When Hip-Hop Was Balanced

So yesterday, I was feeling a little homesick so being that I'm currently unabled to go back right now, I decided to watch a music video to take me back...



So I know what you're thinking..
"Here this nigga go again, talking about how much he love his city"

Well... Naw, not this time. When I watched this video, I realized that around that time it dropped, Hip-Hip was so balanced...

[The year was 2001]

When the radio wasn't putting out constant bullshit,
The game wasn't oversaturated with one region of Hip-Hop,
Every region of Hip-Hop was putting out good music...
Everybody was reppin where they was from freely,
Everybody was expressing they own culture freely,
Everybody had they own dance lol,
And most of all...
There was almost no disrespect/beef and every region showed their gratitude amongst each other.

Even though I'm originally from "da souf (YEEEAAAAHHH!!!)", which is the region that's taking over right now, I'm not fully satisfied with it being like that. I know there was a time where music from the south wasn't respected AT ALL and that I should be glad that we're finally on top, but I feel that there needs to be a balance.

2001... Will Hip-Hop ever get back to this point??

P.S: I think I'm gonna hold off my trip back home until the Summer :(

A Kid Named Cudi

I would say that things are looking up for hip-hop this year...

"When I would play my shit for people, they would say 'Yo! like... why yo shit sound so different, like... Why is it different', and I would always say to them 'Why not?'"
-Kid Cudi

This guy goes by the name of Kid Cudi. He, along with them boyz B.o.B, Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth Wale, Currency and Cory Gunz are considered to be the future of Hip-Hop, Up until this point, I've only been on B.o.B and C. Hamilton and a tad bit of Asher and C. Gunz, but I've now added this guy to the list.

Why you asked??

Because apparently, I seem to like artist who are mult-talented and and that's what he is. He raps along with singing and producing. He's now signed with Mr. West's GOOD Music Record Label and has an album coming out this summer. I recommend that you check him out..

Download and Enjoy :)

Sketch #1

aight, for those of you who don't know who da fuck this is, He's BOB!! lol. an up and coming artist that favors hip-hop from Atlanta

I say "favors hip-hop" because he loves to mix different genres, whether it be blues, rock, techno, jazz, etc.., but he always make sure hip-hop is always in the equation. and it sounds great!!!!!!!!!!!

At least to me.

Now, I'm somewhat of and artist too... in the drawing category... when i feel like being one, lol. I could do alotta things with art, like paintings, oil pastels, cartoons, but my forte is sketching portraits.

Up into this point, I've only sketched hip-hop artists who are well established like 50 cent, Lloyd Banks, T.I, Eminem, Outkast, Jay-z, people like that so that whenever I showcase it, the people who see could recognize the person in the portrait and knows who he/she is..

Well I've went against the grain and sketched someone who people wouldnt normally recognize, this guy BOB!!

Wasn't really gonna show it off... hell... Just drawing it, period, was a splur-in-the-moment thing [Extreme Boredom]

But yea, I wasn't gonna show it off because

1) You may not know who it is

2) I haven't drawn anything in over a year so I'm kinda rusty

3) I'm just not really a "Show of my work" type of a nigga and I just for me personally

...But i think its time to stop being selfish and be open for criticism

(after all, I am opened-minded)

....Well here is the picture i was focusing on (Courtesy of XXL Magazine)

And here's my drawing....

It took me like 25-30mins to get the basic down (head shape, facial) and took me bout 40-45 mins for shading.

But something aint right about it, it seems... off (for lack of a better word)

A lil help?

And what'cha think about it??

(Feel free to say how you feel cuz I ain't that nig that's sensitive about his work. I can take the bad criticism chin up too cuz I beleive that makes me focus better on producing better pieces, dig?! so fire away...)