Who ARE you?

Alright, get out the Preparation H...some of y'all are going to be  butt-hurt.

I want to make a point here, popular (with some) or not (with others).

The rap game is very much like the mafia.  You're only as good as this week's envelope.  Everyone wants to know what you're doing TODAY.  People give respect to many rap veterans because they laid the foundation of hip hop, and put in the blood, sweat, and tears to get rap recognized as a lasting art and form of music, and not a fad.  That's awesome! Every single veteran in the game deserves recognition as such, and to be respected and appreciated.  Just like our military veterans deserve respect for their selfless sacrifice, and for even paying the ultimate price for our freedoms.  I AM IN NO WAY IMPLYING THAT RAP ARTISTS ARE IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS OUR MILITARY VETS...now, sit down, shut up, and watch where i'm going with this. I'm making the comparison, leading up to something else, fucko.

Every veteran deserves respect and recognition, but that doesn't automatically mean that they are necessarily "leadership material" or that they will go on to a noteworthy career and accomplish great things in the military. People will listen to them to hear their history, and out of respect.

Let's get a little closer to where i'm going.....

3 names I want to present to you....

Gen. Norman Shwarzkopf
Gen. Colin Powell
Gen. James Riley

You can easily identify the first two. The commanding general of armed forces during Operation Desert Storm, and the other as the first black secretary of state. Both became household names, widely respected and sought after for their expertise.  Gen. Riley was commanding general of 3rd Infantry Division, the most deployed division in the Army. He's since retired.  He deserves and receives respect for who he is. Reaching the rank of General is no easy task, much LESS Lt.Gen as he was. We respect him. We honor his service. Doors open, carpets roll out, and we listen as he gives us lessons in history......

History.

No one is seeking him out to discuss modern day tactics. Same with (a man who sits down to breakfast every day with G-d, himself) Gen George S. Patton. A TANKER'S tanker, until the day he died.  If he was alive today, he could tell us all day about WWII, WWI, his campaigns in Africa, a TRUE badass who once ran out of gas, so he RAN ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD and commanded his tanks in an entire engagement, then walked with 5 gal gas cans to the next town to get fuel, walked back, refueled his tank and got back in the fight......But he couldn't tell me about the M1A1, or hell even the M48A5 MBT or tactics. He's yesterday's hero.

Why am I going through all of this?

There are a LOT of hip-hop artists today, who deserve and receive honors, accolades, respect, for paving the way and making this dream called hip-hop into a reality. They made their contribution, and retired, or were phased out. You receive RESPECT....but in the long run, if you aren't actively recording and doing so in a manor that makes you relevant in today's hip-hop, no one is going to listen to you for anything other than a history lesson, or to show respect.  Want proof?

That young artist who took a pic with you, and showed you love......did he ask you to make a record with him? Did he present you to his label? Did he do anything besides take a pic and show you love?

Let's start being real with ourselves. Being yesterday's star doesn't really pay today's bills. So, how does this  change? Start with my concept of "retire yesterday".  Retire Yesterday doesn't mean what you think. It actually means, get off of the Old School, retirement home circuit. Get your shit together and start making TODAY'S music.  Make that hottest shit, and become a name known to KIDS TODAY!! Recreate yourself. Get with those who will be honest with you, and listen to them. The top fashion consultants, hair dressers, producers, beat creators, and let them re-create you. Don't fight them. "I KNOW my shit!" word? What's your latest joint on the radio?

All i'm saying is, let's get you up to speed TODAY.  That is my vision. But the first thing you'll have to do, is Retire Yesterday.  Then start writing again, get your chops back.  Don't go trying to sound all hip like today's kids. It's fake and you'll become a joke. Write MATURE music, but music that can still be felt, danced and headbobbed to or that puts across a real message. 

I will help any way that I can. But i'm going to be harsh with the truth, because you'll never do it with someone pumping sunshine up your ass. Iron sharpens Iron.


"Retire Yesterday, and be relevant today"

Peace
I can be reached at 574-849-4494, bit.ly/OdadTruthRecrds , or lion@trueschoolent.com