(AllHipHop Features) Kool G Rap and Necro released their new joint LP Once Upon A Crime today. The 18-track album covers the themes of mafia tales, street life, and murder. The duo (known collectively as The Godfathers) also use the project to take a few shots at contemporary rap music like on the track “Heart Attack” where Necro spits “rap is full retards in leotards trying to be hard.”
[ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Stream Kool G Rap & Necro (The Godfathers) – “Once Upon A Crime” LP]
During a recent interview with AllHipHop, the leader of “Death Rap” expounded on that sentiment and even referred to a couple of young emcees by name.
“I don’t really have a problem with Drake because I understand what he’s doing,” says Necro. “It don’t really affect me, but if people think that’s real Hip Hop then they’re mistaking R&B for Hip Hop. Drake to me is R&B. He’s not Hip Hop.”
Even though he’s not willingly to categorize the Young Money entertainer as Hip Hop, Necro is understanding of Drake’s musical approach. The Brooklyn producer/rapper was less forgiving of G.O.O.D. Music’s Big Sean.
“I don’t hate on [Drake]. There are particular artists I really don’t like. Like Big Sean, he makes me sick,” stated Necro. “Drake, I get what they’re doing, but I don’t think they’re doing anything better than what we do. It is what it is. It’s pop. It’s like a sequined outfit. It’s ‘YMCA’, and we’re Curtis Mayfield.”
Kool G Rap provided his thoughts on mainstream rap and the influence of radio programming on the masses. In his view, the music played over the airwaves is structured to leave people ignorant.
“Statistically the I.Q. level in this country dropped. So that’s either by natural event or done by design. I think it’s done by design,” says G Rap. “Radio is only embracing a certain type of sound. It’s intentional to keep us dumbed down. There are certain elements that don’t want a public capable of critical thinking.”
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“Let’s keep it real. Hip Hop when it started came from a certain style of person. Then it went corporate, made a lot of money, and then started losing its soul little by little,” adds Necro. “When it’s corporate you’re going to be told by some dude that don’t know nothing about it that you have to change it. I don’t want that dude’s opinion.”
G Rap and Necro do at the very least respect the artistic perspective and drive of a few major label artists. For G, he recognizes the rappers that are keeping street rap alive, a style he helped establish.
“Rick Ross is still spitting from a street perspective. He might do it over a different kind of track sometimes, but if you listen to what he’s saying he’s talking about the drug game. It’s still that street element,” points out G Rap. “If you listen to Lil Wayne he’s doing the same thing. That particular style hasn’t died unless you’re willingly to say Meek Mill is not relevant. Pusha T is not relevant. Rick Ross is not relevant. Lil Wayne is not relevant.”
Necro may not be a regular listener to Wayne and Cash Money’s music, but he admits that he can’t knock their hustle. As a follower of Hip Hop he acknowledges Wayne’s decade long run in the game.
“I’m not a hater of Lil Wayne, because I’m aware of Wayne’s come up. I’m aware of Wayne starting as a little kid that Baby picked up on the street at like 13. So you’re talking about dude that put in at least a good 10 years,” Necro says. “I respect big time what Cash Money did, because I’m a hustler and those guys are the pinnacle of hustling. I got respect for those dudes. It’s just not like I’m a huge fan of their music, but I’m not a hater of their music either.”
[ALSO READ: Kool G Rap & Necro Give Their Top 5 Horror Villains, Gangster Flicks & Rap Duo Albums]
To purchase Kool G Rap & Necro’s Once Upon A Crime visit www.necroproduct.com or iTunes.
Watch the video for The Godfathers’ “Heart Attack” below.