Coolio/ Gangsta’s Paradise/ song review

Rating: 4 stars and a half
Heartbeats gently guide you to sharp instrumentals that will cut your heart off while the chorus whispers a sweet melody. Enter into a gangsta’s paradise. Meet a young man in jail at the parlor talking to his girlfriend.
Life in prison can be compared to the valley of death and Coolio starts making some introspection about his life:
« As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothing left
Cause I’ve been blastin and laughing so long that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone… »
Blind of smoke, reminiscent of the past, Coolio sometimes questions his actions. He hates tripping, but he feels the ned to get high. Therefore he takes a mixture of meth (chemical drug) and cocaine.
During the whole video clip, you are introduced into a bi racial couple’s relationship. A relation made of love and pain. A relation that is made of long years of absence and fatherless children.
The Gangsta’s Paradise video offers the viewer some autobiographical elements about Coolio’s life. Educated gangsta, confronted by his own cocaine addiction, Coolio had to fight numerous demons before getting his rap career started.
The soft song that deals with hard hood life problems will allow the listener to travel through a gangsta’s mind.
Why do educated people in the hood choose a life of crime?
Sometimes, the harsh living conditions of the ghetto -no matter if you’re educated or not- make young men feel that « the streets are calling ».
The avid desire for money and money might motivate them to grab their chance an illegal way.
Hood life often rhymes with desperation. No jobs available, only misery all around you. When you’re young and your head is full of dreams, you sometimes envision that a life of crime and « fast cash » are the only way to achieve our projects faster.
The reality is often in denial with such thoughts. A life of crime will lead you to jail faster than you think. Many people spend decades into a « gangsta’s paradise ».
The video suddenly shows you Coolio’s Mini Me, a son who barely knows his father, except for his jail visits…
A heartbroken Coolio realizes how much his love relationship has been spoilt by his own sinful actions:
« Tell me why are we — so blind to see
That the ones we hurt — are you and me
Tell me why are we — so blind to see
That the ones we hurt — are you and me… »
Gangsta’s Paradise is a touching description of a gangsta’s world that will give you some insight about hood life.
A mixture of soft and rough elements will make you fully enjoy the message contained in Coolio’s video. Well done, Coolio:)

Hip Hop teaches you about real life fights

Many people only see hip hop culture’s negative sides. Intentionally ignoring its positive sides and accomplishments , they claim that too much violence is involved in ghetto culture.
However, an attentive observer of an emcee’s attitude will acknowledge that many real life lessons can be learnt through his words, gesture and attitude.
Conceited people refuse to see that harsh living conditions can even prepare you better to face the world with more pugnacity.
Not only does an emcee describe the roughness of the ghetto, he also teaches people to challenge themselves and to battle their enemies with the fighting spirit of a winner.
Words become powerful creations into an emcee’s mouth. They explode like a deadful weapon that would discourage any assailant.
Emceeing teaches self confidence and courage. The world of lyrical battles is very similar to what we might experience in real life.
Some of our enemies need to get punched verbally until they definitely leave us alone.
Annihilating them through powerful punch lines might have a better effect than any physical fight.
The «  I fear no man » attitude is really the best attitude you could get. Don’t fear people and don’t give them any kind of power that would allow them to harm you or to weaken you- at least mentally.
The second valuable point about an emcee’s attitude is the solid determination he shows through the years while trying to reach the top.
He goes through perpetual storms and comes out of them stronger than ever. Determined as always. If he temporary fails at his task, his creative mind comes up with thousands of new ideas and concepts.
Never afraid to break closed doors or to force some entries, the true emcee is a model for a whole generation.
Show some attitude, never give up on anything, don’t care about what people say, believe in your good star and I promise you you will make it real BIG. No matter how long it will take, those are the keys to success.
Observe true hip hop soldiers and you will learn some valuable life lessons.

Mr Fernandez, a rapper from Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the Spanish flavor

He looks like a bully who is ready to smash his enemies’ brains in. Not only is Mr Fernandez impressing physically, the Michigan emcee has some real good hip hop to offer to his listeners.
Signed to MFR Records, an indie label, Mr Fernandez released a CD in 2005, Forced Entry.
Mr Fernandez ‘ my space account will allow his listeners to discover four exclusive tracks.
Many people have no idea about how it is actually hard to become an artist. Years of hard work and sweat in the shadow, nearly zero recognition, and you still gotta pay your bills and feed your family before the world decides to give you what you earned the hard way.
Like Mc Hush expressed it very well on his Bulletproof CD: « If I wasn’t gonna make it, I ‘ll have to go and take it. »
Sometimes you have to be that harsh and courageous to force the entry.
Mr Fernandez’ Forced Entry song draws the fight very well.
Light drums sounds nicely introduce you into an emcee’s fight. It’s been a long time coming, but he finally made it. Forced Entry. Mr Fernandez can see the light through the broken door. Hammering keyboard sounds describe the hard struggle of a hip hop soldier who destroys his enemies verbally, leaving them wounded with no mercy.
A nice flow delivery mixed up with some sharp wordplays make a conqueror of Mr Fernandez.
Another nice and rhythmic song, Period featuring Nate The Great will allow you to taste Mr Fernandez’ amazing skills.
Enjoy Mr Fernandez’ freestyling abilities and clever wordplays and put the catchy song on your favorite list, because it is really worth it. Enjoy both men’s rapid duo and wordplays.
On Rotation is representative of Mr Fernandez’ offensiveness and will to take over the hip hop scene. Nice beats and nice instrumentals and very lyrical track aimed at true hip hop lovers.
How does Mr Fernandez sound and how do I feel about his music?
He said it himself: « like real hip hop » and believe me it is actually true. The emcee of Spanish heritage can spit and flow. He manages to combine good beats with numerous wordplays and a nice flow delivery. He is the kind of artist who could barely leave you indifferent, because he has some real talent.
Hungry for more? Eager to listen to the man? Share my passion for Mr Fernandez’ music here.

People who become totally insane and dangerous over Eminem: psychiatric cases?

At the time Slim Shady was popping into Marshall Mathers’ head in 1997, the talented rapper had ill rhymes in his mind. He could never imagine that his evil persona would inspire so many insane people to commit the most insane and scariest actions.
A crazy Eminem fan who killed his girlfriend is currenly making the headlines.
Chistopher Duncan murdered his girlfriend. Did this insane person find his inspiration in the Stan song? Probably, considering the horrible way he killed her after entering her apartment. We know that he battered her over the head with an iron baseball bat and stuffed her unconscious into a suitcase.
This is what happens when people confuse hip hop and real life and totally misinterpret a song that was written to set an example against such crazy behaviors.
How do mad brains read a song like Stan? It looks like insane people have a tendency to appropriate themselves Stan’s foolish behavior and to ignore words like:
« I really think you and your girlfriend need each other
or maybe you just need to treat her better… »
When Eminem fans happen to be very young people, teenagers who seem to be very unstable, I think that parents should take a look at their kids’ music. Not to forbid it. Of course not. However, taking some time to explain the humor contained in those lyrics could be very useful. First of all, the teenager wouldn’t feel rejected by his parents because of his musical tastes with such a constructive and positive attitude. I never took the risk that my eldest son could misinterpret Eminem’s words. When he discovered the talented rapper, I watched the videos and shared my comprehension of the lyrics with him. We never experienced any conflictual relationship because of the music he liked.
If their sons and daughters are experiencing difficulties and happen to like Eminem’s lyrics , parents’ role is to warn them against a misinterpretation and to exhort them not to act foolishly.
If many parents stopped ridiculing their kids’ musical tastes and focused even little interest on their likes and dislikes, many crazy behaviors like suicides « because of Eminem » could certainly have been avoided.
However, teenagers are not the only ones to misinterpret Eminem’s lyrics. Some adults like Christopher Duncan or Luke Bass, who harmed his girlfriend and left her unconscious, happen to be mentally fragile. Those psychos are only giving Eminem a bad name.
Foolish or not, I don’t really feel sympathy for Eminem wannabes.
Those young and older males who dye their hair blonde and sometimes copy his tattoos, think those details will make them resemble Marshall Mathers. How ridiculous is that? Your hair might be blonde, but you don’t have the same face! You have your own face and own body. You listen to Eminem? A lot of persons do. This doesn’t make a number 1 fan of you. I think you forgot about one essential detail, even if you think you perfectly look like Marshall: go to the next shop and buy yourself…a personality! What you Eminem wannabes lack most is a personality.
Marshall Mathers is a genuine person. He managed to show some attitude and to put his pain and emotions into music and rhymes.
He is a lyrical genius and you are just one of those monkeys who imitate a human being. Those words are aimed at you:
« 
And there’s a million of us just like me
who cuss like me; who just don’t give a fuck like me
who dress like me; walk, talk and act like me
and just might be the next best thing but not quite me! »
You are such losers. Be yourself. Don’t try to be somebody you will never be.
Dreaming teenagers often have this temporary fantasy to « marry » Eminem. Many teenagers idolize famous people, because they often represent « the ideal man » in their mind. As long as they don’t act crazy in real life, there is nothing really wrong with their « fantasy crush »
However, what should we think about two adult women beefing on non legit « Shady » websites about which of them both will be the first to « marry » the famous rapper.
I think I will have to break your dreams, silly ladies. What you call « love » has another name: it is called « lust ».
How come you want to « marry » Marshall Mathers? Are you out of your mind? You don’t know Marshall. Yes I mean it. You don’t know him. You know Eminem or Slim Shady, a fabricated persona of his. The real Marshall Mathers is totally unknown to you.
I really doubt Marshall Mathers would be interested by superficial women with no personality like the two of you (I won’t name names out of discretion, but you perfectly know who you are). Besides finding him cute, do you even listen to his music? If so, you’d know that he can’t be your Superman!
Even if you ever reached a one night stand with him, I can prophesy you that you won’t reach marriage. Why?
Listen to his lyrics taken out of Superman and realize how much Eminem doesn’t care about people like you:
« We just met and I just fucked you
But I do know one thing though
Bitches they come they go
Saturday through Sunday monday
Monday through Sunday yo
Maybe I’ll love you one day… »
Get a life, bitches instead of spending your whole life trying to marry a man who -obviously- doesn’t give a fuck about brainless losers à la Stan like you.
Ladies, you want a useful advice? Go see a psychiatrist, get cured from your mental illness and start living a normal life.
It is a matter of fact that Eminem attracts more crazy people than Cypress Hill or Nas, for instance. We might ask why.
I think I might have an answer for my readers. Marshall Mathers has invented his personas Eminem and Slim Shady. Slim Shady represents his scariest thoughts put into rhymes and poetry. Normal people take Slim Shady’s words for what they are: some astute rhymes and wordplays with a wicked sense of humor. Mentally fragile persons identify themselves with Slim Shady’s insane thoughts, thinking Slim Shady « told them to act this way » and that they will be closer to Eminem if they harm their girlfriend or by murdering someone in the street.
I have met the craziest girls and ladies. Some of them thought they were « cyber- married » to Eminem, some others obsessing on being « his new wife ». It is time those people realized that their scary obsession is a form of illness. Get yourself a medical treatment before it is too late and you start harming other people.

High time to discover Paradime, your partner in rhyme crime

Paradime aka Freddie Beauregard is no new comer to the Detroit scene.
He’s white and he comes from Livonia, a white Detroit suburb. Some people will be tempted to complain about those details (oh no, not another white rapper…he’s from the suburbs, what the fuck???), but please slow down: I am talking about talent, not about skin color and I don’t care about an emcee’s place of origin, as long as he can rap.
Back in the days of the hip hop shop, Paradime used to kill mics while participating to rap battles. Many people refer to him as the « microphone bully »:
« I was up at the Hip Hop Shop, and all those old school battles – the ones 8 Mile glamorized the shit out of. It’s a big community, either you in or you’re not. It’s like a fraternity, and I got a good position where all of these cats are down to help me out. Any enemies that I got, nobody’s ever heard of. Everybody that matters is on my team out here. »
Besides Paradime’s love for the rhyme, the rapper is also proud of his Irish heritage. Drinking is part of the culture he grew in and it is also reflected in his music:
« I was a smart ass in school, I’m an Irish, Catholic kid, my family drinks. It’s in my nature to be a sort of a bar brawler! There’s a sense of humor to everything that I do. It could be the deepest, ruthless, wildest song, but I’m probably gonna say something smartass or funny in it too. »
Paradime has collaborated with many Detroit talents, not only gifted emcees like D12 and MC Hush, but also local rockers like Uncle Kracker and Detroit legend Kid Rock.
Paradime has learnt a lot from Kid Rock‘s experience, as he points it out:
« The number one thing I’ve learned from Kid Rock is the importance of a stage show. »
How does Paradime sound?
Paradime is an original mixture of self derision ( as expressed in his salsa sounding song, Mr Dime ) combined with an inch of arrogance.
Mr Dime is a bottler and he is proud of it. Meet him at a party . Enjoy him rapping the hot party and describing the shroom swallowing atmosphere.
Mad rhythms, wordplays and « microphone bullying » are part of paradime’s universe.
I recommend you Paradime’s Better Days video that is available on his official website.
Many other Paradime songs like Broke ( co produced with Hush) and Skull therapy 2002 featuring Kon Artis and Swifty are really worth your interest.
Discover Paradime, a Detroit emcee who loves doing his job, here.