I try to explain this to my hardcore rap friends (usually unsuccessfully) rappers like Jay Z and Kanye West no longer make music for a small demographic (aka the hood) they make music for the masses.

When you make music for the masses you have to do certain things.  If you have listened to “Watch the Throne” you know what I am talking about.

It is different than your standard hip-hop release, which is a good thing.  There is only so many times you can hear Rick Ross grunting over similar beats.

Read this review from The Big Lead they think it is one of the greatest CDs of all time.  The reason being is because they can relate to the music.  It sounds more like world music with rappers on it than rap music.  Smart marketing on their part and Jay intentionally or not has sports bloggers speaking about his lyrics on “N*ggas in Paris”.

So I ball so hard muhf*ckas wanna fine me
But first ni**as gotta find me
What’s 50 grand to a muhf*ka like me
Can you please remind me?
Ball so hard, this sh*t crazy
Ya’ll don’t know that don’t sh*t phase me
The Nets could go 0-82 and I look at you like this sh*t gravy

The original reaction was backlash how could one of the owners of the Nets be so indifferent.  I saw no less that seven articles about this and it told me that while the fake gangsters might not like “Watch the Throne” Jay and Yeezy have done their job in creating something that crosses over.

By the way the lyrics have less to do with the Nets than a subtle diss at David Stern who fined him for chilling with the Kentucky Wildcats and how he has been able to brush off his losses.

Wasn’t that complicated.