Serious Question to Northern Rappers.

[BIG REESE LOC1]

Do you think the constant glorification of the gang-life in which SOME of you lead is a hinderance or a help to getting your music showcased on a larger scale then just Northern Cali?

To answer that question one must know his/her paticular goal, and what he/she is trying to accomplish within the music world. I mean aint nothin wrong with stayin local and getting your bread if its payin the bills, you livin comfortable and you're happy. For those of you that are trying to get that big contract, or that big payday, do you think you will achieve it by speaking on the war between the North & South of California? Or the "northern" lifestyle which some way some how always goes back to the the difference between the North and the South?

I ask because when I go through Fresno I turn on this station that plays oldies and Chicano rap. They mostly play South Side rap. Why? I cant call it, but one of the reasons I think they do, cause thay aint always talking gang shit. Most of the Mexican rap they play form them south siders aint talkin gang shit. Another thing why I like they shit, is they be re-making those oldies. Can you point me in the direction of a Northern rapper who is into remaking the oldies and doing some cool lyrics over the track? Now I'm not saying that there is no South Side rap that aint gang-bangin talkin shit, but for the most part I have heard none in comparisson to Northern rap where every other word is "kill scraps", "dirtteen" and "Flue Rag".

I just feel muthafucca know where fools is from, now that thats known, go ahead and make quality music. Real shit, some muthafucka in Boise, Idaho that may cop your tape could give a Fuck less if you from whatever gang, and you ridin on whatever other gang. He just got your shit cause you can rap, or he likes the beat. I dont know, I cant call it, what are your thoughts?

 

[22sleepy415]

As far as the glorification part, on people that I personally know, not met, but know, it's more of a mirror image of everyday happenings. It might seem glorified in the way that the lifestyle is portrayed but in places where there is little positive and much negative you have to extract the good out of thing wherever and whenever you can.

As far as gangbanging music blowing up, it's not going to happen in the near future. If anyone thinks it will, wake up. The state of the rap music industry ("hip hop" if it makes anyone feel better) is not looking for hardcore gangsta' rappers, mainly just studio gangsters.

To a small extent gangsta' rap helps getting the music outside of the Northern California region and to a larger extent the same thing hinders the amount of exposure.

The reason why southern cal rap is played more is simple, it's radio friendly. Not much more to it than that.

You have to look at the homeboy rap market. Most Northsiders (fans of homeboy music in general) don't support artists that are not all out gangbanging all over their albums. The ones that go outside of the gangbanging often get ignored. It's a catch 22 in that sense because you have more potential without gangbanging all over an album and you have nothing to go on since it's hard to get exposure unless you're working with someone that is already established or on the brink of making moves.

So on, etc...

 

[BIG REESE LOC1]

Good reply. You said "extract the good out of things wherever and whenever you can" You right, so why so much focus on the negative? I'm not saying that you should answer for the entire Homeboy Music scene, but just from your perspective.

So. Cal music, radio friendly. Isnt that the main component to "blowing up", well one of the main things? So for those that say they are the next to blow up, but then you hear some super gangsta lyrics, are they just playing theyselves?

Most northsiders dont support those who aint gang-bangin in thier music? Check it out, does the sale to the Northsiders make or break an album?

 

[22sleepy415]

The focus on the negative comes from the negative being the large percentage of what many experience where I'm from. There's really not a lot of good that I can think of street-wise. A lot of homies are doing their thing 24/7. Everyone has to sleep but other than that.

I don't know of any homeboy rappers that talk about blowing up. I might have just brushed it off as nothing if I ever heard that. I don't see anyone blowing up. So my answer to your question is yes, if you think you're going to blow up you're playing yourself.

For homies that make music for homies when homeboys support their music, that makes the album succesful if that was their goal. Success varies from person to person depending on what their objective is. The sales are nothing respectable when compared to large indies or majors but those are two whole other different ballparks.

 

[CCCUser925]

it's really up to the homeboys if they wanna keep rappin about the northern lifestyle, but keep this in mind..it's music for HOMEBOYS ONLY...shit tha we can relate to...

i can't just listen to any of these southern fools..cuz i can not relate to their music at all...

I know a few homeboys that can actually blow up if they put the gang bangin aside and make music for everyone...

i personally don't like southern shit myself..

only shit i like from south cal is probably Spanish Fly..Brownside...L.S.O.B. and thats about it...the rest es pura mierda to me..

 

[BIG REESE LOC1]

Sleepy415- Well Said. In response to your first paragraph, would you say that was a cop out? I mean the whole, "aint nothin positive in my neighborhood or what I see everyday so I gotta write about what goes on". It may truly indeed be a large percntage of negative, but EVERYWHERE there is negativity, from those same streets come positive success stories. I guess that is left up to the one who is telling the story tho.

Your other 2 paragraphs were right on point. I agree totally 408%.

CCCUSER - Point taken, thanks for BOTH of you havin the courage to reply, cause I guess for some of the others replying to this thread will take away from some of the hardcore Norteno presence on the Net they have. I like Brownside too, They came with some cool ass songs.

 

[22sleepy415]

Sleepy415- Well Said. In response to your first paragraph, would you say that was a cop out? I mean the whole, "aint nothin positive in my neighborhood or what I see everyday so I gotta write about what goes on". It may truly indeed be a large percntage of negative, but EVERYWHERE there is negativity, from those same streets come positive success stories. I guess that is left up to the one who is telling the story tho.

If a person is writing about what goes on, there's really nothing else to write about out here. There's only positive when being idealistic about situations but most predicaments out here are anything but that.

A person could have a positive outlook but as far as rapping about everyday experiences it's all bad if not insignificant.

I'm not speaking on every homie, what others do or rap about is on them. Again, just speaking on people that I know personally.

What do you feel that a person can rap about if they are surrounded by negativity?

 

[CCCUser925]

but why not turn that negativity into positive?

if any of the homeboys switched up his style and started to make music for everyone and I know he's a dope artist, I will still support him. Just because he's making music for everyone, it wouldnt make me think less of him. I'd love to see a homeboy from northern cal making music for everyone else.

One of the few that can make music for everyone I believe is Louie Loc, he has the talent to do it....

Next is woodie, i also see big oso loc doing it too...

 

[22sleepy415]

From a market standpoint it's difficult to dive into that kind of project without a decent following. I personally wouldn't buy much of what's out there now. I don't want to hear all that shit-talking, I already know a lot of that first-hand. Most people do want to hear the same stuff over on a cool beat though.

It's hard to not give people what they want.

I haven't really listened to Woodie since Yoc influenced but look at it like this. Regardless off skill level, Woodie would be another unknown indie rapper if he came out speaking on politics. But he took his time, developed his fanbase, and now he's doing things that everyone relates to because they are affected by them but not everyone sees. Now he speaks on what he wants to, everyone does really, just on a more limited basis.

I wouldn't come out with an album to get deep into subjects and have no one follow. People are too conditioned to not think things through so they won't sit down and really peep game on things. It could be done, there's just a certain way to do it and that takes time.

I don't want to rant more than I did, I'll just leave it at that.

 

[SatanaS]

My opinion is, if Norteño Rap wants air play just be RAZA! Just stop saying nigga this and nigga that, I not trying to talk shit I'm just speaking la mera neta, hate it of love it I don't give a fuck Its just my opinion.

 

[760 Northside]

My opinion is, if Norteño Rap wants air play just be RAZA! Just stop saying nigga this and nigga that, I not trying to talk shit I'm just speaking la mera neta, hate it of love it I don't give a fuck Its just my opinion.

I dont see what the word "Nigga" has to do with getting Radio Play

Lil Coner Has the talent to Blow up Lots of his songs dont talk about bangin Sleepy Santino Does 2

 

[esekalifaz]

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR LIFESTYLE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE.....WHY NOT MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER?. I SUPPORT MUSIK FOR WHAT IT IS. IF I LIKE SOMETHING I HEAR I'LL BUY IT. EVEN IN MY SOUTHSIDING DAYS, I STILL BOUGHT PENITENCIARY CHANCES WHY? I ENJOY MUSIK.

YOU HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY CHANGING SEEING THINGS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO GRAB ATTENTION. WHEN I GOT FED UP WITH GANGSTA RAP I MOVED TO SURENO RAP. WHEN I GOT TIRED OF THAT I SWITCHED BACK TO DEATH AND BLACK METAL UNTIL I HEARD HORRORCORE RAP.......IF YOU CAN KEEP UP AND CONSTANTLY BE MORPHING YOUR STYLE, YOU'LL HAVE A STRONGER FAN BASE THAT WILL NEVER GET BORED FROM THE CONSTANT REPITITIOUS LYRICS YOU CAN FIND FROM THE NEXT RAPPER. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO RE-INVENTING YOURSELF? OR AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT NEEDS THAT CONSTANT CHANGE AND RAISING UP THE BAR FOR MY OWN SELF?. BE ORIGINAL AND BE INVENTIVE. DON'T SELL ME AN ALBUM BY TELLING ME IT'S HARDER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IF FROM THE MINUTE I BEGIN TO LISTENING TO IT IT'S THE SAME REPEATING LYRICS JUST PLACED DIFFERENTLY...

YOU CAN BANG ON WAX WITHOUT SHOWING YOUR COLORS. LOOK AT OLD SCHOOL GANGSTA RAP. YOU KNEW THEY GANG BANGED BUT VERY RARELY WILL YOU EVEN GET A HINT AS TO WHAT THEY CLAIMED.

THAT'S MY 13 CENTS

 

[TRAJIK1]

A LOT OF GOOD SHIT ON THIS THREAD, NEVER REALLY TOOK TIME TO READ IT BUT GOOD SHIT!!

I USE TO LISTEN TO L.S.O.B. THEY HAD THAT ONE SONG WITH DWANYE WIGGINS OF TONY TONI TONE CALLED "WHATEVER YOU WANT" THAT TRACK WAS TIGHT.

 

[BIG REESE LOC1]

Ese - That was VERY well put. I feel you 408% on that.
I look at it like this, lately rap has been about bitches, money, cars, dope, etc. Same topics, but each album/artist finds a different way to same the same shit. So when you do get someone new with new ideas its like a breath of fresh air (this is why Kanye West made it so big).

As far as only focusing on the negative. There is a DJ Quik song when he speaks on that, I remember the lyrics went something like, "Everybody knows that its bad in the hood, so check what you rappin bout if it aint to the good, you can say the things that could make us all ball, or you can say things that make it bad for us all...." The knowledge right there. If you ever heard the expression through the concrete grows a rose, that is meaning even through hard conditions something beautiful can come of it. I am in no way condemning anyones choice of music, just giving yall something to think about

 

[LyfeCentenz]

Off subject but.... Reese you need to put out another album someday in the future homie...everythin I got of yours is straight heat foreal... or even do a Gangsta Reese & Young 211 group CD or somethin...new Full Clip... anything.... I'm a fan man and I'd love to hear some new shit!

 

[BIG OSO LOC]

i second that right there homie...REESE...you need to drop some more heat big homie. the game needs ya!!!

 

[BIG REESE LOC1]

LYFE & OSO

I'm in the studio now working on a full length group album with my partna Convic. We are like 10 songs deep right now. I'm sposed to be doing a radio show on Sac-Town Radio real soon, and I will be playing some of the new tracks. The group is called EnemigoS the title of the album "Agony & Ecstacy"

Dont trip, I'm bacc in 2006! and look out for me in the Rush Prod. DVD "South Bay Kingz"

 

[CornBreadpt.2]

Whats up Reese? Havent seen you around Sac for a minute! Since I bought them Cd's off you.

 

[TOMMYJAMES]

There is a DJ Quik song when he speaks on that, I remember the lyrics went something like, "Everybody knows that its bad in the hood, so check what you rappin bout if it aint to the good, you can say the things that could make us all ball, or you can say things that make it bad for us all...."

DJ QUIK-YOUSA GANGSTA