'Underground rap fans can be some whiny bitches yo' claims Phonte of Little Brother

[X9Z]

Underground rap fans can be some whiny bitches yo...

This was inspired by an email I received the other day from one of our many 'fans.' I normally don't put niggas on blast like this, and I hope homegirl ain't no manic-depressive that's gon' off herself after reading this or nothin, but I have a sneaking suspicion that her asinine ass way of thinking may be representative of many more LB 'supporters.'

She starts off with this:

As avid listeners of your guys' music...my boyfriend and I must say that we're a little disappointed in some of your newer stuff...what happened, guys? Please don't go mainstream on us! You guys are an inspiration to hip hop in these dreary days of "look at mai grillz" and "I gotz mad bitchez". We still have mad respect for all you've accomplished, and we'll most likely continue to be some of your biggest fans, but just remember to keep on keepin it real...you started your fan base in the underground, so don't forget about us!

I mean...waking every mornin with your hand on your dick may be ill in the mainstream world...

...but we here in the underground laugh when we hear rhymes like that.

Now mind you, her statement was cloaked in all sorts of "Us v. Them" generalizations that I've previously discussed in my "Hypocrite" blog…..and I seriously laugh at any nigga who still uses the phrase 'keep it real' in 2006….but nonetheless I humbly replied back to her with:

Sorry to disappoint......but we gon' keep doin' us regardless.

Peace,
Tay

I'm done with it at this point, but homegirl hits me back again on some ole rhetorical question shit with:

So basically what you're saying, is that despite some disappointment in the fan base that pretty much created your career, you're not going to recognize that fact, and continue to go down the road you're going, only to possibly lose some of your first and longest admirers for whatever reasons...

Am I getting all that correct?

Now, by this time, I'm starting to get impatient with this heffa for even coming at me like that….like I owe her some shit……but nonetheless, I humbly reply, YET AGAIN with:

I don't make music for 'the fans.' I make music for myself, first and foremost.

And if the music that I feel in my heart causes some people to leave, then fuck it....I'll holla at y'all niggas..

I'mma keep doin' me.

Tay

At this point, I done damn near forgot about this shit, but homegirl comes back AGAIN:

I can understand that making music for yourself is a top priority, and I can respect that.

But going from ill music, like the tracks from The Listening, and then jumping to something whack, like some of the newer stuff on your new mixtape, it almost seems as if someone from Atlantic is pushing you guys to do something out of sync with what you originally started.

Once again, the whole 'Us v. Them' shit rears its ugly head….like, 'there's no way in HELL that my good ol' house niggers Tay and Pooh could actually LIKE that Neptunes beat……or that Bun B. verse…….say it ain't so!'……….But I understand where homegirl is coming from, because I usta be a young and misguided backpacker (read: music snob) like that……so I (barely) maintain my composure and reply to her:

'Whack' is a matter of taste.

What you call whack is what many other people (myself included) consider to be some of the best and most honest work of our short career.

Nobody at Atlantic is making us do anything....all the music you hear is out of me, Pooh, and 9th's own volition. If "Separate But Equal" is your last stop on the LB train, then fine.

Frankly, I think you need to loosen up the straps on your Jansport.

Peace,
Tay

You may notice that by this point, "Negro" has left the building. She wanted Nigga? Nigga here now. © ol' boy from 40 Year Old Virgin… She replies with:

If you honestly think that your newest work is some of your best, then maybe you should cut that platinum chain from around your neck, because it's cutting off circulation to your brain.

I stopped reading right there yo…..I couldn't believe that heffa would make such a sweeping (and subtly racist) generalization like that…….

Ladies and gentlemen, I posted all these details because I wanted to truly show you why rappers sometimes hate their fans. THIS is the gift and the curse of being an 'underground' rapper, because underground rap fans can be like clingy girlfriends. They'll cook, clean, fuck you into oblivion, and support you until the end…….but they want you all to themselves.

ALL. TO. THEM. SELVES.

So, the minute you wanna go out for a little while and shoot some pool with the boys
(i.e. a Lil' Wayne mixtape collab), that heffa is clinging to your feet at the doorstep screamin, "Pleeeease don't leave me……I know you ain't gon' neva come back! Cain't nobody luhhh you like I do!"

Bitch please.

In no way is this meant to disrespect our loyal fans who have bought, supported, and constructively criticized our work over the years. (And for the record, constructive criticism doesn't mean, "lemme tell you what I want you to do." Constructive criticism is, "lemme assess the situation, and give you my advice as to what will work best FOR YOU." There is a difference…) All of our true fans and supporters are always loved and appreciated.

This is for all the music snob, backpack ass niggas who wanna keep LB in a box and are scared of the slightest bit of change……..as long as the music is dope, why should it matter?

I don't consider myself a backpacker….I'm a 'head' more than anything else. Heads are the niggas I consider to be the best type of music listeners…..cats who can go from The Roots to Mos to Jeezy to Esthero to Tool to Radiohead to Daft Punk to 3-6 and not miss a step, because they appreciate good music for what it is.

Am I listening to "Laffy Taffy" in my iPod? Fuck no.

But at the same time, I ain't runnin up to the DJ in the club at 1:30 like, "Yoooo son…..you gotta run that new Belle and Sebastian joint!!!! That shit is so heavy in the streets right now!!!!"

C'mon, now…..

Trust me, if I wanted to do ig'nant….I could do ig'nant. I mean I could REALLY do ig'nant. "Cheatin" was just the tip of the iceberg.

There is an entire Percy Miracles album in my head that I've yet to record, because I actually want to make meaningful music and don't want Percy to become the Latka to my Andy Kaufman, or the "I'm Rick James, bitch!'" to my Dave Chappelle……but shit…..lemme find out that our biggest 'fans' are also some of our biggest detractors who we can NEVER satisfy……I'mma cross over to the darkside faster than you can say "Dem Backpo'ch Niggaz." That's the name of my fictional thug group I'mma start producing…..check for our debut album "Twainky Fo' Seb'm" on Dopespot Records/Money Laundering Entertainment......

So in conclusion, I'd just like to say right on to the real, and death to the fakers © Big Rube. And to shorty who wrote me all those emails, I hope this blog really opens your eyes to appreciate good music and stop categorizing. The only difference between mainstream and underground is number of records sold, because truthfully, all rappers want the same thing: money, hoes, and clothes, we just go about getting it in different ways. (Do female rap fans still honestly think that underground rap niggas is asking you back to the hotel to just 'chill' and discuss 'the culture?' At 3AM? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

Life goes on, folks. And as always, I'mma keep doin' me……

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...03854163&page=1

I dont know about yall, but I see some real talk being said here......

what do you guys think about this?

Discuss

[Synthemesc]

I agree. Underground fans can be some bitches. They're always stuck in the past lookin for a time machine to relive overcast and good music while the same artist are putting out good new music set in context to present events. And don't come off on some "you owe us old timer fans something" bullshit. They appreciate the support but you can go fuck off if you think they owe you anything. This is their career and they will do what they want with it. If you like it, cool, if not don't cry about it, go ride something else.
My friends in a band and over the past year he has faced this backlash of insecure fans who can't handle their favorite artists gaining exposure. Idk. I hate music snobs and art snobs and beer snobs. Drinkin their heineken and talkin about how much better elighs old production is.

[manutebol]

i don't know about the rest of you guys.......

but don't you look forward to the new shit? i know i do.... i look forward to the maturation and development of a musician that is displayed on new releases.....

also, labeling music into specific genres only places limitations on how certain people analyze the music..... or what is to be expected from a certain artist....

i keep an ear out for music i enjoy, period.... regardless of what group it supposedly is clumped together with at the record store.....



when herbie hancock started going electronic... people not only said he was crazy, but what he was doing was bad for jazz..... but if you listen to herbie's albums from the 70's, you realize that the critics were just stubborn, unable to accept that many musicians were moving beyond their basic straight ahead jazz preference...... they wanted final say in the direction of the music.... as if they had anything to do with the creative process.....

[JamesKellyDawson]

That was dope! Thanks for sharing.

[ADDVERSE619]

in my opinion, LB has gotten better with time..they are one of my favorite groups right now and their live show is top notch!

on a side note..
Phonte's other blog about "cuddle buddy's" is comedy!!
that foo is funny

[X9Z]

Phonte= The truth

[Shroomin]

sorry but I gotta say I don't like 90% of new music, The Legends, man i hated classic, Grouch's crusader for justice, and eligh's poltergeist, then enigma.
The only album after, 2000 i liked was One Be Lo's SONOGRAM
But i don't give a shit when someone changes up their style, or in Eligh's case their voice changes so i can't stand it. I just go find a new group that's more what I'm lookin for.
So Ya i Agree lotsa Underground fans are bitches because they don't just go on and find sumthin new. They keep depressed cuz the good music aint comin anymore from their favorite group. But fuck that find a new favorite group.

[manutebol]

90% of new music????

yet you only mention a few legends releases.....

that's not even 90% of the newest legends releases, let alone all of music.....

[The_Heretique]

did you like the newest 50 cent album?

[D.F.A.]

Originally Posted by Shroomin

sorry but I gotta say I don't like 90% of new music, The Legends, man i hated classic, Grouch's crusader for justice, and eligh's poltergeist, then enigma.
The only album after, 2000 i liked was One Be Lo's SONOGRAM
But i don't give a shit when someone changes up their style, or in Eligh's case their voice changes so i can't stand it. I just go find a new group that's more what I'm lookin for.
So Ya i Agree lotsa Underground fans are bitches because they don't just go on and find sumthin new. They keep depressed cuz the good music aint comin anymore from their favorite group. But fuck that find a new favorite group.

Junior HERB member.

[Nasty]

Originally Posted by Shroomin

sorry but I gotta say I don't like 90% of new music, The Legends, man i hated classic, Grouch's crusader for justice, and eligh's poltergeist, then enigma.
The only album after, 2000 i liked was...(insert some underground artists name here).....

God damn do they make idiots like this in factories or something. Why do I meet so many people that make this exact same comment? Shut the fuck up dick face.

[D.F.A.]

Originally Posted by Nasty

God damn do they make idiots like this in factories or something. Why do I meet so many people that make this exact same comment? Shut the fuck up dick face.

Nasty watch and reflect.

[Nasty]

Originally Posted by BC_Homegrown

Nasty watch and reflect.

Oaky now I feel better. Serenity Now!!

[D.F.A.]

Originally Posted by Nasty

Oaky now I feel better. Serenity Now!!

that's the spirit perhaps this fool will stick around for more then 20 posts or run away like every Junior Member.