Aiyyo, what the f-k is this shit that y'all are listenin' to nowadays on the radio, man? You call that shit hip-hop? That's some f----t bitch shit y'all are listenin' to all. All you DJ's are lettin' the program directors handcuff you and sit there and tell you to mix! You f-kin' robots. F-k y'all.

     If you read any of my articles about independent rap, you are well aware of my beliefs on mainstream rap, and if I could sum all of my rants and raves into one brief rant, the words above would be what I would say. Unfortunately what you just read I cannot take credit for, this homage goes to Gangstarr, whose album The Ownerz, a masterpiece four years in the making comes full throttle at you in a way many younger, upcoming acts wish they could attain.

     The Ownerz is a much needed statement on the rap industry today, attacking how the hip hop game has changed today as they continue to state in the track Peace of Mine.

     Rappers simply tracin' flows and chasin' hoes/frontin' mad hard that shit's amazing yo/products making Tinkerbell beats for them to rhyme on/F--k their ass if they get on the same stage that I'm on/Our shit be rugged like the New York streets/make the wrong move stupid then you lose your seat/Cats be buyin' up Soundscan to beef up sales/Niggaz wanna crossover, wanna be upscale/F that, that ain't hip hop, that's something else/You better off back on the Ave. doing something else.

     Of course these guys contradict themselves and are the biggest offenders, using Fat Joe, on the track, Who Got Gunz? Sadly, whenever he comes on, all I hear is Girl I want you, girl I need you. That contradiction aside, Guru and DJ Premier bring back an 80's style rap which they have adapted to a new generation-rapping hard and aggressive without sounding like a wannabe tough guy who can't back what they are saying. Yet, these guys have been in the game for the long time. They know what's going on. They've seen it, lived it, and have knowledge for everyone. New bling bling rappers are lucky to have a pioneer still in the game to learn from.

     Stupid, you think it's time to sit and think, before we hit the brink/locker room at a prize fight, before we hit the ring/Like when I tell these corporate leeches they can't get a thing/or when I tell relentless rappers they had better sing/The position that anyone holds could be up for grabs/I'm waiting up the Ave. to see if anyone falls/Since I was 21 years old and legal/I know the difference between gimmicky gangsters and powerful people. - Put up or Shut up.

     They can spit all deep and poetical; knowledge is power and these dudes should be listened to. They also can be creative with some humor thrown in to drive the message home. Ain't no way, so come, make my day/like Tom Hanks, I earn long back and Cast You Away.

     Gangstarr don't really need to be here anymore. They've made their cash, they are already rap legends, but in today's manufactured world, we need rappers like Gangstarr to bring us back and remind us that rap came from the streets. I'll just leave you with this.

     (Skills) Top rank, point blank, we vital/spit flows, rip shows, peep the recital/(Skills) Now, you feel it when we drop those/(Skills) It's the music that the streets love/each thug is now reppin' this with deep love/(Skills) Gangstarr dueling again, rulin' again/Watch us as we do it again.

     Send your comments and or questions about this article to JMinners@ybfree.com.

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