The State of Hip Hop: Part 2, The Midwest

I respect most of the artists that have come out of the Midwest, each successful one has usually brought something new and different in their sounds. Some are getting a little long in the touch and others can go missing from time to time; but their titans are still in place for the next little while to come.

1. 1. Even after just 3 albums, Lupe Fiasco is already a legend in my eyes. Even his latest album “Lasers” which he hated because he was forced to make it differently than he wanted it, delivers quite a few tracks that are truly remarkable; it’s just lacking the consistency and cohesion of the first two and has a few overly radio/club tracks for his tastes. This guy’s music can bring the hipsters, hood niggas, skateboarders, revolutionaries, nerds, DJs, and everyone else together. Gotta give his respect , even if you disagree with some of his more controversial opinions (Obama is a terrorist, etc)

2. 2. Kanye is Kanye. He can still make dope beats with or without amazing yet rarely heard samples. He still has rare moments of lyrical brilliance or societal awareness mixed into his cocky brand of having fun in his rhymes. He’s still entertaining and can still put together get collaborations. “Watch the Throne” with Jay should have been epic, instead it turned out to just be a good album that no one will still be bumping next year.

3. 3. Of course, Eminem is still a one of a kind lyrical assassin; but he’s rich enough now that he can disappear whenever he wants. I personally like the introspective and emotional flows; he definitely has had a chaotic enough life story to support such story lines. He also gets credit for starting the process of truly pressing Dre’s resurrection. He’s teamed up with Royce Da 5’9 to from ‘Bad Meets Evil’ which could make some real noise too possibly.

4. 5.1M.I.A.: In my opinion, Common only has two albums which I wish could be permanently stricken from the record: “Electric Circus” and his last album “Universal Mind Control.” After “Electric Circus” he jumped back in the game with the classic “Be.” That being said, I think he owes his faithful a redemptive follow-up to cleanse the bad taste left by “Universal Mind Control.” I know you’re getting older and the movies are more and quicker money, but please don’t leave that as our most recent memory of you. In his defense, he did put out an old school rap sounding joint called “Ghetto Dreams” with Nas, which was tough. Also missing, what happened to Twista?

6.5 Underperforming: A few years ago, I deemed both Kidz in the Hall and The Cool Kids as rap groups that were on the verge of doing big things. They both have style that is a throwback towards more golden hip hop times, which was refreshing even if it might not sell much. But I just haven’t heard much music from them at all. I’m not going say they’re gone, but they gotta earn their way back to that conversation now.

7. 61Laughingstock: Just a few weeks ago, Nelly was the headliner for a show here in KL with a slate of abysmal local acts. Be reminded, Nelly’s first album almost went diamond (10 million), more than pretty much any other hip hop album I remember. Not to say he was ever high on my list, but damn doing cheap shows in Malaysia may be worse than doing club shows in The ‘Lou. Sad.

. 4. 9 Up and coming: Kanye’s Detroit-based G.O.O.D. music newcomer Big Sean has a nice flow to him. Right now it’s still up in the air whether he will go more commercial or turn up his lyrical side. But for a newcomer, he has the talent to do some things.

5