Mistah FAB Keeps It Real In "Man Cry"

This new soulful duet between Mistah FAB and New Orleans' Mack Maine delves into some subjects not readily found in a lot of hip-hop. From the title of the song you can tell it involves men showing emotion, which in and of itself is a rather taboo topic in rap. Mack discusses seeing his father cry for the first time but notes that he himself doesn't actually cry.

FAB keeps it a bit realer by copping to crying, particularly when his father passed due to complications from AIDS. Mack piggy backs on FAB's mention of AIDS by noting that the sickness is part of the government's attempts at population control. Whether or not this claim is valid, it is refreshing to hear critical lyrics at a time when rap is more obsessed with swagger, spaceships and singing than reality.

More importantly, FAB's honesty regarding his emotions is hella necessary in a genre full of twisted notions of masculinity. To be accepted in rap circles, maintaining an impenetrable veneer of hardness is almost a prerequisite. This never ceases to confuse me. So many rappers aspire to be Pac and yet ignore his sensitive side. Thank you FAB for keeping it way realer than these studio gangsters who misconstrue their Mafia fantasies as reality.

As appealing as rap's obsession with the rags-to-crime-to-riches ascension is, why can't we learn to accept those who don't fit that mold. Chances are, if we were open to that, we would realize that most of these dudes are fronting like Ol Dirty Bastard and Rick Ross. Since when does selling drugs and being the hardest dude out mean that you can spit anyway? It doesn't! So if we want rappers to "keep it real," we need to realize that reality is different for everyone.

As a fan it's alienating to feel like the music I listen to doesn't actually speak to me experiences or sensibilities. Whether or not I ever decide to rap, let it be known here first: I graduated from high school and college, I hold a legal job, I value my principles over money, I don't own a car, I shop at Ross and . . . oh yeah, I cry. Cue the music.

"Man Cry"- Mack Maine & Mistah FAB