Someone was speaking to me recently about changing up my style and doing some gangster rap. The challenge I have with that is that I’m not a gangster rapper. My music doesn’t represent gangster rap and it’s not my life experience.
In other words it’s not my truth.
Unless you count being a wanna-be gangster as a teenager and hanging around other wanna-be street thugs. It’s a shame some people never grow out of that shit.
This blog I’m going to share my honest opinion on Australian ‘gangster rap’ and also my thoughts on Aussies using an American accent when spitting bars.
Enjoy!
The 'whack-scent'
When Aussie rappers use American accents it really gets under my skin. There are exceptions of course, like if one grew up in America or spent a number of years there etc. etc.
What I’m talking about though is Aussies getting on the mic and completely trying to sound American. If music is an expression of self, what are you expressing with a fake accent?
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE American rap. I grew up on American rap and west-coast gangster rap in particular. The difference here is that they are Americans rapping about their life in America.
A couple of theories I have of why Australian rappers put on the American accent is:
a) To appeal to American hip hop heads
OR
b) To sound like American gangster rappers
The 1st point I understand although I don’t condone, the 2 point I will break down in the next section.
wanna-be gangster rap
So if you’re an Aussie rapper from white middle-class suburbia – that’s grown up in Australia – and you’re rapping about shooting people and being from the hood; you, my friend, need a reality check.
What makes this mentality, message or whatever you call it even worse is that these gutter rappers are talking about that life in an American accent. You’re not from the hood homie, you’ve got a job and live in a nice area.
When I have this discussion with some people they are like :
‘But Prim, they’ve grown up listening to American rap and watching American movies.’
True. So have I. So have a lot of Aussie rappers I know. Doesn’t make you spit bars in an American accent about being a gang-banger from the hood though right?
I think one of the things that really upsets me about the whole fake accent and wanna-be gangster bars is that it is popular. Not only do people tolerate that charlatanism, people actually buy that stuff. There’s a market for it.
Look, I think it’s fair to say that we all come from struggle and pain. Or that we all experience struggle and pain in life. Sometimes life is certainly not fair and some people are definitely ‘better off’ than others. On the surface anyway.
The struggle is real. But is it your struggle you’re talking about?
Maybe it’s just a point I’m at in my life when I only have time for the real ones. Real cats talking about real shit. You know who you are. Big ups fam.
Listen I know I came across with some strong points/opinions in this blog and people may take offence to this..
Probably the people I’m writing about.
Maybe it’s just a personal preference. After all, music is subjective right. Different people like different things. It just doesn’t sound good to me. Be real, be yourself ya know?
Anyway, of course this is all just my opinion..but it’s the only one I’ve got.
Thanks for reading guys and as always thanks for rocking with ya boi Prim!
Wow this was intense… And so real. I really like it. Love the meme’s 🤪🤣😂
Haha thanks bro! ✌
Love it! I am triggered whenever I hear an American accent in Aus rap, seems to upset me more if the bars are awesome or the rapper is really good coz I’m upset he or she feels the need to put it on still, sometimes I’m quick to judge the shit 2 without looking into it (my bad)
As far as gangsta rap, I see things 2 ways, yes there’s far to much fabrication is Aus gangsta rap. I also hear what some of these “wannabes” are saying, Id say theres some real kids being tossed in with the batch here tbh, (easy to do whem they rockin a whackcent) but I feel that not everyone has lived the same Australian experience.
I have been extremely lucky in life personally, but I have also mixed with people who have not, and even I have been drawn on in broad daylight (Gray Palmerston 2000) just a few hundred meters from my house, was also stabbed in Alice (I think 02/03?) just a couple violent experiences I’m yet to express thru bars.
I’m far from the hardest person I’ve met, but I have seen things on Australian streets that would shake anyone to their core.
I couldn’t imagine what some people I know have experienced here.
Thanks for reading and your comment bro. Yeah it is a real shame when the bars are dope and they are putting on the accent.
I agree a lot with what you are saying. It’s certainly not my intention to minimize violence or even imply that because you live in Australia, you are protected from violent experiences or pain.
This was more targeted at the culture of people glorifying a way of life that they don’t live.
In saying that you have certainly given me some things to think about and reflect on. ✌🙏