So I just started talkin to this girl, and as usual, she asks the obligatory question, "so what do u do in ur spare time?"
I hesitate but then retort, "Besides just hangin out and watchin movies, i do music."
"Typical guy," she responds and I knew at that moment I had to downplay my musical aspirations or else she'd label me as a loser for life. So then I go into detail about how I was a broadcasting major and I've met x amount of rappers and working in radio I was always around people who were into music, etc. etc.
But then I got to thinking, why should I have to cover this up? I've been at this music thing for some 5 to 6 years now. I'm no music mogul, but I've written, recorded, and engineered a hefty number of good songs and worked with more than a handful of artists. I should be proud of this "hobby" by now.
And speaking more specifically about my group Par-City, I feel we've done a commendable job of separating ourselves from the typical class of upstart acts that simply try to shortcut there way to recognition by making easily digestible music that fans can drone into and forget about as soon as something equally ignorant is regurgitated for their consumption. I hate to insult or sound like an "elitist" but it's something that I'm consciously aware of as I sit down to write a new song.
As a group, we're not trying to be a flash in the pan, and the songs we make aren't meant to be one and done. As cliche as it sounds, we're trying to make music that is timeless, music that will spark a thought besides "i get money, i got swag and every girl wants to f**k me." Sure SOME of the music may contain such content, but its certainly not ALL we do. And when we do make such music, I'd like to think it was done in a clever and lyrical enough way that its not seen as juvenile delinquency on a drum pattern.
And herein lies the problem. Par-City is on the cusp of one of our biggest musical endeavors to date and yet we STILL have to fight off this stigma. We still have to defend what we do and how we do it to some people who are too used to seeing our "peers" make shuck and jive music. We are still subconsciously categorized into the same field of rappers who spew out the same formulaic music over and over and over again.
And what's most sad is that any attempt to deviate from this norm (i.e. make a song with an actual concept) is looked at as weak or nerdy. I've sat by and watched people who I felt were good lyricists go against themselves and dumb down their music for the sake of gaining recognition all the while not realizing how counterproductive their efforts really were.
In closing I want to make this disclaimer:
Our music is supposed to be listened to, not just heard. Interpreted as well as recited. There are thoughts, wordplay, rhyme-scheme, and metaphors (not punchlines) that make each song unique from what you may be used to hearing. I say this not to INTIMIDATE, but to REITERATE...we are not those dudes that just started "spittin" yesterday. We are not "hot like the sun" or "fly like a jet" or whatever other cookie cutter punchline you can come up with.
Your Pal,
GiF the Great
parcitizens.com
Someone PLEASE applaud this man! I feel the exact same way, to the point i dont even tell people i make music from jump. I don't even call myself a rapper, i use the term "musician" but why should i have to do that, why do i need to cover up something i love because of peoples misconceptions about the type of music that i make...
Man "Fueled By Revenge" coming in Jan. you dont understand by then...then you're just a lost cause...
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