Nobody’s Favorite

3.22.20

Remember when Rick Ross said, “Over a decade and never nobody's favorite,” on ‘What’s Free?’ It’s funny, I like Rick Ross a lot, but I’ve never heard anyone call him a favorite. He’s always been a leader, father figure, looking out after Meek Mill, Wale, and all the younger kids around him. Does paving the way for the next generation not make him worthy of being a favorite? Does being an older musician, that has maybe stuck around for a bit too long, tire out the odds of being someones favorite? What is it you look for in an artist, to call someone your favorite?

Everyone that knows me, knows that my number-one, of all time, favorite rapper, is Eminem. I can tell you exactly why. Growing up, I only wanted to listen to hip-hop music. My uncle encouraged it, and my parents absolutely hated it. Pretty much the only rap music they would allow me to listen to when they were around, was Eminem. However, they’d skip certain songs on the album, only play the edited versions, etc. They monitored everything. When I would sing the words to D12, I’d get things like: “Do you even know what you’re saying?!“ I thought I did, but maybe not the full extent of it. The tight people reading will say it is because Eminem’s white, but it comes down to the messaging. Eminem writes a lot about his struggled path, trying to be a good father, overcoming diversity, etc. Most of his radio hits, were light-hearted goofy songs that you could actually sing to. Sure there are plenty of songs that degrade women, but he was going through a bad divorce, and remember these are the songs that I still couldn’t listen to. As a kid growing up and trying to find yourself, Eminem helped me get through every single emotion that I may have came across. Happiness, sadness, funniness, adversity, pain, everything. He is still putting out music, but not weekly like the others that are really, in their prime today. So though Eminem will always have my heart, who is my favorite, today?

I do not right negative reviews here just to hate on people. Music and hip-hop alone has changed a lot since when I was in elementary school and even high-school. When I worked at the mall, I had a co-worker and he would say “we both like trap music, but two totally different kinds of trap music.” Like TIP, the King of Trap, vs. when EDM was called trap, of some sort. I always made playlists of the hits I loved, but then it gets old listening to the same playlist everyday. I am constantly, always looking for new music. With that, I have been open to the new kids, and the what the radios are playing. However, I really do not have a favorite. I can’t think of anyone new that I’m thinking about when their next album launch is going to be. I can’t think of anyone who I would want to request their song on the radio. I can’t think of anyone who I love everything that they’ve ever put out. I just don't have a favorite. But, just because I don’t have a favorite, that does not mean I hate everything. Quite the contrary, I like a lot of the new kids, and the new projects coming out.

I personally just prefer, to listen to all the new music, and decide if I like it or not, and if I’ll ever play it again. Some music just isn’t for me. I will not be listening to the Weeknd’s new album, because I don’t listen to music to get sad. I listen to music for it to lift me up, and conquer the task at hand. Or just have a good time. There are certain projects that I like, they’re cool, but I will not listen to them on repeat. Then, the lucky few, get put on my “New Music Friday” playlist. This is the playlist that I just turn on when I’m in my car on a tedious drive, because I know it will get me through. This list goes from Moneybagg Yo, to G Herbo, Gunna, YG, Lil Baby, Dave Eat, A Boogie, Baka Not Nice, literally hip-hop all around the country, and everywhere in between, from the past few years. I have an oldies playlist when I’m feeling good, which consists of Crime Mobb and Plies. Sometimes, I listen to the Apple Rap Playlists to see if I missed any new hits.

It is kind of weird to me, not having a favorite. But my favorite thing in the world, is music. I enjoy listening to everything, and keeping up with the times. How can you keep your music knowledge up to date, if you’re not listening to everything, just to hear what someone has to say? In a way, I think it’s better this way. Being optimistic to everything, rather than being a Stan over one person. Which, I guess I spent the majority of my life doing. It’s a whole new me, I’m open to it all, and committing to none.

In hip-hop only, still no country.