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Friday, May 2, 2008
MP3 Song of the Week: It’s Lil’ Wayne, Bitch!
Posted by on Fri, May 2 at 2:56 PM
For the last week just about all I’ve been listening to is Lil’ Wayne’s Da Drought 3. It’s not news of course, but Weezy F B is the Best Rapper Alive. I can’t get enough— Song of the Week, for sure. Well, there are a few from this mixtape, really. But to simplify we’ll go with “We Takin’ Over”, although “Upgrade” and “New Cash Money” are equally strong.
This is a bit of a roundabout, but go with me: I’ve been preparing to interview wacked-out dandy-fop Daniel Bejar of Destroyer, who I find one of the premiere lyricists of the day. I’ve been wondering who else belongs in this category. You’re going to think I’ve lost it, if indeed you ever thought I had it (rest assured, I do), but Lil Wayne is a part of this group. Fuck off, it’s true. He might be a little goofy, trite at times, but dude twists phrases in some seriously strange and clever ways.
Ahh, but it’s Friday and the sun is out. So let’s drop this paper-thin attempt at serious criticism and just crank up the stereo.
Listen Loud: “We Takin’ Over”
Comments
i hate to use the term overrated [i feel as though it's a dismissive term to negate the quality of artists that are actually really good], but calling weezy "the best rapper alive" does fall under the umbrella of overrating something.
as long as there's a jay-z, nas, or even an sorely underrated artist like royce the 5'9" walking the earth, i'm not sure if weezy could have the title correctly bestowed upon him.
as far as your inquiry of the the world's best lyricists today, i agree that bejar should be on this list. to be honest, wayne should too, but just not as the "best rapper alive." in addition: there's yoni wolf from why?, kyle field of little wings, lupe fiasco, who has incredible technical skill as a rapper.
then, there's the old guard: silver jews' david berman, bill callahan, and john darnielle. even though each of these guys are rounding 20 years [or even greater] of songwriting, i think that each of them have gotten better, and they are among the best lyricists of AT LEAST the last decade.
also, i think that issac brock doesn't get enough credit as a writer. sometimes, i think his words hold the key to the universe.
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Weezy is a talented rapper. Can't argue that.
But all this "Best Rapper Alive" talk is completely ridiculous...a product of self-made hype.
There are few musicians in the world as overrated as Weezy right now.