Comparing Lil' Wayne to Keats is like comparing Kobe Bryant to Pistol Pete Marovich, for better or worse. Except, maybe, if Keats were alive, he may be a hellavu rapper. You think?
I dunno, i'm inclined to give this one to Keats. Might just be the selection of verses. I'm not too crazy about this part of Wayne's "Milli." (And yes, I admit to the bias of being a huge Cory Gunz fan and not having quite figured out why he cut CG's dynamite verses from the Carter 3. Afraid of being outshined by Daniel son, mayhaps?)
Do bear in mind that in Keats' day, the words he's using probably meant many more things than they do today. Pay special attention to words like "Pleasure" and "fancy" that hint at double meanings.
And yes, I agree, this is an interesting comparison. I still maintain that hip hop artists aren't getting nearly the credit they deserve for keeping alive the otherwise slowly dying art of poetry.
Apples and oranges DV
ReplyDeleteArt to Art
ReplyDeleteExpression to Expression
Metaphor to Metaphor
Poet to Poet
Poem to Poem
Men to Men
Why can't they be compared?
Comparing Lil' Wayne to Keats is like comparing Kobe Bryant to Pistol Pete Marovich, for better or worse. Except, maybe, if Keats were alive, he may be a hellavu rapper. You think?
ReplyDeletedifferent Era, different language, different style.
ReplyDeleteWe compare things of different era's, different languages, and different styles all the time.
ReplyDeleteWho says an apple can't be compared to an orange?
Naturally you do not suggest we only compare things that are the same.
One man's "Stream of Consciousness" is another man's "Freestyle".
I say they measure up nicely, and Lil Wayne blows Keats and James Joyce out of the water.
It's like comparing Bob Cusey to Ray Allen.
Different era, different game, different style.
But the same ball and the same hoop.
no pablo neurda for sure
ReplyDeletelet alone iambic pentameter
I dunno, i'm inclined to give this one to Keats. Might just be the selection of verses. I'm not too crazy about this part of Wayne's "Milli." (And yes, I admit to the bias of being a huge Cory Gunz fan and not having quite figured out why he cut CG's dynamite verses from the Carter 3. Afraid of being outshined by Daniel son, mayhaps?)
ReplyDeleteDo bear in mind that in Keats' day, the words he's using probably meant many more things than they do today. Pay special attention to words like "Pleasure" and "fancy" that hint at double meanings.
And yes, I agree, this is an interesting comparison. I still maintain that hip hop artists aren't getting nearly the credit they deserve for keeping alive the otherwise slowly dying art of poetry.
Heh, upon second reading...
ReplyDelete"The sear faggot blazes bright..."
See, he's got the raging homophobia part of hip hop down pat. Why can't these two be compared?
(and yes, i'm being facetious, I know it meant something different then. A group of sticks, I believe, used for kindling.)
Keats sucked.
ReplyDeleteBut Lil' Wayne isn't even the best rapoet...or modern-day poet.
Most of the best ones I've read are actually no-namers. Although a few big names like Pac had serious floetry.