A Linguistic Inquiry Into Rihanna & A$AP Rocky’s “Cockiness (Remix)” Posted by Nathan S. on 09/04/12 | Filed under Downloads, Rihanna, ASAP Rocky

Like "freestyle", the was a time when a "remix" actually meant something. Way back when (aka the '90s), if you were going to be on an artist's remix you had to either have the super hook up, or actually work with the rapper or his representatives directly. If you didn't have the original audio files, you were shit out of luck.

Fast forward to 2012 and a combination of the internet and Pro Tools has meant that pretty much anyone can jump on anyone's track, in the process seriously diluting the meaning of a word like "remix." I can't begin to tell you how many times I've deleted emails with subject lines like, Kanye West ft. Random Rapper You've Never Heard Of, 'Theraflu Remix". Nope, I refuse to call that a remix. Kanye doesn't know you exist. You just jacked the beat, then replaced his second verse with yours.

Or on a larger level, take Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's new "Cockiness (Remix)". The beat's the exact same, Rihanna's vocals are the exact same, so what the difference between this "remix" and an ASAP Rocky "Cockiness (Freestyle)"? That Rihanna Rihanna's publicist Rihanna's publicist's intern tweeted about it?

This shit is getting way too complicated. So here's my proposal. From now on, "freestyle" means "rhymes I just thought of," and a "remix" means that either the original beat or original rapper's vocals have been, you know, remixed.

Anything else is just, you know, rapping on someone else's shit. I know, it's not nearly as catchy, but at least it's accurate. So please, by all means, enjoy A$AP Rocky rapping on Rihanna's shit.

See Also: Debating the Definition of “Freestyle” in the Digital Age

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