it's so weird looking at that band link list on the left over there...it's mostly rock...it wasn't too long ago when i thought it was going to be mainly hip-hop. i guess it's a part of my evolution as a person and as a music writer and music listener.

hip-hop, for me, has become really bland...with the exception for the innovative artists, such as the roots, missy, timbaland, and the neptunes (for example), whose production value far exceeds the creativity of several other hip-hop artists...also under the exception are the self-aware artists, such as jurassic 5, the roots (again), mos def, and common (to name a few), whose lyrics and style are simply more than just something to make a dollar and be popular, but have a positive message for the most part. it is kinda discomforting that popular hip-hop has been centered around beef...the whole nas/jay-z thing, or the nas/anyone else in the hip-hop industry thing, or the nelly/krs-one thing, or the eminem/benzino thing...it's all so negative...all the i'mma motherf*cking kill you stuff has become monotonous, as well as the bling-blinging, and the degregation of women. that's not to mean i don't listen to nelly, or jay-z (whose unplugged set was awesome), but, i find them to be bland at the same time. i respect hip-hop artists for their talent, you will find a nelly cd, and a jay-z cd in my road collection...but, my roots, j5, and n*e*r*d cds get more play time, just because i find it to be more interesting.

i think that the popularity of negative and/or uncreative hip-hop is a reflection of our society today...where companies are just giving america the same thing over and over again...and hateful message accompanied by a mass-produced beat. if the positive message with the creative sound hit the airwaves at the same rate as popular hip-hop, i don't think there would be so much angst and controversy concerning the hip-hop nation.

maybe that's why i've strayed away from hip-hop...it stopped being fun.

thank you jurassic 5.
thank you roots.
thank you mos def and talib kweli.
thank you common.
thank you for uplifting my faith in hip-hop music.

but for now, i shall go from an aspiring hip-hop artist to an aspiring musician...with an open mind to all music, notably now, rock.

now where's my band damnit?