By: Kenny Smith
Rappers have always came a dime a dozen. But since the emergence of the world’s greatest showcasing website, Myspace, fickle youngsters from around the world have come out of the woodworks proclaiming talent and charisma suitable for today’s industry. Bottom line; through this virtual open mic-like website, it is much easier to get heard than ever before. If you believe that you have what it takes, in the next five minutes your music can be available for the world to see. Through this incredible venue, the “Myspace Rapper” has been born.
The problem with the Myspace Rapper is similar to the one in the world of journalism and the new experience of blogging. The big issue in the blogging world is whether these internet reporters can be considered true journalist, without credibility and the lack of an overseeing editor finalizing their work. The same can be said for the Myspace Rapper; left to his/her own devices, opinions, and criticisms only within his/her small circle of friends and/or family. I call it the “Singing in the Shower Syndrome,” where everyone and their mama believes they have the talent to perform and unfortunately, Myspace is their tape recorder. This leads to a jaded judgment on skill, a lack of tested and true credibility, false hope, and a false belief of being heard and liked.
For the Myspace Rapper, emulation is key. They lack the originality to differentiate from what they see on television and the substance to say enough for the allotted four song slots the website gives you. Popular artist like Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Cassidy and… did I mention Lil Wayne are the basis of their creativity and personality. Words like “Swag” replace true MC characteristics like style, delivery, metaphors, concepts etc. Real skills and requirements for an established artist like performance, re-invention, concepts and personality have been stripped down to basic, undeveloped elements of having a hot beat, a hot chorus and meaningless verses filled with similes.
But in all honesty, it isn’t entirely the Myspace Rappers’ fault. They are simply a mirror to the direction the game is heading in, and it isn’t good. If you travel to a random Myspace Rapper’s page, you are certain to hear a “Get Money” type track, a “For The Ladies” type track, or an “I’ll Kill You” type track. You are certain to hear a vocoder with either Weezy’s flow or Jay’s flow, and are certain to hear an 808 synth-driven southern beat. This is because this formula is the new blueprint for success in today’s Hip-Hop industry. It’s the new thing, and this new thing sells. It will milked until every selling aspect has been raped to the fullest extent. The only difference is that these people make the money, and the Myspace Rapper aspires to do so. The online market is thus, saturated to a point where actual skill and talent are substituted for whatever can get the quick buck for the time and what they think the industry is looking for. And thus, you have The Myspace Rapper.
