Joe Budden thinks the bar needs to be raised in Hip Hop, and believes one way to do that is to make rappers take a “Hip Hop SAT” before a label signs them.
The former Slaughterhouse lyricist appeared as a guest on the Earn Your Leisure podcast, where he and co-hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings spoke about the oversaturation of the podcast market.
The discussion led Budden to admit he has similar qualms about the rap game and wishes the barrier for entry was higher for new MCs entering the industry.
“I’ve always felt like there needs to be, like, a Hip Hop SAT test that you take before you can get a record deal,” he said. “Some of you n-ggas gotta answer some questions, like: How do you hold a microphone? They’re some of the basics you gotta know.”
He added: “If everybody just know everything with no consequence, no trial and error, then everybody’s just doing the same shit! No! And then you’re muddying the water.”
Budden’s comments sparked a healthy debate among rap fans on social media, with some agreeing with his suggestion.
“Facts. Can we make signing real artist a thing again instead of chasing numbers. A&Rs really out here judging MUSIC artist by their IG following,” one fan wrote on Instagram, while another added: “It would serve a good purpose to help young rappers learn more about the culture and where the rap game originated from.”
Others, however, disagreed. “This n!66@$ reaching. hip hop comes from poverty not academics,” one fan rebutted, while another chimed in with: “That’s why they called this n-gga old and a hater,” along with a crying face emoji.
Joe Budden isn’t the first rapper to call for a structural overhaul of the rap game. Last year, Freddie Gibbs “respectfully” suggested Hip Hop should take a page out of the NBA’s playbook and introduce a rap G-League.
Perhaps the most famous example, however, is when JAY-Z once declared that Hip Hop needs a board. Hov’s comment came during a 2006 interview with Funk Flex and was in response to Jim Jones continually dissing him on wax.
“We need, like, a Hip Hop board to approve certain things,” he said. “Who is Jim Jones? You know, to be saying something about me? If we’re looking at it as far as career accomplishments or lyrical skill … that’s like the ninth man off the bench sitting there shouting, ‘You a bum’ to the superstar on court putting up 50 every night.”
Despite the continued calls for standards to be raised in rap, there are still plenty of established Hip Hop stars who are continually working on their craft. Last year, Saweetie revealed she had been attending an artist development bootcamp to improve various aspects of her game.
“I’m going to focus on what I struggle with — I struggle with breathing control,” she told Apple Music. “I’m going to work on my dance move, my details, all that good stuff, my body, my stamina, my everything.”
I’m from Jersey and can confirm he took the short bus to school.
Which of the following could get you killed as a famous rapper?
A. Following your goofy uncle to a useless dice game.
B. Going to the hood to buy cookies all buy yourself.
C. Going to a gang-infested hood in Inglewood L.A. to eat with your family.
D. Calling a gang member a snitch in a crime-infested area
E. All of the above
He is stupid to even suggest this in an era where independent artists have dozens of platforms to get known and sell music without a label. What he is saying is also anti-capitalist. He wants hup hop socialism where a comitee decides who can be heard and who gets shadowbanned from the industry.
What the fuck is “socialist” about having something like this? Not endorsing it, but this honestly sounds like some literacy test to allow blacks to vote type shit. Ain’t nothing socialist about that. Y’all don’t even know what you’re saying at this point lol, y’all just throw out buzz words.
They should actually do something like this for cops, though.
To the guy posting as “dumb talk od” are you really that stupid that you dont understand what socialism is ? Its where someone else decides to impose their beliefs on you. (usually government) Thats exactly what Joe Budden wants. He wants to decide who YOU get to listen to. Whether you like his criteria or not, who is he to decide what YOU can listen to ? And for the record, pick a damn screen name and rep it so you can own your comments. Stop hiding with a different screen name on every thread.
Lmfao I sincerely hope you aren’t stupid enough to not understand that the biggest people crying about socialism are the ones forcing their beliefs on everyone. That is literally what conservativism is all about, and they’re the biggest petalers of capitalism, unless it conecerns someone they don’t like of course. You literally have no clue what you are talking about.
The Nazi party was socialist only in name. They’re fascists through and through. Further proving you just like your buzz words.
Capitalism is where USPS workers die of heatstroke because USPS considers it cheaper to pay settlements to the families of the dead workers rather than put air conditioning units in their trucks.
Your dumbass just left zero doubt for anyone reading that you don’t know what socialism is with your own made up definition. I won’t attempt to lecture you further, but just know the only sensible course of action for you to take from here is to read the definition from an actual dictionary. Otherwise, your choosing to remain ignorant.
very true!
very true!
very true!
This might be the most pointless piece of internet buffoonery I have ever seen. Why the fuck is this bullshit even an article? This must have been written by some damn intern. Pointless journalism.com
Unfortunately every individual is on the take.These days know one is interested in mastering the craft or riding for the culture