Groups, crews, etc. in hip hop always fall out; it's a part of the business. Actually, it just happens in life. Sometimes it is something you can't avoid. However, the last couple years, we have seen groups and "friends" falling out left and right (the most recent being Jay and Beanie Sigel), and it got me wondering: how can people claim that they will rep something to death with no hesitation and then end up with so much hate and animosity toward the same people or squad they were reppin' the day before? This is especially true for somebody like Game (special case, I know) who repped G-Unit too hard and now, amongst many promises to stop, can't stop dissing 50 Cent and the rest of the crew. We also saw it when Cash Money, with multiple tattoos symbolizing their loyalty, broke up. While I'm not really a fan, Dip Set used to roll real tough, and they broke up to everybody's surprise. So what is it that causes people to believe that they can rep something for life, with absolutely no second thought as to what may happen in the future, even after multiple examples of what could potentially come, especially when money is involved?

I think the answer has to do with the expectation that they won't live long. Unfortunately, coming from the environment that most hip hop artists come from, the likelihood of an early death is pretty high. These artists have seen young people die all around them and, in some cases, have been in situations themselves where they could have lost their life. Witnessing and/or being in these events can cause some people to have the belief that they won't live long and that they need to make the most of every opportunity they have. So if that means tattooing a symbol permanently on your skin, regardless of the possibility of disbanding in the future, then it will be done because loyalty has to be pledged and who knows what tomorrow will bring. If that means rolling with an entourage and putting yourself in harms way, that's what has to be done because there may not be a tomorrow, so you have to prove today that you are down.

I understand that a lot of these people come into the business as friends and seem to have an understanding, but too often I think we hear the phrase "til death" or "for life" and they are just thrown around to show some false sense of loyalty rather than a true understanding that for your entire life, you will be side by side with this person, group, entity, what-have-you. Once again, Game came into G-Unit, no affiliation with anybody in the group previous to his signing, and yet got tatted up and was giving his all to 50 and the rest of them for the first few years. After a couple issues, a falling out occurs, and now we have this annoying situation at hip hop that appears to pop up every couple months. Now I understand wanting to show appreciation for getting put on and even, to some extent, wanting to prove that you are part of the team, but to go and get a tattoo and get in beefs (with people you never had a problem with before) and all of the extra stuff is not necessary. But once again, it goes back to the fact that there is no sense of the future. There is only the here and now, and at that moment, Game was all in with G-Unit; no questions asked.

This sense of "live everyday like it's your last" is also a reason people have problems with artists as they age and feel as though people shouldn't rap after a certain point. Many of the artists that were looked up to in the 80's and 90's passed before they really reached their prime and, until this point, hip hop as a whole was young. There was no sense of having rappers in their 40s and 50s. And many artists probably don't even have the expectation of living that long (at least not when they first enter the music business). That is why they splurge. That is why they go to extreme lengths to prove loyalty. That is why there is that hustler mentality. It is because there is the mentality that it could all end today.

While I understand the mindset and appreciate where it comes from, hip hop has to shake this mentality. We have to understand that are future can be and is very bright. We have to shake this expectation that being down means that you have to pledge your life to something, because your life could be 50, 60, 70 more years. It is true that you should enjoy life because tomorrow isn't promised, but also prepare for the future in case tomorrow does come. Think about your actions and think about what these actions could potentially lead to if you do reach tomorrow. It is possible to enjoy life and be dedicated to something, but still have the understanding that there are certain expectations for the future.

As much as hip hop tries to mask them, too often people get caught up in emotions and that is when business deals and other things go bad. Once money and emotions mix, then it can often times turn into a bad combination. When making deals into this business, ease into these loyalties and these false senses that everything will be perfect. If there is that understanding, maybe things can get worked out once problems arise instead of beef occurring the minute there is a misunderstanding. If we think about what could be and learn from past examples, we can make a better future and actually have a group make it their full life (or at least career) without splitting (Outkast put an album out soon and that will give me hope!). Until then, I think it is safe to say that the one thing we will all rep and hold dear to us until death is hip hop.

What are your thoughts? Do you think that too often rappers throw these terms around without any true meaning behind them? Is almost required for artists to do it now once they join a group? Do they really envision being with that group their whole life, regardless of money being involved? Let me hear it. Comment directly or email at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.


Peace.