Maybe Its Best You Quit While You’re Ahead
Can we stop it now with all the rappers who are vying for attention by threatening to quit the rap game? It seems newcomer and Kanye little brother Kid Cudi let us know through his blog, caps and all (is that a clause in the G.O.O.D. Music contract?) that he plans on hanging up his mic – before his album has even come out:
“AFTER THE RELEASE OF MY FIRST LP THIS SUMMER, IAM NOT MAKING ANY MORE SOLO ALBUMS. IAM FALLIN BACK ON BEING A ARTIST. THE DRAMA THAT COMES WITH IT IS MORE OVERWHELMING THAN THE SHIT I WAS DEALING WIT WHEN I WAS PISS POOR BROKE. MY FRIENDS GET MAD AT ME, SAY IVE CHANGED, ONE OF THE ONLY HOMIES I GOT IN THIS GAME, WALE, IS WORRIED ABOUT ME CUZ OF SHIT HE HEARS.”
Hold up, doesn’t THAT blog post sound like high school? At least that’s what the girls sounded like back in my educational institution. Cudi is the latest in a long line of rappers who have felt the pressure of fame gripping a little too tightly and have openly mused about throwing it all away for a life of, well, not being a rapper. The Game, Eminem, Lupe Fiasco have all threatened to quit for various reasons over the years. You don’t appreciate my struggle, they say. Oh, its hard out here for a rapper, we’re told. The business is shady, son. Maybe they want to quit they release their version of Harlem World they know they have in them.
Okay – I’m calling your bluff. Quit. Leave. Now. Pack up you ish, get the eff out of the booth and leave. And don’t come back. Then, we’ll check in with you a year, maybe two, later and see what’s poppin. Finally got that model train painted? Catching up on back issues of Reader’s Digest? How’s life now?
Artists are artists because they have talent. But they also have an overwhelming desire to be recognized. Some would call it narcissism. I would call it deep-seeded, pathological narcissism. They have chosen to live their life on a stage because their ego, or superego or ID – or whatever label Freud threw at it – took over a significant portion of their mental reasoning. They need to be famous. Or at least more famous than you.
Here’s my guess: being formerly famous sucks way more than being famous. Sure the money will provide the comfort of not having to want for things. But there’s no way to fill up your ego’s checking account. That’s where you’ll really be declaring bankruptcy.
I was looking forward to your album, Cudi, but you go on ahead and and in your resignation letter. Let hungry cats who didn’t get co-signed by Mr. West a chance to shine. At least they’d have an appreciation for the lottery they just hit.
Tags: Eminem, Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Mase, The Game
I agree, just talked about this on my radio show today, rappers nowadays don’t realize the oppurtunity they are given with their talent, and those in Cudi’s position, are calling it quits because of a few hard bumps along the road to success that others would die for??? Get out of here with that, these rappers need to toughen up or get the f$%# out, for real, u wanna talk about struggle, talk to Kane, Rakim, Kool G, KRS, and then we can talk…Good Post!!
Wow this is complete and utter bullshit one of the biggest up and commers is leaving What the hell.
Bravo. This is what I thought while I read this post.
I get so sick of hearing rappers talking about theyre going to retire….and they’re developing a higher sense of self worth earlier and earlier.
At least the game, eminem, jay-z and too short all have multiplatinum albums under their belt. This fool has like 2 hot mixtapes and he’s talking about leaving already?
Get the fuck outta here….. no seriously… get the fuck out of here. retire.
Throwing in Freud and the super ID! Niceee.
I personally never felt Cudi or any of the cats Kanye has been cosigning, so I could give a fuck less about retirement. Seems like the next gimmick in the hip hop world.
Absolutely. Contractual obligations are no joke. I agree that it can be a bit of a rude awakening for some, but damn it – man up.
C’mon Fawkes – “Day N’ Nite” was dope.
Yeah, it makes me wonder if I should spend my money or time on a dude that places so little value on actually making it as an artist. I see so many hungry rappers doing whatever they can to get their music heard and promote themselves. I’d love the record company to be like: “Done and done. We’re shelving your album. We’ll take that advance money now.”
He ain’t leaving. I’m sure of it. Guy’s just popping off at the mouth. If he does, he’s one of the stupidest dudes on the planet. I’ll dress up as him and lip sync if for a 1/4 of what they’re paying him. That would be worth the price of admission right there.
Word. People seem to forget that radio, TV and labels were not hearing rappers at all only 15 years ago. Talk about taking your position for granted.
I won’t miss him. Personally I don’t see what’s so special about the dude. Cats get put on so fast now. Far from the rigorous grind pre-internet days when getting in front of an A&R or label exec was the mission and close to impossible.