OPINION: In Defense of Drake Pt. IV (By Chris Shaban)
Part 4 of 4 of Chris Shaban’s In Defense of Drake! Like I said in the last post, to read this article the way it’s truly meant to be read please visit Chris’ blog: www.farbeyond.ca. Basically, he’s written the piece in a new style he’s invented called FOOTNOTES. It’s kinda like pop-up video the way the FootNotes pop-up on the page but we unfortunately can’t get the coding to work on our blog. The FootNotes here are after the jump! Alas…read it here, read it there, just read it.
Part IV
So this is it, the final chapter: In Defense of Drake. For the people that have stuck around since the beginning, it’s nice to have you back[i]. For anyone that’s new to FootNotes, please feel free to begin here with Part IV; however, just for the full effect, or to learn how to read the actual FootNotes themselves, it would be cool if you started back at Part I[ii]. Here, in this last edition I put the pen down. Straight up, I have no further questions. So now it’s up to the Prosecution to bring forth their case against Drake[iii]. To help the cause they have reached out to one of the biggest and most well known haters this side of Michael Moore and Bill O’Reilly[iv], your friend and mine, Ricky Rapper, Esq.[v]. I’ll be sure to hop back in every now and then to supply you with the FootNotes because Ricky doesn’t have that kinda pull around here.
Briefly, I want to speak on the structure of Blog.FarBeyond.ca, or FarBeyond FootNotes, moving forward[vi]. These are long writings, stretched out even further because of the FootNotes. You see, all of the articles that will be posted here every Friday were originally intended to be just individual one-piece essays[vii]. However, due to the fact that these bad boys are not being published on MacLeans.ca or NewYorker.com, I felt it was best to try and feed it in bite-sized doses[viii] in an effort to hopefully keep your attention[ix]. Anyway, now that the first FootNotes submission is complete, please feel free to read all four parts, in order, as one complete article. Read it the same way you’d sit down to read a book like ‘Good to Great’, ‘Freakonomics’ or ‘The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding’[x]. What’s Next? Well, funny you should ask, because on Friday November 6th, Pete is presenting what might be one of the most important pieces about music that you’re going to read this year. It’s entitled ‘Sounds Good? – Why you should HATE the way you’re listening to music.’
Also, I want to tell you guys about Not For Everyone clothing. The labels creator Stephen Lee just put me on to this stuff. Think urban chic, mad Grown & Sexy. Check out his blog at http://www.n4e1.com/blog/
Enough plugs[xi], Let’s Go…
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Previous: OPINION: “In Defense Of Drake” (Part II) by Chris Shaban
Previous: OPINION: “In Defense of Drake” (HHC Editorial Piece)
“And as for the critics, tell me, I don’t get it, everybody can tell you how to do it, they never did it.”
I can’t believe I’m writing this article… at least not from this side of the fence
When it comes to writing, I’m the kind of guy that takes serious things seriously from serious people[xii]. It’s a simple philosophy, but one that isn’t always adhered to by everyone that calls themselves a writer. I mean hey, you can get a pass for trying to speak intelligently on things that you’ve never done before, if you do it with some respect[xiii]. But what’s inexcusable is not bothering to correct your information before you critique and publically putting your name to it. Luckily, as I mentioned earlier, we are truly privileged to have one of those writers here with us today. Ricky Rapper, Esq. will help shine some light on the opposite side of the coin[xiv]. While I’ll add the FootNotes, Ricky will present to you in a method borrowed from my boy Shard’s RFL posts[xv]. Okay, well he stole it from Keyshawn Johnson on Monday Night Countdown[xvi], my favourite segment: “C’Mon Man!”
So without further delay, here, in random order[xvii], are the top 5 Missteps from your boy Drizzy
1. The Video for ‘Best I Ever Had’
Yo Drizzy, who’s idea was this? Like, no doubt Kanye, and his big breast lovin’ ass put you up to this right[xviii]? Man, I bet Kanye was scared you might take his spot in the game so he tried to sabotage your career with this video[xix]. Okay, let’s break for a second and pretend that Kanye didn’t channel the ghost of Russ Meyer to direct ‘Breast I Ever Had’[xx]. What in the blue hell was the point of this video? I’ve watched like 5 different interviews and all I can come up with is that you want to coach some girls to feel beautiful or something and basketball is the metaphor. Umm, ya, basketball is the metaphor for girls with large breasts jumping up and down. Unless you’re the coach of a trampoline team, I’m pretty sure this is the most jumping you can cram into a sports themed music video.
This was your first real single dog, how could you let this happen? I don’t know one self-respecting person that enjoyed watching that in any artistic way at all[xxi]. There is absolutely no way around this one; the video for ‘Best I Ever Had’ was a mistake. I’m sorry, but it’s true.
Drake’s video for ‘Best I Ever Had’ – C’Mon Man!
2. July 31st 2009, ‘America’s Most Wanted Tour’ – Camden, New Jersey
Absolute & Complete Lunacy, or ACL, is the term doctors use to describe going on stage with multiple aggravated ligament injuries, after they told you not to, then dancing (or spinning in a circle) and getting so hyped up that you slip and fall, thus confirming your docs[xxii] worst nightmare. I guess it didn’t matter that the same injury kept San Diego Chargers[xxiii] monster Shawn Merriman[xxiv] OUT of the NFL for a year[xxv]? Okay, so maybe the NFL is a little more bump and crash than doing the moonwalk, but, still, brah, couldn’t you have found a stool to lean on or something? Now this is just a guess, but I’m pretty sure that you would have made the final decision on whether or not to perform, no matter who was in your ear, so this one is on you[xxvi]. Net result? More wheelchair jokes for critics and two months at home in the Dot preparing for surgery.
Going against doctors orders and hitting the road with Wayne – C’Mon Man!
3. Where is the Love?
Now, I don’t want to come across as a hater, but where is the Toronto love Drizzy? You were home for at least two months and I know I may be wrong, but I don’t remember seeing much[xxvii]. No personal posts on 1loveTO.com[xxviii], no interviews on Flow, nothing on MuchMusic, no more cameos in Canadian videos, not an appearance anywhere man. Now truth be told, yeah, I’m for the Prosecution, and yeah, I’m kinda hating right now, but RR Esq. would change his tune quick fast if you just listened to my beat CD? Maybe be my FaceBook friend[xxix]? Ummmm, no wait better yet, I have this rap group I’m in, we just did this track and it’s produced by this guy and it’s the best song ever and…
(Rapper Ricky composes himself)
I’m sorry Your Honour, please let me continue to address my subject, I truly do apologize; I don’t know what got into me there[xxx].
Okay, as I was kinda saying, it’s been a hot minute since we’ve felt the love, brah. Now, in your defense there was an interview with Sarah Taylor before the big home coming show at the Docks[xxxi] and you did present on the Red Carpet at the MuchMusic Video Awards[xxxii], but that was all before the summer mang. I’m also pretty sure on the ‘Still Fly’ Dubplate you name-dropped every single person in Toronto beside Harold Ballard[xxxiii], so wha happen? Now I know we’ve mentioned this before, it’s proven that Canada is often ultra behind on trends[xxxiv], however, once again, I’m going to put this on Drizzy.
Now, the number one concern for all rappers in the Great White North is still to break in the States[xxxv], so this slight[xxxvi] isn’t one that you can classify as ‘hurting’ his career. But my brother, I see you on TV, I take in your verses, I read your articles, I HEAR you repping our city… I guess we’ll just have to wait till Akon or Wayne ‘discovers’ someone else.
The Cold Shoulder to the T Dot? – C’Mon Man!
4. BET Awards 2009
You knew I wasn’t going to leave this one out right? Okay, for the sake of not going on too long, and to focus on the most important part of the section, we’ll just pretend that you didn’t come out to perform on a stool. I heard the apology, but who in their right mind let those girls on the stage during that song dude? I mean, ANY other song and you’re good[xxxvii], but doggy, the chorus of ‘Every Girl’ even makes ME blush. That was probably one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen on television in my life[xxxviii]. This one didn’t come from people hating, this came from people bringing their dinner back up in their mouths. The fact that MJ had just passed away had nothing to do with people being offended by underage girls, family or not, dancing on stage to the suggestion that you guys would want to have intercourse with every single female on the planet[xxxix].
Dancing with the underage girl posse to ‘Every Girl’ – C’Mon Man!
5. Sylvia Rhone and Universal Motown
All right listen; even though I like to get raw every now and then, Ricky Rapper knows his role, so I’ll tread lightly here. You see, my guess is that this is one of the most frustrating things that has happened to you so far in your career. I understand that you went down to visit with her in an attempt to be signed and she canned the sit-down[xl]. I’m sure that would then escalate to ULTRA frustrating when she sees you again and is all, ‘You’re the hottest, sign here’. Like, if I flied all the way out there and then got told to buzz off, I’d be STEAMING too. But the fact remains, like the ‘48 Laws of Power[xli]’ teaches us, it’s best to wait to attack until you’ve got the upper hand[xlii]. And man, that’s one of the top dogs in the music business. I mean, at the very least, she has built herself a very illustrious and successful career. Regardless of the circumstances, you ended up with some egg on your face with this one. Now granted, you did apologize again, and that is something to be commended, but this one is forever on the resume. Next time, I’d just keep these thoughts to myself until her retirement party or something like that…
Dissing the Head of your Record Label – C’Mon Man!
Wow, who knew Ricky Rapper could be so tough? It’s fair to say he pulled no punches, but he really didn’t just make anything up out of thin air either. I think I’m cool with what he wrote. Thanks for the help RR.
Now, on a quick personal note; I just got myself back into this wild music business after a 5 year hiatus[xliii], so my opinion may not be as dope as some folks that have dedicated their whole professional lives to this, I know. But what I am trying to do is almost explain pop culture through the medium of Hip-Hop and use this topic as the example. I think the first 3 parts of this piece clearly explain that he is ultra talented. With that said, pobody’s nerfect, and there have been some falls along the way. Those last 5 points Ricky brought up are real deal slip-ups, some that may just be brushed off, and others that may have hit closer to home. Either way, they were mistakes, and it’s tough to argue them.
Okay, so, has the jury reached its verdict?
Oh fo sho…
Let’s keep it real, anything can happen, and God’s will is always the net result no matter who you are, but I mean, straight up, this dude has got to be as close to a sure bet as there is out there. So with that said, this writer finds Drake cleared of all unnecessary hate and opening the way to continue his ascent to the top of the game… And with what he’s showed so far, that’s exactly where he belongs[xliv].
Now, like Jay said, the point is to see what he does with it.
So, I guess I actually can believe that I’m writing this article… at least until all my peoples chew me out[xlv].
And with that, The Defense Rests…
Next Friday: ‘Sounds Good? – Why you should HATE the music you’re listening too.’ Blog.FarBeyond.ca
Personal FootNote: I just wanted to add this at 4:32pm on Thursday afternoon cause I have to send it to Darrin and Jesse to post now cause I’m about to break out of here and go see Jigga in Mont-Real tomorrow (Oct 30th)[xlvi]. I waited till I had completed writing this last part to officially spend sometime on octobersveryown.blogspot.com as to not be influenced by the party line[xlvii] and keep my opinions as unbiased as possible. It seems like the whole clique are trendsetters. I guess, that may be a total ‘dah’ from a lot of people, or maybe you think that’s wrong. Either way, like my opinion matters, I was really impressed with what I saw on there… Fully loving seeing mad bottles of Ace of Spades[xlviii].
[i] Are you tired yet? I didn’t really know that my brain had all this Drake info in it, especially during Football season. I’m glad I wrote it all down cause I’m going to need that space for something else soon.
[ii] Just scroll down to the end of this piece and the links to the other parts are there. If you’re on HHC.com, Jesse will put links at the top of the article. Cityonmyback readers, Rez or Ty will put the links right underneath the post.
[iii] Okay, I don’t step back as I obviously write this part too, it’s just contrary to the thesis so I have to pass the buck here. Plus, I actually believe the thesis, so…..
[iv] Notice how I put both sides in? See, in my opinion, when you’re wrong you’re wrong and when you’re right you’re right, however, there are always two sides to the story. I find that these two gentlemen, while clearly educated and talented, lose a lot of their ability to sway public opinion to their side. And I believe that’s in part because they refuse to see some truth in the opposite argument. I mean, what inevitably ends up happening is that, for the most part, it makes the people that already agree with their point of view just agree with them even more. I know those guys have a point to prove but geez, you gotta lick it before you kick it, you don’t just stuff it right in, if you know what I mean. In the end, both dudes have made long and prosperous careers doing what they do. Who’da thought Inside Edition could lead to the O’Reilly Factor? I wish them both the best, oh, and check out – Matthew 7:3. Good verse.
[v] Just think the “Madd Rapper” with more Shabby and less D Dot.
[vi] Sidenote: I find ‘moving forward’, ‘take it to the next level’ and ‘please advise’ to be the corporate versions of curse words.
[vii] As an example of what I was trying to achieve, head to, http://www.gladwell.com/2007/2007_01_08_a_secrets.html. Gladwell, as always, murders one of my favourite business topics of the new millennium. For whatever you may say about their business practices, and you can say A LOT, those dudes at Enron were wild brilliant. Read or watch ‘The Smartest Guys in the Room’ for further education. PS on Gladwell – Did anyone see him on PTI Friday October 16th? He seems like a pretty cool dude.
[viii] Plus it allowed Pete or I to make adjustments to the other Parts during the proof read before they get released.
[ix] They’re still way too long, I know…
[x] My boy Soze introduced me to this book back in probably 2001. I’ve read it 3 times since then.
[xi] Poor Tobias… I’m glad they cleared up that life threatening GVH.
[xii] Say that 5 times fast, GO
[xiii] Obviously not all the reporters that cover sports have ever played any professionally either.
[xiv] You may recognize some of his points from other media outlets and rumour mills. Straight up, Ricky’s not really that creative, I’m sorry…
[xv] RFL = Ronin Football League. That’s my real job; this other stuff is part time. Greatest fantasy football league on the planet.
[xvi] You may also recognize it in it’s Hip-Hop form, still borrowed from Keyshawn, but repped hard by Ed Lover, ‘C’Mon Son’
[xvii] Big ups to Bob Saget and the real America’s Funniest Home Videos.
[xviii] See Kanye’s ‘Workout Plan’ video amongst many of his others for bouncing boobies. I mean, what other rapper had Anna Nicole Smith (RIP) and Pamela Anderson in 2 different videos?
[xix] I choose not to agree with that. Jay is my favourite rapper, but Kanye is the best there is right now, hands down.
[xx] I know, I’ve heard it 30,000 times myself, but it just fits so well, doesn’t it?
[xxi] Although, I’m sure there were a bunch of 13-year-old boys who loved watching it with their doors locked and on slow-mo though.
[xxii] …and your management teams…
[xxiii] See Mom, I told you I could fit California in again! It’s starting to get cold here now…
[xxiv] And tons of other diesel athletes.
[xxv] And somehow into the bed of Tila Tequila? He mos def has a type though… Gloria Velez anyone? PS – Wasn’t she the ultimate video chick in ‘Big Pimpin’?
[xxvi] To be just a little fair, after waiting for a bunch of years, and watching your first real single fly up the US Pop Charts, I can’t imagine, especially at 22 years old, saying, ‘You know what fellas, I’ma sit this tour out’. Think about it…
[xxvii] Remember now, Ricky’s talking here. I myself actually stay around the crib 85% of the time, maybe more. So what that means is, Shabby doesn’t see much anyway, and my opinion doesn’t count.
[xxviii] Although the 23rd Birthday party was here in Toronto… And got up on 1LoveTO so that’s dope. I’m sure MuchMusic would have enjoyed a camera at the spot too, but, I understand cause I’m the same way, sometimes you just wanna party with your friends.
[xxix] I really should get one of those FaceBook things, eh? Nah, ya know what, I have too many headaches already.
[xxx] You see, my guess is that it would be tough to balance repping the city and peeps from the city begging for a hook up, as we just saw with Ricky. Poor guy just wants to be put on. I don’t know how I would of balanced that at 23 years old… When I was that age, I could hardly keep away from the bad stuff when I toured the VJ Search (Big Ups to Max B too!). And comparing what Drake is doing right now to me hosting the VJ Search is like comparing an apple to a fruit no one has ever heard of.
[xxxi] Wasn’t that presented by Flow? My mind is a little old so maybe I’m just tripping. I would think there should be an interview in that scenario. Maybe he watched the old Kanye interview with Hollywood Rich! Listen Drizzy, even Jay is going in to Flow on Halloween, it’s time to bury the hatchet… 😉
[xxxii] Okay, I’m going off the dome on this one with the dates, so forgive me if I’m off. First we have Drake on the pre-show of the MMVA’s, in his hometown, almost as an after thought presenter and then, a week later, his performance is closing the BET Awards in another country? That’s FarBeyond ridiculous. It’s not like we didn’t know either. When Sarah Taylor was interviewing him saying, ‘you’re in the studio with Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne’, that was like a month before the awards show. Why was he on the red carpet preshow? Like, there aren’t too many people from here that are doing that? That’s a dropped pass. A touchdown one too… I mean, I can’t say I know the whole story, I’m just sayin….
[xxxiii] Hearing some of those names, and many others not mentioned, really makes me realize how much work Gavin Sheppard has done for not just our urban community, but for our whole country. Just Google his name… From I C Visions, to the starting of the Foundation Creative Group with Shane, to the Remix Project, I am more than proud to consider myself a peer of his (and I used to love reading his dads pieces in MacLean’s too!)
[xxxiv] For example, same month: MuchMusic Video Awards: Pre-Show Red Carpet – BET Awards: Closing the show. Did I mention that already?
[xxxv] See Part II for that explanation
[xxxvi] Once again, that’s Ricky talking, not me
[xxxvii] Well, other notable exception would include – ‘Touch Myself’ and ‘Put it in Your Mouth’
[xxxviii] Save for ‘House’ and anything Jimmy Fallon has ever done…
[xxxix] Seemingly BET can quickly forgive and forget as the song won ‘Track of the Year’ at the BET Hip-Hop Awards.
[xl] http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1618720/20090813/drake.jhtml
[xli] The same studio session that Soze told me about the Branding book, he played me some verses from an upcoming Hu$tlemann mixtape. There was one in particular verse from Mayhem where he mentioned ‘The 48 Laws of Power’. I thought, hey, they both sound like interesting books, so I bought them that day on the way home.
[xlii] Or by surprise attack of course, but at the time, that was too big of a mountain for Drake to climb…
[xliii] You can thank starting and selling SafeBridge Financial with my boy Rambo and consulting at Trader Corporation filling the 5-year gap.
[xliv] Look, even though I’ve resided in a few places, I’ve lived no more than 30 minutes from the heart of the city for all of my 30 years. There is no question at all that Toronto is my lifelong hometown. If you feel the need to count this verdict as slanted because of that, please do so. If you feel that I didn’t provide enough information in this piece, then I’m cool with you feeling that. But remember, Theo 3 didn’t dub this place ‘the Screwface Capital’ because it’s all love.
[xlv] I’ll bring ‘pause’ back in one more time for that line and now it’s done. Speaking on the tastes of my friends, you know, when Reasonable Doubt was released in Grade 12, all my boys clowned me for buying that CD too. Albeit I bought it for the Primo joints and ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ cause Biggie was on it, but that’s neither here nor there… Also ‘buying that CD’ refers to the transaction where a purchaser supplies a seller with money in exchange for a CD or Compact Disc. These ‘CD’s’ used to hold music on them and they came with these great booklets and everything. There were always at least 3 good songs on them, well maybe 2, but it was worth the $20. Laugh now, but in 15 years this conversation will be right up there with, ‘Remember when we used to talk on our cell phones in the car? Man, that was crazy.’
[xlvi] Thank you to my friend Neil and for his friend Pavan for throwing a jam with Neil Armstrong after. … I’m with Tracy, so it’ll be live, but tame enough to get up in the morning and drive back for a Halloween party at Cousin Geoff’s house. We’ll be going as the royal couple of Southfork Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Ewing
[xlvii] I understand it’s probably hard to imagine that I hadn’t done that before given that everyone else in the world probably has. Listen, I wasn’t kidding when I said that just got back into the Toronto music scene and culture. I mean, besides Lo and Gavin, I hadn’t seen anyone that I knew only because of music since like 2004. I have been to the site a bunch of times in the last 3 or 4 months because I like to know what’s going now. I check some others too… Hey, hopefully Jay’s right and 30 is the new 20 cause I could use a time machine… 😉
[xlviii] Whenever I’m in New York, I always go to the 40/40, and usually get a little wild. And when Sunday hits and we’ve already been either Friday or Saturday night, it’s time to go back for NFL Football. And it doesn’t matter who I’m with, Jon, Lo, Rambo, Bill, we always get that big room upstairs where Roy Williams (formerly of the Cowboys, now on the Bengals) proposed to Kelly Rowland. Not because that happened there, but because that’s where we liked to hangout, eat, drink, watch the game, fall asleep on one of the beds, play Golden-Tee whatever. That said, I never ONCE drank that, and it was STRICTLY because it was $800 a bottle then. I had thought it was the one trend Jay had started that, after a while, was going to flop. Well, you can thank these dudes for shining a huge light on it.