Remember when Troy Ave. got in his feelings and said something he thought everybody already knew and called Kendrick Lamar a weirdo? There was a contingency of folks that agreed with him. I mean, come on, the dude never raps about making it, per se´. He raps, largely, about getting through life as a human with his soul intact. In much the same way, J. Cole is a similar type of artist. They’re introspective and humanistic. A direct contrast to the mafioso, statue-of-liberty styled rap people were prone to spitting pre-Kanye, sans a few exceptions like Souls Of Mischief, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde and others. It should come as no surprise at all, then, that Meek Mill does not listen to J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, and that he doesn’t find what they do inspirational. Why would it be when Meek spits about capitalism in the wild with nearly everything involving money and power? Tony Montana rap is amazing. We’re talking about the stuff that America is made of here; America’s belly button. That’s what Meek Mill, Rick Ross, and Jay Z rap about, and that’s why he’s important.
Dreams Worth More Than Money falls into a particular way of looking at the world. It’s Game of Thrones writ small, a collection of rebuttals against a system where the weak and the unlucky are shepherded out and down the swirling drain of civilization. That’s why on the opener and rapping over Mozart’s Requiem in D and specifically Lacrimosa (which is absurd and appropriate here, by the way) he thanks the judge for denying him bail and the Tory Lanez lead chorus begins, “All I wanted was a new Mercedes / Bending off the corner, whipping out the lot, I got it / Women love me, but the niggas hate it / But how can I lose when I came from the bottom? / Lord knows…”
In many ways, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have shunned those kinds of desires. They’ve actively spent most of their careers involved with other things. With women being used by men as objects, and escaping the pressures of living in places where the madness pressing down on them causes humans to value things over people. Of course, Meek is more complicated than that. His album art is half a stack and half his father’s funeral leaflet. It’s symbolic of the struggle out of poverty that defines most people’s lives. This is where the rift takes place, though. Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole seems to see the struggle as a spiritual one. They are reaching for their humanity through the veil of poverty. For Meek and others, the veil is a financial one. They are “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” into a realm where they must be taken seriously as humans because of what they’ve earned. These two concepts have been at the nexus of Hip Hop and of American culture since its inception: the cold world we live in can either be conquered through power or through culture. Both are probably close to being correct.
So I’m not saying that Meek Mill is trying in any way to play J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar, I’m just saying that their worldviews are so diametrically opposed at this point that expecting Meek to give a fuck about that kind of Hip Hop is absurd. It’s always been this way, and these two energies circle each other in a dance that is at the core of what it means be a capitalist and an artist in America.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Meek has enough pain in his voice he dont have to rap about struggle but on the contrary making it in America.
Pain in his voice? I just call it obnoxious screaming.
lmao yea that voice sounds horrible on record, not a huge fan
All ya’ dawgs schizophrenic! J. Cole is a god in his music. k dot a god in his music. and Meek Mill is also a god in his music. They’re all dope in ’em styles
Andre Grant: I dont know where you live at in the world, but I live in the Da Bluff. I see nigas stunting out here occasionally, but in reality dont nobody live like Meek:
“His album art is half a stack and half his father’s funeral leaflet. It’s symbolic of the struggle out of poverty that defines most people’s lives.”
Most people out here still in poverty, so how would Meek relate to anyone? Most yall is dick riding Meek, when Meek really dont give a fuc bout nobody but Meek. Comparing Meek to Cole or Lamar is like comparing Busy Bee to Kool Moe Dee, Flavor Flav to Chuck D.
nah son.
It should surprise no one what meek boy said. We need that duality in Hip hop. I ride with king Kendrick an other conscious artist that speak to people that have a soul and care about others more than money. Be healthy
“I’m just saying that their worldviews are so diametrically opposed at this point that expecting Meek to give a fuck about that kind of Hip Hop is absurd. It’s always been this way…”
So you’re telling me that “gangster rappers” didn’t relate to Public Enemy or Tribe Called Quest? If that’s what you’re saying, then you’re wrong. The problem is the new rappers are more ignorant, less socially aware, and more closed minded than even “capitalist” artists of days gone by. I’m not sure if artists like Meek Mill really even know what’s going on…it’s really, really cool that he strived for a Mercedes and got it…wow man…what a great quote from his album to pick – how original and groundbreaking… I’m sure glad we as a listener get such and in depth look at Meek Mill the man, he’ s very deep and profound and says things in a way in that have never been said before……cough cough…gimme a break. It’s so formulaic and on the surface, and I’m glad that it looks like people on message boards like this are finally getting fed up and are looking for artists with original thoughts and more creative ways to express their thoughts. This stuff is all recycled material that belongs back in the dump of hip hop…or actually rap. Good day.
Don’t let this one view skew you from wht is actually a good album… Not a Meek fan but I like some of his work and to make an album that addresses the streets and the hood from the other side is needed… Now Kendrick and Cole are probably 2 of my favorite of ths Era and will go dwn as 2 of the greatest ever… But the streets and I mean real street dudes need Meek he actually talking bout something yea he braggadocious but in a way tht inspires kinda how Jeezy is… You feel the passion for his craft and I think it’s a place for it
It’s Funny cuz Meek on the JCole tour at least he doing the show here in the A…
Do niggas realize tpab is talking bout the streets
Fuck Meek and anybody that agree with him. Cole and Kdot are light years ahead of him
I agree with this. What Andre Grant is trying to say is that there are two opposing ideas of making it in society, more specifically, young African Americans. What the conscious/soul rappers portray is their own realization of what is going on and kick knowledge that way. People like Meek show there own realization of what made them successful and how. Both of these approaches are stylistic and can convey the same message. You think the classic rivalry of Pac and Biggie, where neither styles were similar, content was not the same, and overall portrayal of their own life wasn’t the same, however you get the same ideaology of making it from some sort of struggle.
Hip hop today has so left or right brained thinkers that everyone doesn’t see the vitality and necessity of both. There are people hustling and selling drugs; there are people who have mental and emotional struggles with life. Music can uplift everyone.
And I guarantee Meek, J Cole, Kendrick, and whoever acknowledge the need for each other even they don’t support it.
HIP HOP DX JUST WENT FULL RETARD
It’s all the same talk everybody is talking from the streets
What the fuck are you talking about? Capitalism and Art are opposing concepts. Money subverts art. If the primary goal of your creativity is to make money then you have no claim to being an artist.
Great article
And let it be known…Kendrick murdered meek mill on that song “A1”
Really ? Really ? Meek mill on the same sentence with king Cole & Kunta come ,if you guys don’t what to write about go fuck yourself . . . This guy is rappin for kids ,he yells , he doesn’t make sense . . . Fuck this article
get tha article a bit…bt niggaz lyk meek mill r nt rily diffrnt, their bars r shallow. he dsnt switch t up enough too,so 1 dimentional. cole nd lamar are deeper and doper, with diffrnt styles. i hv 10 kids in my studio who sound lyk meek mill…scream and rap abt mulla and superficials
This article is garbage, meek mill is garbage too. Anybody can get a mercedes the hard part is keeping it motherfucker!
I fux with Vince Staples
can i say, i download this Trash, and still have not heard it! K.Dot and J.Cole is What hIpHop need, along with Joey Badass, and Vince Staples. want Street music, Go Listen to Summertime 06.. Banger. Like Joe Buddens said, how in the hell he want to be the voice of the streets, when he gogglie eyeing Nikki every chance we see them two. GTFOH.. I mean its Niki But hit and run that shit..G’s dont look for Love.. Fake ass niggas these days
so what he threw shade…. all that matters is album sales baby… radio play and hits baby… Meek mills is that man, but truth be toldit would be hard as hell for him to make a platinum album without features and that’s real
meek will never see a platinum album, probably not even gold… i dont even think his singles sell like that. he dont have any real hits.
Meek mills whooooooooooooooooooooo………. J Cole and Kendrick is the truth.
i think a lot of people misses a point a lot of times. Hip Hop is diverse, that’s whats make it survive century after century.
J.Cole and Kendrick are like the cheese boys of hip hop, they rap about what they see( black people been murdered, arrested but they never been arrested). While Meek mill raps about his day to day experience, coming from the hood with nothing trying to make a dollor along with his personal experience( “should have have gave my sister some money but i made it rain”)
I listen to all of them…
Apparently you haven’t listened to GKMC.
Hip hop hasn’t even been a thing for a century. I officially put your comment in cry stasis until 2069ish
Meek is trash. He’ll never be on that level that k dot and j Cole be on man.
J cole and Kendrick are on another lever of rap. Meek could learn something listening to them. It won’t hurt. & shoot we’re forced to listen to Meeks music. Check out @Pharohdmusic on IG for the illest 15 second freestyles on the gram. Cole & Kendrick are carving a lane for him. #Peace
For Meek to try and discredit J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar is a slap in the face of people who are fans of both styles. We need different styles to keep from being jaded like the late 2000’s again with all that snapping and ringtone rap. Everyone can’t rap about society at large, everyone can’t rap about being rich. There has to be balance and the people have to create that balance. Don’t feed into this. Meek Mill shouldn’t even be compared to J. Cole and Kendrick. He should be compared to the Big Sean’s, Li’l Wayne’s and Rick Ross’. In that category he clearly stands out.
Lets just put it like this meek and aint on the same level as J.cole And Kendrick lamar they talk about real shit and they also talk about the ignorant shit…..meek just talks about ignorant shit all the time and the flow stays the same….
Who the fuck is Meek Mill?
I wonder if any of y’all listened to dat track up their cause its fire.. In fact meek, Kendrick, Cole, drake, are the poster boys for the new generation ALL OF THEM are dope in their way.. Meek hustla a go n get it nukka , the rest are more pure artists but none the less Meek 2 albums are krazi .. N good bodies of work
Drake can rap, but he doesnt live hip hop thats why the only good thing in his music are the flows and the beats. No lyricism no content
“If lyrics sold, I’d probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli .” It’s the only the fault of us, the consumer.
Yo yall twisted his words. He said it it personally can’t inspire him, he saying he already know alot so they cant speak to him much. Smh gassing
Cant nobody fuck with spitta on that rap shit..
Join the discussion……
meek got k dot on A1..meek is doin his tin..same goes to k dot n cole….not everybody shud b talkin d same shit…but everybody shud learn hw to save lives in watever dey doin..n d best way in doin dat ..is talkin reality….n who r dose artiste doin dat?…i luv meek..rocky..kanye…drake…wale n d rest…but d saviours ryt here r k dot …cole n common…
everybody is doin his tin….wat meek simply meant on dat statement was…k dot n cole aint doin my type of shit…so dey aint inspirin me….but check out d MCs dat r doin it big…..k lamar n cole…..TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY…Is d way he is provin it…….FOREST HILL DRIVE….is d way he is also provin it….shout out to all d rappers out dere….cuz it aint easy gettin dere…….
It’s more then just guns and selling dope and being a X con that’s all good when your really from that but even then not every song can be about dope prison and guns but also you can’t always be polite and political and in touch with the world kinda of rapper either there should be some contrast it gets old to hear the same old type of rap I like jay z and rick ross and flo rida eminem kendrick the game J cole nas snoop because rap can be different and diverse and it should be there should be something for everybody
real men stay out of jail bruh….meek ain’t no visionarian he’s lazy I think
Meek mill raps about swag, money, making money fast, drugs and women, subjects that have nothing to do with hip hop. Kendrick and Cole represent hip hop and talk about problems in the real world not in the fake materialistic shitty world meek talks about. Kendrick and Cole kill him any day of the week
Horrible arcticle
Terriblee who diz nigg dunno wat hip hop is?? Fuck meek mill fake rappers all mmg ymcmb rg shitheads fetty wap all that drugs and guns gloryfying music
real talk there @Meth @ Exposure! Meek ain’t no rapper to me….Someone help me tell him to read wide…..he’s got nun real to tell the youth…who cares if women love you?
Bro I’m from South Central Los Angeles born and raised in the 80s and 90s where gangbabgung was at its highest points, truth is Meek is creating a fairytale lifestyle, most don’t live. Yes we need artist to talk about street life, but an over saturating of this nonsense is killing our people and becomes a self fulfilling prophecy for many youth living in poverty. Most dudes out here are struggling, not kingpins, not drug lords, none of that. Meeks music is shallow and leaves no answers to our youth facing the world as they grow. To say u don’t listen to k.dot of Cole is fine, but to turn around and say u only listen to Dej Loaf Future and Young Thug??! Lost it