Also Stone. I think you are right. There is not the same mastery of craft that there once was across the board.

In General I agree with you Marty. Often I think music more of an outlet and/or a distraction than a social tool these days. I also think that if Jay Z told us to stop rioting most of us would. But hes also an earlier generation than the one I am talking about right now. Most of these new cats don't have that type of influence yet, maybe we will see in a few years.

In a quick response to this. You are making very large assumptions about my experience and the experience of others. I said that most of us are curiously Hood. Not that we have curiosities about the hood. Please don't give lectures on "hood law" as if that is something serious or necessary. I am not now, nor will I ever act as if I have experiences I don't, nor would i ever wish violent or negative experience on my own life or the life of others. And since you don't know me, you shouldn't assume that I havn't ever been robbed, or robbed someone or helped someone rob someone. " tough talk is for future victims" get out of here with that? We are on the internet and no one said a thing about being tough. I made satirical comments " Hood" things. What makes it Satirical? The fact that we ALL already know that that is an over used and one dimensional term that doesn't make any sense in reality. In regards to my 9-5: Quickly Break apart Lyrics like Freddie Gibbs National Anthem: "Back when I was younger, very ambitious but often blinded by my hunger Some say I dream too big and my dream gon' take me under" Every day I get up and go to a 9-5 that's draining and spend the whole night working for things I believe in. Freddie and I are not talking about the same dream but its the same emotion of knowing your dreams are bigger than your surroundings and staying motivated to move past where you are right now. In regards to wanting to be renegade: ren·e·gade (rn-gd) n. 1. One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter. 2. An outlaw; a rebel. Renegade does not refer to being Hood, black, violent, a pimp, or a ho. It means someone who reject the laws of a society. Being that we are all restrained by the worlds we live in, you honestly don't think that ANYONE can relate to that? So when Fat Trel talks about tricking girls into driving stolen cars, I can relate. I've done enough joy rides in stolen cars for my day, but i can still relate to the high you get when you break the rules, and so can you . In regards to this project. Check out the track Vent: "I saw love in the eyes of a perfect stranga She overlooked my caring heart in search of a gangsta Will we ever be together? Only time will tell She called my phone and talk to me as her eye was swelled I put my problems in box beside my tightest rhymes On a lock and key, buried deep of in my mind And when it gets too full, and I can't close the lid I spaz on my family and my closest friends Trade my materials for a peace of mind " Word? you can't relate to that? thats somehow glorifying " hood" Life? It kinda sounds like you are looking this entire genre and my comments as if there could be no value in it. The truth is that there is value in all people, and all things. Regardless of what boxes you and your white friends want to me or this music in. Hope you come through tonight. Great mental food for the day.