A few days ago Elliott Wilson went on the New Rory and Mal Podcast and had thing to say about Media and Journalism in the hip-hop space, specifically naming Cam’ron, Mase and Summer Walker. Saying that they aren’t Journalist and what they do isn’t good. I’m paraphrasing but I’ma be honest, it came off as hate. It comes off as Elliott wanting to gatekeep but not have to the power to do so. Elliott says he wants to compete, almost as if he asking for someone one to bring him off the bench and let him play the game. But Elliott’s thought process is one of the olden days. “It’s a direct to consumer market” as Wayno says on his show I’ll Do It Myself
Now a broken clock is right twice a day. I do like that Elliott says about Artist needing to talk about their music. I like when artist explain what their album’s about, what stay of mind they were in, what influenced them to make the new music. I love that type of content and it always make the listening experience better for me. As a consumer I do still get these moments where an artist speak on their music when the times right. But I understand if the artist doesn’t want to speak on the music too.
Frank Ocean is an artist that comes to mind that doesn’t have much interview speaking on his music but in this day in age. Artist don’t have to speak when they don’t want to and the artist now a multitude of platforms to go and speak with someone they want to have a conversation with if they want. Not just thee guy to speak to that Elliott once was. The media landscape has definitely changed and as one that didn’t know about The Source magazine or about XXL, I find the landscape more accessible.
Like Wayno says Elliott has got to adapt with the time. Elliot has to create his own platform instead of applying for jobs. Like a Wayno, like a New Rory and Mal, like an It Is What It Is. All these platforms invested in themselves, I think Elliot should do the same. You want to compete then take yourself off the bench and get in the game.
Burning in paradise 