Idiots should die - Smart & Angry Blog

Entries in Hype (3)

Drake-Thank Me Not

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 12:44PM

I understand that Drake is successful and it warrants a barrage of hype as well as criticism. I just think this has gone too far. There are too many people posting the things they don't like about him and his music. To be fair I like his album, but I don't think its the greatest thing since sliced bread either. There are definite weaknesses about it as well. I wont go into those cause there are already a million reviews out.

The problem with all this immediate backlash is I feel its very unfair. When there are a tons of people who the Internets should be trashing more. If you want to trash someone on the internet, you should first turn locally. You could instead...

Talk about your neighborhood paperboy who throws the paper on your grass everyday instead of on the cement
mention that guy at the bus-stop every morning who hums way to loudly with his Ipod on.
Or how about that local newscaster who has the morning show where he interviews some sort of stay-at-home mom's club at least 3 times a week when he isn't at some local gym or bakery.

These are all very deserving candidates of backlash and critique if you ask me.

Personally I am all about keeping things grass-roots, so focus on who needs to be critiqued in your local community first, before you go national. I'm sure others will be more enthralled and enamoured by your subject matter and clever wit a lot more actually.

2pac-Do for Love

smartandangry |

Something Wicked this Way Come AKA Diggy's PR People

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:06PM

" As hard as it may seem to believe that Diggy got no help with anything,

I can yell it until I'm blue in the face he had no connection help"- Some PR person working with Diggy Simmons

That is a quote from the email I recieved last night from Diggy's "marketing/media relations" person. Trying to convince me that this kid did it with all by himself without any help from his family.

I don't buy it... I Don't care if he hangs out with Justin Bieber, records a freestyle a few seconds faster then another rapper who gets Drakes 'Over" instrumental off the web, or he filmed a couple of videos to support his freestyles. There is nothing extraordinary about what he is doing and the thousands of other aspiring artist out there.

The fact that someone from his team has replied to me proves my case and point. If he has no help, why does some media relations person email me some media package and try to tell me other wise! Your not going to change my opinion on this subject with efforts such as this. They are just doing their job I know, but why? He is still fresh out of the water, and is doing it all himself. How does a 14 year old boy have the money to do all these videos and buy beats? As well as a budget for a PR and Manager person?

Once again...I'm happy the kid is doing something worthwhile with his life and has some talent. I am also happy that he has had the opportunity to pursue something such as this, and is doing something positive with his legacy. I just don't buy the whole "Hu$tle Simmons" spin.

Some should take the time to read the book Outliers: by Malcolm Gladwell and see my case in point. Diggy is definitely a "Outlier" not mad at him for that, it does take talent, time, and skill to be noticed and hustle to become good at anything. My argument remains that this PR spin should not focus on a tale of someone trying to escape his Dad's legacy, it should embrace it more if anything. He rapped, your Uncle built a empire, and your trying to do the same in your own right. There is nothing wrong with telling the truth. Diggy is building off of what has been given to him. He has opportunity other artist don't have, he did not come out of no where. Just stop with this whole "he did it with no help from anyone" pitch. It might fool the Nickelodeon/MTV crowd, but not I.

Now with that being said I want to post a video from another young and rising talent out there.

smartandangry |

The Curious Case of Diggy Simmons

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 2:32PM

Was recommended to give Diggy Simmons a go about a month ago. My first listen of him was the "Made you Look freestyle", which I was actually impressed with his talents(despite the fact that it was just a freestyle). Shortly after this listen I noticed that "Diggy Simmons" was a trending topic on Twitter and was puzzled. After checking out a few of the Tweets about him out, it was to my surprise to see that this guy had just got a recording deal(what ever that means nowadays) with Atlantic Records. I wondered how I could be sleeping so hard on this guy. Was there a mass amount of content I was missing or something? I am usually pretty up to date with new hip-hop, or maybe I just thought I was?

Well last night I did some further investigation and found out he had released a mixtape the end of last year. I never heard this either but I listened to it. Once again I was impressed, the kids got skills. The problem lies in how did this kid get so much publicity in 6 months? I checked out his blog and he post pictures of new fashion, his fashion line, and girls mostly. There might of been about 6 post on music Over the last 6 months, with four of those post being "new content(2 freestyle videos, 1 new song, 1 mixtape w/ mostly originals)" from himself.

I really don't want to sound like a hater, but this is ridiculous. In todays music industry to see a person get signed so quickly with so little content or performances get signed is unheard of. Not to knock the level of talent and potential of this young man, but the hype that surrounds him is definitely a matter of Daddy's and Uncles connects. To pretend that it's anything different is stupid. As much press as Drake gets, I will admit that he did put some work in before the hype came. Diggy on the other hand seems to be just another product of the machine. They are going to market him as a total underdog, he is going to try shed the connects to his family, say that he has to grind just as hard as anyone else, yada, yada, yada.

The reality is he doesn't have to work as hard as your average Joe. As much as he might say how hard it is, it really isn't. Your average Joe doesn't have huge connects in the record business, doesn't have 24 access to a recording studio inside his house, hasn't been featured on a popular reality show on a MTV, nor does he have the finnancial backing that Diggy has.

So before you go believing this hogwash that the kid is "grinding so hard"' take a deep look at the situation. This isn't the young black man you see in front of the mall everyday asking you to buy his CD. This is member of one of the most prominent family's in Hip-Hop today. Diggy is a pretty good rapper, but by selling this whole "grinding hard" angle is as bad as some of these so called "gangstas" out there today rapping. Your a privilaged 14-year old boy, be one, have fun, make music, and build on your legacy and let time not hype tell the tale of your life.

Don't believe the Hype....

smartandangry |