Plies' Definition of Real - Comment Response - Plies' Definition of Real

We the two Ordinary Joes have decided to write a response to a comment posted on our Review of Plies’ album “Definition of Real”.

“There are two types of opinion that come from veterans: Wise opinions and Bias opinion”- Unknown.

Ryan brought up a good point when he said, “Now out of LL and ice-t whose perspective of hip-hop is right?". I have two ways to dismiss your stance although I do respect it. Firstly, Ice T said that Souljah Boy can eat a dick because he's killing Hip Hop. We have to look at what it means to "kill Hip Hop". Remember in the 70’s it was a new type of music and was being deemed garbage for years due to its 'simplicity' and 'negativity'. Fast forward 30 years, due to artist like Jay-z, Tupac, Nas, Common, Mos Def, etc., who brought technique, style, deep themes, and so on to the genre, it was considered music. Now fast forward 8 years to today. With artist rapping worst than Mother Goose and Doctor Seuss, they are destroying the progress that was made by the pioneers of Hip Hop. That’s where Ice T is coming from with his stance.

“Ladies Love Cool J’s" stance was more subjective to what his taste in music may be. Maybe seeing Souljah Boy as a new artist reminds him of himself, which makes him compare this 'New hip hop' to 'old hip hop' when LL Cool J first began. What ever it maybe, doesn't cancel the fact that Souljah boy (along with others that are too much to name) is not merely stunting Hip Hop, but is retrogressing it back to the Genesis stage of infancy. Rap is music. Rap isn't what you "can't say to people in a normal" conversation. Nonsense is what you choose not to say to people in a regular conversation. Hip Hop is music that has a meaning. In no other type of music do you hear people just talking about what they have on and who they're f*ckin and how good they can rap. Have you ever heard a singer sing about how good he or she can sing....? I have nothing else to say.

Ordinary Joe I must say, that was a lot of food for thought, but it’s my turn now. Ryan, I can argue the fact that everyone is a teacher in their own right; we all impact the lives of others and consequently pass on our practices and ideals whether intentionally or not. Now with that in mind, I’m sure you can agree that a rapper with a nearly Billboard Hot 200 topping album is teaching the world’s youth just a little more than we would like him to, with lyrics like “I Got her Trained, Now She Suck Me With Ice”. I can say that you were almost right in your opinion that “Rap is really what u can't say to people in a normal” conversation…why? Because I think you view rap as a chance to freely express ones thoughts without fear of persecution, however I must agree with Ordinary Joe in that “Rap is Music”. All music is freedom of expression, the themes of modern Hip Hop however have gotten so outlandish, that it has desensitized some people to the fact most of what these kids rap about is unacceptable anyway.

Also to touch one issue, the fact that LL Cool J has survived in the industry for so long. The Hip Hop industry has changed just as much as LL Cool J has changed over his career; he has to do what sells now; as every musician so often learns. Therefore, naturally he would make himself more susceptible to accepting a “new hip hop” and its fall from grace. Mind you, I’m not saying that Ice-T was right to tell Soulja Boy to “eat a dick”, but I sit back and understand that they have a right to an opinion, only expressing mine when necessary.

Link to "Definition of Real" Review