Doesn't Afraid (of Anything)

Track 7 - Volume 1
Production (Half Hands-off): Hudson Mohawke - FUSE / Blackbird Productions (The Author)



Too many people are afraid to challenge the status quo. In food it leads to brand new chain restaurants serving the same crap the other ones have been serving for years. Maybe this new one has a “crazy” new salad bar (you can just get romaine – or up to THREE other lettuce choices! What!). In entertainment mediums the same problem exists. It’s the reason why we see countless sequels and reboots in both the film and video game industry, and the reason that the book market flooded with vampire stories after the one about sparkly ones came out.

It’s the same with music, especially hip-hop and rap. The only hip-hop that’s promoted on the radio tends to be the type that pushes the negative stereotypes forward, making people think that hip-hop is all about misogyny, drugs and violence, or even worse, that it isn’t even real music (those people are fucking stupid by the way). Unfortunately it’s a terrible cycle because while it’s not the best music, it's still played on the radio constantly. People listen to it, think they like it (for lack of exposure to other types of hip-hop), and so the label sees this and it justifies their release of similar sounding artists year after year, rapping/singing about the same shit. This in turn leads younger artists down that path, with the belief that it’s what they have to do in order to get famous. It’s wack.

Personally, I don’t give a shit. I’m going to keep doing my thing regardless of what else comes out. I heard it said that I’m a cool guy, I rhythm talk, and doesn’t afraid of anything. That’s god damn right.

(Lyrics)

So high above the game, I see it all in debug mode.

Understand: I grind for skill acquisition, but you can’t cause you need cheat codes.

On a different level, the kind of emcee described as succinct.

I heard ‘em say the Author’s a cool guy, he fights wack flows and doesn’t afraid of anything.

Thought you could bring me down huh? Got confused when I held my stance.

Understand: my drive, my ambition, is immune to attrition. It’s too advanced.

On a different level, with a style so fresh there’s no mistaking.

Heard ‘em say the Author’s a cool guy, he fights wack flows and doesn’t afraid of anything.

And my stance is tall, and I don’t care at all, about the risk or the pits or the falls.

I’m going a hundred miles a minute; it’s impossible to stall.

Sure I look back, but while I’m doing that all I hear in hip-hop is the same old crap:

the same old punch line driven bullshit, with not even a touch of cohesiveness.

I mean damn son, can’t you tell a fucking story?

Weak metaphors, never heard of allegory. Similes as simple as your first grade rhymes,

As bright as one watt, son, elementary punch lines.

Flow is stagnant, and even when it does change; you stick to that for the next couple of tracks. Bring the first flow back, in time for the refrain.

Man, I would never do it like that.

Cause I’m above the game, I see it all in debug mode.

Understand: I grind for skill acquisition, but you can’t cause you need cheat codes.

On a different level, the kind of emcee described as succinct.

I heard ‘em say the Author’s a cool guy, he fights wack flows and doesn’t afraid of anything.

Thought you could bring me down huh? Got confused when I held my stance.

Understand: my drive, my ambition, is immune to attrition. It’s too advanced.

On a different level, with a style so fresh there’s no mistaking.

Heard ‘em say the Author’s a cool guy, he fights wack flows and doesn’t afraid of anything.

 

Here’s a fun exercise.

Ask a so-called emcee what the subject if his new song is. See how long it takes him to explain the concept of greed.

Not saying that’s every rap song, just the ones that end up getting radio play. But unfortunately those songs don’t represent hip-hop, yet are always on display.

And so it goes, with false representation people get the wrong idea. Equate all hip-hop and rap with misogyny, guns, and violence, gangs and drug deals.

It’s kind of like someone drinks a natty ice, and then decides that they hate all beer.

Yes, I’m saying that your style is akin to cold piss. So do us all a favor and get out of here.