Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

OH HAPPY DAY!

Yesterday, Lil’ Wayne started his 1 year sentence on Rikers Island (NEW YORK STAND UP….wait, bad time?) after being convicted on gun charges stemming from an arrest here on July 22, 2007. That’s my birthday! It was like a gift from the NYPD, whodathunkit?

Wayne has had one of the more interesting careers in Hip-Hop, as far as the genre’s megastars go. Two years older than myself, he’s arguably the most significant rapper of our generation (before you choke on the letters ‘J’ and ‘Z’, please be reminded that being born in 1969 qualifies one for a different generation), a fact I personally find depressing. Wayne’s been on Hip-Hop’s radar since 1997 when he was a marginal member of the marginal Hot Boyz. Somehow, to the complete shock of many (well, me at least), Wayne released some mixtapes that forced people to view him as a credible rapper. In the past five years, we’ve watched dude take a drug addled ride to the top of the charts, bringing along motley crew of scallywags and awkwardly cast clique members (Wheelchair Jimmy, stand the fuck up). He’s done more guest appearances in the past two years than some rappers will in an entire career. He’s been both a hipster darling and a hood staple. He had enough sons in one year to start an R&B group.

And now he’s going to jail. And I can’t help but to be a little glad.

To be completely fair, it’s worth acknowledging that Black men in general and rappers ESPECIALLY are unfairly profiled by the police. Yes, certain cities have task forces that are charged specifically with keeping an eye on rappers (including New York, where Wayne got popped). Common sense would tell you that the additional scruitiny should be the impetus to be EXTRA careful. If you know the police are watching, why make it so easy for them?

Wayne could afford security and armed bodyguards. But like so many other rappers (or ball players- what up, Plax?) he felt the need to maintain this image and this fake thug lifestyle. And perhaps he needed to convince himself. So he rolled with a piece and he got popped. It’s hard for me to summon sympathy when someone who had every way OUT of the worst parts of street life chooses to stay in.

Which is why shit like this makes me sick. Do you know why people wore “Free Huey” shirts and carried “Free Angela” signs? Do you know why people have spent 30 years talking about “Free Mumia”? BECAUSE THEY WERE POLITICAL PRISONERS. Because they didn’t deserve to be in jail.  Yet, the Hip-Hop generation seems to feel that any nigglet they like should be let out because they like them. The Man didn’t set Wayne up. The “pigs” didn’t tell T.I. to go looking for guns with “no flash, no bang”.

I can’t lie, I’m looking forward to a year without people pretending like Wayne’s drug induced warbling is so damn profound. I’m hoping his crew of misfits will disband, Drake will find an authentic sound of his own and popular Hip-Hop can restore some dignity after 5 years of the goblin menace reining supreme. Confidence in this, however, is low. Wayne speaks to the faily fail fail that is much of Hip-Hop’s young audience- a group that was in the lower grades when BIG passed and has an astounding lack of both exposure to and intrest in what most of us on this site would call the best of Hip-Hop’s history. And then you have full grown ass men like DJ Khaled:

At the very least, I hope the loss of Wayne’s freedom for a year serves as a lesson to you young punks that the law is still the law. You wanna act like a thug, go’n head. *Edit* And I sincerely hope that the dude gets clean in prison, though I think his money will give him access to continue his habits. I think a sober Wayne actually might have some very thoughtful things to say.

PS- Because it entertains me so, here is the conversation I had with No about Wayne’s incarceration:

no: yo.o o i got this idea for a piece on the site
me: okkk
no:  i want it to be about lil wayne
and how him being locked up is a blessing to us all
how we wont have to deal with his crap ass music for a minute or crap ass self period
me: LMFAO!
no: and then question todays youth
me: Word
no: on following this dude like jesus
and question the idiots pressing up FREE WAYNE tshirts
when the dude aint on some mumia schitt. he’s  being locked up for thinking he was scarface or some schitt

me: Word f’n life
no: and cats runnin round with free wayne shirts like hes a valuable credible influence on todays generation
me: I like this
no: like if he was jay elec
me: Right. He makes Hov look like Chuck D.
no: !!!!!!!!!!!!!  im just dead tired of this fools campaign like fuckin tim teabow
me: LMAO!
no: and i seen his stupid lil road to rikers schitt…
talkin bout they can take my time, but they wont take my spirit or my love and rah rah rah rah
me: Like he’s a political prisoner
“Wayne, stay strong”
WTF
no: im like yeah yeah yeah… save it for oprah
me: Meanwhile, the NY crips are waiting for his ASS
no: right!? okay?
annnnnnd… im watching this schitt like… really nigga?
u put yourself there
YOU taking your time away from YOU
me: Right
no: fuckin morsel of shit
me: This is a great idea

DROPPED BY SisterToldja

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19 Comments to OH HAPPY DAY!

1. [...] HAPPY DAY! http://www.blindiforthekids.com/blind…happy-day/ Add to favoritespermalink 40 seconds ago follow [...]
blindi - TwitFlip.com on March 9th, 2010
2. 

   This is funny as fudge! Good piece. Lil Wayne’s music is just made for the club. Simple. Nothing profound. However, there is nothing wrong with a little ass shaking from time to time. A Wayne knows how to get it poppin’. LOL
DawleyPardon on March 9th, 2010
3. 

   i feel the hate on wayne…cuz i hate him too…at times tho. there are a few times where he’s brought it on tracks, and he fuckin’ brought it. and it has me thinking like “damn why can’t you come thru with more schitt like this?” its a love/hate relationship thing i guess. more hate than love tho.
KiLLA on March 9th, 2010
4. 

   the man is a genius. jst the fact that u devoted a whole post to a rapper whom you HATE speaks volumes about his career. he aint no political prisoner thats for sure. but he is a highly respected artist in SOME circles and they will be anticipating his release and further musical endeavors. I wish him safety and maybe he can get clean in there (doubt it). 1.
T-Dot on March 9th, 2010
5. 

   Thank you, for your piece on Lil Wayne he is hot trash. And you are right all of the younger generation loves this dude. He sounds like a 6 year lil boy plus, he raps about nothing. Maybe jail will teach him a thing or too Sad but the truth!
LL on March 9th, 2010
6. 

   And now he’s going to jail. And I can’t help but to be a little glad. <awesome! lol

   its one thing to be a real fan of this man's music but the problem is alot of these young fux only like him bcuz the next man does on some sheep shit smh

   -serv1
dj serv1 on March 9th, 2010
7. 

   T-Dot- I think the “if they hating, you doing something right” logic is flawed. Maybe people are “hating” because he represents something we don’t agree with.

   I’m with you on the sober part, I meant to include that from jump! Time to edit…
SisterToldja on March 9th, 2010
8. 

   By far the best piece I’ve read in a while. Not only do I agree with every word written, (besides the “little glad”, seeing I am ALOT glad…) it is hilarity in a great way. Because the jokes are all written in truth! I love it. I love you. I don’t even know who you are or what this site is, but I’m glad I “blindly” (no pun intended) clicked the link to it. Much love! *raises fist* and power back to the real hip hop!
Pay on March 9th, 2010
9. 

   I hate to ruin this piece with facts, but Wayne wasn’t caught with a gun…a gun was found on his tour bus, which could have belonged to anyone in his entourage (his manager claimed it was his). This is called constructive possession. If a weapon is found in a vehicle you’re in, even a bus, anyone who was in the vehicle can be charged with possession. The fact that the police decided to charge the richest black person on the bus with possession and not anyone else in the vehicle (including the manager who claimed it was his at the time of arrest) is quite suspect and fits in with all the allegations that the police are profiling and actively seeking to prosecute rappers even for the crimes of other people they happen to know, which is f**king absurd and shouldn’t be supported in any way.

   Are rappers now supposed to be responsible for every fully grown adult who walks on their tour bus? I mean WTF?

   And, of course, no one is profiling rock artists who are known to travel with copious amounts of illegal drugs.

   There is nothing good about this and it won’t benefit anyone.

   Lil Wayne has never shot anyone and has no violent priors. He went to a college prep high school, the same one I attended, in fact.

   This guy is no threat to society. His conviction was a sham and a farce.
spirit equality on March 9th, 2010
10. 

    What’s so genius about this man? Give me a verse that “Says something”. This is the problem with today’s youth and listeners. Substance in lyrics is not a prerequisite anymore? GTFOHWTB! I admire his grind, what I mean is even with adversity (haters) he keeps putting out music. Time will tell on this one. If he makes something dope when he returns then good. Either way, the “army” he’s recruited will keep this cat paid for life. Great point on the Free Weezy t-shirts. People are so brain dead they don’t/won’t differentiate between a political prisoner and someone who got busted doing dumb shit.
Sef Diggy on March 9th, 2010
11. 

    S.E.-”Ruining the piece with facts” would imply that the person who wrote it was not informed by said facts, which isn’t the case. So sorry if I ruin your comment with reality: had there been an out for Wayne here, his lawyers would have taken it. Had someone been able to take the charge for him, they would have.

    This is not to say the profiling of rappers is fair, I CLEARLY stated they are subject to “unfair” profiling. But that said, why have an unregistered handgun on the bus? If Wayne is taking someone else’s charge, that’s HIS choice.

    NY gun laws are tough. Don’t want to be subject to them, don’t be caught in violation.
SisterToldja on March 9th, 2010

12. [...] I’m here. Blind I. Check us out! And if you are among the lucky ones attending SXSW this year (I [...]
I’m Not Here Today | The Beautiful Struggler on March 9th, 2010
13. 

    Lol…Wayne makes Hov look like Chuck D. I can’t celebrate another black man in jail..but I will say that maybe wayne wont be so incoherent for a while. Maybe..prolly not.
OHBO! NIYRE on March 9th, 2010
14. 

    Great article! I agree with you on most fronts. The only positive thing I like about Wayne is when high profile DJs mix his shit and end up on hype machine. His flow is so basic that it remixes really well.

    Millionaires who make money from legit business, and still feel need to act hard and carry metal need to check their head furale.
TD on March 9th, 2010
15. 

    I had this opinion from day one as well Sister. My friends told me I was ignorant to what true swagger was. Fuck swagger. If you dont have something respectable to say, then I dont care how it was delivered.
    Granted, wayne has talent. But it was wasted. He could have led a monumental movement towards the skies with all the heads that follow this man’s nuts. His genuine lack and moreover disregard of purpose behind his rhymes have caused kids to think hip hop is a game of saying the most ignorant shit the coolest.
    Rap with a purpose lasts a lifetime. Obviously. Rap about lollipops and syrup make the genre a mockery.
dre on March 9th, 2010
16. 

    And then I said something.
Iron Chief on March 10th, 2010
17. 

    I cant believe no one has mentioned the fact that he’s a “swagger jacker”. One person mentioned swagger, but not the fact that he’s a fucking BITER!! In true hip hop, you can NEVER bite lyrics or parts of lyrics and change the other parts especially with the same exact flow. See: that All Around the World track. Probably the remix where he bites off a guy definitely TOP 5 all time, RAKIM. I lost it when I heard that ish! Jay Z is a fucking biter too. All these new cats, and some older ones like Jay Z, take advantage of the fact that young people today never heard KRS, Biz Markie, Notorious BIG. I mean really heard them. Like the lyrics these guys steal left and right. Look, if Pac, Biggie, Big L were alive and Andre 3000 got serious about the rap game, Non of those other motherfuckers would have a chance. Oh and do yourselves a favor ALL OF YOU. Look up “swagger jacker on youtube under lil wayne’s and Jay Z’s name. Itll show you EVERY song they were biting lyrics off.

    Peace the Fuck Out
ledge on March 10th, 2010
18. 

    With all the rappers that this site supports(many of whom are run-of-the-mill, and I do give most of them a listen in good faith). You all have every opportunity to ignore Weezy. Why an article of hate? Maybe an article about constructive posession? Cause that is the real travesty. But you probably won’t do an article on something as grave as that. Why? Cause you have a specific lane. You do a music blog about run-of-the-mill rappers, with a few great up and coming musicians, with some legends thrown in for good measure. I understand you have a lane. Weezy has his lane too. Seems that flies right over your head. Any threat to a wealthy self-made black is a threat to us all. It sends a message. Especially if you are on the path to becoming wealthy, or are already wealthy. While I don’t agree with his lifestyle or his music, he makes a good living doing what he does. He isn’t miserable, and his life doesn’t interfere wholly (or in part) with mine. Can’t say the same for most of the 9-5ers. I live next door to a criminal trial lawyer who gets (presumably guilty) drug dealers off. I don’t agree with his occupation, but he keeps his grass cut and he MINDS HIS OWN FRIGGIN” BUSINESS. A gay couple on the other side, same thing but I won’t go there. There are two types of genius: paper genius (mensans); and genius via results. Lil Weezy could arguably be a member of the latter. I seriously doubt that anyone here could do what he does the way he does it and get the same results. Neither can your favorite rapper. The trick is to do what he does and get the same results. Basically, it sounds like jibberish. But apparently it’s not to millions of people. Really, he’s an excellent businessman to give his audience what they want and have them asking for more. Same could be said for Bill Gates and his historically half-ass of an operating system. Now, whether Weezy chooses to say something that alters the thought patterns of a college graduate is irrelevant. That is most likely not his (admitted) target audience anyway.
RemainanonymousForever on March 11th, 2010
19. 

    BTFW!!! Jay Elec is really Killah Priest. Damnit! He is just spitting rehashes of NOI and 5% teachings, with crazy Kool Keith space alien talk with the same fervor a Killah Priest does. Just with a bit more of a smoother voice, wealthy baby mama with pull, being from New Orleans, and with different soundscapes. Thats it. Oh, he has access to an excellent publicist along with some great cosigns. All of which does not a legend make. Give all that same crap to (your favorite rapper here) and they’d be in his spot. Now, when he makes a straight up album not cloaked in regurgitation that is totally original then he gets a stamp of greatness. Until then, he’s lost in the crowd of the rest of rappers. Thank you and good night.
RemainanonymousForever on March 11th, 2010

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