#23 - Mike Will Made It Ft. Wiz Khalifa, Miley Cyrus and Juicy J

I am trying to figure out what is all the hype with this track? Does anyone else besides me not recognize that this is just a modern version of Nelly's "Stepped on My J's"? Yes the beat is on point, but the rest is lame to me. I love Wiz Khalifa to death, but even his verse was sub-par. I understand that right now there is this big "Miley Cyrus" express yourself movement, but I'm sorry, I rather hear Nelly's version than this bogus attempt to re-create it. I mean listen to the lyrics and watch the video..... the setting is in a high school bathroom, hallway, and gym yet the chorus is, "high on purp, in the club, mini-skirt with some J's on"............... 

If it wasn't for the production of this track, the beat itself, then I don't think the song would have even been noticed, but for people, especially these young women to claim that "Miley is killing the game", lol.....Jesus what do we have to look forward to in hip hop? But then again, maybe the only hype surrounding this mess is the FaceBook fans. I don't care that Miley is leaving little to the imagination, she's grown, she claims she is doing exactly what she wants, so let her do her, but instead of promoting "smoking purp" in a high school bathroom, why not shoot the video in a club scene, since you are talking about being in a club? Or do you want to know the true message behind this song? Who do you think this video is made for? Those of us adults that are of age and able go to clubs and dress like hoes and not think twice about it or is the target the younger generation? 

This video is all types of wrong and again, the song itself is just a remake of a track that was appropriate for it's setting. Look at the differences between Mike Will Made It's "23" and Nelly's "Stepped on My J's" .... All I'm saying, I'm pretty sure that's not how Michael Jordan hoped his jersey would be used after retirement, ya know? 

Now this is just my opinion and my personal rant and I feel that music is rapidly declining. I just want someone to stand up and make music and music videos that makes sense now days. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything doesn't have to promote sex, drugs, alcohol and violence..... Til next time, this is Misses S.A.M. signing out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Is Country-Rap Replacing Hip Hop?

As I was driving to work yesterday morning I was listening to the Joey & Heather Morning Show on Okc's Wild104.9 and the topic of discussion was Nelly's appearance on the remix to the song Cruise by Florida Georgia Line. It was mentioned that Nelly is losing his credibility as a rapper by appearing on this song. This statement peaked my interest. I wonder how someone doing a collaboration on another artist's album could possibly make him lose his credibility, especially when that person is a main stream Rap/Pop artist to start with. Rap music comes from legends such as Run DMC who done one of the first crossovers ever on the single "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith. And while I am sure both groups received some kind of negative feedback from that small group of arrogant individuals that populate our society, for the most part the reception was positive and uplifting if you will. So my question is this, why is there a negative stigma on rappers going country and does it seem like country music is taking over the hip hop world?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZ9xRO7M9M (Flordia Georgia Line feat. Nelly - Cruise)

It surprised me to hear the remarks about Nelly, especially since this is the same rapper who released his 2004 single, "Over and Over" featuring country singer Tim McGraw and it was one of the best selling singles of his career. Was it the country fans that showed more support or the loyal rap fans? Either way, Nelly made a killing and I still play the song a few times back to back myself. The whole discussion made me curious as to just how many Rap-Country songs are really out there. While I don't consider country music to be one of my personal favorites, I am an avid music lover and I do enjoy any song that has a nice sound, rhythm, beat or feel to it. Kid Rock and Cheryl Crow's "Picture" is one song that will never get old with me.

Upon my quest to find as many Country-Rap or Rap-Country duos as I could, I found a few that even I didn't know existed and I must say that if anyone if the world of Rap should lose cool points for being on a Country record then I would give that honor to Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg). His collaboration on the "song" Superman with Country legend Willie Nelson is one that I am still scratching my head on trying to figure out what made this idea feasible. Ahhhh, yes, I get it now... A little puff puff give if you know what I mean. I am not sure that it should even be considered a song, but nonetheless, Snoop Dogg (or Lion) still has his "stripes" in tact, so why are folks so harsh on Nelly?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-weOXYqWmr8 (Willie Nelson & Snoop Dogg - Superman)

Another single, one that I never would have imagined existed is "Thug Story" by T-Pain and Taylor Swift, or T-Swizzle & T-Weezy. Now, I know this is not a "true" single but the fact that Taylor Swift is rapping about being a gangster and thug is hilarious to me, but I will give Ms. Swift credit, she does rhyme better than some career rappers I've come across in my day. Other artists such as Ludacris and Jason Aldean (Dirt Road Anthem remix), Blake Shelton on his single "Boys Round Here" (although he doesn't feature any rappers, he does sing about doing the dougie and has -for lack of a better term, thugs- in his video line dancing) and then you have the group Rehab, who are considered a country, rap, rock alternative group. Songs like, Bartender have all of the elements of a good country song, with a nice rap beat. I myself heard the track Drinking Problem and immediately started looking for more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aED6ONapfVA (Rehab - Drinking Problem)

So, is it safe to say that Country is moving in on the Hip Hop world or is it just a few mixtures between the two and we are so used to separation that the thought of combining the two genres upsets us. Nas himself said Hip Hop is dead, so are country artists trying to revive it? I'll let you be the judge, for me music is expression and if Nelly wants to express himself on a country track while Taylor Swift expresses herself over auto-tune, then more power to them both..... I'll leave you with the link to a few CouRap/RaCo songs and you be the judge for yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH4r00SJHsI (Jason Aldean feat. Ludacris - Dirt Road Anthem)

Until next time, this is Misses S.A.M, signing out !