On To The Next One

Before I Self Destruct

For a nerdy Jewish bookworm growing up in New York's Lower East Side, 50 Cent may seem like an odd role model. Yet, my eccentric artist father's decision to social work to support his family made me determined to be the famous artist he never was. I now am a preschool librarian, a strikingly similar day job. 50 Cent continues to inspire me. "Get Rich Or Die Trying" is a motivational message, an OG New York attitude that has gotten me through drug abuse, living in crack dens and rejection after rejection from every major NYC magazine and newspaper. 50's survival against all odds, his savvy business persona and the fact he is still wearing doo rags while Jay-Z indies it up behind Wayfarers makes me stick to my Gats. Now, I am published, clean and constantly trying to help others understand that in true passion there are no "ifs." We may not all run the risk of getting shot nine times, but if you're real, life without art is never an option.



-Royal

Say What?

"She got an ass that could swallow up a G-string
n up top yeah two bee stings
and I'm beastin
off the Riesling"



Wondering if Kanye is aware he bascially just described himself as a rapper drinking fizzy fruity German white wine attracted to a woman with a massive ass and no tits? Just wondering.

Death of Autotune (Good Riddance)

Autotune has been ruling airwaves too long. The canned mechanical loops and droning has gone from innovative to unoriginal across the board. Originality in rap music is being crushed by conformity in an industry that already has a penchant for beat biting and lazy rhyming. Though with a smash single, Kanye produced track, Jay-Z's calculated fro, minimalist black attire and millions, he's hardly the posterboy for progressive, when grassroots rappers aren't stepping up to the plate, OG's have to hit the home runs.

-Royal