[Opinion] That's The Sh*t I Don't Like: The Inexplicable Rise Of Chief Keef & Rewarding Ignorance
Last December, 16-year-old Keith “Chief Keef” Kozart was arrested on gun charges for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The story behind his arrest suggests that Keef was one three individuals apprehended for firing gunshots out of a blue Pontiac Grand Prix in the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago. When police arrived, one of the three teenagers pointed a gun in the direction of the cops. A single gunshot rang out but nobody was hit. Keef was arrested along with another unnamed teen. The third participant fled the scene. Keef spent 30 days in house arrest at his grandmother’s apartment and another 30 days in home confinement. Somehow, those events sparked the career of a young hip-hop star.
“314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago” – Kanye West on “Murder To Excellence”
For the city of Chicago, this scene wasn’t out of the norm. Reason being is that Chicago has had a staggering uptick in gun violence among children. According to NPR, 700 children were hit by gunfire in 2010 and 66 of those were fatal. Homicides overall have gone up an eyebrow raising 38%. It’s no secret that Chicago is a cesspool of violence. This is the same city where 16-year-old Derrion Albert was caught on video beaten to death by his peers. The same city where high profile entertainers (Jennifer Hudson) and athletes (Eddy Curry) have seen members of their families murdered. The same city where rappers ranging from Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco to Common and Twista have been vocal about doing whatever it takes to curb gang violence in their city.
So, why is it that Chief Keef — whose Facebook page once said that he works as a sales representative for “Selling Dope” — has been rewarded for endorsing the destructive gang culture that has plagued the city?
Beats me.
No sooner than the teenager’s house arrest ended did his meteoric rise begin. On January 2nd, WorldStarHipHop posted a video of a teenager going nuts once he learned that his favorite rapper Chief Keef was out of jail. In between fits of excitement, the boy recited lyrics to a then relatively unknown song titled “Aimed At You” including “What you in this sh*t for show? Who the f*ck is you n*gga?/ On that gangbanging sh*t, this is what I do n*gga” and “Middle fingers to that reggie, cause all I smoke is loud/Them guns super loud, will shoot a n*gga down.”
How delightful of a ringing endorsement from one teenager to another that moonlights as a rapper when he’s not preoccupied by his gangster antics. And a big shout out to WorldStarHipHop for adding this totally unnecessary video to the pile of sh*t they continuously post for cheap hits that makes our community look bad. And way to go to all the people that have helped make WSHH one of the top 300 websites on the internet. You know, because as WSHH’s Lee “Q” O’Denat suggests “people relate to the realness.”
Now, all everyone wanted to know was (as a WSHH user commented) “Chief who? Who the f*ck is cheif Keef?”
All it took was one ignorant video to send people into a tizzy trying to find out just who in the hell Chief Keef was. His YouTube numbers for the video “Bang” went through the roof. Blogs jumped in on the mix and posted his videos and “Bang” mixtape. Shortly after, Lil B and Soulja Boy recorded remixes to his songs “Bang” and “3 Hunna,” respectively. But no remix would be bigger than the one for his local hit “I Don’t Like” where Kanye West, Pusha T, Jadakiss and Big Sean pulled the song out of the South Side and gave to the world (Ed Note: The song closes out the G.O.O.D. Music compilation Cruel Summer). Little did they know, they also gave the world Chief Keef and everything that comes with him. A major label deal with Interscope soon followed that reportedly gave Keef a hefty sum of money and the now 17-year-old can consider himself a star. He has the cosigns, record deal and 219k followers on Twitter prove it.
However, it is kind of strange for Kanye West to blindly cosign someone who pushes the very culture he has tried to squelch on “Murder To Excellence.” But I’m sure that he won’t see it that way. Neither will Interscope. But I digress…
Great article. I totally agree with everything you wrote. I don’t know much about Chief Keef but I do know that his music is wack. “I Don’t Like” was only a hot song AFTER Kanye West Virginia remixed it. Keef seems to be an ignorant young man. I’m sad that he has been given a platform to spread his brand of ignorance. The people who co-signed him should be held accountable as well. They’re all guilty as well.
Im interested to hear which artists you listen to, Hip Hop as a culture has always supported ignorance. Unless you listen to some Early 80′s Shit, then chances are you’ve contributed to this problem as well. Stop being Fckn Hypocrites!!
WOW! Hip-Hop never supported ignorance. Sellout rappers and record labels support ignorance. The WORLD is full of positive, thought-provoking and positive, community action-driven hip hop artists. Only in the States do you hear the same bullshit on the radio 500 times an hour. This dude Chief Keef and others like him aren’t Hip Hop artists, they are merely pawns and sellout rappers. The people who OWN the record labels love to sign and promote this bullshit, because this music is JUST one of the tools used in creating more fatherless and motherless Black youth, making it easier for them to be misguided and easily influenced and it helps to railroad them directly into jail. The prison industry and judicial systems in this country NEED Keef, just like they need laws and law breakers. Those industries are WEALTHY, not rich, but WEALTHY, from us. They are building prisons faster than ever and can’t keep them from overcrowding. A Corrections Officer makes more than a Teacher in some states. And who do you think the honorary guests will be in these new establishments? ***rings the Jeopardy buzzer*** “Alex, I’ll take Young Blacks for $1500.”
If you rap about killing niggas, how hard you bangin’ outchea, how many chics you smashin’, how many pills you pop, how many blunts you smoke and how many bottles/models you gettin’, that’s not Hip-Hop, that’s radio-ready rap music. And radio-ready rap music is the $2.00 40oz. in the liquor store, it’s the $5 10-piece FRIED chicken bucket, it’s the $1.19 Big Gulp of sugar aka soda pop, it’s the BAD bitch with the phat ass and the STD to go along with it. All cheap, all addictive, all unhealthy and all of it makes a damn good profit. Don’t confuse a system of STRATEGY by record labels and rap moguls– for success. It’s not success, it’s not hip-hop, it’s money in these niggas pockets and 1000 times more money into “another” man’s pockets. White kids go buy the albums in drobes, while Black kids download every mixtape and create more buzz all over Twitter and FB by posting the lyrics and their favorite lines. The industry is ALL FOR THIS. They get paid and FREE promotion, all in one days’ work of making shitty music. It’s not OK, for us to accept this on our airwaves, into our homes and let our kids listen to it. Just like it’s not OK for you to die tonight at the hands of a young gang member who is fueled by the woes of his home life, influence by the criminal activity in his hood and motivated by destructive entertainment, such as radio-ready rap music. It’s a system ladies and gentleman. Just like welfare, healthcare, education and judicial, ENTERTAINMENT is a system. Somebody allowed the first rapper to say Bitch, Gun or Nigga on the public radio and it must’ve got record-breaking ratings, most likely because kids and teens wanted to hear these “bad” words on the radio. A simple juvenile curiosity, sort of like sneaking into the liquor cabinet or skipping school, spawned a new way to rake in dollars through, what was then, hip-hop music. And it’s been like that ever since. Now the worst offenders get the most money.
Community pride and citizenship ain’t sexy, it doesn’t earn you that respect among your niggas, your enemies and the bad bitches. Ignorant rap is and does. It plays to the evil emotions that we all feel sometimes, (i.e.-wanting to beat the shit outta someone). It plays to our promiscuous lifestyles (i.e- threesomes with models or endless weed and drinks) If you’re an adult, I say DO YOU. But, the problem is, the music is directly affecting Black youth and they aren’t mature and stable-minded enough to process this stuff. They don’t understand that it’s just money, no filter, to these rappers. These niggas don’t even live near a HOOD. They walk around with bodyguards! They are far removed; you’re kidding yourself if you don’t believe that. So you got kids out here memorizing, reciting and essentially trying to live like a “real nigga”, and NOT listening to their parents, teachers or other positive people in their life. Meanwhile, Meek, Ross, Wayne, Keef and all the rest of them are traveling the world, living lavish, doing shows, experience the good life and making SHITLOADS of money. It’s no different than a “high-class ” whore selling herself for luxury and gifts. She is there for one purpose and she’s giving up something precious for something shiny, temporary and new. These sellout rappers are doing the same thing to our kids. AND they are winning hands down, while our youth are killing each other to the soundtrack of their latest mixtape. We hear the gunshots, watch the news and shake our heads… then go ride out to Stay Schemin’. Ask anyone of these youngins out here “Who is Chief Keef?”, they can tell you all about him and recite his lyrics, effortlessly. Ask them to spell “incarceration”- they can’t even get through the first 5 letters without stumbling. Don’t tell me you don’t see the connection. Wake up son.
Gangsta rap is most certainly dead. I do not support gangsta rap but i do have a high level of respect for rappers like 2pac and Biggie, but its not so much the content of their lyrics but the fact that they changed the face of rap as genre. I personally listen to artists like Lupe Fiasco, Asher Roth, Mos def, kid cudi, Brother Ali, and many other different artists but i assure you no artists in my playlists consist of Gangsta. Chief Keef isn’t even a rapper his rhyme schemes are so simple that a third grader could write it if they wanted to. A real rapper is a poet and regardless of the content of their songs.They have to have a lyrical skill higher then a average person. Chief Keef is below average! his content barely explains the problems in the hood but he’s not trying to change it he’s enforcing it and sadly Gang paraphernalia is a trend in the music industry. Artists like Chief Keef are just corporate sell outs like many rappers in the mainstream music industry they bring a bad name to rap and need to change. In the words of Hopsin ” FUCK HIPHOP !”
Man, you sound scarred. I really hope you read this. Hip Hop as a culture has always had it’s violent, Reality, and shock value aspect to it. I’m sure you listened to Snoop, 2Pac, Mobb Deep, or NWA back in the day. Nothing’s changed, just keep up with the times, and if you’re too old to listen to hip hop/Gangster Rap, then maybe you shouldn’t report on it anymore. & if you’re really scarred, go to Church. I’m not defending Chief Keef, I just think the opinions expressed are very hypocritical.
Also, Lupe Fiasco needs to stop w/ all the weird shit. Like my mom used to say, if you’re really going to do something, you don’t talk about it. He’s already almost retired like 3 times.
What do you mean “don’t talk about it,”? Many people die daily here. I understand that hip-hop endorses realness and loves street tales, and that Chief Keef is pure ratchetness. His drill style of rapping isnt the best way of conveying what happens here but he doesnt sugar coat it. If we dont talk about it nothing changes. The realization of Chicago culture scares people. We’re a dying city until people say things and help instead of just looking at newspaper clipping saying its a damn shame. There are better rappers with better styles that do deserve deals from our city. Not every under 21 rapper from here is ratchetness.
Chief Keef inadvertently shed more light on the problem by just being a hood nigga. Him as a shock value musician, i don’t like, but ratchet people like ratchet music and that’s the streets now a days. People not from Chicago aren’t numbed to the tragic situation going on hear. Andreas isn’t scared he’s concerned and worried. We all know that real street tales are captivating, he isn’t being hypocritical. He’s just telling the problems with an artist who many perceive as wack. Those guys you mentioned had talent and some are legends. they had great story telling ability, keef is more juvenile threats.
@Hextwitty you’re ignorant. All you mentioned except NWA eventually stopped praising gangster rap and talked down on it because they didn’t want anyone in their family to be a victim of this ignorance. Gangster rap is DEAD and has been for some years now. Last successful gangster rapper was Nipsey & even he switched from talking that 60 crip sh*t on every single song once he generated a buzz & came out with that marathon stuff. That sh*t keef raps to wouldn’t even be labeled “Gangster Rap” if gangster rap was still alive & how is Lupe Fiasco being weird? The truth really is seen as ignorance now days & ignorance really is bliss.
Who the fuck do you listen to? I hate all these ppl posting on here, dont have the balls to say what they listen to. What makes what you listen to, any better than this Niggr Chief Keef? You clearly missed my point. If you don’t like this genre of music listen to Country or House. Gangster Rap still exists, it’s just that it’s not as mainstream as it used to be. & Go look at the video of Lupe crying, he’s like on some pills or something. That dude Nipsey isn’t even Famous.
I couldn’t help but to read your ignorant comments. You’re not making a valid point whatsoever to counter this article. You obviously don’t see how this article and the discussions that have sparked from it are speaking pure TRUTH. Chief Keef is a cancer to Rap and to society. I seriously can’t comprehend how a violent, mentally retarded, hood teenager can have so much given to him. It totally goes against everything that Hip-Hop is trying to convey these days.
I don’t care about past Rap groups and what they did. The problem is rappers like Chief Keef, Lil B, and Soulja Boy. And the problem is now. Maybe if these ignorant mother fuckers didn’t have so many ignorant 12-16 year old fans, they wouldn’t be able to boast the “riches” and “fame” they have. Rappers like Kendrick Lamar and the rest of the TDE crew are the ones who deserve the recognition instead of this dumbass kid.
Hextwitty your an idiot. You miss the entire scope of the article as it relates to the problems in Chicago. Yes there as always been violence in hip-hop, but there has never been this type of violence “because” of hip-hop. Big difference asshole.
Nigga I listen to house music. Fuck hip Hop.
Understand something slim. I am an artist. I speak what the struggler, the hustler, and gutter can’t say. BUT, not one time have I ever glorified, dry snitched, or advertised guns, drugs, things of that nature. Gangster rap IS DEAD because like old saying goes: All gangstas are dead. These so called rappers wanna be what they THOUGHT Tupac was. He was more intellect than shoot him up. Now I am from DC and we have an artist supposedly battling Chief. And in his hook he raps about shooting his Grandmother in the Titty?! We DC folk don’t even support that, for the real thugs down here have a sensitivity for our females in the community. Back the issue, even Eazy E of NWA had a non profit charity for inner city youth. That’s gangsta. Walkin around with gunz on camera is what I call First 48 snitchin. Now this is how I see it: Everyone praise that gang life until it affects home. When your son, lil brother or cousin is killed. Or how bout if a female is raped in your family? Should they die as a result of someone doing something to them and they wanting justice by telling someone? I think it’s sad because instead of teaching our children pride through our music like Bob Marley, or Kill niggas off til there is none left like Chief Kief (How ever you spell his name)?
It’s not weird, he’s just trying to help, and if your not trying to help then shut the fuck up.
I hope 50 Cent roughed this lil nigga up!!!
I know Kanye must regrets remixing the song. Chief Keef has went on record saying Kanye did nothing for his career.
Chief Keef’s music is like fast food. Simple, cheap bullshit that’s more popular in places like the hood among uneducated ppl who don’t know better. It’s honestly catchy, but I can’t stand what he embodies. NO TALENT. A million other niggas could say what he says. At least respect hip-hop enough to try half-heartedly in the booth. Even ASAP Rocky offers some type of artistry even though a lot of ppl hate on him for simple music. He’s got style, a good ear for beats, and seems to not be a complete burnout like Chief Keef. He can actually carry a conversation based on interviews. But Chief Keef…He’s truly nothing more than a nursery rhyming ignorant ass dude. And don’t call this hate. It’s TRUTH. Aside from music, WHAT TYPE OF PERSON LAUGHS AT A DEATH AND DOES IT PUBLICLY ON TWITTER??? I DON”T CARE WHAT BEEF THEY HAD. HE’S A FUCKING SCUMBAG FOR THAT.
And on top of that he disrespects Kanye West, who is an indisputably great artist, by saying Kanye didn’t do shit for him? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HIS BITCH ASS???? I bet he won’t drop guns and raise fists.
I bet he’d beat your ass. Keef is from the hood, born and raised there. That’s all he’s ever known most likely. He turned a negative into a positive by making music about shit he’s been exposed too his whole life. I noticed that people that haven’t come into contact with hood shit have almost no sympathy for this shit, but that’s just the way American society is.
Err body got something to say about keef, and the scene in the Chi, but what yall gonna do about it? All yall old folk do is complain, no action.If anything ,Keefs success has brought more attention to Chicago than ever. At least they aint forgotten like, New Orleans, and Baltimore. And plus, banging is probably all they know, so if they capitalize off of that, what makes you so good to judge? And i’ve lost respect for Lupe az of late. In conclusion, who gives AF gangsta rap has always been around,why is it a problem now? Old ass crybaby niggas….thats the shit i dont like!! BANG BANG!!
I don’t do this often. Usually if I see something that I don’t like, I ignore it. But seriously, where are you from? How old are you? What level of education are you pursuing right now? I have to ask because unless you are from Chicago, you don’t have any right to talk about what Chief Keef is bringing to Chicago. Also, just because it brings attention to Chicago doesn’t make it a good thing. Hitting myself in the face with a baseball bat would get me attention too, but I’m not going to do it because it’ll hurt me. Seriously though, how old are you?
I have to say something but I know it won’t do any good because you are either one of two things:
1. Someone who doesn’t know any better.
2. Someone who knows better but is trying to be cute.
You wouldn’t be so careless about that sort of life if you actually had people dying around you. No, maybe you would. Maybe you’re just another kid in Chicago that doesn’t care. Then nothing I can say will get through to you. But, wanting a situation to change is not complaining. Showing concern is not “being a cry baby”. I could go all civil rights movement “people died for this”, but I won’t. You might not understand. Still, I had to say something.
YOU DIDN’T SAY SHIT!
If I hit myself in the face with a baseball bat, I probably have a problem; BUT if I hit myself and started talking about it I am atleast drawing attention to it and could possibly get the attention I need and have it taken care of. THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCIETY: we too often judge people that live in situations like this, we look at them like they aren’t people just like us. I’m not like Keef myself, but I know people, grew up with people, and have people in my family that are. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. What yall are suggesting is that we keep a closed mouth and an ignorant eye to this shit, what my man above is saying is that ATLEAST HE IS BRING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE NINETIES. I am saying this for the people that don’t have swimming pools in their backyards, so if you’ve never been introduced to that hood environment YOU probably wouldn’t understand.
Like what the fuck is wrong with you people? I bet ya’ll are going to vote for Mitt Romney too, huh? Cause who really gives a fuck about those stupid, poor people right? And I know Keef is rich now, but prior to this rap shit he was a broke ass motherfucker that couldn’t even afford hollister. So I say KUDOS TO KEEF for proving a lot of people wrong and making something out of himself despite his surroundings.
FUCK ALL OF YOU JUDGEMENTAL BITCH ASS PUSSIES.
You prolly work at Burger King too.
StopCrying, you see……you young so you don’t understand. So let me school you on some things. First off, bangin is all they know is an oxymoron. Bangin doesn’t take skill or creativity, it’s all in paying attention. That’s something you obtain once your parents tell you to look both ways before crossing the street. And success is not based on recognition, it is when you have reached a point where you have made a positive impact on your peers and that a legacy has began. Judge? Never me slim, I was born in a family of gangster, thugs, whatever you wanna call it; doesn’t mean I had to follow the code. And new Orleans was Geographically and racially oppressed. Spent time in B’more, they tryna get tha city together. Chicago is killing itself, no excuses. And for anyone to make a song stating he is the reason the city is dying is dumb in itself. He never said that it was a cry for help, he said I am the one killing your children, the one who gets you daughters and sisters pregnant and leave them…shit like that. But when one outside his race calls him a Nigger, he’d be the first to react. Lupe spoke about these things many times, and if you think about it, he’s not the one that has to look over his shoulder cuz of the cops and the folks who will snitch on him if a reward is out for him. This generation of wannabes are way worse than our old times. But how many of us real niggas are alive to warn these youngns about our mistakes? How many of this generation will be alive or not locked up to warn the next generation?
Chief The Keef hasn’t brought the attention to Chicago. Some of y’all are acting like Keef is tryign to present the hood realities in order to show the rest the world the misery he’s form. He isn’t. He’s glorifying that shit, he finds pleasure in it all. He doesn’t feel guilty about it. He loves it. It was Kanye that launched Cheif to the national scene with the remix. Then it was Lupe’s social commentary that continued to highlight Chief.
I’ve been listening to hip hop since the rise of Run DMC and The Beastie Boys, amongst others. Living in California and being young and impressionable at the time I became a big fan of “Gangsta” rap and let the messages and images influence my mindset at times but fortunately had enough sense to never cross certain lines. Regardless of the presence of rappers such as Keef the level of violence currently plaguing Chicago would likely still persist. I certainly don’t approve of Keef laughing about the death of another whether or not he was a “rival” or not but should we really be surprised by such a response from a person of his age whom has so many following his career and feeding into his attitude and behavior. I still listen to and enjoy some of that same music as well as occasional songs by current artists that fit in the gangsta rap genre but am old enough to not take it for more than it is, music. For those commenting about people criticizing Keef as being “Old”, perhaps they are older, such as myself, or perhaps they are more mature based on their age and life experiences. Hopefully you will also live long enough that those younger will consider you old. If that’s the case I’m confident your opinions on this subject will have changed as have my own.
In response to the Hextwitty posts, I don’t think that anyone would argue with your point about hip hop’s violent history. In my opinion, this article is asking why we (the consumer), other artists, and record labels are rewarding someone who clearly promotes a negative aspect of our society’s culture. Whether this is the 1st time or the 300th time we’ve promoted such a message, why are we doing it? I’m probably considered “old” by hip hop standards and I follow a lot of young artists very closely. It is almost impossible to be a fan of hip hop and not fall victim to the occasional guilty pleasure. “I Don’t Like” has a catchy beat and hook. I have found myself jokingly pointing out “shit I don’t like”. That may make me a hypocrite; I don’t know. At the end of the day though, the message he is glorifying, is ignorance. It is far from the first ignorant rap song and I don’t think artist will suddenly stop pumping them out, but I too wonder why we are rewarding this. I don’t think the problem begins or ends with Keef, but a kid was killed over nonsense, and he thought it was cool to publicly laugh about it. This shit is bigger than hip hop. Why is Keef so lost? Why are you so lost? Why is Lupe considered a cry baby because he wants his young brothers to stop killing themselves. It’s not about whether or not, as an individual, you want to listen to a certain type of rap. It is about what is happening in the community, the effects a certain type of rap is having on what is happening in the community, and why we keep encouraging that lifestyle.
Interesting
I’m sorry but cry me a damn river.
FOR YEARS we’ve sat and watched violence, murder, misogyny, and other debauchery in rap music from people MUCH bigger than Chief Keef and all of you sudden…you and the rest of the world are acting like Chief Keef is somehow the worst human being ever. Where was anybody crying about the music years ago? Jay-Z has rapped about the same type of street activity Keef raps about, albeit in a different way…but the same message nonetheless. So why is it ok for us to champion this man and laud his rags to riches story when he’s contributed to downfall of our culture just as much as Keef is supposedly doing? Seems like people forgot all about the “hit em up…numerous shots w/ the 4-4″ Jay while he’s playing grab ass w/ the president and wanting to be a jewish white man for the pass years.
Where’s the outcry over Kanye’s wild misogynistic lyrics and him rapping about “molly” and all of that other bullshit as if that’s cool? Where the hell was anyone crying when Biggie was rapping about “f-cking kids in their asses and throwing them over bridges”? All of you people have sat back and watched ALOT more people add and contribute to the decay of our people via music…and NOW you want to act all righteous about it over Chief Keef? Am I the only one who doesn’t see the hypocrisy in that? And didn’t Lupe just do a song with The Game? A known gang member who promotes no more violence than Keef does? Also…isn’t Lupe’s 1st and 15th label a product of drug money funded from his incarcerated drug dealing homie Chilly?
Too many people out here with their selective activism standing on the pulpit when it’s convenient for them? Some of the same people so appalled and scared of Keef are going to be in the club shaking their asses tonight to songs about sex, drugs, and violence. These self righteous females are going to be bent over while they dance to the night away to misogynistic lyrics.
Unless you ONLY listen to positive rap…miss me with all of this “Keef is too violent” bullshit.
As for Lil Jojo…I’m sorry but you reap what you sow and I’d say the same about Keef if it were him. Lil Jojo’s mom is crying in the paper talking about her son being a good boy when he was LITERALLY asking for trouble. He’s on youtube brandish military grade weapons threatening to take their lives. He’s making videos of him going into rival neighborhoods and taunting people. When he bit of more than he could chew…now ya’ll wanna talk about how sad it is. Maybe ya’ll should have reached out to Jojo when he was shouting out BDK and egging on known gang members and let him know sad it’s going to be when he dies from it. Now it’s too late.
That is the most well rounded response…and I read every single one. It says exactly what it is and what it isn’t. Hypocritical nature is apart of the game. No different than a person who talks down on alcohol cause it kills ppl but post pictures of themselves on social net works drunk out of their mind. Keef is a phase, he’ll soon die out and the hip hop world will move on to the next thing. but he’s food for thought…why is it that the rap community is always taking shots at one another instead of trying to be constructive? you don’t see other genres of music doing that and they talk about murder, drugs, sex, just as we do. So why does Hip Hop always want the light shined on them for being ignorant? maybe by constantly talking about it you’re speaking it into existence. Maybe stfu go to Chicago, go to New York, Houston, Philly, Baltimore, Florida, California, New Orleans, Dallas, Ohio, Jersey, Memphis….AND DO SOMETHING. Stop giving music so much power, a white person can get on stage grab a guitar and sing about fckn bitches, doing coke, killing people and then go home to his family and it’s like it never happens. Because they understand music- is just music a form of expression, the HipHop community is so concerned with proving something that doesn’t need to be proven in the first place. I listen to every genre, rap is actually like 3rd or 4th on my go to list but I don’t turn on Chief keef on and decide I want to murder someone, no more than i turn on Jay Z and think I’m goin to buy a private jet to the basketball team I don’t own lol IT’S JUST MUSIC- YOU GIVE IT POWER.
Comparing Jay’s gangsta rap to Keef’s is like comparing a Brian de Palma mafia movie to a snuff film. Both are violent but that doesn’t mean they’re the same thing.
COSIGN. what’s with all the judgement on this C section. Chief Keef is from the hood, he knows the hood, raps about the hood. Music as a genre is full of stories, why can’t his be one? Being influenced by it is on us, and when it comes to kids its on their parents as well. I grew up in the hood, listened to the Hot Boyz all day, watched BET Uncut, but my parents told me that isn’l life and I need to go to school. I know its not that easy, but even if Keef did not exist, gang violence as a norm in some places still would. And just like anything in this world, if there is money to be made from Keef and his music then the Interscopes and WorldStars will utilize it. I respect Hale’s opinion about the whole thing but lets not start judging and throwing stones. Especially after being mad at Ross for not being hood enough, saying we are rewarding fakeness. Now realness is being rewarded and your still not satisfied. It’s interesting to me, thats all.
I think the article was only trying to convey that we are the problem. We co-sign this shit, just because the beat is good and its catchy. We all are the problem, we let the fact that some rappers were explaining their upbringing and situations around them get out of hand. We allowed all the doors to other jobs and opportunities to be closed for us and marginalized our lines of work to entertainment. Keef is just a baby, he does what he see’s. Im not mad at him because if he had better direction and better influences then he would be doing better things. Simple as that. But just because we let it get out of control does not mean we cant do anything about it. Im out here working with FCA and Boys and Girls club every week of my fucking life, and I see kids here in Atlanta just like him all day. These kids just need positive reinforcement. They need you nyggas who have all the time to argue online out here showing them some love. Anybody can get on this shit and talk and explain what the problem is. Gangs aint new, thugs aint new, racism aint new, etc… We know the problems now, its a matter of actually getting out and getting your hands dirty and working with these kids. Have a baby then take care of it, spend time with it, love it, instill morals. Alot of yall are just good handing out opinions on chat forums and it pisses people who out here trying to help off when we have to look at you mafuckas talk all day. Im not trying to come down on yall cuz to be honest, we NEED YOU! It aint enough good sound people out here showing these kids what to do. Thats your answer to the problems.
Being from Chicago first let me say this was a good article. Not because he was exposing Keef but he was doing he one thing that many of us have stop doing for some time now………THINK! We don’t think anymore, that’s why Chicago violence is so high because kids are doing things out of instant aggression, instead of thinking about consequences of their actions. Even when gang violence in the 80′s was out of control in Chicago it was more organized. Many of the people who were killed were gang member affiliates. Now-a-days women, children, elderly are getting shot for no particular reason at all. A previous comment said what about NWA ect… Well even NWA realized the actions of their music and had to get on an increase the peace track. When was the last time we had that? Katrina? Weak effort. Artist like Lupe are trying to make a small difference but how can he when people his age, and other agree with artists like Keef, and others who glorify violence then live it out. The sad part esp in Chicago is a good majority 21 and under all think they will be rapers. The truth is most of them will be dead, shot at, or stuck robbing, selling, in and out of jail. The small portion that listen and get out are lucky, that’s why Lupe was crying because he realizes how hard it it. Shit if it wasn’t for me joining the Army I would be in the same boat. I remember when I was geting caught up in the gang shit where it got to the point they were asking me to go do hits on gang members. I knew then I had to find a way out. Many kids wont have that option, the problem with Keef is more younger kids will continue to think its a way of life now especially someone from their city is doing the dirt and making money, so why should I stop? Wake up people, we are on a blind path to destruction, and God knows our intentions. Wake up before it’s too late. Peace to everyone reading, don’t argue your point with threats or insults but try to see everyone’s point of view. I just lost a best friend this past weekend, he’s not coming back! I know from first hand experience something needs to be done, but who is wiling to stand for the right things anymore! Every turns the other cheek and shoulder shrugs!
How about we listen to some Trophies, Gas Mask, The Greatest Story Never Told? Even when “Gangster Rap” was popping it still had some meaning and lyrics, all chief keef raps about is Kush, Guns, Gangbanging, Bitches, & getting Money. If you’re over the age of 25 and you listen to Chief Keef – you’re immature or lost, plain and simple.
I’m 26 and I’ve listened to Chief Keef lol I’m far from immature. That’s another problem with the HipHop community, always trying to tell people what they can or can not do based on their age. No wonder black people never get no where. We psychologically belittle each other constantly. Why can’t ppl just be who they want to be? live out the dreams they want to live out? dress how they want to dress and listen to and do as they please without getting judged by their peers for living THEIR LIFE. I produce music out of my home, i also rap and sing, i can play the piano, and have a bachelor in Business Administration. I’m currently working with my brother on opening another business in my home town. So at the tender age of 26 I’ve achieved this-yet I’m old? lmao 50′s old- 60′s old. You can do whatever you want and take this how you want, but I’m living my life and I’m happy- I don’t tell people what they can or can not achieve based on their heights, weight, age, sex, race, color or creed…and you shouldn’t either. #MuchLove
Hip Hop was started to get away from gang violence. Why are people letting it go back to gang violence. Remember “Peace, Love, Unity and having Fun”. Its about bringing a your community together. Its about sharing your skills. RAP= Recording Artists Pretending. Pick up the new PUBLIC ENEMY album. Listen to KRS ONE read books by PRO GRIFF of PUBLIC ENEMY. Enjoy the music. Put down the guns. STOP THE VIOLENCE IN HIP HOP. We need artists to come together and do another anti violence track. Let’s get Hip Hop back on track. Love each other. The system, the government want Hip Hop to fail, stop helping them with mindless ignorence. Peace, DJ FUZE
reply to all if u don’t like gansta rap don’t fuckn listen to it keep ur comments to ur self tooooo a llllll fuck uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
I usually don’t comment on bling-hop anymore. But Chief Queef, or what ever the hell calls himself, is just another symptom of the problem with mainstream hip hop. Like someone else said, he’s a dime-a-dozen, fast-food type of crap that is getting way too much attention as an individual ruining hip hop instead of seen as just another drop in the river of sewage the music has become over the last ten plus years.
He’s popular because this is what mainstream America wants to see when they picture hip hop and the hood; and because the companies that want this image control the vast majority of our media outlets, this is what gets broadcasted back to the ‘ghetto’. It also shows young, impressionable, and shortsighted youth, who have either very little conception of how they’re being used, or who are “just fuck it, I’m gonna make mine and get outta here”, that this is the path for riches and an escape from the violence and poverty that rule Chicago and a thousand other screwed over communities like it.
Another reason this appeals, which can be the same as why sports and straight up gangsters are idolized, and few peeps want to discuss, is ‘they made it’ but are still hood so to speak. The reason the lawyers, and doctors, and other professions are looked down upon, is they are perceived as playing by the white man’s rules. You don’t get to decide how you dress, act, and all that. You have to play their game, and become their servant so to speak. Now, I’m not saying this is true, because as anyone with any common sense knows, a rapper and athlete are just as much ‘slaves’ to the system as any other, and probably more so in most cases; and of course we all know what happens to gangsters, they go to the modern plantation of prison. These are also, sadly, the folks who get the most attention. This is the attitude spawning Chief Keef, and the hundreds of others who came before and after him.
Also on a side note, I use to complain and complain about the state of hip hop, until I realized it wasn’t really hip hop anymore. Its become pop music with hip hop vernacular. Once I turned the radio off and only paid attention to the underground, which IMO, is its own genre now and where hip hop really is, I was one happy head. I’ve never even heard of this dude before I read this article, and I’m 100% happy about that fact. So in essence, screw him, and all the established idiots who remixed his music and put him in the spotlight, along with the whole sad parody of a music they represent. If you don’t like this crap, listen to the underground, promote their music by sharing and buying it. A thriving alternative exists, support it instead of complaining about shit you will never change (because that’s where the real change will come).
Even though he said this on referring to it still definitely applies
” People want the Hunger Games.”
— Bill Maher on Jay Leno Tonight
^said it referring to the campaign for president*
I think its difficult. Actually I can tell it is very difficult for anyone to do anything at any level for anyone without some strange twist of their work and effort being sideways criticized. Kanye jumped on a mix tape that led to an idiot getting a record deal. Sounds like Luck, mixed with luck, mixed with talent and circumstances. Nothing more and nothing less. That there are a few million idiots who listen to MUSIC (entertainment) and feel charged with, in this case, RAP MUSIC’s fictionally juiced reality, has nothing to do with any Kanye Wests or any other of the many rappers alive and dead who are only trying to do what everyone does at some point in their life: express themselves and get paid for it. The issue, is at the moment, “our culture” is STUCK on this back-ass gangsta ignorance and I wont blame an ARTIST for his or her contribution. Another way of looking at it, would be to only ask why Italian Americans in the 70s didnt go off the deep end due to any of the Godfather/Gangster movies that were mad popular. Why country music fans dont follow the lyrics of some of country musics more UGLY content. We are what we want to be and currently (for the last few decades at least) we have only retreaded some form of basic street ugly as entertainment. Most of us dance, nod our heads and walk on. A small ignorant few of us make international news by shooting up a side of Chicago even the police attempt to avoid. Lets leave KANYE alone here or any other ARTIST, our issues, these issues are a lot deeper than some fool millionaire music machine. The best question you can ask is what will IDIOT KEEF do next? Because the truth is, he is DONE. Made It, and should be READY to grow the FUCK up.
Cosign Fredo Santana 1000%
The Rhymefest quote is the most ample and sensible words on this page. It addresses the past, present and future of this issue. Chicago has actually gotten “better” than it was in the early to mid 90s. With 453 murders a year ago, Chicago had its lowest body count in 50 years (but was still the US murder capital).
All that to say, this shit ain’t really bout Keith. BDs and GDs been warring since ’74, two decades before he was born. This is bigger than hip-hop, rap and gang violence.
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I’ve said that least 1946363 times. SKC was here…
Chief Keef a monster? I don’t think so. Just a boy making the best of life. Too me he represents a true freemason (turning copper into gold). I find your story misplaced as it seems to ad a fictional value to life. Truth be told, you sound like a person who isn’t able to keep up with the tides (mad old).