"You are what you eat"--- at least that's what I was told in health classes in school. The other day, I ate blueberry muffins for breakfast, and then ended the day with a pizza, while watching Chappelle Show reruns on DVD, so I guess I was a muffin and pizza for that day. I'm actually fasting at the moment, so I guess "I AM nothing"... or "I AM HUNGRY". I'll take the second one over the first. The point I think the health teachers and book publishers were trying to get across is that your body's health and functionality is heavily due to what you put into it, which is more comforting than believing that my life and self-esteem revolves around the thought that "I AM A CUCUMBER." But what you put into your body, you should be aware of. I'm not at all such a health nut that I don't enjoy fried or processed foods at all. But I AM more aware of what I'm doing when I'm doing it, and consider the consequences of eating what I eat, and having a sense of balance. That's MY life. 

"BASH, what the figgity fuck does this have to do with Hip Hop?" Well, maybe you were gonna scarf down a piece of delicious cheesecake while sitting on the couch listening to "The Low End Theory," and this is just a checkpoint; in which case I say, wait until you get to track four ("Butter") to make it really interesting. But no, I'm using the consumption of food as a way to relate that to the music, character, and persona that artists put into the world, and OWNING IT. 

Recently, Lil Wayne has been in the news expressing his feelings about being snubbed by the NFL concerning Super Bowl LIX that will be held in the rappers hometown, New Orleans, and instead choosing Kendrick Lamar to perform the Half-Time Show. And I can understand Wayne's concern and desire to want to perform in front of the city that helped the rapper to excel into the star that he has become, and giving that energy back on one of the largest stages on which an artist can perform. 

Here's my take on it:

Mass corporate appeal and public perception and reception are major factors to why someone is chosen for almost anything business related. For events such as The Super Bowl, with the amount of eyes that are fixed on the game itself, and the focus that has been placed on the quality of The Half-Time Show since the early nineties, it is serious business for who gets to perform at the event. Who can bring a better over-all experience, as well as help to bring in the justifiable advertising dollars for the entire sporting event, are the major deciding factors. You get the impression that the talent itself is only a small portion of the decision being made. 

But sticking with talent alone, is Kendrick more talented than Wayne? Look, this is music--- art--- in which the ears of the listeners can vary. I happen to like both artists. I'm not the biggest fan of either, but I certainly respect the talented artists that each of them has become in their respective tenures in Hip Hop.  But Kendrick seems to have more popularity at the moment, especially after his prevailing victory over Drake in their lyrical sparring that took place during the spring/ summer of this year. And let's be honest, to many people, his image and character is a bit "cleaner" than Wayne's.

But that's where I AM coming in to offer my best of advice, as with the cheesecake "Scenario" I gave above (see what I did there? 😜)  Wayne is undoubtedly accepted by many as one of the top 50 rappers of all time. And while opinions vary about that "list" in general, he is certainly well-respected in the Hip Hop/ Rap genre. Kendrick is just as talented, if not more, and will go down in history as one of the greats of this segment of the culture. But the problem I'm having is when artists, who are very bold, cocky, and braggadocious in their music, and very self-set on being who they are--- from image to character to public interaction--- turn around and expect to be received by everyone with the same love everywhere and all the time. I'm a person who (especially because of my faith) always uses The Lord Yeshua as the example of public reception, in that you can be totally right in everything you do and still get crucified.  But it is not like many from the city of New Orleans aren't desiring to see Wayne during The Super Bowl, as the NFL has individuals who makes the those decisions. And the decisions can be made on factors that do not necessarily align with even the city where the event will take place. The decisions might not even be truly justifiable--- kinda like when we just KNEW that running back Marshawn Lynch was going to get the ball on the ONE-YARD LINE to give the Seahawks the lead AND VICTORY over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX (49), which coincidentally was exactly ten years ago. 

As an artist and a preacher/prophet, I OWN who I AM in God. (I think that'll be more obvious when I finish and release my album "The Checkmate of The Great American Tragedy & #IAMWHOEVERTHEFUCKISAYIAM"). I do not expect for people to like and love everything that I do, even when it's right in God's sight. I own the fact that I won't be received by everyone--- or even anyone. The music I make, I make as unto The Lord, and then I put it out there for people to enjoy--- if they so choose. I think that's one of the things that I have enjoyed from a not-so-popular experience in music. My beliefs about myself are not measured by record sales, streams, social media followers, or money. And there's nothing wrong with those things AT ALL. But my head is kept on straight by the God-love and self-love that I possess. The Grouch (Bay Area Rapper from the group Living Legends) said in his classic song "Simple Man," "It's chances this shit might never catch on/ but my friends like my songs, and I like my songs." That line speaks to the simplicity (obviously) of life and enjoyment in it, when it comes to art. NO DOUBT I would love for people to desire to see me perform, especially in front of crowds that watched me grow into the man and artist I AM today. But no matter the reception by them, I receive MYSELF, and I own my artistry, persona, character, and public perception. It's a cruel world sometimes; and it can feel so much worse when popularity and public performance acceptance are virtually equated with the oxygen an artist breathes. 

That said, I understand where Wayne is coming from. The weird and yet prophetic relevance to all of this is that rapper Dee-1, (who I have STRONG opinions against) made a song in 2010 calling out Wayne (and other rappers) for their lyrical content, is continuing to do the same even today, and has recently been praised and mentioned by Kendrick in one of his recent songs, which I believe has poured gasoline on the also New Orleans-bred rapper's self-righteous, pseudo-religious fire. But this just goes to show that when people get into a false-religious mindset about what and how they think people should be, that too can affect the opportunities that you receive. I think the late and great comedian Bernic Mac playing Uncle Fester (in House Party 3) said it best--- "If people don't like you for being yourself... FUCK 'EM!"