But i've heard him shout out Zoe Pound and the Boobie Boys on his album......and i've heard no one get at him for doing so. CO or not......this ain't some nerd pretending to be Scarface lol.

 

[antidope]

Stopped caring how much of rap is real or not years ago.

 

[rillo561]

Stopped caring how much of rap is real or not years ago.

This.

 

[Deleted member 107398]

Drake never lies...

Came in to say this.
Technically, Drake IS one of the 'realest' out.
Take Care n****.

 

[smangalang]

clowns will be clowns

 

[the 7th mile]

At this point they need to start nominating rappers for Academy Awards, most of these ****** are seriously playing roles. They are all for the most part "Characters". Lil Wayne is an alien, Future is an astronaut, Rick Ross is el Chapo etc...if you really taking what they're saying serious that just shows how naive you are and that's on you.

The "real" rappers are the Kendrick Lamars, the J Coles, The Drakes, etc no gimmick type ****, just rapping about life. But at the end of the day, you can see easily who is real and who playing a character.

 

[putting in work]

You guys seriously need to give this **** a rest.

None of these dudes is real... maybe with the exception of 50, but even that could be debated... well not his street cred but other parts.

Jay, Nas, Big, Pac they were all perpetrators too, and exaggerating their persona too.

At this point maybe when I was younger I would have cared more, but as other's have said this **** is just entertainment.

I just listen to the music and if I enjoy it I mess with it... if not I keep it moving.

Perfect example would be Kendrick I don't see what you dudes on here see in him and I don't really rock with his stuff, but I don't go campaigning this and that about dude and what not... it is what it is and I just keep it moving.

But, it's a free country and this is a message discussion board so you dudes go on ahead and talk away about anything you want

 

[CUNNiNGH4M]

Authenticity still plays a role even in entertainment. Nobody wants to see an actor play a role they dont fit. Picture Nick Canon as Alonozo from Training Day. **** just dont work.

 

[deuce king]

Once a FRAUD...........always a FRAUD, and with that being said frauds of a feather flock together.  Which is why Rick FRAUD even has an existing fanbase to begin with.

You can call Rawse a fraud

Don't you worry about that champ.  I will be sure to. 

 

[tero]

ross wouldnt be who he is today if he wasnt a CO

 

[hennessy beach]

 
Once a FRAUD...........always a FRAUD, and with that being said frauds of a feather flock together.  Which is why Rick FRAUD even has an existing fanbase to begin with.

You can call Rawse a fraud

Don't you worry about that champ.  I will be sure to. 

No

Rick Ross has a fan base because he makes good music.  He has one of the better flows in the game, and the best alliteration in the game.  Put that together with a great ear for beats and you have a superstar rapper.

It's entertainment, I could care less what he really did I look at music as entertainment and an escape.  If you want everything so real and literal stop listening to music and just go live your REAL life.  

 

[solefood229]

ross wouldnt be who he is today if he wasnt a CO

I'm starting to think this too, it keeps his name in discussions.


I'm still amazed how he side stepped that L

 

[delete]

about every rapper in the industry raps about fake stuff, it's entertainment it's not to be taken seriously. don't get me wrong some of these guys really rap about the stuff they did back in the days but it's not all real, it could be exaggerated at times.