My Problem with Joey Bada$$ The Ruler's Back | Reaction To

[@OfficialChrissums]

Toronto's music scene is interesting because a lot of "Toronto Artists" dont live in Toronto. A lot of micro-scenes out in the GTA form these small artists who then congregate back in Toronto for shows because thats where the venues are. The toronto music scene has a LOT of problems but it does benefit from the way these scenes are allowed to sort of develop in isolation and then mix in the city.

[@TheCompanyMan]

That's a dope way to look at it. I'm gonna pin this comment. Thanks for the perspective.

[@ReedMySole]

Never in my wildest dreams did I think you would be reacting to one of my videos. Wow. Great reaction video. 2025 is going to be wild. Thank you.

[@G-TV_TheOneManArmy]

@@ReedMySole this guy right here cmon company mann highlight this comment asap

[@Newnationpolitics]

@@ReedMySole great video my brother!!!

[@CW043]

NY Hip Hop head here, Joey Badass, loving Griselda... WTS, your analysis was EXCELLENT, spot on. But, IMO, sometime it's almost like a conspiracy to make sure NY rap scene never again sees the top of the mountain.

[@kingbinx]

great video both of yall

[@BuddyCorp]

You deserve it all.

[@oreayanwale2040]

Shout out to Griselda for staying true to their sound and pushing. They actually held it down for a while....maybe not mainstream-mainstream but they deserve their flowers

[@JRUSS80]

Facts….im from LA and when I heard Griselda I loved the fact that it sounded like east coast to me and I loved that

[@bootcheese]

At this point, NYC isn't holding SHIT down in regards to East Coast Hip-Hop, Buffalo is and HAS for a HOTT min. Roc Marciano is one of the few, next to the other Legends popping out and showing out as of late, that's still holding shit down in the City.

[@robertbooker6241]

@@bootcheesenobody from NYC is from there unless they live in the PJs or come from something

[@ptyten9718]

​@@bootcheese yep, most of the elite MCs coming out the state are from upstate New York. Che Noir, Conway, Benny and a few others from Buffalo, 38 Spesh from Rochester, Stove God from Syracuse, etc.

[@hurdyu4146]

@@bootcheesesad cause niggas like don q, Dave east, nino man, neek bucks have been putting in work but niggas ain’t listening

[@csgoat968]

in my opinion 50 doesn’t get enough flack for the validity he gave to 6ix9ine, he talks a big New York game but lets be real, 6ix9ine is 50’s biggest move since like 2015. I hate the narrative that he’s somehow “riding for New York”

[@tmithoth8956]

That's the narrative of new yorkers... noone outside of new York, or 50 himself, ever agreed 😂

[@theybeonbody1309]

IF YOU WERE FROM NYC YOU WOULD KNOW POP SMOKE IS THE LAST ARTIST THE WHOLE CITY FULLY GOT BEHIND, WE LAUGHED AT 69!

[@gamecrazyoo1]

@@theybeonbody1309we laughed after he snitched and even then there was mad people still fw him after he got out . I know cause I was hating

[@cjsantacruz-gv1cq]

​@@theybeonbody1309 Im from TX and know that. Salute ✊ 6-9 snitch ass smfh. Another joke

[@SoulTrybe]

What I’ve noticed is that 50 be on the wrong side of history ALOT of times.

[@professorskye]

Yeah, I had the same reaction to the reedmysole video. Just amazing work.

[@brock985]

Whaddup Skye 😎

[@swanronsonn]

ACAA prof!

[@Pianokeys-ee5of]

I'm watching your video next! ❤

[@lostpicasso260]

NY was one fire for a second. Joey & Pro Era, Underachievers, Flatbush Zombies, Action Bronson, A$AP Mob. I’d like to see that make a comeback.

[@CW043]

Very well stated with the exception of Action Bronson. I see him as a Ghostface imitation. I can't get with that.

[@JamesJones-i2v]

Underachievers are hella underrated. Issa Gold holds his own against anyone

[@Looking4ABiggerPond]

@@lostpicasso260 Erik the Architect been dropping some heat lately

[@erica_em]

I just said this on your other video but I think this was exactly what Kendrick wanted. And, despite being called a "Kendrick gl@zer" for the last year, I actually just love hip hop. And I love this from Joey - I'm excited to see the ripple effects from 2024. I wanna see hip hop be itself again: its diverse, regional, sometimes fun and sometimes heavy, sometimes simple and sometimes complex, competitive, beautiful self. And I wanna see NY be itself again too, which is what Joey sounds like he wants too.

[@TheCompanyMan]

I'm with you 100% Erica. I love everything about this. It takes an MC to set the tone because not everyone is on that time. I was just watching Lil Baby talk about how he looks at this as a job. A lot of these artists were birthed out of the not I'm Not A Rapper I'm A Trapper era and broadly speaking, that's the dominant ethos in rap. I'm glad he's hearing Kendrick's call for competition again.

[@CW043]

Exactly!!! This has potential and it's exciting!

[@TalentedKamarty]

Joey putting alot on his shoulders throwing out that bait lol but I think he can handle it. From interviews I've seen he's very intentional & well read. I don't see him just throwing nothing like tht out without a full understanding of what the response could be. I think NY gotta cater a lil to the kids. They wanna turn up. NY got a traditional sound, hell a couple, tht the youth can fuck a club up to lol they just gotta use it. All love to Conductor & Al but the kids want heavy drums & a fast tempo. Some shit like Pushas "Let the Smokers Shine The Coupe"

[@bjenksful]

Facts. Kendrick likes to compete, and aint no fun when there are no skilled competitors. Dot reinvigorating Hip Hop for real.

[@williamhesquire]

A kendrick glazer is wild coming from all those invested in Drizzy Donuts.

[@DoctorKesha]

Plain and simple, make great music and let it speak for you. Your music will put you in conversations.

[@xTV0TheIMVUStomper]

which joey and Kendrick Lamar did

[@kaz4442]

​@@xTV0TheIMVUStomper Not true. Only one of them has a rich discography, and it's not Joey. We know this.

[@burnettasimmons5440]

THAT PART

[@commanderdnb919]

Irony I think my hard work let New York down

[@TheCompanyMan]

Yeezus! Ha!

[@charise247]

😂

[@Unapologetic-x9w]

​@@TheCompanyManKendrick has created so many quotables. I am so tickled 😂

[@ellebeaux]

“Whatever tho…” 😎

[@Kenan-ti3pq]

Whatever tho

[@mistersippiburning]

As a Southerner, I love what the West Coast is doing right now. I’m ready for them to take the baton from the South. Hip Hop is better when each region is represented. The West Coast sound is needed now more than ever.

[@Alexa-uk8lj]

The energy is better when people who are proud to be Black have the baton.

[@luke_cohen1]

The South had a choice to make back in 2005: go down the path laid out by UGK and Outkast where the music was lyrical but still fun to listen to (sort of a bluesier and country fried version of G Funk) or go down the path laid out by Three 6 Mafia where it’s all about a hip hop only (ie hip hop is the only genre one listens to and very little outside influence is allowed sort like how NBA fans only care about the NBA and nothing else) lifestyle featuring drug dealing and partying which has a high chance of getting repetitive. The region chose the latter over the former and they’ve been struggling with keeping the quality and remaining interesting ever since. Hell, you could argue ASAP Ferg’s (a New Yorker) Plain Jane was a better homage to Three 6 Mafia than anything a lot of rappers from the south ever did as a result of this decision.

[@Hamsterbedding]

@@mistersippiburning they will never take anything from the south. Btw , g funk is NOT Hip Hop!

[@mistersippiburning]

@@luke_cohen1 I respect your opinion, but I offer this pushback: why should the South have to make that decision when no other region did? Hip Hop was becoming the most popular genre of music and that means more money. East and West Coast artists were selling their versions opulence just like the South, but no one batted an eye because there were other options. I could enjoy Biggie’s bravado and Nas’ poetic interpretations of the culture. 2Pac’s boisterous lyrics and Ras Kass’ introspection. There was balance. All of that shifted when the South started gaining popularity outside of the South. You started to hear other regions sounding like the South/Midwest. When Ghostface made the comment about the clubs in New York sounding like the South, I knew exactly what he meant. New York should sound like New York. Now it’s all muddy.

[@KingKeseGaming]

@@luke_cohen1 where have you been for the last few years? The south especially the crunk sound has been buzzing for a minute. I’m from Memphis so I’m tapped in more to the southern sound more than most of my friends but Glorilla herself has been HUGE. Crunk Ain’t Dead was massive when it dropped.

[@JohnRYT]

Re-heating old french fries is CRAZY 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Oakbeast]

it's perfect

[@losoway4505]

Made no sense

[@cjjohnson3827]

Joey said he’s the king of New York but he’s not acknowledged in his own burrow 😂😂😂😂

[@williamhesquire]

True though.

[@thatbronzeboij]

@@cjjohnson3827 *borough

[@KjpMedias-mx5tn]

What they talkin' bout? They talkin' bout nothin' - Kendrick

[@williamhesquire]

hey hey hey hey hey, go make some music.

[@Grandmaster_Vic]

BEAM BOP BOOM BOOM BOOM BOP BAM!

[@condsending89]

@@KjpMedias-mx5tn boy comments

[@condsending89]

Bot comment

[@williamhesquire]

@@condsending89 make some music. if he made music during his "break", would he feel the same way?

[@greengorilla]

The reason New York fell off is because the industry A&Rs started demanding that East coast artists make radio friendly music, which is, unfortunately R&B sing songy mumble rap. The East coast is Kane, Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu Tang, DMX, Tribe, etc. The East coast is the birth place of God emcees. It’s y’all’s own industry execs fault that yall went popcorn, lean, and country bumpkin bs. Let Joey bring the energy back up if he can. A faint pulse is better than a flatline.

[@greengorilla]

Also, let’s be real. Since streaming become the norm, there ain’t no money in rapping anymore, at least from a sales perspective. There’s just little incentive to make albums and go through the grinder for a meager return on investment of effort. That’s why a Joey Bada$$ would rather pursue acting than making the next NY rap anthem. But then again, the kids that started it all did it for the clout and love of the art form. Hardly anyone has that energy anymore.

[@Tryshroom]

Gr8t analysis my G , yea unless your Indy and can make it work. It’s a different ball game out here. Yea im rockin with Joey on some east coast loyalty. Fck these corporate radio stations. R.I.P kayslay

[@Gotexanz]

I gotta call BS on this. The industry has always required radio friendly songs. That’s not new. But if the south can have Killer Mike, JID, Tobe Nwigwe, etc, the West can have Kendrick, Soul, DSmoke, etc. The Midwest gave us chance and others along the way, NY doesn’t have an excuse. Joey should’ve rapped “too much Atlanta/Texas dick lickin” towards his own city.

[@greengorilla]

@@Gotexanz ​​⁠Bruh, you must have fallen and bumped your head, I’ve been listening to hip hop for a long time (since the 70’s) and the greatest Golden Era hip hop producers and artists from NY were never primarily radio friendly. And these NY artists were the ones that created and cultivated the entire hip hop zeitgeist and lifestyle. It’s what made us love the art form and was inspirational. Public Enemy’s “Rebel Without a Pause” was never radio friendly, and on that record Chuck D clearly states, “ radio suckers never play me, on the mix they just ok me." The same is true of numerous groundbreaking NY artists and emcees. KRS ONE’s “My Philosophy” is a classic example of non radio friendly NY Hip Hop. The same can be said of Eric B & Rakim’s first release “Check Out My Melody.” Can I mention LL Cool J’s “I Can’t Live Without My Radio?” The List goes on and on. Beastie Boys “Paul Revere” and “Hold It Now, Hit It.” “RAW” Big Daddy Kane. “Sucker M.C.’s” Run DMC. “South Bronx” Boogie Down Productions. “The Bridge” MC Shan. “PSK” Schoolly D (from Philly/had to add him). “They Reminisce Over You” Pete Rock & CL Smooth. “C.R.E.A.M. “ Wu Tang Clan. “N.Y. State Of Mind” Nas. “Shook Ones Pt 1 & 2” Mobb Deep. Sure, some NY hip hop artists made radio friendly records, even some of the one's I mentioned, but that was not their primary aesthetic. The driving force was break beats, cuttin’, and scratchin.’ I know, because I lived through the era. Biggies first album was mostly produced by Easy Moe B and if you think Moe B was radio friendly or seeking to crossover, then you don’t know hip hop. The industry may require radio friendly records “and producers dancing all up on stage and in the videos,” but when you forget or abandon the driving zeitgeist and aesthetic of the music and culture, then you get pulled away from what makes the music special in the first place. I ain’t knocking Kendrick for his style of hip hop, which is clearly retro NY inspired, but in my humble opinion, he can’t hold a torch to Nas, Kane, Rakim, KRS or numerous other golden era NY emcees who created the art form from scratch. My comment wasn’t about Kendrick per se, it was about Joey and the entire song and vibe, not just his mention of Kendrick, which is what most of you Kendrick Stans keep stressin'. Going back to my original statement, NY hip hop got watered down when A&R record execs and artists started chasing money and the charts instead of rockin' cyphers like they did in the parks and on the corners near the bodegas. That’s the NY sh@t that I know and love, not Drill, Jersey, or Trap. And lastly, Kendrick is just a mediocre facsimile of old school NY rappers anyway. His metaphors ain’t nowhere near as clever as Biggie’s or Big L’s. His voice and aura ain’t nowhere close to X, Ra, or Cool J. In fact, I would like for K-Dot to challenge the old horse LL to a battle. I bet the old Legend in Leather would eat his @ss up at damn near 60. NO PROBLEMO! Wouldn’t even be close. Lol! But he don’t want them kinds of problems. Best to stick within his own weight class.

[@Gotexanz]

@ I’ve been listening to rap almost as long, since the 80s and you’re still wrong. You are just a NY guy who is stuck in that era, which I get. There were always and still is guys who just like the art form and want to rap at a high level. And there are more commercial rappers. Yes I get it’s not the boom bap era, I by the way love all of those artist you named and still listen to them. Kendrick is every bit as good as Nas imo, but if I know one thing, it’s NY guys will always default to NY being the end all be all.

[@Pratik.C.Ray88]

I really appreciate you shouting out smaller channels so that they can grow. I agree with the viewpoint here. Arguably a few years ago Buffalo and upstate New York were representing New York more NYC. Stove God dropped the album of the year in 2020

[@themostsecretscience6409]

Conway the Machine killed Funk Flex and that old dork fronted on him. NYC hates anyone not from the city. Buffalo is all that state has as far as hardcord hip-hop goes and HOT97 and Power doesn't help at all.

[@KoolKumasi]

Griselda is Mobb Deep lite respectfully and relevant cuz rappers today are 🗑️🗑️🗑️🗑️!

[@TalentedKamarty]

Funny how the boroughs tht didn't get love r now the ones keeping NY breathing lol. The drill shit is still kinda ringing off but that's the UKs drum patterns & flows. NY still needs a grasp on the mainstream with their own sound n they can do it without boom bap if they can look pass just the 90s & take a look at how shit sounded in 2000-2005

[@KoolKumasi]

@@TalentedKamarty Damn no love for NY rap music 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@giovannidejoie8618]

@@TalentedKamartyexactly…there is a way to be radio friendly while being true to the essence of hip hop….NY artists are either doing boom bap (which is fine that’s hip hop in it’s truest form it’s always needed) , they’re copying UK drill stuff , copying Jersey Club stuff or they sound like they’re from Atlanta….but they ignore the 2000’s which gave us the blueprint for radio friendly real hip hop tracks….Fat Joe , Jay-Z , Diplomats , 50 Cent , Fabolous , Busta Rhymes , Ja Rule etc all those guys had radio friendly R&B style club tracks even Jadakiss had radio & club tracks….i don’t think we should copy that era cause some of it sounds dated but there is a way to take inspiration from that era & do something modern with it…that would take some creativity though…I feel like it starts with the producers….there’s been enough of re-creating the boom bap glory days by copying Pete Rock , Dj Premier etc now it’s time to study Swizz Beats , Timbaland , The Neptunes to understand how they were able to make so many hits with a diverse array of artists including many NY rappers at the time like Jay-Z

[@ramuknavap809]

Feels like Joey has to go through at least one west coast rapper before he gets a direct from Kdot

[@TheCompanyMan]

Agreed. I think it worked though. There's a lot of chatter on the west and lit papi just dropped a track. Its all happening.

[@BluEx22329]

Boss fight😂

[@Dee-lp7lo]

Agreed I want him to (verbally) fight someone on his level and get him some medals before challenging anyone in the Big 3

[@tmithoth8956]

Joey has to go through new York before he even thinks about East Coast West Coast... Young MA could mop him up if he thinks this is it 😂

[@agendaxpushers1322]

Who? Lefty Gunplay? Y'all ain't got no damn Rappers out West y'all got glorified gangbangers.

[@corduroycrook]

I think some of this is a bit revisionist. New york never claimed Joey Badass, Flatbush Zombies, or even Asap mob. The internet claimed them before any of the older artists or radio teams did. I don’t blame Joey for realizing that he could attain a higher profile by acting and making relationships through that method than by just being a great rapper. The closest all around artists to be platformed in New York were Pop Smoke, Dave east, and A boogie but Pop left too soon and the light around Dave and A boogie was moved off of them quickly. New York gatekeepers (and others) have been in this cycle of turning out extremely young/naive artists with hit singles and then signing them to slave deals for the last decade and a half. Look at Desiigner, Young Ma, Sheck Wes, Fivio, lil Tjay, Ice Spice, 22gz, Sleepy Hallow the list is long. But when it comes to artists like Marlon Craft, Princess Nokia, Erick the Architect, Bas, even MIKE (idk if he claims ny like that) New york media NEVER covers or supports them. If were all keeping it a buck Joey Badass’s name wouldnt be anywhere near as relevant now if he didnt take that time away from music.

[@turtleanton6539]

I literally never heard of any of those guys. But yeah i agree older dudes like flex ebro 50 puffy jayz make sure nothing moves in N.Y

[@TheSmokeWatcher]

I agree with everything you said. Total facts. There’s a monopoly on NY and the glass ceiling is fixed

[@Tryshroom]

Agreed I think my radio moved away from it essence and moved away from being a cultural hub to more media focused which has worked out for the breakfast club I guess but bars on I-95 is where ppl go to show their skills. Ny radio is basically stuck in the past and you rite a lot of artist got on via the internet. I forgot bad was from queens. I respect flex more than Ebro and them. He at least keeps the energy alive. These radio stations are corporate entities at the end of the day

[@LiquidDIO]

Pro Era as a movement kinda slowed down as a whole. Flatbush is pretty consistent, and so was Underachievers, but it feels like they're not pushing as hard either.

[@timkruse9912]

Ebro was one of the niggaz that didnt support with that movement back then

[@roderick_owens1013]

This is so important. New York hasn’t been New York since Nas and Jay z

[@xTV0TheIMVUStomper]

Joey badass and others gotta step up

[@ikejon-ubabuco2717]

This just isn't true at all. Ya'll act like 50, Dipset, Kiss etc wasn't running shit in the mid 2000s. To pretend that Nas vs Jayz back in 2000 was the last time NY was NY is a lie. When 50 was going at Kiss, Rule, Fat Joe, Nas, etc... The WORLD was paying attention.

[@peaceblessking4014]

Lmao.... like DipSet Vs Lox Live in the Garden never happened 😂😂

[@roderick_owens1013]

@ all older. Which is why I didn’t waste my time typing the obvious.

[@roderick_owens1013]

@ 🤔 you mean the guy with the sports show right? I guess when you need the obvious part said to you 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@RoxFontaine]

You just made me a fan of this guy. He's TALKING!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Good to see Reed get the attention he deserves!

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

Go watch his videos! He's very inciteful

[@KormegaNG]

Thank you for introducing me to this young mans channel. Great points from him.

[@kta9169]

RIP Pop Smoke🙏 He was the prince of NY rap imo

[@MrBakerman58]

He literally had no bars tho

[@Christian-eq6pq]

@@kta9169 people only say this cause he died. When he was alive, everyone said his music was repetitive and his projects were flopping. Nobody has ever went from 20k to 300k first week as a natural progression this era.

[@TherealSIRenity]

He overhyped imo

[@brandonsblock]

People gotta stop this talk.

[@kenwat5618]

Cash cobain is the king of ny 2024 btw

[@ComicPower]

This turned into a expose on gentrification 😂

[@Mo.D707_nodiddy]

Same happened here in the Bay with Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco... extracting the soul out of the region

[@TwoH.Q]

That’s funny? Why? Money and greed are usually the reasons for a loss of culture. Any culture. If you love something you should understand how to protect it.

[@williamhesquire]

@@TwoH.Q it also makes it seem like the gentrification, the money from the success influenced their disconnect. Like errbody mentioned, the first line of his song is moved out the city. as barred up as I know joe is, he shoulda did a harder verse on that laid back beat. it seems more of a dont forget about me song. we just want some more fire music Unique.

[@williamhesquire]

If you makin' a "comeback" you should'nt have to call out anybody or anything. Be as good as you were when you left or better when you come back. Like, you been gone and aint got no new shit to talk about or show people how you've "grown" personally/lyrically? thats one of my questions. I know you have had some time to resharpen that blade while you where out, if not, thats on you sir, not too much west coast dick lick, thats too much beast coast been ghost g.

[@TwoH.Q]

@@williamhesquire Well, when you’re right, you’re right! I agree. Don’t use props to make your comeback. Remember when Biggie just showed up and took the game over? If artists aren’t prepared to show up like that, with high level talent, integrity, and something interesting/relevant to say, their wasting their time.

[@LarryMiller88]

This is my comment from your last video. It's relevant here: My point is that since the inception of his career, he's been herald as the next to blow. Honestly, he's been at a low boil. His music is for the culture. He doesn't make music for the masses as a pop rapper would. His legacy will be that of a true musician. His music of late has taken a backseat to other creative endeavors. I'd love to see what this sparring will bring about creatively speaking. It is a very good marketing ploy to put the whole coast on his back. Let's just hope that he can handle the weight.

[@TheCompanyMan]

This is a great comment. I'm gonna pin it.

[@FirstBorn__]

Great comment. Joey nerds to move more weight with his creative work enough for him to earn the right to compete for the number 1 spot. The issue with him is not that he has great music. It's that he doesn't have impact on the masses. He needs to challenge himself now to gain more reach.

[@thebl8nlyblatantnetwork]

Solid comment

[@LittleSpoonLonzo]

This is exactly how I feel. Coming from a huge Kendrick fan and a west coast/ LA girlie. I have immense respect for Joey been following his career since “1999”. This is so nice for hip hop and im geeked for 2025.

[@agendaxpushers1322]

All he gotta do is sell 11k like Doechii

[@Timothy2706]

As a fan of boom bap since early 90's, I hope that the West Coast come back will wake NYC up. There are good things coming from Upstate, NJ, Long Island,... But NYC is asleep for way too long now.

[@mrbear716]

There is good music coming from Western New York.

[@kingjams]

RIP Pop Smoke, he would have New York on fire right now, he was going to do great things, so much energy. Reed nailed that take.

[@Cardel34]

Shoutout to The Company Man. That's big for an OG like you to basically put on a lot of these new creators and podcasts. A lot of the stuff I now watch is because of your reactions to their content. I know if you like it, I'm definitely gonna like it. For example, that freestyle from that female Mississippi mc kept poppin up on my feed and I kept ignoring it expecting it to be trash then I saw you react to it. I went and checked it out before I watched your reaction video and I was like "ok, i see why he might be talking about this." You just got ReedMySole a new subscriber.

[@tulsa91875]

Curtis sent him on a dummy mission..😂😂

[@SEOshogun]

"so fly in this btch... 50 on me don't die trying and sh1t!" dodger blue, GNX

[@kwamexashimba4214]

True man

[@rotondachew1812]

Now this is what I believe. .50 should come himself, he’s on Kendrick level as far as competition, not really but kind of. Joey has to prove himself, he can’t jump straight up for Kendrick. Where they do that at?!

[@Mar-ri2iq]

​@@rotondachew181250 cent is not on Kendrick's level. just because he pulled that Bullchit JaRule. He will get Slaughtered Fuckin with Kendrick and he knows it, That's why he's sending Joey on this Crashout mission.

[@Mar-ri2iq]

Joey is not even tops in his Own Borough let alone the entire New York. Joey needs to sit his a$$ down somewhere.

[@CallmeLQ]

Rap has a similar issue to the NBA right now. I can explain. 1. The players are playing the refs and know the game better than those in charge, you would think the refs would be able to manage the game better, but now refs make terrible calls and players are running amuck. How does this fit hip hop? The artist are mroe eqiupped than their managers and labels and they aren't in the position to make the calls needed to help reign in artists or even develop them. 2. Aging Superstars are stil running the game. The biggest and msot successful names in the game are in their mid to late 30s (or 40 like Lebron). New blood brings in new blood no matter how much people tend to love the older talent. A league right now without Curry, Bron, KD, Kyrie, etc is a lot less exciting, same with hip hop without Kendrick, Future, J. Cole, and even Drake. 3. New bloods have no personality. The only new NBA players that have personalities that transcend the NBA are players like AE, LaMelo, and maybe Jayson Tatum, but we make fun of him for being corny. Similar with rap. There's not a lot of rappers who we get to know through music let alone in interviews or documentaries. Do you know how many rappers have straight up walked out of interviews?!?! How many refuse to answer questions about anything outside of rap? 4. Less passion in the game. I hate to agree with this because it's an old head critique, but they are right. The love for the sport is less, and same with the love for Hip Hop. People are out there to get checks on both ends and you don't see the passsion for the game outside of from a minority group. Jokic is one of, it not the most talented player in the NBA and can give a f**k about it. Same with a lot of rappers, some of them are very, very good at what they do, but it's about a check and getting out, nothing about impact, nothing about making change, very little about competition. 5. Gimmicks. You think the NBA doesn't have a gimmick? Look at D-Lo, look at Jordan Poole, and to an extent look at Luka, Joker, Draymond. You see the memes revolving around them being some of the only reason tune in, and why a lot of basketball lovers tune out. Same with rap. You have your Ice Spice, Sexxy Red, Scar Lip, hell even Drake, Future, Ian, Yachty. People get tired of the same thing, and that's inside and outside of music. I have more...but yeah.

[@trevorhandberry2158]

I did a video on this EXACT parallel bruh. I mean EXACTLY! I’m dropping it next week. Wow.

[@turtleanton6539]

To mqn "sexy" and "thick rappers"

[@bigbizgrizzz777]

Dead ass you hit the nail on the head. I’ve been saying THE exact same things

[@Tryshroom]

Rappers used to have more passion because not everyone could do it and you needed a story to fuel your career. Rappers used to be interesting people. I disagree with dude in the videos take on samples I think samples still make music great. I think music fcked up when they didn’t let people like most def and thoughtful rappers prosper. Music industry is a corporate entity I mean they took advantage of the people

[@cybomakh210]

Great stuff..to add to all of these, Social Media - Due to its nature, everyone has a voice, has an opinion, a take, narative. So the ebbs & flow of the discourse have a negative impact on the genre/sports..theres too many voices, some knowledgeable, some dumb and people can spew thier nonsense all day long with little consequence. Without SM, we'd be having deep conversations at the barber shop for example and dumb takes get checked realtime. Its difficult to have organised sports with all this "disorganisation" from cancel culture too. It is crippling a lot of talent. One cant truly expect any rapper/player to really be themselves, say what/how they truly want without diluting/ chipping at their true essence for fear of stepping on weakminded ppl.

[@JLuces]

Fun fact Joey is the first voice you hear on ab-soul’s soulburger

[@TalentedKamarty]

He'd be perfect to respond 🤷🏾‍♂️ both can help eachother. Right now this is talked abt heavy in Hip Hop. Ab Soul responds that grows the story n helps them both

[@Ent.4321]

@@TalentedKamartyI’d rather this be planned between Joey and Soul. Would make a lot of sense and would make both of them buzz.

[@Docmatema]

Its ironic how i watched your video on this immediately after i watched Reed's take🔥🔥🙌🏾 Differing views yet similar. I like how he called out Joey's hipocrisy yet remaining respectable. You and ReedMySole are in my top 5 commentators

[@TheCompanyMan]

Reed is really great. Big fan of his channel. He really harnassed all the challenges facing the city right now.

[@SuperMom-777]

Tyler responded early …. Put that lil Mayback truck in the garage 🤣🤣💯💟

[@Mo.D707_nodiddy]

Crazy dissing a Maybach is now here in 2025... me and this 2010 lexus looking bad rn 💀

[@SuperMom-777]

@ Tyler different 💯✅🤣

[@xTV0TheIMVUStomper]

he slide on that

[@PudWhacker]

Who

[@SuperMom-777]

@@PudWhacker Tyler the Creator

[@BothTeamsPlayedHard]

Ninjas don’t like the west coast I’m fine with it I’ll push the line with it

[@agendaxpushers1322]

@@BothTeamsPlayedHard push the line with them Mexicans that dogged your mural before your regionally beef with other Black folk.

[@WhatEverTho]

​@@agendaxpushers1322 You have no idea 😂

[@BothTeamsPlayedHard]

@ tell that to Joey. He’s all over our D. We flipped the wacced out murals in to hit. East Coast is down bad! It’s just HipHop brodi. Yall need someone better than Fat Joe reppin you.

[@agendaxpushers1322]

@@BothTeamsPlayedHard I'm from the South where we don't highlight Mexicans and Asians in the Rap game so whatever you saying about the East Coast definitely apply out West. You might as well be looking in the mirror cause both East Coast and West Coast have pushed some flaw arse "minorities" in the rap game.

[@BothTeamsPlayedHard]

@ Kendrick is on top of the Rap Game and it’s not even close. He’s the Blackest thing to rep HipHop in a long time. Be proud. PS I’m og yamassee South Carolina! We kinfolk! It’s just HipHop! WEST COAST IS KILLING THE GAME NOBODYS CLOSE. Enjoy world!

[@wisconsinmode]

Ngl, I'm obsessed at how perfectly placed you're in with that background. The deers right next to your shoulder to the lights are at just the right angle with your head. Everything just fits so snug into the frame and complement each other in placement. Astonishing visual work!

[@SecondWindStories]

I disagree with the assessment that "the energy is gone and this is why NY has been producing mediocre stuff". Ka was in Brooklyn dropping incredible work for years. Yet the only time he gets major time on "The Company Man" youtube channel is when he dies. This is an example of how folks are not checking in for what's legit in NY while claiming that there's nothing going on here in NY. Ka deserved a platform like this one that could have informed folks that there is a Brooklyn man pushing the culture forward. Instead, all Brownsville Ka got was videos of his death, but very few spoke about his talent when he was alive. I mean this respectfully, sir!

[@TheCompanyMan]

BIGFAX. I appreciate the perspective. It's all happening.🙏🏿

[@SecondWindStories]

@@TheCompanyMan Respect, family!

[@omega2087]

R.I.P Ka😢

[@ptyten9718]

Ppl be confidently ignorant when talking about NY hip hop, it's like the mainstream is the be all end all to them.

[@pugachevskobra5636]

Maybe that's the fault of NY listeners who aren't elevating these artists in the city like their talent demands. Regardless of how talented you are, if you can't make it in your own neck of the woods why should people in other areas be interested in you? Give people outside of NY a reason to check your artist out by supporting them fully; if they're hot enough in the city their name and their rep will spread for them in other places. You can't blame random content creators because Joey or whoever isn't hot; that's legit unhinged kmsl

[@MHSenju3000]

Joey didn't have anything to say when Atl and BBL Drizzy was running everything. The West is up for not even 6 months and all of a sudden he's butt hurt? Joey ain't even the best on his block let alone NYC

[@JonathanIsrael708]

That's my issue.. who has the West coast had since The Game had the west on his back; Kendrick, Tyler, Nipsey, maybe YG?

[@kidadam]

One playing the Super Bowl and the other never even had a hit 😂

[@GTV-es7jp]

@@JonathanIsrael708 YG definitely in that list! My Krazy Life is a classic in my opinion!

[@AngeBiampandou]

​​​​​@@JonathanIsrael708YG had more hits than Tyler in 2014-2018. So, yeah. My N**, the remix, Who Do You Love, FDT, Last Time That I checce'd...

[@xTV0TheIMVUStomper]

give him a chance

[@commaJim]

"Constantly trying to reheat old french fries" is my new go-to metaphor for that kinda point hahaha. I love it

[@OscarZaroaster]

"King of the Coast, King of New York, one hand I juggle them both"

[@Thenegrowhoisfree]

@@OscarZaroaster Kungfu Kenny

[@xTV0TheIMVUStomper]

he claimed both cities

[@jayism47]

Dave Ea$t been consistent, Roc Marciano been consistent… as far as staying within the essence and still putting out body’s of work that are conceptually well executed and delivered…

[@ITNoetic]

Being from Queens, I was excited for the new Joey track. But I am excited while living in Seattle. I don't see myself moving back to NYC. All my family from there have already left.

[@shotbyfabi]

The South has been running the game for the longest... and somehow that wasn't a problem. LA DESERVINGLY takes 2024 guided by the hand of Kendrick and all of a sudden there's a problem... also how are you gonna come out and try to claim the crown with ZERO quotables on the track??? The only bars that people are talking about he took from someone else!!! Everything else on that track is ABC rhymes with great delivery and a decent Boom Bap track. I just don't get it man. I respect the energy or intention (the energy is kinda corny IMO honestly), not the execution.

[@TheCompanyMan]

I was thinking about that too. I think the vast majority of rappers out now don't embody competition at their core. So it means something when Dot drops a Control or Like That or GNX. It brings the MCs out. I hope there's a wave.

[@Beamken]

Kendrick pen really evokes something in people and put fire in niggas heads😂

[@themostsecretscience6409]

50 Cent sent him. That's why it feels empty. It's for nothing.

[@Antnee504]

Because the South and the Midwest never drop the ball collectively when we have it... The West Coast always drop the ball and their sound never really evolved. There's not much relatable black culture on the west compared to the East, the South & Midwest.

[@terrez78]

​​@@Antnee504 I must disagree, just about everybody in the West is one generation away from the South (Huey Newton is from Louisiana, Snoop's folks are from Mississippi), The Black Panther Party, etc. is born in Oakland, the culture is definitely there! In terms of dropping the ball, they created gangster rap and most rap today is an extension of NWA so... I'm from N.O. but recognize there's likely no Cash Money if there's no Death Row!

[@coryjackson6944]

Thanks for showing love to “Read My Sole!” 🙏🏾 I actually watched his video and loved his POV. Basically, put your city back on before you attack an entire region 🙂 ❤

[@BAGELODON]

we didn't get a single peep out of joseph when ice spice was out here calling fellas some munch. but he draws the line at dodger blue 😂 i'm glad he's rapping again though

[@TheCompanyMan]

🤣

[@matucomedes]

Why would he take Ice spice seriously?

[@AKmohanrajj1]

​@@matucomedesRead it again

[@KerRey-o3q]

@matucomedes Why wouldn't he? She is a part of the reasons NY hip hop is dead as well as some of the other NY drill rappers. If he wants change start with NY

[@LittleSpoonLonzo]

@@matucomedes because she’s diluting the NY “sound”

[@Rayro23]

You have no idea how hard NYC is being pushed out. I'm in bushwick, my peace has been disrupted for years as they try to get me to leave my rent controlled home. I used to make music, rap/punk/reggaeton vibes. Ain't no space to make music anymore unless you rich. Now we got yuppie hipster scum rapping on bushwick rooftops for clout. It's gross work.

[@joejackson1081]

Thanks!

[@Timi-t4y]

Salute To You The Company I am A Newark NJ Native‼️ wow I’m even more Proud to have found your Channel‼️

[@TheCompanyMan]

Vailsburg. Represent.✊🏿 The pinned video on my channel goes into my backstory if you're curious.

[@ChrisHtown]

Growing up this was my music 94-99 Nas, Jayz, BIG, CNN, DMX, Pun, LOX, Mobb Deep, 50cent, CamRon, Mase, Kim, Foxy ...to name a few from my era! New York was so big back then

[@lorddpablo9651]

I’m a Kendrick fan and I’m happy that Joey popped out. Hiphop is back ! Forget these saturated songs that’s trying to be a pop hit for the charts. Bring back competition and bars

[@hutsin7884]

Facts bro. Dot my goat next to Nas and I’m from the south. Love this energy. This literally always happened in the 90’s everyone got dissed whether they were good or not 😂

[@LittleSpoonLonzo]

I got Dot and Nas on my top 5 too 💪 and much respect to Joey he deserves some light too.

[@BdalingoFitnEnt]

This is what it’s all about. Joey ain’t touch KDot tho but I’m all for this.

[@lorddpablo9651]

@@BdalingoFitnEnt I wonder if Dj Ak gonna become a Joey fan all of a sudden lol

[@nickmaniatis9626]

I think putting New York being last on Joey is unfair. He was never a big commercial star nor did he really ever try to be so you're not getting those from him. Also he's the only one holding New York down making authentic and quality music like 2000 just two years ago. I feel like people are mad for putting their own expectations of what Joey was on him and he didn't meet them. That's not his fault, it's yours.

[@OhNoZ0e]

Just became a member! Leaving a comment before i finish the video! Probably gonna drop another comment if I have thoughts Hope all the other rappity rap analysts are having a good start to 2025!

[@LS-gy9bq]

Man, I appreciate a thorough analysis ❤

[@SergTheSage]

I think NY just not shining enough light on the real spitters. They got dudes like The Underachievers, Rome streetz and Malz Monday who definitely deserve more love

[@hutsin7884]

Salute to my NC fam!! Raleigh in the chat 🫡

[@TheCompanyMan]

QC. Represent ✊🏿

[@jennlynn3236]

Thank you❤Love Reed my Sole and your great channel❤

[@carldavies4990]

I was feeling young bul til he got to conductor Williams and the New York “sound”. “Trying to reheat old fries” just seems like he’s forcing a point. The reason Griselda caught fire and became a powerhouse was the fact that “brought back the NY sound”. That’s their lane, and they do it well. If they didn’t “reheat the fries” we wouldn’t be talkin about them now. All those legends that co-signed them would have never co-signed. Imagine Griselda adopting whatever sound was hot at the time and not cultivating a sound? They would have been outta here. I feel like the problem overall is that the culture ain’t the culture anymore. We used to have 4 elements in hip hop (mc, dj, graf, and breakin). Now it feels like they are tryin to add a 5th (content). Most rappers don’t even rap and that’s the norm now… they just make content. As long as they have some sort of gimmick, weird look, online drama, you can be a successful rapper. You don’t have to rap. How did we get here?

[@arontotheleft]

I've been saying this about black LA. That's part of the reason I love GNX so much. It feels like he's planting a flag, even if in a losing effort.

[@TipToe71]

Joey been MIA in Hip Hop he’s been to busy acting 😂 I’m glad he’s rapping again but yeah I feel like he’s been wanting Dot’s attention since Control and honestly idk if he’s going to get it. I guess he didn’t care when NY was claiming Drake but makes a point to say something when it’s the West. “What I learned is MF’s don’t like the West Coast and I’m fine with it, I’ll push the line with it”

[@-Bklynst8ofmind-]

NYC never claimed Drake, at least me and my peers.

[@God4FT3R]

When did NYC “claim” drake?

[@howdydutt1e]

Cameron and 50 glazing Drake

[@-Bklynst8ofmind-]

@@howdydutt1e they don't speak for the entire NYC. Cam is a clown and 50 has been very clownish lately

[@pulluponkhaleeq]

@@TipToe71 hes always wanted the attention from Kendrick lmao his first two albums are heavily Kendrick inspired. But Joey just dont got it no more he actually spit that exact same west coast line on a song with capital steez 10 years ago and that verse is still miles better than what he just put out

[@thejarjarexp2147]

Completely agree with all of this. What I’m hoping for more than anything is that other people in NY and on the East Coast listen to this and take it as a challenge. We need more people coming out here with this energy, and we also need Joey to drop another damn album. But yeah, NY isn’t back, but like you said it’s got a champion now, and hopefully we’ll get more people from NY with this energy popping up

[@nickmaniatis9626]

I feel like Kendrick invited competition when taking the top spot and joey stepped up to the plate

[@blackbolshevik1114]

New York underground been really good lately tho. Especially from backwoodz studios

[@21Invincible259]

The whole “Lost generation of hip hop” narrative is brilliant and I will be recycling it and using in hip hop conversations and pretending like I came up with it myself 😂

[@helarpanibour8107]

I'd like to take this time to tell people to check out Rome Streetz, Chyna Streetz and Rigs. I think they're new NY artists that are trying to bring the sound of NY back to the front. Also that reheated fries line is hilarious😂😂 but i think Conductor and even 183rd is doing similar things as the artists which is trying to bring that sound back. Every region has a sound, and we can't penalize because it's towing the same lines the pioneers drew for us

[@KiNGRaZoR316]

The same ppl who criticized Redman's Muddy Waters Too for sounding dated are the same ones who praise Griselda for maintaining the Boom Bap sound.

[@cortert103]

Hearing Justin say Quandale Dingle was something I never expected

[@justalffie]

I like that thought about regional sounds being diluted due to "migration" .. physically and virtually.. As an African, i can say this is not just a US issue .. i hear a lot of Americans call ALL African music Afrobeats .. and for the most part i dont blame them because most African acts have been forced to adopt that sound if tehy are to crossover to the US .. now we have everyone doing Amapiano .. a very South African sound but everyone is doing it .. Africa foes have regional sound but all of it has been relegated to more niche markets or underground which somehow affects unique creativity. I say unique creativity because creativity still exists it just feels generic and when someone adopts a sound that is not from their region, the region's natives can see right through it and someotines even others do too Question is, then, can this be reversed? Should it? I dont have the answers to these questions. It's all happening! 😅🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️

[@TheCompanyMan]

Great breakdown! I think it's part of the cycle of the commodified culture industry overall. Someone strikes gold, everybody runs. But I do think our expectations need to shift to account for demographic shifts. If the new new york is mainly people from Nebraska, and wisconsin and indianapolis, why expectations do we artistically?

[@justalffie]

@TheCompanyMan that's fair. I think the newer generation is less stuck on the regional sound narrative than our generation that lived through East Vs West .. you could hear the newer generation say "why is this album (GNX) so West Coast?" .. because to them that's restrictive.. they view music like they view the world .. as a global village .. anyone can be anyone and do anything from anywhere .. you just have to be good at it

[@PirateCommando]

In Ice Spice’s defense, she didn’t go after boom bap and try and be something she wasn’t (an old head appealing artist.) I get sad thinking about having lost Pop Smoke. He would have broke his back carrying New York.

[@neefc]

First, RIP Capital STEEZ! I was a big Pro Era fan as a super senior in college listening to these HS kids rap. Joey has the depth, and is musically inclined enough to still be a generational rapper/artist. I would love to see him expand his production taste.

[@EddieBaileyTSMG]

Great analysis. I also think another part of New York not being the same is because of gentrification. I'm grew up in the south and moved to NY in 2003, and I've seen the shift in culture. The old New York exists in pockets but that old NY isn't pervasive anymore.

[@AST-erisked]

Im a fan of Hip-Hop before a Kendrick fan and I really hope that Joey and Asap take things seriously to make great albums to bring back New York. Also a perfect oportunity to feature new artists.

[@simbalesliechoto8663]

I'm based in Cape Town, South Africa and have been a hip hop fan since the 90's. From the outside looking in I understood how every region of hip hop sounded. New York had a presence and an energy about it. There was pride in the city. The last time i felt that energy of New York was the verzuz battle between The Lox and Dipset, the was the East Coasts 'Pop Out'. NY isn't in the convos anymore, maybe that might change.

[@ProdbyPackTV]

Fire Upload!!! This was a really honest take and yal are 1000% right! WHERE BROOKLYN AT???

[@TheCompanyMan]

BIGFAX. Reed did a great job pointing out the problems honestly. I watch his channel regularly.

[@suros8105]

Really glad we got to hear your take on this because I was curious what you'd say as I was watching the ReedMySole video.

[@khulekanimagubane9153]

As a South African cat who loves New York, it hurts me to admit it, but I have to agree. And it's clear when you compare eras that gave us movements like Wu-Tang, The Lox, Dipset, and G-Unit that NY hasn't been an innovation Mecca for the broader culture in a while. At least not in the way that it once was.

[@MrFrunk1]

I died laughing when Justin tried to pronounce your name. That can never not be funny to it. And I sure it takes you back 🤣

[@lungi8424]

😂😂😂 It brought me memories of wyt teachers back home ​attempting African names@@MrFrunk1

[@S4Cxattack]

Totally agree. Underachievers and Flatbush even beast coast with Joey has been the latest NY music I listen to and it’s not new. And I’m from LA and love all hip hop

[@anartificialflower370]

Last time time I saw anything Flatbush Zombies-related Darko was dropping 2012 illuminati raps, It was a sad sight. Eric's tape was good still.

[@S4Cxattack]

@ I respect that take. Yea it was actually my lil bro that put me onto them around that time, but I liked the beast coast album too.

[@afrohitana]

And this is the amazing part of the Internet: how ideas and perspectives really connect, in a way that, sometimes, it feels like that we're reading our own minds😂😂 100% agreed with these points of view 👏🏾 Man... as a Hip Hop head since I was a child, I'm so glad we're now having this conversation... 2025 definitely gonna be fructiferous for the culture and truly game-changing. Going back to the roots baby!

[@TheCompanyMan]

It's all happening🫡

[@joeblowschmo7542]

People's problem with joey badass is that he is going at Kendrick at all smh its hip hop its competition and he is perfect opponent for Kendrick lamar especially being from the East Coast.

[@g-trainproductions]

NYC based individual here. I think regardless of how much we like to think we have a finger on the pulse of certain regions we have familiarity with - but don’t actually reside in anymore - it’s hard to get an actual feel for the energy in that space. There’s plenty of talent in nyc and the underground, more substance-oriented spaces. The mainstream sound of NY might lack that creativity, but the bigger artists down south u mention aren’t really delivering depth either. Ice Spice and Pop (rip) have pretty similar content to most other large artists from other regions, male or female. Also to say NYC has become clean-cut is ignoring a lot of the areas in the city where that’s the exact opposite of what’s happening. Thing is, the kids coming out of those places are so disenfranchised and so trapped in cycles of violence at this point, that drill music is a natural reflection of that scene, especially if they see that’s what gets their peers record contracts to then escape those situations. There hasn’t been a NYC version of what KDot did with GKMC, but it’s hard to expect that with defunding of education and the pushing of provocative diss tracks (usually based more in actual street beef than purely on wax competition). I think there’s also a generational divide- what do the kids want to listen to vs what do the adults running the business side want. Why would poor artists from marginalized places pursue creativity if they aren’t rewarded for it by their peers or the industry. It all results in creative artistry being more easily accessible to folks who can actually afford to experiment and take risks- ie middle class suburban kids who might make interesting sonic products, but lack some of the social awareness needed to make truly insightful, conscious music that uplifts their community

[@godofthisshit]

Great post

[@giovannidejoie8618]

You said "middle class kids lack the awareness to make socially conscious music"….yet ya’ll praise Griselda for bringing back boom bap….i mean they did but did they give us "socially conscious music" ? no they did not they repackaged Wu-Tang , Jadakiss , Mobb Deep with modern boom bap beats…they can rap but I feel like ya’ll give flack to suburban kids for not bringing conscious music yet ya’ll give a pass to the same "hardcore hip hop" re-packaged again & again ya’ll eat it up again & again despite the lack of originality…I mean the beats are nice & the rapping is good but what are they bringing Wu-Tang didn’t do better ? Wu-Tang had way more substance in their music than they do…not a diss to Griselda…I like them I just find statements like this to be hypocritical because those guys don’t bring any socially conscious music either but they get a pass because it’s boom bap & hardcore thing is it’s been done before….conscious music has been done before as well but that takes some thought & there’s never enough of it….there’s plenty of so called hardcore guys out now…where are the mos def & Talib Kweli type rappers ? I don’t see them they exist but they get no hype because everyone is hyping the same old "hardcore" music that let’s be real was a negative influence on the youth…when Future raps about hitting licks & selling bricks on a trap beat with autotune ya’ll claim this ain’t real hip hop but when a "hardcore" boom bap rapper raps about the exact same thing with slightly clever wordplay ya’ll claim real hip hop is back…those guys are just as violent , hedonistic & misogynistic as Future…yet they get a pass…when a rapper tried to be conscious & smart ya’ll dismiss it as "nerd rap" which is why there’s no Mos Def , Pharoahe Monch , Poor Righteous Teachers….because when a rapper raps like that ya’ll make fun of them then claim suburban kids don’t understand the essence of hip hop….i’ll take Only Built 4 Cuban Linx By Raekwon or The Infamous By Mobb Deep over any Griselda album….btw I like Griselda…I just don’t like this hypocrisy because what they rap about is not positive…I mean they’re cool they can rap but the huge praise for their stuff as if they brought something new when they did not…they rap well & it’s cool they can rap about their life but let’s not act like their music is better for the "culture" than Future….boom bap doesn’t equal positive & socially conscious & trap doesn’t equal dumbed down….Kendrick has made some socially conscious tracks on Trap beats…issue isn’t trap beats…I do agree they are over-used but going back to hardcore boom bap is not the solution either because those guys are not positive either

[@g-trainproductions]

@ where did I say anything about Griselda, boom bap genre, or coke rap? I was talking about kids in nyc from bad neighborhoods not being encouraged by the industry and audience to do anything but drill rap- nothing about Buffalo- those dudes are all in their thirties. Yasiin Bey is from Brooklyn not the burbs. I’m 100% arguing we need more of his kind of artists or at least the backpacker/blog era style of artist that was encouraged to experiment more sonically. Right now young, non-derivative, interesting artists are the exception in ny, not the rule

[@giovannidejoie8618]

@@g-trainproductions this is coming from someone in their mid 20´s from NYC…..my point was that alot of old heads are too busy hyping up stuff like Griselda & when somone is creative lyrically in boom bap they get made fun of for being "nerd rap" even though in the 90’s there was plenty of "nerd rap" yes being more introspective & emotional in mainstream hip hop is more accepted due to the blog era with artists like Drake & Kid Cudi…and also 808’s & Heartbreak By Kanye West ….which opened the door for emo rap but when it comes to boom bap….even J Cole gets made fun of to this day for rapping from the perspective of the average man….even though like you said in the blog era those artists including Cole himself already pushed those doors in the mainstream but it’s like there’s been a regression in terms of what is cool in boom bap….which is why I said you don’t see alot of Mos Def & Talib Kweli….i never said Mos Def was from the suburbs my point was that those guys aren’t considered cool right now….because alot of old heads are stuck on that Mobb Deep / Wu-Tang era wave to acknowledge that hip hop has moved on & just cause a guy like Cole isn’t as hard as them doesn’t mean he’s not real hip hop….the reason why in general that most choose violent hip hop is because there’s been a regression in the genre mainstream wise….there’s not alot of representation of hood kids doing something different….emo rap was introspective but it was pretty negative due to the subject of reliance on hard drugs to cope with emotions….so being introspective isn’t considered cool anymore in the mainstream because it’s related to emo rap which is considered corny now…..& being smart is even less accepted….only Kendrick gets praised for that but thing is like you said he’s from the blog era….but because of his age & the fact that besides J Cole he’s the only one in the mainstream with that kind of music there’s a disconnect with the kids even though he’s actually a bigger artist than Future there’s way more kids trying to be Future….I think the popularity of Trap & Drill plus the fact that negativity is at the forefront of boom bap as well like Griselda doesn’t leave alot of room for creativity ….my point was that you can’t criticize kids from the burbs for not having depth in their music because they only emulate what is considered cool in the culture & right now even in boom bap which is supposed to be hip hop in it’s purest form…street culture is praised so there’s not alot of positivity at the forefront besides Kendrick & Cole…..so I think we should give attention to other stuff besides Griselda….i get that Griselda has been nostalgic bringing people back to that Mobb Deep & Wu-Tang feel but this feels outdated you can tell they grew up in the 90’s they’re not bringing nothing Jay-Z , Jadakiss , Mobb Deep or Wu-Tang didn’t do better….at the time those guys were popular they actually spoke on stuff that hadn’t been done before but now hearing about Coke deals & getting shot at is not really interesting lyrical content….Conway seems like he has a really interesting past & I feel like he could speak on alot of things bring that sub-genre in hip hop forward but he mostly sticks to cliches…(ie being being violent , misogynistic , hedonistic) he sounds like Only Built 4 Cuban Linx without doing anything these guys didn’t do….he does it well I’ll give him that but I just don’t get the huge praise these guys have been getting for "bringing back real hip hop" they’re keeping boom bap stuck in nostalgia mode…..unlike Joey bada$$ who with Pro Era were inspired by Mos Def , A Tribe Called Quest , De La Soul etc but they made it modern & brought their spiritual philosophy so even though the aesthetic was nostalgic their lyrical content was fresh….i feel like Griselda is cool & guys like Boldy James are good but they bring nothing new Boldy James bites Roc Marciano’s whole flow….& once again doing the Only Built 4 Cuban Linx style of storytelling….nothing fresh yet these guys get praised….i feel like boom bap wise people need to be more picky with who they praise & call real hip hop

[@losoway4505]

NYC Djs and Radio killed the Hip Hop scene there

[@brande6915]

I am so happy I found your channel during the battle! I really really really enjoy the content you provide 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 I have a lot of back catalogue to get through ❤

[@TheReelRapNerd]

He makes great points but the point I do disagree with him on is relating re-heating cold fries" to making traditional boom bap beats. While NYC is different than it once was, I think that is still a New york sound that works. We just need more up and comers willing to update what life is like now growing up there, as opposed to the street side of new york.

[@raceofbk]

This is what I've been saying for a while now. This was incredible coverage and truthful! You got yourself a new subscriber big homie!!

[@bdr113080]

What u said at 18:25. I’m not going to say there isn’t people behind the curtain and label heads with $1 billion that are pulling levers every now and then I’m not gonna say that never happens but something I’ve noticed especially in the last five or six years is that’s kind of becoming scapegoat when sometimes that’s not it at all. maybe the certain artist that everyone wanted to blow up just didn’t deliver the way he should’ve delivered. Maybe the reason this other artist blew up big wasn’t because some hypothetical man was behind the curtain lever. Maybe that artist just created the right sound at the right time. The problem with constantly blaming the hypothetical man behind the curtain. It’s just like life. They’re going to be people that have more power than you that are going to do things that affect you negatively in life. You just gotta take it and keep going and you’re gonna have to take the long road around. But everyone’s gotten so used to the blame game that it’s kind of becoming excuse not to try.

[@direcircumstances]

I was similarly impressed by the simple brilliance of his "reheating old french fries" line when I first watched his video.

[@mfj6883]

I think what Conductor and Griselda have done is great. It’s breath of fresh air compared to every else that’s drill and trap sounding in this era. We need mfs rapping again and thats what we seen in the battle and for the rest of last year.

[@bjenksful]

Man that's some food for thought right there. The way gentrification has impacted Hip Hop. I don't know if it's the main culprit, I attribute that to social media. But that's something to be examined a little closer.

[@LibbyG-u3n]

“Reversed white flight” is also so real and sad to me. I grew up in central, metro LA and am currently living 20 minutes east of east LA. When you talk about art coming from the suburbs: it is SO boring here because the population is so low, there are no venues/cultural meeting points…I suppose it will develop with time but for the time being, I don’t think (actual) culture will be coming from these cities-it’s already happening. SZA is from New Jersey, Doechii is from Tampa, all the big LA born rappers were born in the 80s and 90s before this insane takeover 😢

[@djmikio]

As a 65-year-old New York hip-hop fan who still has his original 12" vinyl of Rappers Delight, I have to say the critique is real. I just have to ask how did we drop a ball we kept in play from day one?

[@TheCompanyMan]

I pin it on macro media consolidation, rise of the internet to point where everyone is from the internet, and how north east regional accents don't translate nationally as easily as southern, midwest, and west coast accents.

[@harlemhottie1377]

We went back down South. It's been well documented for at least a decade: black NYers were pushed out of the city. How do you get a authentic, vibrant rap culture when the people who invented it are no longer there? That's how we end up with Chicago drill on London beats. 😔

[@mohamedfahad2364]

Joey is busy clout-chasing while terrible TikTok meme-rappers like Ice Spice/Cash Cobain/Lil Mabu/Tekashi & Chicago drill copycats like Fivio Foreign messed up New York sound and are runnin NY rap scene - to the ground, for that matter. He sat idly by all those years watching those talentless rappers destroying the Mecca of hip hop. And now he’s acting like some second coming of Jesus leeching off Kendrick moment instead of attacking those New York meme & copycats rappers to reclaim New York sound.

[@siranthonyhall7595]

@@mohamedfahad2364 👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾 💯 📠

[@TheBaconBasket1]

I get what you saying about leeching, but I don't see what's too bad about using the moment the entire genre is having to get some of that energy in NYC

[@freeweights101]

@@TheBaconBasket1 The thing is ppl outside of NY feels like NY trying to gatekeep hip hop while swagger jacking culture outside of NY. They look like hypocrite.

[@deonnelson9780]

@@mohamedfahad2364 Kendrick fans are hilarious sometimes

[@truenavybluez_1173]

I appreciate the Westside Boogie shout-out!

[@AKSourGod]

Big Salute to Justin Hunte for always shouting out other youtubers. Yall don't know how helpful shit like that is! 💪🏾💯

[@misst1078]

Omg he is speaking the truth. I am from the BX and I left. I went back to visit and all the energy is gone. I miss the Skate Key days. Harlem week was lit back in the days.

[@elliottwilson2352]

Yall guys should start promoting some of the guys from NYC, does that guy know about Kota The Friend or even you CompanyMan, he’s super nice and he’s from Brooklyn

[@ChoppGeeTV]

Luv the regional sound conversion bro, the demographic of The Bay has also changed which resulted in me needin to find my music fix elsewhere too. It's funny tho, my Spotify top 3 for '24 were 1. Westside Gunn 2. Sleepy Hallow 3. Sheff G - NY is definitely in my conversations waay out West 🤷🏾‍♂️😄🤟🏾💯

[@VirgoShxt]

I'm here for the rebirth of Hip Hop, i just don't want everyone coming specifically for kendrick. Kendrick set the tone so others can get back to the sport, but that doesn't mean i want to see everyone come for kendrick. Spread it around. We all know he's busy AF right now

[@KennedyAlexandre247]

😂😂

[@ptyten9718]

Stop it, let them come at him. He got the crown rn, its only right for ppl to challenge him.

[@bettt3rway]

“Reheating old fries“ should be a challenge for us. New York rappers not to clap back but to step our originality game up.

[@dIGIHIRO1]

What about Nas, though he is now over 50, he did 6 albums in 3 years. Or are we only talking only about people of a certain age which I understand too but we need to be clear

[@rare_form]

Facts. Nas pretty much put on the most for NY since 2020 and the album with Premier is coming this year 🔥 Edit: and of course Griselda!

[@IDONTPLAYENT]

One other thing…. So the west coast, the south and Chicago can all have a sound which has been the same for a while now …. but it’s not ok for NY to have the BOOM BAP sound?? Or that Jazz sampled sound??

[@Japhes]

I agree with all of this! LA and the South (Atlanta, Texas, and Memphis) have been holding it down for years. I'm from Chicago, and New York has been taking our style. NYC has been down for years.

[@MrXanderson]

As a Chicago native no lies were told...

[@traceygrant3386]

Born raised in Newyork I’m not into all of this new age rap nonsense but I’m 61 years old and New York Bronx New York to be exact is the Mecca for rap music and creater of hip hop period. New York could never take Chicago style. But I definitely like Kendrick he is good for the culture of rap music.

[@Japhes]

@@traceygrant3386 Every coast respects New York as the Mecca of hip-hop. There are countless interviews with LA artists like Jason Martin and Snoop acknowledging New York's influence. Additionally, many interviews featuring Common highlight his love for New York and the history of hip-hop. When it comes to house music and original drill music, Chicago is well-known for those genres. New York drill is an interpolation of both Chicago and London drill music. Numerous KZbin creators discuss this topic extensively. Once again, New York is the mecca of hip-hop, and we all respect its rich history. However, it seems that New York has lost its musical direction. P.S. Jay-Z and Nas are in my top five MCs, so there’s no hate coming from me. Jay-Z is my number one, and I have a deep appreciation for boom-bap hip-hop from the 90s.

[@KiraDaBeastNY]

I'm from New York and I'll agree. We ain't really been putting up numbers much in the mainstream. Rocky and Joey left to do other endeavors, Pop Smoke died unfortunately, A Boogie while a huge artist isn't really mainstream, and the less said about 6ix9ine the better. Then the NY drill scene basically just turned into ppl copying each other. We just look bad.

[@carrieanderson132]

Love the line about reheating old French fries ,maybe it's time for a renaissance 🤔?

[@is2fiftyslowfsport744]

Only reason L.A. been winning is because BBL Drizzy was the weakest link, because of him anybody from L.A. feel they can walk over any rapper from the East Coast, Joey Badass would give Kendrick a real run because he's for the culture.

[@Primepicasso]

When Nas dropped all those projects nobody showed support

[@ADayWithScottJax]

"I like Joey as an actor. I don't like Joey when he rap tough"🤷🏾

[@iDewThis4Yu]

Nah noey will really catch a fade do ya research he be on his dababy type ish minus the body😂. But kdot would wash him in a back n fourth tho but Idk in a fight? As a Kendrick fan I wouldn't wanna see that

[@ADayWithScottJax]

@iDewThis4Yu im talking about rap no one is talking fighting lol

[@mrbear716]

Don't listen to his rap then🤷🏾

[@9thcloudlyfe]

one of my favorite parts of Justin's videos is watching him read these names 😂😂🔥