dallaspenn.com

My apologies to whoever thought of this headline before me. I can only pray it wasn’t Breihan.

Stealing the thunder of NaS’ ceremonious CD is the sophomore Def Jam disk from labelmate YOUNG JEEZY. His new joint is titled ‘The Inspiration’, but I don’t think that there are any gospel tracks on the set. I could be wrong though. A lot of past great Hip-Hop acts are now moving into spiritual Christian music and maybe YOUNG JEEZY is setting himself up for the long haul. You can be a preacher a lot longer than you can be a trap star.

JEEZY has risen to prominence like many Atlanta based rap acts by catering to his core audience of fans within that region. Similiar to T.I., but not nearly as polished a performer and surprisingly enough, not nearly as southern sounding, JEEZY simply uses the ‘hood as the framework and backdrop for his soundscape. A rags to riches story where the perils of the ‘hood are too irresistible to forsake even for fame and stardom. It’s a hard knock life for JEEZY and his fans, but they still find time to kick it in the trap while dodging the police, bullets and subpoenas from angry baby mamas. JEEZY recognizes that he is an inspiration to his listeners, especially the young ones who model their lives after this friendly neighborhood snowman.

I’m not mad at JEEZY or the little boy in this picture, but for allowing her son to walk around looking this way the little boys mother should be raped and killed, and then raped again.

The place that JEEZY and most rappers describe in their music is a real place that is fraught with peril on a daily basis. To be able to visit these places as a voyeur without the risk of actually engaging the people and possibly learning that your consumption keeps them in this purgatory is the reason that rap music is so popular. Imagine having the chance to visit Kenya and watch lions in the bush without having to see the waste tranfer plant that is poisoning the land. The problem that arises is that many undereducated disenfranchised listeners are inspired to create this vision in their own lives. Maybe its to affirm their Blackness. Maybe its to affirm their manhood. In either case a quick glance at yourslf in a mirror can confirm either question.

They say that rap music is a mirror that reflects the truth about the ghettos of America. When I look at myself in a mirror I do so to change that about me which is out of place. I don’t use a mirror to help me stain my shirt. I use my mirror to make myself better than I was the previous minute.

What do you use your mirror for?