Over time, however, hip hop has lost its hang agent credence, In part because it has emerged as arguably the most popular music art form among today’s youth. However, the most serious hip-hop critics look both to content, audience, and commercial success. * Jay-G’s “Reasonable Doubt” (Released In “1996”) and Amine’s ‘The Slim Shady LAP” (Released In “1999”) present a difficult binary for fans of the genre. One reason Is they generate totally different audiences. Both albums re-defined standards in the industry and forced fans and critics to ask: What does this mean for hip-hop as a movement? Also what does it mean for hip-hop as a business?
These two men have redefined the genre as both a business and a political force in several ways. Hip-hop has expanded and diversified but it’s a peoples movement. Jay-G’s album speaks the historical, artistic and political tradition of the genre: to the street hustlers, people in urban and ghetto America, to the “Hood”. Amine’s album, by contrast, is not to be taken seriously. Mine revealed his fantastical sexual proclivities, his extreme drug abuse, his violent desires, and his anger towards his mother and ex-wife. These difference will draw two different types of audiences and ultimately fan bases.
Amine’s “The slim shady LAP” lyrics were “For entertainment purposes and not to be taken seriously. ” “Most songs feature substantial amounts of swearing, homosexual slurs, numerous references to sex and drugs, and over-the-top descriptions of violence. ” (-wisped. Org. ) These are topics that the usual die hard hip-hop fan or critic would not gravitate toward musically. This style would also be somewhat new to past popular hip hop artists’ styles. It drew a more “for entertainment purpose” audience, fans that aren’t too interested in the traditional messages of the genre.
To compare Jay-G’s “Reasonable Doubt” and Amine’s “The Slim Shady LAP” presents numerous dilemmas to the music historian and critic. They were released at different time periods and generated a wide gap In sales. By far Amine’s “The Slim Shady LAP” outsold Jay-G’s “Reasonable Doubt. ” To date that album has sold over five million units In the United States (Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 25, 2010. 1 achieving critical commercial that Mine had a more mainstream pop audience. The album also won a Grammar for Best Rap Album (http://en. wisped. Org/wick/Best_Rap_Album).
Additionally the album ranked #273 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (http://www. Religions. Com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all- time-19691231 [touch-rhythmic-19691231). It is the highest-ranking Mine album on the list. This was because it was an audience’s first time experiencing this kind of an artist in hip-hop music. * Ultimately Jay-G’s “Reasonable Doubt” didn’t sale as many units. Selling a little over 2 million in sales to date, (http://www. Billboard. Com/ column/character/ask-billboard-Steve-via-]ay-z-radioed- 1003999123. Tory#/ alumna/character/ask-billboard-Steve-via-]ay-z-radioed- 1003999123 . Story) which makes it less commercially successful than “The Slim Shady LAP” however it ranked #248 on the Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All time (http:// www. Religions. Com/news/story/6599786/248_reasonable_doubt). Also it was selected on The Source’s 100 Best Rap Albums (http://www. Rocklike. Net/source. HTML), and Blender’s 500 Cad’s You Must Own Before You Die. Achievement’s not that common for an rap artist with a non-commercial audience. The production on both “Reasonable Doubt” and “The Slim Shady LAP” is provided by ell-established producers.
So arguably the production comparison doesn’t have a vital impact in this comparison. There were veteran producers that could cater to both albums and both audiences. The production credits on “Reasonable Doubt” include DC Premier, Clark Kent, DC Peter Panic, Nobody, and Ski. “The Slim Shady LAP” is mostly produced by DRP Deer, also producers Mark ; Jeff Bass, Mel-Man, and Mine himself are credited. * Most critics would later claim that Amine’s album drew so much attention from controversy; it was ultimately the reason why he sold so many records.
People couldn’t believe he could say the things he was saying in his music without being censored and a lot of people were curious to hear it for themselves. Controversy sales. “The Slim Shady LAP” grasped more of a gossip and trend following audience. By contrast, “Reasonable Doubt” was a word of mouth and more serious hip hoppers audience that were purchasers of the album originally, which most critics say it was a sleeper and is heralded as Jay-G’s “crowning achievements”, “a seminal work” and an “undisputed classic”(-wisped. Org).
Also it suffered commercially from a time that hip-hop is dominated by the west coast artist ND that the west coast fans didn’t support east coast artist in those specific times. You could argue that Mine had a west coast, Midwest, and mostly a pop culture audience. Also his audience was mostly white teenagers. However Mine is hip- hop, he’s a rapper and he is an extremely talented artist. Jay-G’s audience was definitely hip-hop, traditional hip-hop fans and artist alike. He had more of an adult fan base in 1996. At this point in his career Jay-Z is less of a cross-over / international artist than Mine.
He has yet to establish the pop culture following that he has today. When it comes to Hip-hop culture “Reasonable Doubt” is an album with very serious lyrical content. The album showcases the talent, the seriousness, the Marcy Projects turned successful entrepreneur. The album would have more relevance, a bigger impact, and more influence on Hip-hop culture than “The Slim Shady LAP,” an album from a white kid from a trailer park turned mega superstar, that showcases his undeniable talent, but a negative overall message, and an exaggerated persona.
Jay-G’s “Reasonable Doubt” lyrical content possesses the cockiness of B. I. G and the takes it to the next level. On a lyrical level he possesses a prowess for crime tale-logy, humorous punch lines, and a soulful demeanor. With lines like (“When it comes to this cheese hall like three blind mice. “) Just for basic for basic rap relate- ability. However Jay-G’s flow is all his own, and is hard to compare to any other MAC. Each line fits together perfectly into ace verses and much more often than in ass rap “Reasonable Doubt” features great songs that tell the stories of the Mafioso life. Reasonable Doubt” put the east coast back on the map, strengthened the relationship between the mafia lifestyle and the hip hop artist, re-focused attention n the street hustler, and asked the black community to reconsider the real culprit for the black community’s ills. The east coast audience loved the album, and the west coast audience couldn’t deny the quality of the album. Jay-Z re-directed hip hop eyes away from the ongoing beef between east and west coast, and placed his ire towards power structures and money flows.
Artistically, Jay-Z demonstrated that he is a storyteller, a lyricist, a troubadour and a comedian. In contrast, when Mine dropped the “Slim Shady LAP”, unlike Jay-Z Mine did not talk about drug dealing. He talked about murder, rape, and drug abuse. He also had the support of west coast fans on the strength of DRP Deer. In one song Mine is talking cutely to his daughter while dumping her mother’s body in the water: “Mama wanted to show you how far she can float / and don’t worry about that little boo-boo on her throat / its Just a scratch. Rappers, including Jay-Z on “Reasonable Doubt” satirized America’s obsession with the criminal black man, and criminality generally. Hip hop artists have time and again, indicted the war on drugs, in their music, focusing attention to the foolishness of American spending and waste in regulating pope. Mine reversed this tradition. He was not the drug dealer. He was the drug user, the white man fallen. The lyrical content of “Reasonable Doubt” has more value, more purpose, and is more positive.
It is superior to “The Slim Shady LAP” in terms of lyrical content. So Jay-G’s album will influence a more lyrical audience. Amine’s persona on “The Slim Shady LAP” wasn’t really a persona of hip-hop. He was a different type of criminal. He was deviant, not menacing. His problems were not generally socio-political in character, and they were psychological as well. Some of Amine’s audience could identify and relate to these traits and were drawn in. On the other hand, Jay G’s persona on “Reasonable Doubt” would not dare exhibit a weak psychological mind.
A lot of his audience was attracted to him major because of that characteristic alone. Jay-G’s persona was Mafioso, powerful, successful, and rich. He was an achiever. Hip-hop historically, a black man’s art, dismissed a psycho- historical flaw with black masculinity instead hip hop artists indicted white man’s law as the culprit of their ills. In part, Amine’s obsession with his own psychological lull display. Mental health professionals might have diagnosed him with a variety of disorders from psychosis to personality disorder, perhaps even schizophrenia.
He did not have the same issues with racism, racial profiling, failed schools, etc. He put America’s psychosis and penchant for violence on the map. The commercial success of the “Slim Shady LAP” suggested that it was okay for a white man to rape, a white man to murder, because he grew up poor, the son of a drug addict, the product of a single family home. Through the brilliance of his art, America allowed Mine to achieve a certain level of internal peace, clarity and major success, reflecting the commercial standards of the recording industry specifically.
In conclusion both of these artists are known for their lyrical content, their competitive nature, their stage presence, and their ability to sell records – and, also for helping the hip-hop cross over into pop culture. These two are two of the greatest the genre has ever seen. However when it comes to hip-hop there’s always the question about the impact and influence the artists’ debut album had on hip-hop. This is one of the main factors that help determine who is the better artist and/or ho had the overall superior album.