GZA Slams Today's MCs In Op-Ed On 'The Lost Art Of Lyricism'
GZA, long known for being one of Wu-Tang’s aces, has a bone to pick with today’s MCs. Yes, I said MCs, as most of today’s entrants in the game have yet to acknowledge themselves under that title, which according to a thought-provoking op-ed from The Genius is just part of the problem with contemporary hip-hop. In The Lost Art Of Lyricism GZA cites the greats (including himself) as champions of their craft for discussing just that, drawing a bold line between generations over the content of their rhymes and that of word-weavers past, who managed to the live the life without glorifying it. And while his lyrical philosophy seems to be an extension of the scientific approach by which he examines and dissects the world, this writer can't help but point out the inherent exceptions to his assertion.
Is Kendrick Lamar, one of this generation's brightest and most brilliant talents, not worthy of the "MC" title simply because he refers to himself as a writer first and rapper second? And what of young Bishop Nehru? Is he damned to become just another rapper because he hasn't yet subscribed to GZA's maxim? What about Earl Sweatshirt or Joey Bada$$ or Chance The Rapper or anyone of this generation's new class of microphone mavens. I mean, I get where he's coming from, but let's not bury the living to praise the dead, gawd. Seems like there are plenty of cats out here that are more than capable of holding the torch, even if they don't explicitly use the words" MC" or "lyrical" or just don't find it becoming of the new wave to constantly hark back to tried and proven rhyme-schemes and content, when they're trying to pave new paths on a trail that's been walked by so many. I suppose this is the eternal divide between generations manifest, but you can let us know where you stand on the matter in the comment section below. Hit the link to read GZA's op-ed in full.
