March 18, 2013

Diversionary Tactics: Max's Commentary On The Billboard Hot Rap Singles Charts (Week Ending March 23, 2013)



The last time I wrote specifically about the Hot Rap Singles chart featured in Billboard magazine was nearly five freaking years ago, when the artists written about included Lil Wayne, Shawty Lo, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, and something called a Webbie.  So what better day than today to revisit the charts and see if anything has changed?  (SPOILER ALERT: Lil Wayne is still a fixture.)

Yes, in my quest to do everything except attempting to complete my self-imposed project, I apparently plan on reviving some long-dormant HHID tropes, starting with today's post (because my last article about XXL's list didn't really count).  Does this mean that I plan on bringing back the Drink Coaster write-ups?  Probably not, but if one is looking to see what is wrong (and, admittedly, what may be right) with today's artists, this might be a good place to start.




10.  BAD - WALE FEAT. TIARA THOMAS
After listening to "Bad", I have but a single comment: boy, Wale sure has no fucking idea what audience he's supposed to be pandering to, huh?

9.  ALL GOLD EVERYTHING - TRINIDAD JAMES
Mr. James scored a pretty large co-sign a couple of weeks back, when Justin Timberlake trotted out a vegan-themed parody of his breakthrough single "All Gold Everything" during one of his sketches on Saturday Night Live.  Oh, and also, he got a bunch of A-listers to appear on the official remix.  He also snagged a two million dollar record deal through Def Jam Records (who has, apparently, long since abandoned their role as one of our chosen genre's safe havens), all off of the strength of this one song.  So what does Max think?  It's not a good song, which is obviously what you all thought I was going to write, but that's because this isn't much of a song at all: in reality, it's a one verse wonder where the one "verse" consists solely of catchphrases, bullshit posturing, and a partridge in a pear tree.  However, the beat is fairly interesting, so it's not all bad everything over here.  But come on; the guy rhymes the word "watch" with "watch" on multiple occasions.  You motherfuckers should be ashamed of yourselves.

8.  CAN'T HOLD US - MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FEAT. RAY DALTON
The follow-up to the megahit "Thrift Shop" has nowhere near the novelty value, which is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how much you like or loathe "Thrift Shop".  Ryan Lewis's beat is nowhere near as catchy, and Macklemore is in full-on backpacker mode, spitting for the sake of spitting without resorting to quick punchlines (although I likes his line about wanting to own gold fronts because he grew up listening to the Wu-Tang Clan).  Ray Dalton also isn't quite as charismatic on the hook as Wanz was on the other track.  I don't see this one going very far, although, admittedly, Macklemore did find a somewhat okay way to describe his struggle within the music industry.  So yay?

7.  POETIC JUSTICE - KENDRICK LAMAR FEAT. DRAKE
In my write-up for good kid, m.A.A.d. city, I wrote that I didn't care much for "Poetic Justice", Kendrick's Janet Jackson-sampling Aubrey collaboration.  Since then, Aftermath released it as a single (of course), shot a video (duh), and it has become a mild hit (not surprising).  What also isn't surprising is how boring I still find this song to be today.  I know a lot of folks (including many readers of this very site) find "Poetic Justice" to be powerful, emotional, or entertaining on some level, but I just don't see/hear it: the Janet sample isn't as pronounced as it could be, which somehow has the adverse effect of making the sound bite sound less subtle than it actually is, and I still don't care for K-Dot's verses.  Oh, and Drake appears on here, too.

6.  GANGNAM STYLE - PSY
Wait, this is still a thing?  How the shit is this song still on the chart?

5.  FUCKIN' PROBLEMS - A$AP ROCKY FEAT. 2 CHAINZ, DRAKE, & KENDRICK LAMAR
Kudos to A$AP Rocky on scoring a pretty major hit with a song called "Fuckin' Problems" (and somehow convincing a major label, RCA, to release it to radio).  As everyone and their mother has already taken great pains to point out, the Noah "40" Shebib beat is contagious, and the limited use of Tity Boi on the hook guarantees that Max will find his contribution goofy and not grating.  However, the main fuckin' problem on this track is Rocky himself: he sounds decent, but by surrounding himself with bigger name Drake (who turns in a stellar guest appearance that actually sounds like he was having something approximating fun while spilling his verse onto his notepad) and with (much) better lyricist K-Dot, he inadvertently minimizes his own contribution: there's no fucking way that anyone listens to "Fuckin' Problems" for A$AP.  Still, for what is apparently a radio-friendly song, this is certainly one of the better ones out there today.  (Taken from the A$AP Rocky write-up that may or may not be forthcoming, depending on what mood I wake up in that morning.)

4.  FEEL THIS MOMENT - PITBULL FEAT. CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Pitbull doesn't really get much shine on HHID, mainly because he's shifted his focus toward conquering pop music and also isn't that great of a rapper.  But I realize that he is a man who exists, and on this collaboration with The Voice's Christina Aguilera, whose career I truly do feel sorry for, he continues to be a man who exists, just not necessarily on my blog.  Although he scores demerits for swiping the beat from a-Ha's "Take On Me" (a song I fucking love, no bullshit): I've found very few instances where a rapper can lift from a New Wave song and make me not angry, so there's that.

3.  BITCHES LOVE ME - LIL WAYNE FEAT. DRAKE & FUTURE
Yes, but why?  You look like the physical manifestation of what a H.P. Lovecraft-ian demon may appear to be, and you did so on purpose.

2.  STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM - DRAKE
Aubrey seems to make a point of cramming as many ideas he can into any of his performances, so when I first listened to "Started From The Bottom", the first single from his upcoming album, I was struck with just how sparse it is.  Drake really isn't saying a goddamn motherfucking thing on here: there are flashes of "I used to fight with my mother" and "I still have the friends I had before I became famous" and "I'll sell you the wheelchair my character used on Degrassi: The Next Generation if you're interested", but the Drake that appears on this Mike Zombie-produced track is in full-on "[I] don't give a fuck about you"-mode, and his lyrics almost smack the listener in the face for expecting something deeper or even faux-deep (such as, oh, everything else in the man's back catalog).  However, I enjoy the shit out of this song, and not just because the hook is catchy: that instrumental reaches for K-Dot moodiness before breaking down into a two-step, and is all the better for it.  But for the better Drizzy performance, one should look a few songs higher.

1.  THRIFT SHOP - MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FEAT. WANZ
I've already said my piece about this track, but I'll repeat again for those in the back: the dude singing the hook is both hilarious and awesome.  I can see that this song has lost a lot of momentum, though, so hopefully Macklemore and Lewis have already secured their two-year residency at the Encore, because today's audience is fickle as fuck.

-Max

38 comments:

  1. Gangnam Style isnt really considered rap/hip hop is it? Some of the tracks here are actually not terrible, which im sure surprised someone here besides me. Poetic Justice, Started From the Bottom, Thrift Shop, and Fuckin Problems are all ok to good in my book, so well done hip hop. Also looking forward to A$AP review...album is much better than the mixtape

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    1. You might be the most unbias person in Maxs comments section. I notice everybody that comments on here hates commercial HipHop, Atleast you understand that everything doesn't have to be "superlyrical" to be good.

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    2. yeah i realized not too long ago that a rapper doesn't have to sound a certain way to be good. I also stopped telling myself that i wasn't "supposed" to like certain artists, many of which are mainstream. Everyone has their taste, and i'm fine with that, i just feel people allow pre conceived judgements to sway their opinions before they give a rapper a shot. (not saying anyone here does that) Please note (and Max will like this) i didnt really start thinking like this until i delved into other genres of music more regularly.

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  2. That was a nerdy ass burn to Lil Wayne.

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  3. ^^^^^Technically Psy/Gangnam style is considered Hip Hop in Korea over here in the states we call it K-Pop (weird ain't it)also I thought Poetic Justice was dope (even though it's a mild hit) as for the others they should be placed in the Pop section of Billboard

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  4. Why do you even listen to Hip-Hop? I'm just wondering because I never seen someone complain so much in my life. If you hate new rap just stick to the 90s shit, you even shitted on commercial fans in your Czarface review. It seems like you always shit on commercial HipHop, go lsiten to some other shit bro. Posh kids think they know everything...

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    1. Being a fan of something doesn't mean you mindlessly cling on to every single aspect of it. A true fan of something will be the first to criticize it in hopes of making it better.
      I don't complain about how rap has become a cesspool of hedonistic spunk just because I have nothing better to do, I criticize it because I want it to improve.

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    2. Michael speaks words of wisdom

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    3. @Michael you made a few points but at the same time @Big Jay does too.Ive been reading this blog over 4yrs now and Max does come off as a spoiled suburban dude that s stuck in the 90s. For instance his comment on the Czarface review, and I quote

      "this project won't do as well as it should, mostly because the demographic that would enjoy it the most has probably moved on from hip hop at this point"

      Lets talk about another reason why the project wont do well because its easy to blame the fans but its many other factors. any commercials for this album? any videos for it? Any promo at all for it? Did you any real hip hop fans buy it?

      "A true fan of something will be the first to criticize it in hopes of making it better. "
      Umm a true fan would support when their fav rapper drops a project instead of bitching about who didn't buy it.

      "Being a fan of something doesn't mean you mindlessly cling on to every single aspect of it."
      I cant speak for everyone but I listen to mainstream and underground so im good.

      Just becuase shit is different than from the 9os or doenst give you that 90s feel dont mean its wack.The only people who stopped listening to hiphop are the ones who only listened to it because its cool to them.

      @Big Jay why the fuck do even care what other people think? Listen to what you want to.

      One more thing whats the last hiphop album any of you guys bought?

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    4. I have to say, I'm flattered by the way that people are deconstructing what I write in order to create an idea of what I'm actually like in real life. Aw shucks.

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    5. Also, how can you possibly say that I "shitted" on commercial hip hop in response to a post where I mentioned liking a Drake song and a Drake guest verse on an A$AP Rocky song that I also enjoy? I have layers, people.

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    6. last hip hop album i bought was Sadistik's Flowers for my Father...and i'll just say i don't think Max is trapped in the 90's...it's just that there's alot of bad hip hop nowadays thats taken the forefront of the genre.

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  5. I listen to all fam, all the shit Ive been listening to lately. Its HipHop now as good as it was in the 90s? No but its still enjoyable

    MC Eiht Keep It Hood EP
    ASAP Rocky Long. Live. ASAP
    Brotha Lynch Hung Mannibalector
    Joe Budden No Love Lost
    Ras Kass Barmageddon
    Killah Priest The Psychic World of Walter Reed
    Ill Bill The Grimy Awards
    Schoolboy Q Habits & Contradictions
    Game -Jesus Piece
    Reks Straight, No Chaser
    Apollo Brown & O.C.Trophies
    Ab-Soul Control System
    Killer Mike R.A.P. Music
    Big K.R.I.T. Live from the Underground
    Curren$y The Stoned Immaculate
    Smoke DZA Rugby Thompson
    Maybach Music Group Self Made Vol. 2
    Aesop Rock Skelethon
    Blu & Exile Maybe One Day
    Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don't
    Skyzoo A Dream Deferred
    Roc Marciano Reloaded
    Saigon The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread and Circuses
    Styles P The World's Most Hardest MC Proje
    Freeway Diamond In the Ruff

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    1. Its funny how people say its no good HipHop out there but you just named plenty of good albums.

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    2. It's certainly a list of some sort. Not many people would jump to Aesop Rock immediately after MMG, but I know they do exist. And nobody's saying that hip hop isn't enjoyable today; it's just become more daunting to sort through the bullshit first.

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    3. You lost me at Rick Ross

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  6. Derek ClaptonMarch 19, 2013

    Two things

    1) Kendrick's verse on Fuckin' Problems is weeeeak. He sounds totally uncomfortable, speaks of a girl who wants the "deeeuuhh," and his verse just kinda of trails off at the end.

    2) Take on Me? Really?

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    1. You're goddamn right.

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    2. yes, Kendrick on Fuckin' Problems is very awkward. For some reason a guy who has told stories of hookers getting murdered in the street just doesn't sound right when talking about banging girls, go figure

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    3. I thought all 3 of them killed it. THe Kendrick line the OP mentioned is the most memorable line that came from a verse

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  7. I've never heard the song but reading the lyrics...if you gotta say fuck and n*gga that many times you don't deserve any kind of success in music.

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    1. Not that I disagree, but this IS a hip hop blog. Are you sure you're on the right site?

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  8. yo son, why you don't have no immortal technique on this billboard chart?

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    1. they don't want the truth bruh...

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    2. 1) cuz niggaz got jealousy in they voice like Starscream...
      2) his content, technique, intent and numbers...
      3) "revolution" prolly not the best thing to sell to the predominantly white music
      -buying market
      4) you kinda get the impression that dude wanna eat, yes,but does'nt give a fuck
      about a "hot rap single"...prolly not as feminine as sandals, but for some heads:
      it' s minimal

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    3. immortal technique is wack, doesnt speak the truth, and pretty much all his fans are white so i dont know what your comment is really getting at...???

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    4. If only his fans were Manchurian.

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    5. it seems we've rustled someone's jimmies

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  9. I listen to fucking problems for asaps verse. Just saying....

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  10. How about some actual content Maximillion?

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    1. You're asking for too much right now.

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  11. Is "The RZA presents Shaolin Soul Selection: Volume 1" on your to-do-list? It's not hip-hop but you are a self proclaimed Wu stan?

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    1. Nope. That two-disc set is exactly the same as the one Soul Temple gave away with deluxe orders of The Man In The Iron Fist soundtrack (except it was called Iron Fist Chronicles back then). Although I guess the fact that I bought the thing directly from the label cements the Wu-stan thing, though.

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  12. Pitbull is the best rapper alive. He music is brilliant and speaks to me on so many levels. He is the voice of our generation. Much better than any of those wu-tang karate guys.

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    1. My favorite bit was the part about the "karate guys". I don't think that even Pitbull considers himself a real rapper these days, unless he's dissing Lil Wayne and it's convenient for him to do so.

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    2. any chance you'll comment on XXL freshman of this year Max?

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    3. Probably not. Short version: I like Action Bronson, that Schoolboy Q song with A$AP Rocky, and I'm coming around on Joey Bada$$. But any list where Chief Keef is named as someone I should look out for deserves to be ignored. Besides, how the hell are Action Bronson and Schoolboy Q, artists who have released a bunch of stuff already, just on this list NOW?

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    4. Very true, XXL is always questionable. Would just like to add one name on the list: Logic, is worth listening to. His Young Sinatra tape (not part 2, dont mistake them) was some of the most refreshing hip hop i had heard in a minute

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