I think my personal problem with the blame the music lot also comes from my situation as probably the most successful 'conscious' rapper in the country and how the music industry deals with/responds to that. Not being arrogant but let me explain...
I basically started of as a 'road rapper' with a few conscious bars and tbh I've seen a lot more negative things than you would know listening to my music or watching me speak now...
I have not had an album out in three years, not had a radio playlist since 2005. This year I sold out Brixton academy for a book launch and Shepherd's bush Empire for a gig 5 weeks apart. Again not showing off just making a wider point...
If I had achieved these things rapping about watches, cars, getting my dick sucked and the amount of stabbings I've actually seen in real life do you think i'd have had more industry support? And if so what message does that send to aspiring rappers?...
Remember everything i've done thus far I have done without a penny from 'the industry' and let's be clear I am not complaining I have done very well out of life all things told. I am making a point about what the industry chooses to elevate and not elevate...
And then we jump on the youngers for producing what the market is clearly demanding from them. Four of a small handful of black billionaires got their start rapping about such things. Apparently nobody's noticed 🤷🏽♀️
So it's a much bigger discussion than what the kids 'choose' to rap about or not rap about....
And it's not as if the so called road/drill rappers don't rate or respect man, they very much do - obviously. But not everyone can and or wants to exist in their own lane/bubble for 15 years. It ain't easy fam, not complaining just being real.
Last point on this... while accept popular culture and music obviously have an influence I have seen something interesting with my little bro and his mates these last few years...
So my essentially middle class little bro and all of his black mates listen to drill like everyone else of their age yet I have watched them all get their grades, go get jobs, attend business and UNI seminars and all the normal aspirational stuff...
The kids from their school and peer group that have killed already had the problems that led them to this point at 10/11 years old. None of them are shocked at which boys it has been that have ended up there, unfortunately.
