So I have to comment on Jay-Z’s “Death of Auto-Tune”. The night it came out, I listened to it about 18 times just to get the feel for it. I can’t front, I like the song. Its catchy, but it also carries the message well. As Jay says “Holdup, this ain’t a number 1 record/ This is practically assault with a deadly weapon”. He really goes hard from the first verse with this lyric:
This is anti-autotune, death of the ringtone
This ain’t for Itunes, this ain’t for sing-along
I mean, he attacks the way in which the music industry has changed so dramatically as of late. Especially hip hop. It has its place, but when the market is saturated by Ringtones and no one is buying albums anymore, thats a major problem. I mean, artists like Drake and Kid Cudi, have to release mixtapes in order to be heard. Jay’s point here is valid.
Another part of “Death of Autotune” criticizes the Hipster culture that has taken over hip hop. Jigga writes (or doesnt write actually, lol):
No lyin, your niggas’ jeans too tight
Your colors too bright, your voice too light
I’m not doggin the Hipster brand, but damn come on. Stupidridiculous pointed out to me how most people on Tumblr are talking about sneakers and shit like that and how “guys wont even talk to girls who dont know about sneakers and Jay-Z, even if they have a phat ass” lol. Shits getting out of hand. Everyone cant be a hipster. And, if you are, cool, but don’t come up to me talking about how I’m late hearing about this artist (I know, a common debate on Tumblr and in the world).
Finally, from his last verse:
You niggas singin too much,
Get back to rap you T-Pain’n too much
Ah, I’m a multi-millionaire
So how is it I’m still the hardest n—a here?
I don’t be in the project hallway
Talkin’ bout how I be in the project all day
Two things I want to point out in this pericope (if you dont know, look it up, lol). The first thing is this, his criticism of T-Pain and those people out there singing via Autotune. Especially, T-Pain. lol. Its true, every rapper, singer, artist, is using Autotune as a crutch. I saw someone comment about Wayne and Kanye using it as a crutch. I have to disagree. T-Pain’s entire career is based off of Autotune. Lil Wayne was hot (arguably) before his use of Autotune. Kanye’s career is still hot, even with his use of Autotune. Not to mention, Kanye explicitly stated that 808s was a concept album, and to be honest, it was used well for the album. The problem comes in when people like Jamie Foxx, who actually has talent, believes that he has to use Autotune because thats what the market is feening for. No. Sorry, not ok.
The other thing I briefly wanted to point out was his criticism of people “talking bout being in the project hallway”. Honestly, he’s right. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with living in the projects, but to think that somehow your credibility is magnified if you are constantly living your life in the projects is a sad thing to think. I mean, hip hop was never originally about living in poor circumstances and loving it. It was about pointing out those circumstances for the world to see and trying to get out of them. I mean, Jay-Z is someone who has show that you can develop and grow as a person and as an artist and still be successful. I mean, Reasonable Doubt was a street classic and everyone loved it, but when Jigga shows growth and produces Kingdom Come, people think he sold out.
With that said, there’s really only one way to finish this:
La Da Da Da, Hey Hey Hey, Good-Bye!
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