Fri 8 Nov 2013
Troy Ave Thinks Kendrick Lamar & Kanye West are “Weirdo Rappers”
Posted by Andy B. under Hmmm? , Interviews , Videos[16] Comments
The face of rap has undoubtedly changed since New York City dictated hip-hop in the ’80s and ’90s. But for an MC who represents the ex-drug-dealing street rappers of old, there’s a lot of “weirdo rappers” out right now in Troy Ave’s eyes, including Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. The Brookyln upstart spoke his mind during a recent appearance on Hot 97’s Morning Show.
“At what point did it become cool to celebrate the drug user instead of the dealer?” he asked, while pointing to previous eras when each region championed a traditional street rapper (ie Biggie from New York and T.I. from Atlanta). Troy reassures he’t not dissing Kendrick, Kanye and co., because he enjoys their records; he’s just pointing out that the ‘hood don’t love it (word to Jay Rock).
“I’m like Jay Z at the time, and these guys are like Digable Planets,” he said of other new artists out of Brooklyn. “That’s cool; I like some of Digable Planets’ music, everybody has their lane. But in this lane, when it comes to being the biggest rap-rapper in the game, representing what rap is about, Troy Ave got it hands down in New York City.”
His argument is pretty flawed given that Kendrick nor Kanye are associated with drugs, but there’s certainly some truth in his sentiments about the rap game as a whole. Let us know your thoughts below.
Watch the interview after the jump…
Related:
New Mixtape: Troy Ave ‘New York City: The Album’
New Video: Troy Ave Feat. Raekwon & N.O.R.E. “New York City (Remix)”
New Music: Troy Ave Feat. Prodigy, N.O.R.E. & Raekwon “New York City”
November 8th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Kendrick for sure
November 8th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
I rather list to k dot than his duck tales – pun intended.
Keep feeding our kids poison.
November 8th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Cuz got a point, we are celebrating the “User” instead of the “Dealer”. But celebrating both is wrong, but the “Dealer” respresents empowerment, the “User” doesnt represent shit!! AND yes the weirdos have taken over, but HIP HOP was always diverse so you had your Digable Planet and PM Dawn type of acts. But nowadays that shit has gotten out of hand.
November 8th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Troy sounds like an ass “weirdo” its not weirdo music its just people being themselves just cuz u dont hustle and sell crack that dont make you a weirdo .. the people that are your cousumers are so called “weirdos” they dont hustle they dont sell crack … thats an ignorant statement … you wanna be the king of ny … you better show and prove troy …
November 8th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
how is that being weirdos … if digable planets had talk about selling crack at the time and then when people find it wasnt true they be called sukas and posers … since when hip hop is all about being a gangster .. ithink hip hop is more realer than ever its not about what you do is about how you do it … you dont ahve to be “gangster” to know how to rap … nas wasnt really a gangster he was in that environment so hes a ” “weirdo”? fuk outta here .. thats the most stupidest shit i ever heard …
November 8th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
HUH?
he has no point. Digable planets were no different than tribe called quest or fugees or de la soul. is all of that “weirdo” rap to you? So you are only supposed to rap about drug dealings and things of that nature? that sounds stupid as fuck to me.
November 8th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Troy ave aint got shit on any of the weirdo rappers he named ill use his cd as a weed plate be
November 8th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
How are Kendrick and Kanye “users?” Raekwon and Ghost are sniffing throughout the whole purple tape. They’re more users than Kendrick or Kanye. Most of these niggas are alcoholics at LEAST. That makes them users. Are you saying they don’t represent sh*t ? By the way, users stories are some of the deepest, most gut wrenching, realest stories there are. It don’t get no more hood than a user. Troy should’ve said we need more balance and left it at that. BTW, that New York City shit bangs!
November 9th, 2013 at 12:58 am
Troy’s right in the sense that Kendrick/Kanye are weirdo rappers. It’s true. The rap game is into the awkward no-charisma-having-alternative-for-the-hipsters-rapper guy (they gets blog love), or the generic-lunkheaded-no-personality-having-reppin-hood-love-street rapper. That’s why hip hop sucks so hard right now. Both groups are equally wack. Moral of the story: all 3 are trash. Though Kanye > Kendrick > Troy
November 9th, 2013 at 11:16 am
SHout out to Troy Ave cause he’s a BK boy. But MAD RAPPER ALERT!! MAD RAPPER ALERT!!
November 9th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Positive k lookin ass nigga
November 9th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
I agree. He could have just said “I’m a classic NY street rapper and there aren’t many left.” Like you said, some of the best rap has been made by “weirdos” (outkast, de la soul etc etc).
November 9th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
*tears*
November 10th, 2013 at 5:24 am
Its 2013, not the 80s or 90s. If people want the drug dealin gangsta shit they would listen to ice cube, biggie, NWA etc. I like more versatile rapper (party, street, dance, gritty lyrics) aka ”wierd”rapper than the same boring drug tales. imho.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
This guy’s an idiot. Why do rappers say such ignorant things?
November 18th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
Everyone seems to think that rap has to be fucking hood as shit. Not the case. The founders of hip hop were fucking around, it wasn’t about selling drugs.. its about a story. If Nicki Minaj life is about rainbows & starships then she can talk about it. If Kanye just had a baby & his life is roses & candy & Nori, he can talk about it.. Thats the problem niggas think real = ignorant