Apr 21, 2015

Considering how frequently Young Thug creates different flows/melodies/, I wouldn't call him a lazy writer. His lyrics express his character and at times provide some vivid imagery, and they're utilised in the best way possible even when they're bad, like the examples @JCinator mentioned.

I disagree with the term "lazy" because it actually takes a lot of effort to change the metre and make it sound good, while staying on beat, making nice melodies/harmonies. The writing isn't separated from the music. This only happens in rap, when many people just try to stuff rhymes in their 16's; generally in music, the writing is more dynamic and follows (or is being followed by) the piano melodies, or the guitar riffs, or the different samples, instead of being stuck on the bassline. And that takes a lot of effort to do, without f---ing it up. It's far from lazy imo. "Better" words wouldn't necessarily fit the music that well;

Ofc he fails quite a few times and uses some bad/goofy lines, but that's not a result of laziness, but because we're talking about this guy

---> (character/personality, focus). A better writer/artist might have managed to avoid the few bad lines, but hey. They don't take anything away from the project, if anything, they add to it. It's better to have a goofy/bad personality, than lacking character.

Gibbs has tried to do something similar to a certain degree (he changes his flows in many tracks), but he always stays more focused on not delivering bad lines, because he cares more about that aspect (he hasn't melodies as good as Thug, on the contrary, because he writes differently). BTNH did something similar, adn their rhymes, on paper, were pretty basic; they weren't writen to stay on the paper though. That's what I think, in general: writing is an organic process and it requires some context (when we're talking about music ofc).

 

Apr 21, 2015

Best post ever

r u sure you want to turn down my 300th offer to write for the blog?

 

Apr 21, 2015

good read bruh

 

Apr 21, 2015

@Peter Parker should definitely write for us

 

Apr 21, 2015

@M.I.C. been dabbing all day tryina get through his novel of a review

preciate it fam!!

 

Apr 21, 2015

Ive been so burnt out on dabs the last few days i barely feel like a human being, it's helped this album grow on me a lot. Can't Tell has grown on me a lot but I don't really care for T.I.'s appearance or Thug's verse that much. Numbers >>>>>. Never Had It & With That dope af. I'm not wrong that Just Might Be has been out for a long time, right? It's a good song but I've definitely heard it at least 10 times, months ago.

 

Apr 21, 2015

yeah it has. but halftime might have been out longer? or at least as snippet. check was the only offical release. thugs verse and hook on cant tell is A1

Never Had It, Dreams, and Dome though whewwwwwwwww

DIAMONDS THEY SHOWER THEY SHOWER ME

 

Apr 21, 2015

hey

how you doing

it's yak gotti

i got bodies on bodies

 

Apr 21, 2015

Very well said. I'll stick to my opinion though. I still think compromising the quality of the writing to compliment his other qualities is lazy. Of course his melodies and flows are very distinctive and one of a kind, but to me that's no reason to excuse his other aspects that aren't quite on par.
I'm still enjoying this project a lot and think it's one of the best of the year so far. He doesn't NEED to improve his writing but I think his music would benefit from it.

 

Apr 21, 2015

But the point is -- whats your criteria for "high quality" writing? And does it not equally account for context and execution? Cause those two aspects are a part of writing in hip hop, and should hold equal weight vs like, "deep" content or intricate punchlines.

 

Apr 21, 2015

My criteria for quality writing is not including, what we have all seemingly admitted are, "bad" lines simply because it fits the context of the verse/song. A good writer would not have to compromise and use a bad line simply because it works.
Execution has nothing to do with the writing. It might make it sound better if it's well executed, but it does not make it a better written piece because it's executed well.
You guys are disagreeing with my view that bad punchlines equal lazy writing. Your argument to rebute my view is that it's not bad writing because it fits the context of the song. Which to me sounds like an excuse for his writing. might just have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

Apr 22, 2015

Was a good read Narsh. Not really a fan of trap as a whole and Thugger's flow sounds delirious at times which puts me off slightly. I was impressed with his vocal range, so that's something.

 

Apr 22, 2015

i just dont get why you think certain lines that just dont fit the atypical mold for "high quality" are immediately bad

why would i want a highly complex bar about how he "controls her because he's at his station playin games like its gensis" or whatever bs counts as an intricate enough punchline to be "good."

why should I not be okay with whatever the ps3 line he had was? lol just tryina see your POV. I understand where you're coming from but approaching writing the way you do would make someone like Biggie seem simple as well. But Biggie was one of the best writers in hip hop imo

 

Apr 22, 2015

Has nothing to do with the line itself fitting a mold. I thought we had agreed that these lines (ps3, im not playin/shinin like butter/jewelry cold as an attic) individually were not good. It sounds like a lazy attempt at being clever or at fitting that "mold" you speak of and failing. Also, other than them being a good fit in whatever flow or melody he's using, they are unnecessary and add nothing to the songs as a whole. That to me makes them filler material, which equates lazy writing.

I dont think biggie is an apt comparison due to the fact that his music is about 20 years old now and I'd like to think that hip hop has progressed since then.

 

Apr 22, 2015

I just dont buy the argument of him being one of the best writers in hip hop from the music I've heard. I agree with the argument that those certain lines make his melodies and flows work but can not see how that can be viewed as a positive when critically judging his writing.

 

Apr 22, 2015

I didnt make the statement but I can see where WPG is coming from with it. I think the difference between both your POVs is something we've already touched on -- you dont think execution plays into critically judging writing in hip hop...and just has to.

Eminem is NOT a good writer based off relapse, no matter how technically sound it is. But it's also not just the content (even though its pretty awful)...if it was the same content and technical prowess but in a different context and with different execution, it would be more highly rated.

 

Apr 22, 2015

I definitely feel what youre saying

Spoiler

still disagree

I kinda feel like I should be able to read a song's lyrics and determine whether it's well written or not. There is a handful of artists I can do that with thug isnt one of them.

 

Apr 22, 2015

Yup there's where we differ finally - I 100% disagree with your last statement

Reading lyrics off a piece of paper, alone, means NOTHING to me when judging writing in hip hop

 

Apr 22, 2015

We just gone have to go ahead and differ than lol
Isn't that what the actual writing is? the lyrics? Of course reading the lyrics doesn't give you a clue to whether the song is good or bad, but it should let you know how well the lyrics are written.that's how i see it.