Recently, a rapper by the name of Gage made a song about Power 105.1 FM’s and South Carolina native Charlamagne Tha God. When the track was released, Charlamagne posed the question: "why nobody from SC ever did this for me?" Well that track and Charlamagne’s question kicked off a firestorm of debates, both public and private.
In the latest edition of Where Is Hip Hop?, Randy and I focus the discussion on our home states.
Where Is Hip Hop? Episode 96:
Handouts, Inspiration & Charlamagne Tha God: What Does He Owe The Carolinas?
You can listen to the segment above or read on below.
Nanci O: Hey Randy! What do we have on deck for this week?
Randy Roper: This week, we’re going to talk about something that went down on my blog, http://writersblockmedia.net. On my site there was a debate going on (ed. note: you can read it here) it all started over a song called “Charlamagne Tha God”. A rapper by the name of Gage out of California named a song after Charlamagne Tha God, who is a radio personality with Power 105.1 FM’s The Breakfast Club in New York, one of the top morning shows in the country. Charlamagne Tha God happens to be a homie of mine, he’s from South Carolina, he came up in South Carolina and now he’s out here doing it big on the national level in New York radio. Right?
Yep.
Now. With this song “Charlamagne Tha God”, Charlamagne also released a statement saying, “Why has nobody from South Carolina ever did this for me?”. “Why has no one ever named a song after me, named drop my name in a record?” That was the question.
On my site, the first comment after that was “Why would someone make a song about him?”
*We both laugh*
I mean, that’s someone’s opinion! Other comments said “Charlamagne is doing his thing. Much respect on that. He doesn’t shy away from South Carolina and represents people where he’s from, BUT what has he done for anyone sans Lil Ru in South Carolina to warrant a lyrical song?” Which is another opinion.
Then there was other comments like, “Since when is it required to do something for others in order for a song to be made about you? Remind me what exactly did Tony Montana or Charlie Sheen do for the overwhelming good of the people?” Nanci, good comment.
So all of this right here sparked a debate. Even a response from Charlamagne Tha God, in which he said, “One thing I’ve learned,” which I’ve found true by the way, “is people from other places appreciate you more than the people where you’re from. The people from where you’re from, just see you as what you were not, than what you are now.” Which is a good comment, and he went on to say other stuff like, “Shout out to Randy Roper, who is a guy that’s inspired me numerous times in my life.” He [Charlamagne] talked about inspiration and how he’s inspired by people in South Carolina like DJ B Lord, who pushed him to want to be successful on his own.
So that was the debate, and we can talk about that Nanci. Does someone like Charlamagne Tha God, do people in the Carolinas owe him a song? Does he owe anyone in the Carolinas a handout, where he can help them get into position or does he even deserve a song made about him? What do you think Nanci?
Yeah he deserves a song made about him, and no he does not owe anyone a handout. I’ve been listening to Charlamagne on the radio even when he was at WPHI in Philadelphia. He would always say on the air, I’m from a dirt road in South Carolina. No one necessarily owes you anything. If he owed [gave] handouts, he’d be handing out all day and wouldn’t have time to get his own work done. Why can’t inspiration be enough?
And then, if you’re wanting someone to help you out, you should want to sincerely first concentrate on making your movement and your brand better, so [that] it’s going to stand out enough for someone to want to give you a handout.
That’s very true. And speaking on inspiration, Charlamagne is a homie of mine, I’ve always looked up to him. We kind of came up together in South Carolina on the media scene, he was doing the radio and I was doing the magazines. He was always somebody who inspired me, and at the same time I inspired him. I think it’s more about that, we inspired each other on the way up together. Even with the position that he’s in, doesn’t mean he has to come down here, get a rapper and put him on. He tried that! He tried that with Lil Ru and it didn’t work out.
Don’t forget Charlamagne also put out that album, Stupid Dope Moves Presents: South Crack The Album. That’s how I actually first started listening to Charlamagne. When that album came out, I just so happened to be searching on Rhapsody looking for Carolina hip hop and that album popped up. I feel like you can’t help everybody. People help you along the way, you are obligated to help other people but that does not mean you are obligated to help EVERY single body.
He is not! He is not. And someone from California recognized what Charlamagne has done, they want to make a song about him, that’s cool. Anyone in South Carolina wants to do a song about him, that’s cool. Charlamagne has been doing his thing, and is doing his thing, on a daily level. So a shout out for the guy every now and then, I think that’s cool.
Any other rappers want to make a better song, cause I think it [the Gage song] is trash. It was a good idea but I think it’s a garbage song. If anyone else want to go out there and make a better song for Charlamagne for what he’s done and representing South Carolina in what he does, I think it’s cool for somebody to just go out there and do it.
And if it’s a smash, that will be an even better look for that particular artist. If you want a handout from somebody, get their attention by doing something that’s actually going to benefit them or their business. Don’t just come to the table bringing nothing but your appetite.
And also I want to add Nanci, me and Charlamagne had this conversation. He was talking about reaching out to some artists in South Carolina, I told him don’t even do it! Just do your thing, you already tried it one time, more than once with Lil Ru and everything else. Just keep on doing you, representing South Carolina. Be the god in me that you are, and let that be that! Don’t even waste time with these rappers. Let them get their own movements, build their own brands and do it on their own. So hopefully, that’s what more artists do and start making better moves for themselves on the music side. Charlamagne is doing it on the media side.
And he’s doing it on the television side, as well, very soon.
Very, very true. Sorry artists, no handouts from Charlamagne Tha God.
*Laughs*
So Randy let’s talk about some of the dope mixtapes that have dropped within the past couple of days!
So many mixtapes came out Nanci, I’m just want to name some of the artists that put out a mixtape. We have a Freddie Gibbs mixtape, ASAP Rocky mixtape, 2 Chainz put out a mixtape, Tha Joker out of Mississippi put out a mixtape. We had Nipsey Hussle, Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Birdman and Mack Maine did a mixtape together, Young Chris, and Soulja Boy. Trey Songz put out TWO mixtapes. That boy was singing on a mixtape and he was rapping on the other! And not to mention Wale’s Ambition album on Maybach Music, that’s in stores too. All of that music came out in the span of like two days.
There’s so much music out there to go listen to, I haven’t even played all of the stuff yet. And there’s a bunch of other rappers that don’t have a big name as these guys that put out mixtapes in the past few days too. There’s a lot of good music out there to go out and check for. For somebody to sit there and be like, “there’s no good music”, you’re just not listening, you’re not checking it, [and] you’re not paying attention. There’s a lot of good stuff going on in hip hop right now, and I’m just happy to be a fan. That’s how I see it.
I’m just happy to be in hip hop right now. The movement is going really well, there’s a lot of great music to select from. If you’re into gangsta stuff you can pick up that Freddie Gibbs, if you’re into bars you can pick up that Wale, and if you want to just party and have fun you can pick up that Joker.
Exactly. You can check it out on my website too, http://writersblockmedia.net. I have a lot of those mixtapes up there, we got the conversation/debate with Charlamagne Tha God on there, just search it. Check out everything we talked about Nanci.
Where Is Hip Hop? Episode 96.