Hip Hop & The Drug Culture: Marijuana

If there is one recreational drug that a good amount of Americans want legalized it’s the ever talked about controlled substance called marijuana. Known by the name of cannabis also, marijuana is a drug that’s universally used around the world by all ages, races, and countries on planet earth. Many current celebrities that are athletes and entertainers have been caught illegally possessing marijuana, and have made negative news press from doing such an act. Listening to music is one of the many activities that marijuana smokers partake in while experiencing a highness as a side effect. There have been many odes from every music genre to the woman called “Mary Jane,” which is a slang term for the substance. With hip hop rising as the latest form of musical expression in pop culture over the last 40 years, it’s only fitting as an art that it has a love connection with marijuana. There are various rappers who have had and still have a huge association with the drug. Marijuana along with other addictive substances is a tool and an ingredient that has played a part in the recording process of albums for rappers also. With the drug being very visible in the genre through lyric references, emcee’s photos, and rap videos, the impact of marijuana on hip hop is evident for everyone to see.

While rap music was growing into a distinct popular movement in the 1980s, marijuana didn’t play a major factor in the genre early on. Although people were smoking weed during this time, the content of rap music was still stuck on cocaine and heroin. Since hip hop comes from the streets, which is an environment where marijuana is commonly found, it’s only inevitable that rappers would gravitate towards the drug. Rap’s mainstream appeal continued to grow in the late 1980s and early 1990s with the arrival of “gangsta rap,” which was popularized on the West Coast. With the western region of the US being a go to area for weed consumption and growth, it only makes sense for their music to reflect the culture of smoking marijuana. Artists like N.W.A. and Ice-T, who put West Coast rap on the map nationally, conveyed and rapped about smoking marijuana in their songs and on rap videos as a commonality of California living. As listeners started to turn their ears toward the style of music on the left side, marijuana quickly became one of the main drugs to reference along with heroin and cocaine in the genre.

 

One pivotal hip hop album that’s sonically West Coast is the 1992 LP The Chronic. The album is the first solo project by the influential and former N.W.A. producer/rapper Dr. Dre. This quintessential body of work impacted both the urban and pop charts, and is arguably the first marijuana themed project. Chronic is a very powerful strand of marijuana that’s produced in California. So it only makes sense for Dr. Dre to give his first music project in the post N.W.A. era this name to indicate that he has the strongest material on the rap market. The album cover also pays homage to the Zig-Zag rolling papers for further promotion as a pro-weed project. The singles of “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” “Let Me Ride,” and “Dre Day” were all Top 40 pop hits from The Chronic in 1993. Having such huge records propelled the body of work to sell over eight million records worldwide solidifying Dr. Dre as a bankable solo producer/rapper. These songs and most of the LP showcased the talent of Dr. Dre’s rising star Snoop Dogg. The perception of Snoop Dogg right off the bat from his laid back rap style and weed references was that he was the ultimate chronic smoker. Snoop Dogg rode this wave of success from The Chronic by having one of the most anticipated debut albums of all time in mainstream music with Doggystyle in 1993. Doggystyle sold over 800,000 copies in its first week alone making it one of the highest selling LPs for a debut artist ever still to this day. One of the Top 10 pop hits on the project entitled “Gin & Juice” has the catchy lyrics in the chorus such as “rollin’ down the street, smokin’ indo, sippin’ on gin & juice.” Indo happens to be a slang term for a strong brand of marijuana that’s a crossbreed of Indonesian indica strains with western sativa. The back cover of Doggystyle also features Snoop Dogg with a joint in his mouth, which is a rolled marijuana cigarette. The success of Doggystyle along with Snoop Dogg’s productivity and maintained relevance throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and even now in the 2010s decade has made him the ultimate ambassador for weed. His huge visibility of smoking the drug on camera and on his music videos makes it hard for fans to not recognize his bond with cannabis. 

With the presentation of marijuana to mainstream America from the success of The Chronic, there was a floodgate of marijuana dedication records in rap throughout the rest of the 1990s. Every region in rap expressed their sentiments toward weed. One Mid West rap group that emerged in the mid-1990s who has made multiple odes to marijuana is Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Their first melodic tracks for the drug were “Budsmokers Only” and “Buddah Lovaz” on their second album E. 1999 Eternal, which came out in 1995. Throughout the rest of their career they never shied away from advocating the substance. While Bone Thugs was making their impact on the rap game in the mid-1990s, on the West Coast there was the ultimate homage to marijuana that was heard on every radio station. The Luniz who was a rap duo from Oakland, California released their huge hit record “I Got 5 On It” in 1995. The song became a Top 10 hit on the pop charts, and is arguably the most memorable weed anthem of all time. During the same year, the East Coast duo Method Man & Redman put out their debut single “How High.” The song which also promoted marijuana reached the Top 15 on the pop charts, and presented the pair as a rap version of Cheech and Chong. Going back to the Mid West more specifically Chicago, the short lived rap quartet Crucial Conflict released the marijuana themed single “Hay” in 1996. The song was certified gold, and peaked at No. 18 on the pop charts. Southern lyricist Scarface put out the weed love song “Mary Jane,” which is the same title for Rick James’s 1978 hit record. Scarface’s professed affection for marijuana on this 1997 song has become a fan favorite for those who love his music. New Orleans native Mystikal, who was in his heyday commercially in the late 1990s-early 2000s, made a series of weed anthems on all of his studio albums for a smoker’s listening pleasure. Even the legendary Dr. Dre composed his 1999 comeback album 2001 also known as The Chronic 2001, which is a project that revitalized West Coast rap at the time. The LP had several marijuana references, and sold over 6 million copies in the US alone in the transition to the new millennium and 21^st Century in 2000. The album also further introduced the world to Dr. Dre’s protégé Eminem, who is the highest selling rapper of all time.

In the mist of the 2000s, marijuana continued to be a part of hip hop’s content. One hit wonder Afroman released his signature hit record “Because I Got High” in 2001. The song reached No. 13 on the pop charts, and is arguably the first catchy and impactful song about weed in the 2000s. During this same year the dynamic duo of Method Man & Redman added to their perception of being heavy weed smokers by starring in the stoner comedy film How High. The flick grossed over $31 million, and has become one of the more notable projects for the stoner comedy sub-genre. Respectable East Coast rapper Styles P emerged as a solo artist in 2002 with his debut album A Gangster And A Gentleman showcasing the popular single “Good Times (I Get High).” The record reached No. 22 on the pop charts, and is still Styles P’s biggest hit to date. Throughout the rest of the 2000s decade, emcees continued to have marijuana as a topic to rap about in plenty of songs. Rappers then and even now showcase themselves smoking the drug in a great abundance on music videos and on online vlogs.

In a current social climate where more people are advocating the legalization of marijuana in all states, rappers are still some of the ultimate spokespeople for the drug as celebrities. With the 2010s being in full effect, there has been a new crop of entertainers who are carrying the torch as rappers/weed smokers. The likes of Kid Cudi, Curren$y, and Mac Miller just to name a few are the ones who are keeping that bond between marijuana and rapper a never ending marriage. One particular person who is probably the new front runner for using weed recreationally is rapper Wiz Khalifa. In the earlier stages of his music career he wasted no time to associate himself with the substance. His acclaimed mixtape that garnered him his first bit of mainstream attention was Kush & Orange Juice, which was released in 2010. Kush so happens to be another potent strand of cannabis that’s very popular on the weed market for people who want a greater level of being high. This specific type of marijuana has been recently rapped about on numerous songs that you hear on the radio every day. So it’s only appropriate for Wiz Khalifa to use the word Kush in the title of his mixtape since smoking marijuana is prevalent to his subject matter. Kush & Orange Juice at the time of its release in the spring of 2010 became relevant in the music world by being the No. 1 search and trending topic on the popular mediums of Google and Twitter. The mixtape helped Wiz Khalifa land a major label deal with Atlantic Records by the end of the summer in 2010. Wiz Khalifa released his major label debut album in the spring of 2011 entitled Rolling Papers. The title of the project continued to portray Wiz as a weed enthusiast. Rolling papers is one of the few things and key ingredients used to roll up marijuana and smoke it actively. The first single off Rolling Papers which is “Black And Yellow” became a No. 1 hit on the pop charts, and helped the album to sell over 600,00 copies overall. To add to his legacy as an entertainer he hooked up with Snoop Dogg as a recording duo since weed is what he is very known for. With Snoop being an older artist it’s almost like he’s passing the torch on to Wiz, who is in his mid-20s, as someone to be very visible as a lover of marijuana. As a pair the two put out the direct-to-DVD stoner comedy similar to Method Man & Redman’s How High entitled Mac And Devin Go To High School in 2012. The movie was accompanied by a collaborative and soundtrack album by both artists. The lead single off the project called “Young, Wild & Free” is added to the long anthology of weed anthems in rap music’s history. The song reached the Top 10 on the pop charts, and was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year. Wiz is for sure an indication that marijuana won’t fade away as a topic to speak on content wise. 

With hip hop and marijuana being presented as something that has an everlasting bond, just maybe rappers can use their celebrity to help with the full legalization of the drug. Some of the most iconic and classic records within the genre probably wouldn’t have been recorded without the influence of the substance.                                                             

 

Hip Hop & The Drug Culture: Cocaine

There are many topics that are connected to hip hop artists and hip hop content. Reoccurring themes like money, cars, women, politics, and every other thing you can think of has been addressed by your favorite rapper on a song. It’s hard to think about certain emcees, and not tie in various associations to them that compliment their overall brand. One prevalent theme that has a major effect on the hip hop culture is drugs. Throughout the history of hip hop there have been various drugs especially illegal ones receiving recognition. A drug in particular that fits this description is the substance of cocaine.

Cocaine has been referenced in hip hop since the emergence of the genre to the mass public. Various New York rappers from the early 1980s have implemented the drug in their stage name. Rap’s first popular solo artist Kurtis Blow whose real name is Kurtis Walker, used “Blow” as his last name because the word is a slang term for cocaine in its powdered form. Another slang term for powdered cocaine is the word “Ski.” Other New York entertainers in rap’s early stages like Love Bug Starski and Busy Bee Starski also used the term in their moniker. Legendary emcee Grandmaster Melle Mel, who is a rap pioneer, even made a signature song about cocaine entitled “White Lines (Don’t Do It).” This record that was released in 1983, spoke against the dangers of cocaine addiction and drug smuggling. The anti-drug hit also peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks Chart in the same year.

 

In 1984, there was a new form of cocaine that infiltrated inner-city America in great numbers. Crack became the new drug that hit the market as a freebase form of cocaine that could be smoked since it can only be snorted when it’s powdered. Crack cocaine instantly became the ultimate substance that ruled the drug trade in inner-cities from the mid 1980s on into the 1990s. Drug dealers who sold mass amounts of crack cocaine like “Freeway” Ricky Ross and Rayful Edmond III became iconic figures in the ghetto like popular rap stars during this era. Rappers even until this day have mentioned and romanticized the lifestyles of crack cocaine drug lords in their storytelling songs. Emcees like LL Cool J and Run-D.M.C., who were prominent entertainers during the rise of crack cocaine, emulated the flashy apparel of drug dealers from their neighborhoods. Items like fedora hats, gold dookie rope chains, and velour jumpsuits became fashionable for rappers and fans of rap music.

Transitioning into the late 1980s and the early 1990s saw the rise of gangsta rap to the genre in the mist of the crack epidemic, which was from 1984-1990. Through this style of music, rappers started to glamorize selling crack as fictional drug dealers in their songs. Some of these artists started to associate themselves with drug dealers and gangsters who were considered “street legends” from selling crack for more street credibility. The connection between rappers and drug dealers was inevitable in an art form that is in love with money. Since the lifestyle, fashion, and idolization of drug dealers was brought forth to the mainstream in rap, it was only a matter of time before these same people wanted to try their luck in a new field.

As the 1990s were in progress, some of these same “street legends” saw how lucrative the rap business was, and wanted a piece of the pie also. Drug dealers and felons who sold crack on the gritty streets of the ghetto started to hang out with rappers more frequently. They took on the roles of security guards, street entourages, and label backers as muscle for the rap stars. Becoming managers, promoters, and executive producers also helped to make the rap game the new crack game. Drug money started to fund studio time for up and coming emcees who wanted to fulfill their rap dreams. Successful rap labels like Ruthless and Roc-A-Fella Records gathered their financial resources from crack and other drug sales to be viable entities in the industry.

Even rappers in the 1990s acted like respected drug dealers with securing various deals in the music industry. A real successful drug seller in the crack epidemic had multiple drug spots where they would receive their financial gain. Rappers started to further increase their tax bracket with the different ways they made money through various avenues. Sources of income like endorsement deals with shoe and clothing companies, acting in movies, and owning record labels diversified the overall brands of rappers as entertainers. Rapper/producer RZA, who is a member and founder of The Wu-Tang Clan, operated like a crack dealer with numerous drug spots. He helped to bring forth multiple record deals with different labels for his group members at the height of the entity’s popularity in the mid-late 1990s. Planting seeds at the top rap labels at the time like Def Jam, Epic Street, and Elektra Records conveyed the hustler’s spirit in RZA as a business man. As a person himself who sold crack before his music career began, one can say that he successfully made the transition from the streets into the entertainment field with the same money making mentality. Other music moguls like Russell Simmons, P. Diddy, and Master P facilitated in taking rap into another dimension with endless possibilities financially from having several businesses. Becoming more than just an emcee, and putting forth a great effort into other ventures in the 1990s going into the 21^st Century showed the evolution of rappers in the business arena.

 

The 2000s and 2010s has and still displays mainstream rap artists as people who can “bust a flow” and wear a suit in business meetings. Although emcees still tell exaggerated stories about selling cocaine in their music, the net worth of these people is even greater than ever in this legal industry. Two particular rappers who currently embody the change from corner to corporate hustling are 50 Cent and Jay-Z. These native New Yorkers have played an integral part in the elevation of how much a rapper can gross financially. Both entrepreneurs sold drugs while crack was in high demand on the East Coast. They also grew up in impoverish neighborhoods in New York City before becoming rap superstars. Forbes, which is a magazine that provides information about all money matters, annually ranks the wealthiest artists in the rap genre. Jay-Z and 50 Cent have both made it to the top five of this specific ranking for the past several years. 50 Cent whose real name is Curtis Jackson grew up and sold drugs in the rough Queens neighborhood of South Jamaica. This is the same section that the infamous drug trafficker Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff came from and ran a crack distribution empire at in the 1980s. Mr. Jackson reached #5 on the Forbes Hip Hop’s Wealthiest Artist List for 2013 with an estimated net worth of $125 million. His huge earnings from the sale of the energy drink Vitaminwater in 2007, which gave him $100 million after taxes, is arguably the main reason why he’s on this Forbes list year after year. Other businesses like his SMS Audio headphones and his SK Energy shot, which is second in the market only to the 5-Hour Energy brand, keeps him “rolling in the doe” as a business man.

 

Jay-Z whose government name is Sean Carter was raised in Marcy Houses, which is a housing project of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn. Before the release of his debut album in 1996, Jay-Z sold drugs in the town and states of Trenton, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland. He hustled the drugs of crack and opium from the late 1980s until 1995, which is a year before he gained some mainstream popularity as an artist. His rise as an entrepreneur emerged in 1995 when started his own record label entitled Roc-A-Fella Records with business partners Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs. Achieving a major distribution deal with Priority Records in 1996 helped him to put out his 1^st album Reasonable Doubt, which garnered some commercial success. Gaining more mainstream success as an artist in the late 1990s helped him, Dash, and Biggs start the popular Rocawear clothing line in 1999. His sale of his share in the company in 2007 earned him $204 million. Even after all three of them sold their interests in Roc-A-Fella Records in 2004, Jay-Z went on to still pursue other business ventures. Deals like his $150 million agreement with the entertainment company Live Nation, starting his new Roc Nation record label, and having a stake in the multi-purpose facility of the Barclays Center in his hometown of Brooklyn keeps Mr. Carter busy. He captured the #2 spot on the Forbes Hip Hop’s Wealthiest Artist List for 2013 with an estimated net worth of $475 million. Jay-Z is also the only rapper to ever grace the cover of the Forbes with the business tycoon Warren Buffett in 2010. Warren Buffett is one of the richest people in the world with a net worth of $53.5 billion. Overall I find it very interesting that a person like Jay-Z, who is an African-American man that sold crack in the USA, graced a magazine cover with a person who comes from a totally different background than him. Buffett is the son of a former U.S. House of Representative from the state of Nebraska, while Jay-Z is the product of the New York City housing projects system. Jay-Z’s ascension shows that anyone can achieve the American dream no matter where you come from.

Without hip hop’s connection to the drug of cocaine rather it be in its powdered or crack form, one can question how the genre would’ve evolved as a whole especially with being a launching pad into other businesses. In a society that’s infatuated with sex, drugs, and violence through all mass mediums, hip hop will continue to maintain the theme of cocaine and other addictive substances since it resonates with a wide body of people.                                                                                           

          

The CB4 Dynamic Of Hip Hop: The Dichotomy Of Reality And Entertainment

One of the many things that I enjoy in life along with sports, music, and women is the entertaining medium of movies. A genre that’s one of my personal favorites to watch is comedy films. There have been plenty of comedy classics that I still love to this day like Friday, Dumb & Dumber, and Coming To America just to name a few. As of recently one particular comedy that I’ve watched and thought about is the Chris Rock flick CB4. This specific film is a piece of work that I grew up watching since I was a kid. It’s even crazier to think that this film was released 20 years ago in 1993. Still to this day CB4 is a movie that I enjoy, and haven’t out grown a likeness for as I got older. CB4 is a flick that parodies the once popular rap group N.W.A. and other rap acts who performed gangsta rap in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film in my honest opinion is a staple for people like me who are big fans of Chris Rock and urban comedies. Although the project is not highly received critically in mainstream cinema, I feel that the movie has an underlining message that possibly went unnoticed when released to the masses. Giving the landscape of the rap game, and how rappers are perceived by their fan base and in the media image wise, CB4 is still very relevant today from the movie’s plot.

The storyline of CB4 consists of three young friends and aspiring rappers who initially haven’t found their big break into the rap industry. The trio includes the characters of Albert Brown, Euridipes Smalls, and Otis Jackson who are played by Chris Rock, Allen Payne, and Dearon Thompson. To develop a buzz around their location, they perform in a night club owned by a local drug kingpin named Gusto who is played by actor/comedian Charlie Murphy. After they are banned from performing in the club, the main character Albert (Chris Rock) visits Gusto in his establishment to publicly apologize to him. In this attempt to be granted another chance for the group to perform at the night spot, the police rush into the place and arrest Gusto. With the arrest and attempted apology happening simultaneously, Gusto instantly believes that Albert set him up to be caught by the police. Gusto also swears to get revenge upon Albert and his friends once he is released from jail for selling illegal drugs. Shortly after Gusto is incarcerated Albert conjures up a plan for him, Euridipes, and Otis to collectively become a gangsta rap group entitled CB4 (Cell Block 4). Within CB4, Albert decides to take upon the biggest risk of being the front man of the group. As the front man, he steals the criminal and infamous reputation/background of Gusto adopting the rap moniker “MC Gusto.” Although Albert and his friends are from a middle-class environment in the made up town Locash, California, their personification as gangsters help the group in achieving mass popularity. CB4 reaches the top of the pop charts with controversial hits like "Straight Outta Locash" and “Sweat Of My Balls.” Their rise to fame is even documented on camera by an aspiring director looking for a big break in the film industry. 

In the midst of their reign in the rap world, Gusto escapes from jail and is infuriated that Albert stole his identity for monetary gain. Gusto seeks his revenge on CB4 by making Albert appear to be the gangster he pretends to be in a staged robbery. Gusto gets the staged robbery on tape, and threatens to put it out publicly, causing Albert to temporarily terminate the group. Although Gusto eventually goes back to jail at the climax of the movie, Albert gives up the pretense of being a gangster both before and after the group reunites.

Now while reading this blog you’re probably thinking what the storyline of CB4 has to do with the rap game in general. CB4’s plot conveys the fine line between the division of reality and entertainment, and how both aspects get mixed up for listeners of rap music. Rap music is the main genre where its listeners sometimes want the rapper to become the song. This basically consists of rappers being a live representation of the content and characters that they rap about from their narratives. If a rapper speaks on certain street and gangsta themes, but hasn’t had any true connection with that lifestyle, then his or her music can lose credibility with the audience. Even now days with the element of the internet exposing a rapper’s past before he or she gained fame can add a negative perception of an artist. Since hip hop is something that originated from the ghetto and the streets, that element of appealing to people from that environment through the music will always be in place. Some rappers even go as far as affiliating themselves with an entourage of people who are from the ghetto to add more “street credibility” to their persona. One can attribute the lines between reality and entertainment being blurred with the emergence of gangsta rap.

Music fans were introduced to gangsta rap in the mainstream with the release of the album Straight Outta Compton by the influential group N.W.A. This groundbreaking project was released in 1988, and ultimately changed the direction of hip hop. After this album gained notoriety, lyricism that was based on the gangster lifestyle became a factor to drive record sales. The LP spawned the first major controversy regarding rap lyrics with the song “F*** Tha Police.” This pivotal record in rap music was a protest song against cops, and even garnered a letter from the assistant director of the FBI. This particular song along with others on the album helped Straight Outta Compton to go double platinum without any airplay or major tours. Many people viewed the album as something that glamorized gang violence, but some felt the LP reflected the reality of the street life in Compton, California and South Los Angeles. The five man wrecking crew of Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and DJ Yella became the world’s most dangerous group.

Although N.W.A. at the time were the godfathers of gangsta rap, the reality was that Eazy-E was the only member with a criminal record and a drug dealing past. None of the other members had any street ties, and were only rapping about the street environment. Dr. Dre who was the producer of the group was a part of an electro-funk and electro-rap group called The World Class Wreckin’ Cru just a few years before he joined N.W.A. His persona as a part of The World Class Wreckin’ Cru was a total 180 from how he was perceived as a gangsta rapper. During his stint with N.W.A. his attire consisted of the color of black, Los Angeles Raiders hats, and stocking caps. In The World Class Wreckin’ Cru he wore outfits with glitzy purple leather suits, sequin suits, and a stethoscope to go along with his character as a doctor/surgeon. One can argue that this “infamous” gangster was once influence by the fashion of Prince and Michael Jackson during the Thriller era in the mid 1980s. Even after he ended his stint with N.W.A. in the early 1990s, Dr. Dre continued to be an influential force in the gangsta rap sub-genre throughout the rest of the 1990s as a solo artist/producer. On the popular hip hop documentary entitled The Show, Dr. Dre recited in an interview that as a rap artist the music “is all entertainment.” He also stated that anyone who tries to live up to what they hear on records through gangsta rap is “f****** stupid.”

 

Another artist who got caught up back in the day with portraying a lifestyle on wax that didn’t add up to her personal background was the rapper Bo$$. The entertainer was arguably the first female gangsta rapper in the mid 1990s. Bo$$ also became the first female rapper to be signed to Russell Simmons Def Jam West label. Although she grew up in Detroit, she later moved to Los Angeles before receiving a record deal. Her debut album Born Gangstaz, which was released in 1993, showcased her talking about selling illegal drugs in Compton and being a certified killer. Born Gangstaz had two #1 singles on the Rap Charts with “Deeper” and “Recipe Of A Hoe.” Her career took a down turn in 1994 when a Wall Street Journal reporter published a story exposing that Bo$$ had a middle class upbringing in Detroit. The report also revealed that Bo$$, whose real name is Lichelle Laws, had two deacon parents who constantly sent her money while she lived in Los Angeles. Even though the Def Jam label was aware of her background when they signed her, her popularity took an instant decline. This downward spiral resulted in her never releasing another album in the mainstream ever again.

As of recent it’s hard to ignore the modern day embodiment of MC Gusto, which is the highly popular rapper Rick Ross. The man who was born William Roberts II, derived his rap name from the 1980s drug trafficker “Freeway” Ricky Ross. Similar to other gangsta rappers like Scarface, Noreaga, and Jim Jones, Rick Ross followed suit with a name that came from a notorious figure. Throughout Rick Ross’s albums he has rapped about having cocaine distribution across the Atlantic Ocean, and knowing Pablo Escobar and “the real Noriega.” Rap listeners didn’t think anything negative about his fictitious drug connects and name dropping until the year of 2008. In this particular year, Rick Ross was exposed by the website The Smoking Gun. The intention of The Smoking Gun site is to bring to the public damning and shocking information that mainstream media outlets haven’t report. Their information is considered legitimate since they provide legal documents, arrest records, and mug shots on a daily basis on the site. In connection with Rick Ross, The Smoking Gun provided details linking Ross’s security number to an 18-month stint as a correctional officer at the South Florida Reception Center. The entity also produced a photograph first publicized by the gossip website Media Take Out of Ross in his correctional officer uniform. In the beginning, Ross denied the photograph was of him in interviews, but later admitted that he worked as a correctional officer in the late 1990s. After his past became public knowledge, “Freeway” Ricky Ross claimed that Roberts used his name and profile for profit. Even in 2013, “Freeway” is still going to court with a copyright infringement lawsuit he’s hopes to win against Roberts after numerous failed attempts. Although you can argue his street credibility might have taken a drop since The Smoking Gun report, he is still one of the most popular rappers in the industry. Unlike Bo$$, Ross continued to release music after his scandal, and is one of the go to guys for collaborations in rap music. Ross stays consistent with his material through albums and mixtapes, and has maintained his street audience despite the controversy. Even though his content doesn’t live up to the lack of “work” he’s put on the streets, you have to admire someone who has overcome negativity to still have a prosperous career. Either more fans have lightened up on caring about a rapper’s background, or the music is just that good to make listeners forgive and forget.

 

Although some of the current rap fan base is solely focused on an emcee’s music, there are still a good amount of fans who don’t draw that fine line between entertainment and “keeping it real” on and off wax. Relevant rappers like Gucci Mane, T.I., Beanie Sigel, and Lil Boosie are lauded in the streets and fans for being “real n*****.” In actuality these specific entertainers haven’t fully separated the life of the streets from the life of fame. Dabbling in both worlds has resulted in them serving jail and prison time, which negatively effects their production and momentum as creative individuals. Artists such as Lil Wayne, Jim Jones, and The Game have lyrically acknowledged their gang affiliations to make their rap persona seem more authentic. Even the late great 2Pac, who is arguably the most influential rapper of all time, is looked upon as the “realest” artist ever in the genre still to this day by his diehard fan base and some hip hop purists. Overall I am a huge 2Pac fan, but I have to point out that he didn’t have a criminal record until he was a rapper, and caught a sexual assault charge in 1994. He also attended a performing arts high school with famous actress Jada Pinkett Smith, and was an aspiring thespian himself, which was evident in his multiple movie roles. With a background like this, how “thugged out” could Pac be even if he had “thug life” tatted across his stomach. At the end of the day one can argue that Pac forgot he wasn’t really a gangster, and certain decisions that he made ultimately caused his demise.

Overall the CB4 effect on hip hop in comparison with the profitability of gangsta rap isn’t a problem if every listener realizes the music is entertainment and nothing more than that. Advertising gangsta rap as the full equivalent and epitome of reality in the mainstream will continue to blur the lines for future generations of rap lovers. Maybe if there was more morality between record label executives when it comes to the content that’s released, then kids with impressionable minds can grasp the distinction between reality and entertainment.