Hate is the new love.
Recently, the hate levels have risen faster than a wave in a Tsunami.
Why do the fans hate their own artists so badly? I don’t have all the answers, but I sure have a lot of observations. This strand of hate isn’t new, but it sure is pervasive as an epic epidemic. The hate in Hip-Hop began as external forces sought to extinguish rap. Then, as Hip-Hop music grew, there was an attempt to police itself. Acts like Too Short, The Luniz and later B.I.G. would call this “player hating,” because the haters were attempting to stop people from getting paid. These days, thanks to the internet, there’s a unique hate being spewed and I don’t mean “I just don’t like that person’s music.” I mean hate.
So, bear with me as I talk about Drake, a case study in this editorial. Just try to read this, because there is a message afterward that you may find more engaging. Fight through the hate.
I’ve seen the venomous loathing of Drake. Some people have valid remarks, but more often that not, the critiques are tarnished with unproductive comments. When he gave me his Top 5 Dead or Alive (Click here for that) and started to mention actor Leonardo DiCaprio, I tried to warn him about the backlash that would result. (He knew too.) I’ve never been particularly fond of dude’s singing and clearly that material is for the ladies. Anybody with iTunes can adjust to that. As I hear it, when he flows, most current commercial rappers can’t see him. I mean, come on. Listen to the radio and you will know exactly what I mean. Joints like “9 Am Freestyle” are proof that he’s listening to the fans and proof that he can cater to whoever he wants, especially in a free environment like the internet. So Far Gone and Comeback Season – which were released before the wave of hate – are pretty much proof of his appeal to a broad spectrum.
As we continue, let us discuss Jay-Z, “real” Hip-Hop head. If you hate him, again..try to fight through it. There is a greater point at the end of this editorial that speaks to you.
There are the OG’s like Jay-Z, surviving the rigors of Hip-Hop for decades and they are not exempt from the hate. It seems like every other song Jay does is fending off haters (“Haters” with Kanye is the first song that comes to mind.). But it doesn’t stop with these pop phenoms, it goes down well into the underground. Murs is one of the dopest artists in the underground and yet after reading comments on him, you would think he was Jay-Z. Hate.
Day in and day out, fans proclaim to hate everybody in some form or another. Obviously, not everybody but the loudest voices are those of the verbose hater. They hate B.o.B. and Drake for changing up. They hate on Jay-Z for not willingly giving up the crown. They hate Murs for not being more mainstream. They hate Soulja Boy for being wack lyrically. Nicki Minaj is too expressive and cartoonish. Rick Ross makes great music, but he was a C.O. I mean, the lists and the reasons go on and on and on endlessly.
But, here is a question: who do you love? I ask again…who do you love? WHO DO YOU LOVE?
Keep the answer to yourself for now.
Here is why hate is the new love.
Everybody you hate, you actually support his or her ascension. Everybody you say you love, they stay down with us close to home. They don’t sell as many records as the subjects of hate. Everybody was raving over Slaughterhouse last year and then they sold a paltry18,000 units their first week. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Drake, Lil Wayne are bigger than ever. Meanwhile, Big Boi, who has unquestionably one of the best albums of the year, sells under 65,000. He’s also one of our Hip-Hop heroes – an artistic, lyrical genius and one half of Outkast. Do you hate or love him?
Since coming in the game as a fan, my people have supported The Roots, Redman, Master P. Public Enemy, Jay-Z, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Mobb Deep…the list is literally endless. I mean ENDLESS. We’d buy a TAPE ‘til it popped. Then buy a CD ‘til it scratched. Then buy another CD. Now, I buy at least two copies of my favorite rappers, clean and regular versions (LOL). But, when you talk about supporting, I am a fan of HIP-HOP so I can shout out Jean Grae (Dopes Femcee Ever!), my homey Murs, B. Rossi (one of our new Breeding Ground artists), Bun B (Classic!), Joe Budden (waiting for MM4), Talib (Don’t Sweat Bloggers!), Mitchy Slick (Triggeration Station), TiRon (MSTRD is crazy), Ras Kass (A.D.I.D.A.S. is a comeback indeed), Black Milk (Interview is coming)…the list remains endless.
So, again I ask. Who do you love? One of Lil B’s fans beat him up a few weeks ago. Then in the strangest move ever, he went back and apologized in a viral video, all the while expressing his love of dude. Really? So, is this the way you show adoration for somebody in Hip-Hop these days? Beat them up or dis them nonstop? Now, Lil B is an even bigger star than before the beatdown. Strange.
If you look at the average hater, you notice they inadvertently support the ones they hate. They clearly listen to every song, they comment on every article and I would go so far as to say they probably buy/listen to the music in secrecy. They follow the online crowd even though their identities are generally shrouded in mystery. And when it’s all said and done, the artists you claim to love stay suffering. They don’t even get comments.
I love to champion the artists that are able to play the numbers game. This is a business and somebody has to go out there and sell units to convince these “shirts” that Hip-Hop is the viable, vibrant art form we know it is. We know these artists are dope even if they flop. So, I also champion the artists that aren’t able to play the numbers game the way Drake and Jay-Z do.
Have you ever seen an unknown rapper talk endlessly about their haters?
They not only talk about them, they make songs about haters they don’t really have. Why is this?
It is simple. Hate is the new love and these people want all the hate they can muster, because it is a sign of your success in this era. These people don’t even have haters, but long for them like Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. longed for unity among the races. Somewhere, Willie Lynch is laughing hysterically.
This hate is killing our Hip-Hop community. In the 90’s, everybody hated MC Hammer. In 2010, Rick Ross is “MC Hammer” (by his own admission). But, they didn’t stop MC Hammer in the 90’s. He overcame that and remains as active as ever. So, now everybody hates Rick Ross in 2010…how does that set him up?
Don’t answer that.
Just answer this:
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
The Next Part On “Hate Is The New Love” Goes To The Artists.Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur is a co-founder in AllHipHop.com. He can be found at www.twitter.com/chuckcreekmur.
