I don't listen to a lot of contemporary music these days because I think most of it is garbage. Somehow even rap is crap and has become commercialized. I remember growing up my cousin and I dreamed of becoming rappers. However in those days I think rap had a message. It was really street poetry, most of it. Many rappers talked about real problems in the urban community and subjects that would only later be dealt with on the evening news and HBO.
Since that time I've seen rap slowly deteriorate, but I still have an affinity for a few good poets and pioneers. One of them is Snoop Dogg. I've always thought he had a rather distinctive voice and vocal delivery. I don't really listen to rap anymore, but I happened to be on youtube and found my self somehow on a page of his new song " New Years Eve".
One commentor said " Snoop has gone soft" . I want to reply to the comment, and I have decided to do it here.
"Snoop is alive now and is simply enjoying his life. While he is an interesting performer, I think he could get even "softer". Being an artist, I think its important to consider what message an artist sends out visually or orally especially to youth today. Some of Snoops messages have been and are still questionable, but I would still cite him as a great talent in rap. Snoop nearly died many times and almost went to prison for life. He's seen his boys die like Tupac. Life is not all about all the nonsense that goes on in the street and trying to be " hard" 24/7. I laugh when I see pictures of kids from elementary to high school trying to look " hard". Mean scrunched up faces like they have acid reflux and they think that's what hip and cool and making $$$. What's really "hard" is to love God, love yourself, love others."
Anway after watching Snoop celebrate the new year than I watched the old school Caron Wheeler video
" Livin In theLight " and was reminded of a time and type of music that was once good. I think the message of trying to live in the light is more relative in my life now more than ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLwn33iDHWQ
