I have love for FAB's music, as made evident by previous postings, but I also admire his grind. I don't know if yall have noticed, but FAB travels like crazy, which is not something many Bay rappers do. The Bay Area hip-hop scene is extremely insulated because our artists tend to stay local- many content to be Baymous rather than famous.We have been type cast as graying ghostriders who need ghost writers in part because our artists don't hit the road to disprove this myth. Most of the country just sees Too $hort and E-40 and think that sums up our contribution to the game. Though both $hort and 40 have done a lot for The Bay and hip-hop, the next generation needs to be recognized by the world.
Thankfully Mistah FAB keeps The Bay somewhat relevant in hip-hop and the blogosphere by acting as our traveling ambassador. E-40 purports to be the "Bay's Ambassador," but I've been feeling like he might have to cede his title to FAB. I appreciate all 40's done for the Bay, including the press he attracted in the Ghetto Report Card era, but lately he hasn't seemed too invested in his ambassadorship. Not to take away from Unc's contributions, but we need a new face for the future. 40 should continue to do his thing, but I'd appreciate if he would try his best to, not just flaunt Bay culture, but also push more Bay artists at this juncture in his career.
That said, no cosign makes an artist in this era and Bay Area emcees definitely need to step up their grind in '09. Mistah FAB is virtually the only Bay rapper you'll find on hip-hop sites like nahright, not because he's the best, but because he's always traveling and collaborating with a wide variety of artists, putting himself, and Oakland, on the map.
That said, no cosign makes an artist in this era and Bay Area emcees definitely need to step up their grind in '09. Mistah FAB is virtually the only Bay rapper you'll find on hip-hop sites like nahright, not because he's the best, but because he's always traveling and collaborating with a wide variety of artists, putting himself, and Oakland, on the map.
Below are links to some of his latest collaborations accompanied by some choice lines. Working from Oakland outward we have: A Bay joint with our generation's Richie Rich- Clyde Carson; a Cali anthem with Fresno and LA's finest; and a track with New Orleans' hot spitta Curren$y. Enjoi
_____"My money in Wachovia, being broke is my phobia
My car needed shoes so I Kobe 'em
Now they sittin high, standing up like a podium
Lifes a b*tch, but Ima f*** her with petroleum."
"Life's a B*tch"- Curren$y feat. Mistah FAB
_____
"I'm from the corners of the Black Panthers (Oakland)
Where the streets was ringing, so the crack answered"
"Sunny CA"- Strong Arm Steady feat. Mistah FAB, Planet Asia & Bishop Lamont
"A new whip, I switch lanes at light speedWhere the streets was ringing, so the crack answered"
"Sunny CA"- Strong Arm Steady feat. Mistah FAB, Planet Asia & Bishop Lamont
_____
One hand wood grain, the other light weed
Warriors game court side like Spike Lee
A millionaire, but I still wear a white tee"
"I'm So (Fly)"- Mistah FAB feat. Clyde Carson
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5 comments:
Pure fuckin Ignorance right there. What the Fuck does 40 have to do with any of those artist you named?? Did fuckin LIL flip,Paul wall,UGK,Chamellionaire,SlimThug, And Mike Jones ask Scarface to get out the way cuz they need to shine? Fuck no they went and took care of there business.
Did you see Jeezy,TI,Luda,Young joc,Gucci mane,scrappy,crime mobb, Lil Jon,Gorilla Zoe,Young dro,Youngbloodz, and Shawty LO ask OUTKAST to move out the way becuz they need to get exsposure and make some records?
The same can be said about FLorida, Chicago and New york.
E-40 Has been out the way for 3 years since he dropped TELL ME WHEN TO GO. He is in nobody fuckin way thats some excuse shit bro plain and simple. Bay area people be in there own way a majority of the bay area rap consumers dont even buy bay area product I see the fuckin DMA soundscan reports broke down by the cities.
Let me guess its Bones fault becuz nobody in Cleavland is a star, Its Lukes fault that it took 15 years from somebody in Florida to do something, its Nelly fault only chingy made it out of the lou, its sir mix alot fault nobody made it big from Seattle????? Is it David Banners fault cuz nobody from Mississippi done something big yet? Did Webbie, Hurrican chris, and lil boosie call LIL WAYNE and ask if its okay that they make a hit record and get on a national scene?
Who the fuck gave 40 the batton as you say?
Tell me what rapper 40 has not done a song with in the bay that people know?
Where the fuck would the bay be if my ghetto report card never came out? There would have been no mtv my block, BET hype on hyphy, all the national media coverage, USA today cover story, and everything else. 40 does his part to try to make the bay bigger.
First of all, calm down, it's not that serious. I agree that 40 has done a lot for The Bay. That is why I wrote "$hort and 40 have done a lot for The bay and hip-hop" and in the post below commended him for putting on young Bay Area dancers. Perhaps my "stingy old uncle" comment was harsh, but I feel that 40 could do more to put the Bay on.
You're right MGRC was a big boon, but The Ball Street Journal only featured $hort and his family members, as far as Bay artists go. That's not hella bad unless you call yourself the Ambassador of the Bay, which implies that you are trying to put The Bay on.
I'm not saying that 40 is in the way, I'm saying that he is the best known Bay rapper and so he could do more to help younger artists coming up. He does have the baton thanks to garnering all the media coverage you mentioned. I'm not saying he should bow out or get out of the way, I'm saying that he should do more to fulfill his role as an ambassador in the here and now rather than leaning on what he did 3 years ago.
Again I'm not hating on him, just wanting him to do more. FAB and others DO have to make their own way, and FAB is- which was the entire point of the post to begin with. I'm really excited for you that you know how to curse and can name hella artists from lots of different regions, but you missed the point. I'm not asking 40 to leave, only to continue to use his notoriety to aid other Bay artists. No maybe that isn't a common occurrence, but that doesn't make it a bad idea.
We may disagree, but to say that what I wrote is "pure fuckin ignorance" is a stretch. I appreciate the dialogue and debate, but the hostility is really not necessary Anonymous.
Luke this is what makes me hostile about your blog."E-40 purports to be the "Bay's Ambassador," but lately he's been acting more like the Bay's stingy rich uncle. I have love for him, but he hasn't passed the torch despite being over the hill". Over the hill? Come on now 40 is still making slaps my dude.
When all the attention came from E-40 MGRC what bay artist took advantage of it and came with hits to keep the bay alive? Not counting Baby bash the biggest selling record a bay artist put out after MGRC was under 25k units.
So what your saying is its E-40 job to make sure the bay artist gets exposure? Its E-40 responsability to put other artist on his albums? So tell me this since he cant put the whole bay on his album why should he be in a position to pick and choose then to upset other people cuz they did nt get on it. Do you know 40 has over 10 acts signed to his label why cant he concentrate on them only 2 of them made his album.
This whole put me on is some new age gay excuses cuz people are'nt making it where they want to be. What happen to the real bay artists from the 90's who put themselves on they have the real mentality.
You tell me what 40 can do give your suggestions. Then tell me if he does what you suggest tell me what you believe the results would be?
This is a new music industry people big name artist putting out people are not helping anymore. TI who is 1 of the biggest artist out label is not selling records, Ludacriss label is not selling records, Jay z is not putting people out right now besides Kayne, and who is lil wayne putting on? Hes been screaming young money but I dont see no albums. Its not like it used to be when a popular rapper could own a label and his fan base would support the label. Being co signed does not get you success.
So anonymous makes some valid points, but that really don't have to do with the essence of the article. I especially like "This whole put me on is some new age gay excuses cuz people are'nt making it where they want to be. What happen to the real bay artists from the 90's who put themselves on they have the real mentality." (minus the usage of gay as some base-negative adjective... let's be real this is 2009!) But what the post is saying is that FAB is taking it upon himself, he is doing exactly what the bay legends had to do coming up in the early 90s when they invented the independent game and had the country's attention.
Luke's comments on 40 are not out of any lack of love for the ballatician, but the issue is that if you are going to call YOURSELF the ambassador of the bay, you better not leave any doubt, and while ghetto report card put a lot of people on and attracted a lot of attention, I can see where the disappointment stems from the ball st journal. Overall, you make good points, but just... calm down?
Lol Thanks Mailman. Yeah Anonymous, you made some good points and I revised my statement accordingly. I appreciate your input, I just wasn't really trying to dwell on that aspect, as the article is primarily focused on how FAB is putting HIMSELF and the Bay on in the here and now. Thanks for reading though! And thanks again E.C. España!
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