Just a few years after Nas won the popular vote and Jay won the presidency, Hip Hop is losing its creative steam and integrity due to propaganda and polemics.  Beef is the sure shot way to get attention.  A good single may not cut it in order to get the clout from the opening week retail ranking. A good bullet wound gets an artist a free pass to commence a smear campaign on whomever they see fit.  Everybody has an opinion, here’s mine.

I’m from Harlem and live in Brooklyn (which is considered a rare move).  I deem it necessary to disclose where I’m from because this editorial contains a balanced bias perspective. Biggie, Jay and Nas are my favorite peer emcees, but Cam’ron is my hometown hero.  I stand up for him because he’s the underdog whose rhymes always exude hunger and hustle - and he lives it:

“Cats say how’d I get out my deal, dog I pulled out my steal I’m bout it for real, I ran in the Sony building and smacked grown folks around like they were only children, no one out of line cause they spotted 9’s, I want out and y’all sign on the dotted line, word homie I ain’t kidding you hops, only one to leave Sony without getting dropped.”

All true.  I also like Cam simple because he’s relentless with cocky humor.  Unfortunately, I’m not writing to praise him, I’m writing to apologize.  In 1999, he said “I’m the best just not promoted right.”  I feel you (no-homo), but (no-homo), in 2006, you have a clear lane to prove it and going after Jay-Z is your first move?  Tsk, tsk, tsk. Now don’t be sensitive and confuse critique with hate, but I’m disappointed.  Remember, just cause I like you doesn’t mean I can’t disagree with you.  I actually don’t have to preach to you because you know exactly what you’re doing.  Your rhymes on the new Funk Master Flex’s Car Show album are fire, but the intro misleading our youth about rejecting college as an option, c’mon we have enough social ills.  This recent stunt was raw, and word to ODB, I like it like that.  However, I can’t applaud you’re tactics of propaganda because it imitates those of right-wing conservatives.  Welcome to new spin city. 

I first peeped it with the Murder Inc movement because I couldn’t figure out how people accepted all of these regurgitated Bad Boy hits.  Then I realized that they benefited from a new generation of youth who got to watch rap on MTV like it was always there.  They didn’t see all the artists that slowly broke down the door, they didn’t hear Ice Cube say “…on MTV but they don’t care, they’ll have a new nigga next year.”  50 stomped Ja Rule because audiences began recognizing Ja as a factory rapper off the assembly line.  If Ja Rule had true skills, he’d still be around.  I can’t think of one line for line verse from Ja Rule that was a quotable lyrical murder.  He was all hooks, energy and delivery.  That’s when the game changed.  Ashanti’s debut song used B.I.G.’s biggest hit.  That’s cheating, but whatever, I’ll stick to the Hip Hop.  My overall point is that the Dip Set movement benefits from a new generation who did not witness Jay’s stepping stone singles, his trend setting zeitgeist or visceral gumption.  Hence, when you compound Jay’s lyrics that pay homage to B.I.G., it will sound like plagiarism to someone born in 1990.  The poison planted allows a sixteen year old to feel skeptical about a Jay-Z sixteen-bar verse that he wrote when they were six. Now I see how easy it was Greeks to steal from the Egyptians and for King James to make his version.

Let me play Jay for a moment. “I’m not a biter, I’m a writer for myself and others,” I don’t need to mention names (Dr. Dre). “I say a B.I.G. verse, I’m only biggin up my brother,” I knew dude, we bonded through telekinesis on the beat, plus we were gonna form a group together called The Commission.  “I’m biggin up my Boro,” we were both from Brooklyn.  “I’m big enough to do it,” you know I’ve had a trailblazing career on my own two feet.  “I’m that thorough,” I have meticulous follow through and it’s hard to pull my card.  “Plus I know my own flow is foolish,” B.I.G.’s rhymes are not my crutch.  “So,” allow me to grab my nuts and give you another B.I.G. quote from a less known Tracey Lee album cut. “The rings and things you sing about, bring’em out, it’s hard to yell when the ba-rrel’s in your mouth” I rest my case and will continue to keep his spirit alive because he was that important to us.

Now I was impressed how you included an intro to your song with over 7 minutes of Jay in reverse “I’m a biter, not a writer.”  It proves once again that the masses are asses lead by carrots.  If you say there are weapons of mass destruction enough and emphasize nuclear proliferation the right way, you can take a nation to war to ensure that 90% of the world’s wealth is still controlled by 1% of the world’s population.  If you had a time capsule for 2006, you can almost make people in the future believe that Jay was an ersatz emcee.  One problem, y’all came out around the same time and he’s box-sets ahead of you.  If only Mase appeared in the “Horse and Carriage” video.  Like Bush, did you think this through?  Now, what happens if Juelz Santana (a Def Jam artist) has to choose sides?  I know it seems impossible now, but look at the break-ups we’ve witnessed.  I’m just sayin…look at the people who have chosen to side with President Carter; Foxy Brown, Steve Stoute, R. Kelly, Large Professor testified on his behalf to Jay pulling out the Tech-9 on tour, Kanye, Lyor, Dame fired a whole staff, Jay re-hired them, the list goes on…   

This brings us to your relationship with Damon Dash.  Fasten your seatbelts we’re about to hit turbulence.  Despite all of his ex- hard knock murder Marcy ties, Sean Carter displays class and even worst, dare I say, diplomacy.   When you were vice-president for a week, a lot of your cronies were yelling “Dip-Set Taliban.”   That’s some ignorant shit in a post-9/11 New York.  The Blueprint “dropped the same day as Twin Towers, I showed power, still I showed compassion for others sent money and flowers,” so how could he do the “Welcome to New York City” video with you or have clientele come by the office with your people waving anti-patriotic pink flags.  Everybody could see that you being VP would basically unbalance the effective Dame, Kareem and Jay triangle offence.  But you’re not mad at that Cam, because you understand that move.  It was about to be a coup d’etat at Roc-a-fella and you had a smug mug cause finally Dame was the shot caller you had been missing to elevate the game.  Searching for another big brother to replace what Lance “Un” Rivera couldn’t do.  Everybody knows you’re far from dumb and you’re smart enough to know all the greats had a power broker beside them to close deals, exchange favors and push buttons.  B.I.G. had Puff, Pac had Suge, Snoop had Dre, now you were re-united like Peaches and Herb with your Harlem homie who understands the hustle – Dame.  Fast forward to today, Dame’s status ain’t the same.  Every time it’s time for your reign your big brothers get cut or cut off.  Since three out of five of your gripes had to do with Dame and none of the reasons had to do with money or family, you’re looking somewhat, emotional (I hated writing that). 

Cam, your wordplay is like a combination of Eminem and Jay, which is a high compliment.  Unfortunately you’re arrogance clouds the purpose that is contained in their rhymes. You’re some one with ultimate talent and puddled eyes like Kevin Garnett.  As someone who always brings your name up in conversations regarding the best emcees I feel entitled to say, no I can’t say it.  Okay, brace yourself and respect me as a man who is signing his name at the end of this.  Your actions resemble penis envy.  If it was just about Biggie’s lyrics, you would be calling out Lil’ Kim.

Your equal envy of Pac got you following his footprints of becoming your most convincing movie role.  B.I.G said he saw the “Bishop” in Pac’s eyes similar to the “I’ll still be the kingpin” look of Rico we’ve been seeing in you.  I know bullets blur reality, just remember I not your enemy, offing me does nothing but make my ghost your shadow.  So as you manipulate history, you could big up Big L all you want but I remember when people used to say that he was just a Nas knock off.

Nas’s said, “excuse me is that your bitch in my 6, turning up the volume when she hears my hits.”  Then Jay made a song (originally with just him and Twista) featuring Missy on the hook taking Nas’s line “Is that your bitch?”  It was very subtle, but that’s how dons wage war.  When Cube left NWA, he never mentioned or dissed them in first solo album.  The people did the voting and “America’s Most Wanted” went platinum – period.  Cam, you got the pulse of the streets now, just rock.  Your complaints may win the popular vote on the corners but they kill the lines of communication and respect to those closest who want to see you win.  God knows you’re just as witty as Hov (“I’m in the whip-pedal smashing it, Mase went to church, settle down imagine it, who me? I’m devil’s adovate”), but he doesn’t cut off industry lifelines.  He strengthens them with lines like “I know who I paid God, Searchlight publishing.”  Now that probably went over the head of the average teen-boppers who doesn’t know MC Search, 3^rd Bass or his single “Back to the Grill,” but it solidified Jay as a dope rhyme writer and check writer.

Cam, now that you and your die hard fans have written me off as a Jay dick rider, keep in mind that I didn’t even want to dissect how in your self-confessional excerpts of biting, you excluded all of the Jay lyrics and flows that came out you mouth on the RPM promotional mix CD after you signed to Roc-a-fella.  I’m listening to it as I write cause it’s hot!  It’s just more proof that you’re smart.  But, that’s just an old after hours spot trick.  You give the bouncer your weapon before you get searched so he doesn’t frisk you.  The bouncer rewards you by holding it for you, not even thinking that you have another tucked snug on your body.  He definitely took one for Hip Hop, because this causing controversy before a release date is wack.  I guess if Jay were to answer he’d sample himself saying, “niggas wake up on my dick, eat some breakfast first.”  Sorry Cam.  Dueces.  

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