Word: rapping
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These are all valid criticisms, but they fail to capture the real source of Americans’ frustration. Whatever the bad rap on Obama and the Democrats, were it not for the filibuster and lock-step Republican opposition, the President would have emerged from his first year in office with three—if not more—major legislative victories. The major disability of American democracy is not Democratic fecklessness so much as the pervasive and intensifying feeling that our legislative process is broken. Yet, in spite of the swelling public exasperation with a plainly dysfunctional system, there...
With 2008’s gargantuan triple-platinum success “Tha Carter III,” Lil’ Wayne became the most exciting and successful act in the rap world. Critics lauded him as inventive and commanding; delighted fans made “Tha Carter III” the top-selling record of 2008; and, in Wayne’s song “Mr. Carter”, rap-deity Jay-Z was seen as having passed the hip-hop crown to Weezy...
...comes as a shock that on his newest album, “Rebirth,” Wayne leaves rap music behind altogether in favor of an as-yet uncharted genre: rock. In this latest effort, Wayne abandons rap’s sampled beats for a bass, drum set, and electric guitar. Power ballads of unrequited love replace tales of street violence and self-promotion, and the dissing and calling out of other rappers is tossed out in favor of punk-inspired castigation of society and nameless enemies. This bold step, however admirable it might be in theory, comes nowhere near...
...truth, Wayne’s rap-to-rock and rock-to-rap translations lose significantly more than they gain. The crucial elements of the artist’s past success have been pop grooves that were radio-ready, like “Lollipop”, and aggressive, brash songs you could still bounce your head to and enjoy, such as his first major hit, “Go DJ.” The sort of fun and confidence that were needed to produce these big hits runs contrary to the seriousness of the major theme of “Rebirth?...
Wayne’s only successful attempt at assimilating his rap background with rock music comes on “Ground Zero.” Two electric guitar lines produce a frenetic beat that is further energized by pounding drums and a screaming Wayne, who raps about the pitfalls of a bad drug trip. “How can I pray when I got nothing to kneel on?” Wayne asks, as he explains, “I’m so high that the ground is gone.” Wayne for once manages to match...