From Nicki Minaj Beef to Def Jam, Fixing What Went Wrong in 2010

The beginning of any year is always one for reflection on the previous 365 days. While Skillz usually takes his time playing hip-hop’s greatest historian on wax, others take the year and ask themselves what they did in the same vein as LeBron James’ “What Should I Do” commercial.

Many of the greats have had banner 2010s, shaping where the genre can go for the next ten years. With so many spotlights on those who do the absolute best, there are a few people wrapped inside of this little culture of ours that deserve a small battery in their backs. Do I think these people can overcome whatever demons and issues they’re facing? Not really. Do I hope though? More and then some.
So why do I wish for a few certain stories that started gaining traction in 2010 to not return in this new year? It’s rather easy. I’m not spiteful of anyone who has done so much to empower many whether it be with rhyme, film or curate. It’s the fact that the word HYPE has infiltrated our landscape to the point where some stories need to be put to bed.

The Lauryn Hill Comeback – I’m well aware of the love she’s received in her exile from fans clamoring for new music to her own erratic concert behavior. But she’s running on absolute fumes at this point and the public’s own salacious hype will never be fully satisfied. They may want another "Miseducation" but honestly, the material she’s been releasing including 2010’s leaked “Repercussions” has been underwhelming. For almost a decade now.

The belief that Lauryn Hill will fill that “universally regarded as dope female emcee” quota that many are searching for is null and void considering there are many great female emcees from Eternia to up and comer Nitty Scott, MC. From delayed appearances on the Rock the Bells tour to her concert dates scheduled for 2011, the only certainty that can be made is that Hill will continue her diva routine according to her own awkward plan.

Dissing Name Rapper For Fame – Back in 1999, 50 Cent dropped the megaton bomb that was “How To Rob” and immediately went after every known rapper and hitmaker on the scene. Since then, the tactic has looked like a bitter reach for newcomers and disgruntled former employees alike (I’m looking at you Beanie Sigel) in attempts to reclaim some shine. Does Lil Kim have a real reason to gripe with Nicki Minaj? Sure since a lot of early Minaj seems to be plenty of Kim. Thing is, there’s a time and a place for everything and Kim sending shots at Nicki over a Pharaohe Monch beat seems a little weak. With rumors swirling that Kim’s about to ready another salvo with the intent to strike Minaj but also rope Keyshia Cole & Mary J. Blige into this nonsense, I’m really about to sit back and grab some popcorn. Cause it’s going to be a trainwreck.

A male might automatically tell you the sarcastic way to settle this would be a fan vote between the two ladies respective photo shoots for Playboy but the honest hip-hop fan would much rather have Kim back away and make music on her own lane and Nicki making the kind of pop music that will keep Birdman making those weird hand gestures and continue adding to his tattoo collection of obscene proportions.

Def Jam as A R&B Label – Can you name the Def Jam releases that got major promotional pushes and marketed to the right audience? Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Kanye West. Those four artists were the only Def Jam artists to pull in over 100,000 copies of their respective albums on the first week. That’s it. Rihanna has a sizeable pop following, same for Ne-Yo and Kanye West has everyone from non rap critics to hardened thugs wanting to hear what he says. Ross, even with the hottest song of the summer could only manage to BARELY creep to 450,000 copies and the album’s been out a solid six months now. Although Def Jam is respected as arguably the greatest hip-hop label ever, it’s also home to the second most pop label in hip-hop (with Young Money coming in a strong first). With a wide assortment of veterans from Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and more – Def Jam has to be culpable as a label and not blame any of the faults of their artists on the fact they can’t do it for self. In a world where going gold is now reconsidered as a plausible feat in hip-hop, Def Jam has to re-establish itself as the hip-hop label every rapper in the world wanted to sign with some years ago.

I mean, if nobody gets in the ear of Sheek Louch and tells him that album cover for "Donnie G: Don Gorilla" was going to be an immediate turn off for potential consumers then what is Def Jam going to do when its golden geese somehow and in some way deliver clunkers that has the skeptics questioning everything under the sun?

My only suggest for the label that Hov left is that you keep all of the R&B acts under the umbrella and get a sharp mind in there who will ensure Ghostface’s albums will be bought by more than Wu-Tang fans, that the LOX will have a proper album on the label and then some.

But that’s just me churning ideas for 2011 as we know full and well that if the industry actually listened to the people who keep it in check and not the Congressmen who get a few dollars here and there for signing bullshit piracy laws, then some of these things may work. Free OnSmash.