TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA,YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS

People who take an advantage of social media to promote their music usually get what they want,their dreams come true. Technology is everchanging,you don`t pay even a cent to get fame. Social media is there to make you popular. Yes we need publicists to make our music known by our fans but we don`t have to only rely on them while there`s another way of making this happen. The following is the list of social networks that you can use to get your music to the audience:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Vlogs
• Youtube



Picture above: A globe showing a list of social media
source:www.preventconnect.org.za

 Facebook enables you to share information with your fans,for instance you can tell them when your album will be released,what can people do to get it,where are you perfoming,when. Same applies with twitter and and blogs. The difference between vlogs,youtube and the above mentioned social networks is that,youtube and vlogs enable you to upload videos,actually they are video sharing sites. If you upload your videos on these video sharing sites as an up-coming artist,you are increasing chances of being seen by a lot of commercial artists who may want to collaborate with you on their songs.

  The Following are some TIPS on how to post links from your youtube videos 

Description box - This is the spot where you add text and infomation about your video. If you put a link there, making sure the “http://” part is included, it will automatically be formatted into a clickable link. You could add a direct link to your CD Baby page where the song in the video is available for purchase

Annotations - These are the little bubbles or lines of text that show up in the actual viewing pane of videos. Annotations are a somewhat new feature on YouTube, and something that should be used tactfully to make sure they are not annoying. You can link to other videos, channels, playlists, etc. You can ask people to subscribe. Also, you can add text to your annotations encouraging people to click the link in the description box.
Technology makes things easier,so take this advantage make your name known. 

ARTISTS HAVE TO ADAPT TO NEW TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES BROUGHT BY MUSIC INDUSTRY

Picture above: New device for djing
www.derektarpey.com

Artists that adapt to the new changes brought by the music industry usually survive. Technology is amazingly changing in the music industry,thus artists have to adapt to those changes. Music tools that were used in the early 90s are no longer used these days. People won`t be interested in going to the clubs where the old devices for DJing are still used. People always want to be surprised with some deferent things,things that are not familiar to them. Last week Friday I was watching the new SABC 1 show which replaced Live, Live AMP. They were interviewing a DJ who goes by the name of Incredible (DJ Incredible),who brought a new djing device design on the show. When I was looking at that device I was like ``wow this is amazing''. He is no longer using the old deck that you used to mix with in 2008. This one is a touch screen,it looks like an ipad but it`s big and it`s been available for two years now.

Picture above: old device for djing
www.musicradar.com

This device consists of the following features:

• A transparent screen which allows the audience to watch as you swipe,twist and tap to keep the beats bumping
• Trobbing neon buttons
• Sliders
• knobs

This is a kind of device that needs more practice. I mean you can`t go to the night club to DJ with something you are not perfect in. This one is kind of complicated but it`s got the ability to make you a famous and a dope dj. Public Relations Practitioners for the music companies need to figure out,what technological changes have been brought in the music industry so that the producers and artists can adapt to those changes. Public Relations made me believe that organisations and people who adapt to the new changes usually survive and succeed.

CSI DOES FIT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!

Picture above:Cup made to show love for PR

Have you ever thought of helping people who are doing music in your community without expecting any benefits from them? Helping people without expecting any benefits is termed altruism. How many people are doing that in your community? Public Relations is a very broad field that fits everywhere, even in the music industry. Corporate Social Investment  is one of the most important programmes in Public Relations,which is based on pure altruism. I`m proud of my community,they did a very good thing. They have established a recording company which will help all the community musicians record their music for free. It doesn`t matter what kind of music you are doing,they just help you record the song and then you take your disk to one of the radio stations around there. I think their objetive for doing that is trying to promote the level of music in that community. One of the things that make me happy is that they get more support from the community which will keeps them motivated. They say ``together we can devided we fall'', which means if the community keeps on supporting them,they will move to another level. It then came to my mind that Public Relations Practice is of much more importance when it comes to building communities.



Picture above:CID Entertainment logo



If other communities can do that as well,I assure you, South African music as a whole would be taken to another level. Another important thing that artists have to consider is trying to promote each other. Featuring an undergroung artist when you are a commercial artist is one of the things that can promote South African music. If you are on top of the mountain,try to lift those who are still strugling in climbing it. People from America work together to promote their music,I think that`s one of the reasons why they have a good music production quality. For instance there`s a CSI music company which is called CID Entertainment there. That company provides services to the music festivals or any other music related events. If we can have companies like that,our music would be lifted,so what`s your say on this?

PROMOTING MUSIC WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

Picture above:Nathan Hoy,former VP and COO in the
 Artist Services Division at Live Nation

Before we go any further,let me ask you this,how many times did you see musicians` posts about their upcoming albums,singles,perfomances etc? May be you don`t even count,well let me get into business. It`s very amazing the way technology grows in this world we`re living in. Here I`ve got a list of social networks which artists rely on mostly or which Public Relations Practitioners rely on mostly to promote the music of the artists that they are working for. Remember it is usually the job of a Public Relations Practitioner to post all the activities that the company wishes to post on social networks. Just imagine how would the music business go if there was no social media,this all comes together with social networks. The following is the list of the social networks that are mostly used by Public Relations Practitioners in their music companies: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Youtube
• Blogs

Allow me to say the above are the top 4 social networks which  artists rely on for publicity. Artists also take advantage of social networks like Youtube to upload their videos because that is an amazing social network which allows the sharing of videos. A Public Relations Practitioner has to familiarise him or herself with the social media to make sure that their artists get as much publicity as they wish. I`d love and be proud to see people who develop and execute strategic and creative marketing plans for top clients,emerging musicians and award winning artists in South Africa. I`m talking about people like Nathan Hoy,former Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in the Artist Services Division at Live Nation. Hoy helped artists create,manage and monetize their relationship with their fans through marketing,merchandise,creative services,fan clubs,digital products and digital distribution during touring and album cycles.If you take a closer look at these activities,it`s the activities that a Public Relations Practitioner is responsible for.

WHO`S THE KING AND WHO`S NOT IN THIS GAME



Picture above:Jay Z,Rick Ross and Dre
www.sparksforyourlife.com



Rick Ross`s new album God Forgives, I Don`t which features Nas, Dr Dre, Jay Z, Andre 3000 and John Legend is so interesting because it has led to some debates by the fans. Some say Ross wasn`t thinking straight when he was doing this album,they say he unintentionally caused a conflict between artists. This will also open some debates amongst many hip hop artists. If you haven`t listened to the album,take your time and listen to it attentively and also look at the artists that have been featured and their relationships at each other. I can see what these fans are talking about now although I`m not Rick Ross`s fan but I have listened to the album and also checked the artists that have been featured in that album. Most of us know that Rick Ross and Lil Wayne are friends but then on the other hand Lil Wayne and Jay Z don`t get along,okey fine think about this. Dr Dre and Eminem are always together,you can`t break thair friendship but it happened that Rick Ross featured Eminem`s best friend. Remember I once wrote a blog about Eminem and Rick Ross beef (fight).



Picture above:Nas who`s always been known as a king
www.nahright.com



 ``Eminem you`re a monkey and everyone knows that you`re a f*ckin` monkey,if you want a beef I`m ready for that,I aint scared of ya''. Those were Rick Ross`s words that started a fight.

Moving on right along,in this Rick Ross`s album there`s a track entitled ``Three kings'' which features Dr Dre and Jay Z which means they say they are the kings of this game. What about Lil Weezy who always claim to be the king? that`s my question for now. Remember that 2Pac,B.I.G and Nas were known as the three kings of hip hop,but two of them dead,2Pac and B.I.G so Nas is the only guy who`s still alive,why isn`t he included in the track? Don`t you think this Rick Ross`s album will cause a conflict between these artists? Does this say ``A friend of my enemy is my enemy'' apply here,because Ross has collaborated with artists that do not get along with his friends. Some say Rick Ross claims to be a king but he will never be,so what`s your say on this? 

IS THE LANGUAGE A PROBLEM IN THE HIP HOP MUSIC?



Picture above: American artist,Nas and SA artist HHP



First of all let me define what hip hop is. Hip hop is the subculture originated by African Americans in New York City, specifically in Bronx. This culture was established in 1970s. In its broader sense HIP HOP is characterized by four elements, rapping, DJ`ing, dancing and graffiti, but then now I would like to focus on the music element which is rapping. The word rap is an abreviation for Rhythm And Poetry. I think the word describes itself, it`s clear to everyone that this is the mix of Rhythm either a drum or a beat box with a poem. Now let me go back to the fray. Many people think that the language you use when rapping matters, truely speaking hip hop music can`t be based on on the language you`re rapping in, that doesn`t matter at all what only matters is what you`re saying behind the microphone. Does it make a sense or you`re just rapping because your friend said ``man let`s do this''. As long as you expess what you feel inside, you can use whatever language you want to use to communicate your views. Remember what is important is the message content, but at times it depends on which audience you want to focus on. Just because the language that was used when this was started is English, it doesn`t necessarily mean you should use English even if the content of your music fosuses mostly on illiterate people.



Above:Vernacular rapper,Prokid on the mic



There`s a lot of artists out there who use their language to convey messages through hip hop music, I`m talking of artists like Immortal Technique,Jin and many more (NB these are American artists). In South Africa I can mention the likes of:

•  Prokid, from Soweto
•  Red Button, from Soweto
•  Hip Hop Pantsula from North West

Fortunately I remembered and mentioned HHP as a HIP HOP artist that is using his language in his rap. Remmber HHP is the first hip hop artist to collaborate with an American Hip Hop artist, Nasir Jones better known as Nas. You know what? I`m proud of HHP,ask me why. Just because  he collaborated with an American RAP legend, he never abandoned his Tswana. Even the title of the track is called keledimo which means I`m a legend in Tswana. Can anyone tell me that`s nothing but a lie when I say a language is not a problem in Hip Hop Music? 

DOES THE MUSIC CONTENT HAVE TO DO WITH AN ARTIST`S SELLING?

Picture above: Rapper, Nas who has just released his album

Let me start this by first looking at this other guy`s music. We have seen hip hop stars coming and going. I`m talking of 50 cent, Puff Daddy, Mos Def and many more but there is this hiphop legend who has been in the game since the early 90`s,who could it be without Nasir Jones better known as Nas. Nas released another album last month Life is good which features Rick Ross,Marry J Blidge and Anthony Hamilton. This was his last album under Def Jam. I think this guy is here to change the game like it`s 80s again. You will never here Nas talking about having money,girls and all staffs like that,he overthinks his lyrics that is why people will never forget his music. He is talking about things that are happening daily and he is motivational in his lyrics.

I always tell these up coming artists that they must pay more attention in their music content. This is South Africa not America, thus you can`t expect to sell many copies if you have this swagger thing. It is so sad because they are killing hip hop,their music doesn`t make sense at all but they are the first people to go to complain to SABC about their music not played. How could you expect SABC to play music that contains vulgar language. SABC is not just a community broadcaster but a national broadcaster. Nas is a very good example when it comes to looking at the content of music, as a result many people love his music,but even here in South Africa I`ve got a list of some conscious artists:



Above: One of SA`s most spitting lyricists,Proverb



• Proverb
• Kabomo
• Mawethu
• Tumi and The Volume

These are the artists whom you can listen to. They do not just write but they know their target audience. When you are doing music you have to know who`s going to listen to your songs,will the majority enjoy my songs? These are the questions that you have to ask yourself. Now from a public relations perspective,this is the reason why music industries have public relations practitioners. Public relations practitioners are responsible for generating publicity for an artist so how will a PRP generate publicity while you as an artist don`t even know your target audience,that is people whom your music is targeted to. You may be against me when I say music content has a lot to do with an artist`s selling but then I want your view on this.                               

DO THE MUSIC COMPANIES HAVE TO HIRE PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTITIONERS?



Above:Picture that shows love for PR



Nowadays almost every organisation has got a PUBLIC RELATIONS department so why can`t we have it in the music industry? Is it necessary for a record label to have a Public Relations Practitioner? that`s your question, now here is the answer for your question. Absolutely yes, I guess you are expecting a reason for my answer now because what`s on your mind by now is this say ``everything happens for a reason''. But then before we go any further let me first start with the definition of PUBLIC RELATIONS. Public Relations is a practice of managing the flow of information between an individual or an organisation and the public. So now from the definition I have given you I think you get the point of why do we need Public Relations Practitioners in our record labels because it`s there, but now let me go further so that I will leave you with no question mark on your head.

Thus the main purpose of Public Relations in this case is to create, build and sustain favourable reputation or public image of an artist and to enhance the growth of his or her career. The image promoted actually projects an artist`s personality. A public relations practitioner draws attention to the artist.



Above:DIY logo,a PR and Music company



The following are some of the activities that a Public Relations Practitioner does:

• WRITING SERVICES

           Press kits

           press releases

           Websites

• ORGANISING CD RELEASE PARTIES

          Booking vanues

          Sending out media invites

          Securing press placements

• MEDIA OUTREACH

         Radio

         Online and print publication

• DESIGN SERVICES

          CD inserts

          Websites

           Blogs and Logos

So now it is clear that we really need Public Relations Practitioners in music and we can see how these two fields relate. Artists need to be with Public Relations Practitioners wherever thyey go because these people are the only publicists in organisations.

SAMA AWARDS HAVE COME AND GONE,SO WHAT DO YOU THINK



ABOVE: Award winners Zahara and Micasa member J`Something



One of the best events of South African music (South African Music Awards) has come and gone but in our minds it hasn`t gone,we still talk about it . Artists that worked hard got what they deserve. I think  most of the upcoming artists learnt a lot from the event. Hard work pays and that`s what we always tell people. Those who worked very hard in doing their music were rewarded,they went home with more than one trophy I`m talking about artists like Zahara who got 4 trophies and a house music group called Micasa,but people please don`t get me wrong I don`t mean those who did not win were not working,their time will come. There`s a lot of artists who were not nominated and I`m still asking myself why they were not nominated because I believed in them and I`m not the only one who believed in them but the entire SA believed in them. My comments will base mostly on the hip hop music,because there`s a lot of hardcore artists who were not nominated I`m talking about the likes of

• Prokid
• Tumi and The Volume
• Proverb
• Kabomo as the best newcomer

Proverb,Tumi and Proverb have been in the game since the early 90s and their music is so relevant but how come they do not win even a single trophy. Prokid has never been nominated in the SAMA but he always gets trophies on Channel O. Tumi and Proverb are one of the most dopiest artists in SA but we don`t see them on the SAMA. It seems like we don`t motivate the artists whose music is relevant so how can we expect South African hip hop to grow in terms of the content? 

WHAT IS HIPHOP MUSIC ALL ABOUT

Above: revolutionary rapper Immortal Technique
http://www.truthinstitute.org.co.za/

Many people claim that they know hiphop and that they are living it. I`ve had conversations with those people and what  I`ve found out is that they don`t know a thing about the game but they think they know. Hiphop is not just about what you wear and swagger, there`s something more than that in hip hop. It`s not about big jeans and straight caps that hiphop artists wear. This kind of music requires creativity, I`m talking about people who can create something out of nothing, that`s what I mean by creativity. It`s about who you are, what you feel inside and being able to reveal it so that people will hear it and if people consider it as important they will learn from it, if it is controversial people will open a debate and if you are prooved wrong that gives you a chance to grow personally. In South Africa people take hiphop as part of gangsterism not realising that all the truth is there. I`m talking about conscious hiphop not just the kind of hiphop that can be sung even by a 9 year old child. American hiphop is successful compared to South African hiphop because artists engage in some debates with their government. They address issues with the government and people take it seriously. In Ameica there are revolutionary rappers who can reveal what their government is doing wheather it is right or wrong,they are not scared of revealing the truth. I`m talking about the likes of Immortal Technique,Diabolic and many more. When I`m talking about conscious rappers I can mention the likes of Nas, Common, Jadakiss, 2pac, those are the people who make hiphop music the medicine for the people. So as you read this blog you will find out that we have three kinds of rappers

Above: conscious rapper Common
http://www.haywirehiphop.com/

• Conscious rappers,those who do music to motivate people,talking about things that happen in life
• Swagg rappers, those who base their music on what they have,like money and clothes
• Revolutionary rappers, those who base their music on politics

May be if we can have revolutionary rappers and conscious rappers in South Africa government would take hiphop seriously and not just as music for promoting gangsterism. Infact we have conscious rappers but they are few so my point of communication is people should change their perception that hiphop music is all about gansterism and South African hiphop artists should try change their content of music.                                                                 

                                                                                                               

WHY MOST OF THE SA HIP HOP ARTISTS NOT SELLING

There has always been some complaints by South African hiphop artists that people are killing their music by just downloading it and not buying (pirace),while others were complaining that South African radio stations and TV channels do not play their music instead they are playing overseas music. They complain that you seldomly hear their music being played in the cars instead you just hear Lil Wayne or Rick Ross songs. Hip Hop Pantsula mostly known as HHP had a conversation with a Hype magazine in 2010 whereby he mentioned that in Nigeria they play 80% of their music and the rest is other countries` music. After I read that conversation of HHP and the Hype magazine I kept on asking myself, is that the reason why they do not sell like other artists from Nigeria and US. I gave myself a chance and listened to the content of their music and compared it with Nigerian Hip Hop music and US Hip Hop music,only to find out that their music is kind of faking the American swagg hip hop and not the conscious hip hop. Few South African artists are doing conscious hiphop,I `m talking about the likes of Proverb,Driemanskap,Tumi and the volume just to name a few,and I was like how come you expect to sell more in South Africa when you`ll be like ``you know what I have money in the bank and I`m driving lamborghini, I have 20 chics yo check me out''. This is South Africa so artists must stop doing things the American way if they want their music to be played even by a 60 year old person. This is not America so our way of doing things is mush more different when you compare it with an American way. In South Africa,you can not expect media to play your music if-

• There is a use of valgar language in your lyrics,they do it in America because it works for them
• You will criticize a particular politician in your lyrics,Immortal Technique does it because it works for him

I think if they can try to change the content of their music they can sell better because I believe that the more conscious is your music the more you get an airplay. I don`t think the way the madia play their music has something to do with the selling because since the 2010 world cup SABC plays I think 90% or more of South African music, you seldomly see an overseas song on LIVE or MUSIC LOUNGE but people are still complaining. What else do they want from  SABC? that`s my question for now.

IS IT WISE FOR AN ARTIST TO SIGN A RECORD LABEL



Above:A phenomenal rapper with no record label Immortal Technique



Some of the artists believe that signing a contract with a record label is another way of generating fame and being commercial,but some say it`s one and the same thing because most of the artists in the music industry are famous even though they never signed any contract with any record label. They say being independent is better than being part of a record label. They don`t deny that if you are part of a particular record label you get fame,but they say it`s useless to be famous while you don`t see money of what you are doing. I have been researching about all the artists that have never signed any contracts with any record labels until I found Immortal Technique as one of them. According to Immortal it is a better idea to be independent than killing your creativity by signing a contract with a record label because nowadays producers are just wrenching creativity out of artists` hands. He supports his ideas by making an example saying if forinstance you have made 20 songs in your album they will pick only 12 of them and you find out that they do not pick your favourite ones. He added that you only get 15 cents for that 12 songs and the producer gets millions of dollars.



Immortal Technique in Afghanistan



Technique is a revolutionary rapper who has released 10 albums from 2001 until now. He is actually basing his music on the political injustice,socil economics,poverty and racism. You can hear only one thing from Technique`s fans that he is only about the truth,he`s not scared of the truth. He says he likes it when he is proved wrong because that gives him more passion. The reason why he doesn`t want a record label is that he will be limited from reaviling what he feels inside and that`s the way the producers take your creativity out of your hands.Ever since this rapper started his music he`s been working independently. He refused to sign a deal with Def Jam and Sony but he is succeding,he makes hits and he is rich. Few years back he built school in Afghanistan and that prooves that he has money even though he is independent

LIST OF IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE`S ALBUMS

• Bin Laden Part 2
• Black cargo
• F**ck tha government
• Revolutionary vol 1
• Revolutionary vol 2
• The third world
• The martyr
• The middle passage
• The point of no return
• The silenced revolution  

DOES THE ILLUMINATI EXIST IN HIPHOP MUSIC

I`v been trying for a long time to figure out if this illuminati thing does exist in music. According to Professor Griff from the united states, illuminati does exist in music. He says most of these rappers and singers become part of the problem instead of the solution, some because of fear of going against these devils like many have in the past before being terminated such as the case of Tupac Shakur,Pimp C,Michael jackson among many others. The majority is part of it because they have love of money more than their brothers and sisters.

SELLING YOUR SOUL

Many hiphop artists use to quote the words that were said by Prodigy ``illuminati want my mind,soul and my body''. That is the statement that characterises what the illuminati want from them. According to Proffessor Griff it is not necessary to go through a blood sacrificial to open up yourself to this demon,but it is sometimes asked of many of these people wanting fortune and fame,sometimes knowingly they accept but some accept not knowing that they have to donate with their relatives. If a member of the illuminati wants to quit he or she will be killed.

There are still rumours that Tupac was shot and killed because he quit illuminati. Griff says Donda West (Kanye West`s mother) dead because of the illuminati,adding Michael Jackson and Alliah in his list. He says some of the illuminati members are Jay Z, Kanye West, Eminem,The Game and many more.

I don`t know whether to believe it or not, one thing that makes me believe it is that triangle sign that most of the artists use and one thing that makes me not to believe it is that I`ve never heard any person saying he or she is the member of the illuminati.

RICK ROSS CALLS EMINEM A MONKEY

American rapper Eminem also known as Slim Shady has been always known as the most crazy rapper alive. This sick rapper was introduced by Dr Dre in the music industry and since then he has been releasing dope hits. We see rappers coming and going but Eminem is going nowhere, instead of going he releases dope songs. Since he lost his best friend Proof, Eminem has been insulting every rapper that he doesn`t feel. He`s been acting like someone who`s out of his mind until he went to the rehab.after he has come back from the rehab he has released an album called recovery.In this album he is trying to tell people that he is back to normal,the new him is back to old him. In the BET awards Eminem was with Rick Ross and other rappers in his category but Eminem took it and unfortunately Rick Ross did not take it. Rick Ross became jelous with Eminem so he started insulting him,calling him a monkey. Eminem responded emidiately to Rick Ross saying ``would you excuse me man''. In the past few years Rick Ross has been fighting with 50 Cent and he won the battle, now you tell me who`s going to win the battle between these two rappers?

HATRED BETWEEN SA RAPPERS AKA AND L-TIDO

It seems like SA rappers are copying everything from American rappers whether it`s right or wrong. The beef(hatred between rappers) between AKA and a Glitz Gang member,L-Tido merely started when AKA decided to update his facebook status in October 2009,voicing out his opinion about L-Tido`s then new track. That is when the beef was born. This is what AKA wrote on his facebook status update incase you missed it, ``look,I respect Maggz,L.E.S and L-Tido but that joint I heard on HOT 99 this week must of been the worst song I have ever heard from any of them! How you gonna rep Joburg City when you sound like some American knock-offs? come on guys''. http://www.wonted.co.za

Obviously Tido got irritated by that, then he replied. Since then the conflict between these two rappers went on and they recorded a couple of songs dissing each other,one calling himself the best and that the other one is the weakest in a RAP game. When L-Tiddo was asked whether the beef between him and AKA is still on,he replied ``it`s not beef anymore...it`s  biltong''.

Well we have seen this happening between 2pac and Biggie Smalls (BIG) and it resulted to death to both of them. We have seen it again between Nas and Jay-Z but that one generated fame for both of them as a result they made millions of dollars from that. Now you tell me!

• Is this one of the ways of generating fame?
• How sure you are that this one will not result to death,because it was stated in a Hype magazine that L-Tido crushed AKA`s car windscreen in the club.
• These rappers are role models right? So what will the young and upcoming rappers learn from this?
• Will it ever end when it started in 2009?
• Will it not result to one of them kissing his music career goodbye?

Hip hop music is not for gangsters

I hardly understand the fact that hip hop music is for gangsters. I think a gangster is a lawbreaker,someone who commits crime. Yes there are gangsters in hip hop music but it doesn`t mean that you can`t find gangsters in other genres,even in a gospel music, R&B music or any kind of music you can find gangsters. This is the kind of music that allows artists to speak out whatever they feel inside. In this kind of music you can get motivation from many hiphop musicians,I`m talking about the likes of T.I,Proverb,Prokid and many more.For instance there`s a song by Prokid which says ``ungapel`umoya san''(don`t give up dude).From that song you can get some motivation,it`s not like they are just talking about silly things or how to kill a person.Just because some of them smoke weed,wear straight caps and big trousers it doesn`t necessarily mean they are all gangsters,they have more valuable things to talk about especially artists like 2pac.