Yoh Issues: Did Jay Z Ruin Memphis Bleek’s Whole Career? Posted by Yoh on 02/18/14 | Filed under Top Stories, Opinion, Jay Z, Yoh Issues, Memphis Bleek

I’ve always drew similarities in the lifestyles of Turtle, from “Entourage”, and Memphis Bleek.

Both supported individuals during their bottom-starting beginnings and then inherited the benefits of their friends' wealthy success. Someone like me, young and naïve would embrace this livelihood, enjoy the blow job from good karma, exhaust the rewards of loyalty, and never second guess that powers higher than mine saw me fit to be a crownless king.

Jay gave a glimpse of how highly he holds Memphis in the royal family, being the rich uncle and knighting him favorite nephew.

Bleek could be one hit away his whole career / As long as I'm alive he's a millionaire
And even if I die he's in my will somewhere / So he could just kick back and chill somewhere
Oh yeah, he don't even have to write rhymes / The Dynasty like my money last 3 lifetimes

– Jay Z Diamonds Remix Circa 2005.

In a recent interview with ThisIs50, we see that nine years later, this verse still haunts the Marcy Project rapper. What I saw as a stamp of immunity into the class of the 1%, Memphis treats as a tramp stamp, “I feel people look at me as if Jay is just taking care of me. That line was basically; I guess, in his mind, a shout-out. But people take it literally and serious, like I’m just chilling somewhere, I’m not working. As you see, I’m here. I gotta work.”

He’s a prideful man, no longer the coming of age protégée that appeared on Jay’s “Reasonable Doubt”. Which brings back the parallels to Turtle, in Season 6 of "Entourage", there’s a scene that features 50 Cent. Turtle just got a new Ferrari for his birthday, a gift from Vincent Chase (Turtle’s Jay Z), and instead of admiring his latest set of wheels, Curtis simply says, “I see you out here and your daddy’s car. Don’t be somber, at least you look good.”

Is that how the industry views Memphis Bleek’s four certified gold albums? Every move is credited to Jay-Z? Will his son believe that the Jigga Man is Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the breadwinner, while his father sits in a room attempting to conjure this “one hit”.

At 33-years-old, his whole career has conjoined with the legacy of Roc-a-Fella’s reign; making Bleek a simple supporting role in the court of King Carter. Even his interviews years later revolve around his relation with Jay. Yet he seems to be stable, without drug complications, mentally and physically fit, and worriless of future finances. His ambition is selfish driven, not out of necessity to survive but to acquire a placement in an industry that retired him years ago. Juicy J has returned, 2 Chainz couldn’t be larger, can Memphis Bleek?

Stories like this remind me that success isn’t about wealth, but the impact you leave behind. In this industry that lusts after the dollar, I respect his devotion, but unless he reinvents himself, experimenting beyond his previous efforts, he will forever be the Jan to Jay’s Marcia Brady.

(By Yoh, aka @Yoh31, aka Dear Summer Is My Favorite Bleek Song)

RefinedHype has merged with The DJBooth. It's the same articles you loved on RefinedHype, new address. For more info, check out the official announcement.