virtually ALL the legends, I have seen. you could probably name 100 NYC MCs from 1985 to 2005, and I've seen and/or heard a LOT about them and their music. there's no way to quantify how much East Coast hip hop I've absorbed in my life, LOL
Toronto spent its fucking LIFE trying to be NYC. I'm well-versed in the history of NYC. My first rap heroes were Run-DMC and LL Cool J and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Some of my first visions as a child were of hip hop's origins... which are ostensibly: New York City.
The magic is just gone right now. I believe something can come again. But capitalism and greed have all but destroyed the sacred secret artform that was born there. Now the world has it, and the planet benefits from hip hop being global, but the cost of that is NYC not being a leader anymore. So many other people are getting to tell their stories, and it's good.
I just don't hear anyone in NYC doing the INNOVATIVE stuff they used to be known for. Except that Pharoahe Monch album, I like that. And god dammit that new Rob Sonic song 'Not For Nothing' is made of a level of integrity that is faaaar too rare! Oooh that Juggaknots flow, gimme dat RAP CRACK.
I don't fuck with Hot97, and I don't really fuck with RapRadar. You guys don't know me. And I don't know you. I don't care about record sales. I care about -innovative songs-. And I'm just not hearing much innovative stuff from NYC. I don't hear everything, but what I DO hear... not that inspiring. People don't push boundaries like they used to...
that's all I'm saying. I'm not gonna get all apologist about shit. I have some fucking standards and integrity that I'd like to hold on to, thank you very much. Ha ha. I don't even care if it's

with all due respect,
YOTMB
p.s. Joell Ortiz retains the essence of what a TRUE 21st century New York City MC should be saying and doing... but cats ignore him. I DON'T. YAOWA
