sha's what if?

got this from sha stimuli's blog over at hiphopdx.com. check it out. sha is
nice with the mic for those unfamiliar with dude. he released a street
album/mixtape every month in 2008. here's what he has to say:

“I am not a rapper!” You may have heard this phrase from some of your favorite emcees over the years. Some of them want you to view them as hustlers or criminals that just happen to magically be good at putting words together. Others just can't rap too well and don't want you to judge them harshly. Either way, with all the issues concerning Rick Ross's past and the whispers I hear about one guy going to college for nursing or another guy getting knocked out, I've decided to compile a tough rapper taboo list. Maybe that's not an accurate title but if you're a thug emcee on the rise then these are the top things you want to avoid being labeled or things you simply want to stay away from until you reach that level of success where it doesn't matter.

10. A Job Having a job is not the worst thing in the world which is why it’s low on the list. However, it depends on what you do as an occupation and what you spit on the mic. If you kill people and flip weight in your songs but you take orders and flip burgers at work that's not going to add up. If you talk about life and times in your rhymes and you're at Verizon or UPS then no one's going to crucify you. You can always say your 9 to 5 is a front while you hit the highway on the weekends "pushing them keys" or whatever the popular term is. But if you know that's not your thing and your co-workers are going to hear your raps and say "Howard! I didn't know you sold drugs." It’s going to mess you up in the streets. It may be strenuous to work and keep it on the low while pursuing a rap career so my suggestion is throw the gig into the music. If getting up early every morning puts rims on your ride, Pradas on your feet and funds your mixtapes then you're a step ahead of that guy selling his CDs on the corner that can't buy a bottle at the club so it ain't all bad.

9. Not doing crime I'm not saying go out and do crime but at some point you need some friends that can at least say you did some type of dirt. And I'm not sure what kind of criminal act you should get into that won't land you in a penitentiary or get you killed. But this is the thug rap guy price you have to pay. Shooting someone after your career has begun is a little late but if you weren't a bad ass before the booth then you have to get into trouble without it looking too deliberate. Think who you can stab up or who has a good weed connect or maybe find some goonish cohorts to associate with so people can say "they be wildin'" instead of "he be wildin'." The challenging part of this is promoting it. Getting a few bullets in you was the best way years ago but even that marketing plan is old now. Facebook and Twitter are the new age word spreaders. Just imagine switching your status to "got dem thangs for 18.5" or "just made it back from one of those trips, cops ain't catch me, thank God." Or keep it simple "sellin' crack right now!"

8. Not getting caught Prison is no joke. Any artist that's been thru the system is more focused on not returning than glorifying it. If you sincerely believe that jail is somewhere you can build a rep, secure street credibility or add to your thug résumé then you need to put the mic down, stop reading this and visit someone in a correctional facility. That's all I have to say about that...back to the sarcasm.

7. Higher education If you have some type of bachelors, masters, PhD, high school diploma, world record SAT score or even a GED then you better cover your tracks. People will find your report card, scan it and tell the world about your academic accolades. I know you weren't thinking about your future hardcore rap dreams when you were studying and getting those A’s or when you even decided to show up to class on time but its too late now. We know educated rebels seem cool in a sense but the mystery about how a “gansta” obtains his knowledge is the intriguing part. Science awards, dean's list honors, or just finishing school period are all blemishes on your record. Of course there are exceptions to the rules but dropping out of high school is the perfect peak for an education level when you're a tough killer. Any pictures with that silly graduation cap or proof that you took it further and got degrees is bad news. Although in the case of a John Forté, who I remember as a smart kid, he didn't publicize his illegal life much and then actually served time for it. But never mind that, you can’t erase the past but be aware that brainiacs and bullets don’t match in the rap game.

6. FAMILY MAN Everyone has parents and grandparents and all that. But exposing the fact that you have one woman or a wife can be touchy. The husband image doesn't always match a gangsta but you can work the angle if it’s done carefully. The people want to believe that you can have any girl you want at any time. They want to think that you will not only shoot anyone but that there’s no way to hurt you other than coming right at you. Having kids is kind of ok because that shows a little bit of a human side but don't go overboard and do songs about them. Unless of course they're tough guys too. Throw them into your rap beef, let them hold weapons in videos and put them on a song or 2. If you're going to have seeds then they might as well be promotional tools. Get the world to know them on a first name basis like Eminem's wife and kid if you're going to have a family. If you're not going to do that then get rid of them, they’re dead weight.

(peep sha's blog for the rest)

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