Thinking Of You

Hey there guys.

Hope it's been a good start to the week for all of you.

It's honestly nice for me that our little crew continues to grow and that all of you continue to be moved and inspired by what I do.

I've done some polls the last couple days, which is something I've never done before. Did one on Jay-Z's worst album. People bitched and moaned, said my musical opinions were beyond garbage, questioned me on the choices I had, and generally annoyed me. But the fact that it made people engage was the rewarding part.

When I started my Twitter account back in the summer of 2014, I was lost and looking for something that would help me connect with hip hop fans around the world. And while I'm not huge in respect to others, it's nice to have my voice being heard in the circle of hip hop fans.

I can sit here and write about mental health pretty well, but music is my number one passion. The debates and conversation around music are legendary. It's the one thing that you can't avoid feeling something about. Whether it's love, hate, or even indifference, you're feeling something.

I posted a few days that I don't relate to these new artists, and I don't. I've listened to most of Freddie Gibbs stuff, but he's not in my regular rotation. He's incredibly talented, but it's not something I want to hear on the regular. Kendrick has done a lot that I like too, but as I get older, I just want to listen to the old joints. There's nothing like throwing on old stuff by Big Punisher, DMX, and The Lox. Those records will live forever, while the new stuff is gone after less than a week.

When you listen to the old stuff, it has an originality and sound that's timeless. I can't tell you all the old records that I never tire of no matter how many times I play them. Had a dude ask me within the last few days if I ver tired of listening to the old stuff. He asked if I switch up and listen to new stuff too. I literally shook my head and replied no, because I can't relate to this generation at all.

Even artists that came out in the 2000s I have a hard time with. The only one I really enjoy is The Game. Rick Ross too, even though I didn't care for his latest record.

I think people's opinions are very subjective when it comes to music. They like what they like, yet find it suspect when you don't agree with them on their little points. It's actually amusing.

I stay deep in the old school because I have so many good memories in that time period, which I plan to share in an upcoming post. But for me the 90s are where it's at. Yesterday. Today. Forever. I like seeing some of these young kids that might not have been there for that great generation going back and digging in to the stuff that was the soundtrack to a great time period, not just in music, but in movies, TV, automobiles, and so much more.

Today's music will never have the same appeal because the way it's consumed has changed so much. People don't buy kicking head units and speakers like they used to. The vast majority don't have a good environment to listen to music at home. They've disposed of it to the point that the way they digest it is in Spotify's free tier and YouTube videos.

The greatest gift ever has been marginalized so much that it's "enjoyed" on crappy smartphone speakers and cheap wireless earbuds. I still own an iPod, but that's where it all began.

Yes, I blame the Internet, the same tool I use to crank out these posts. It's the devil, I tell you.

Peace out.