"I saw a debate / argument awhile back. It was / is none of my business, but I noticed something alarming in the comment section; a reoccurring theme. Multiple people saying things like "yo, you 40+ years old, B. Shut your old ass up".
"30+ is "old" in hip-hop. 40+ is ancient. 50+? Fuggedaboutit. That's a dangerous line of thought. Lennon & McCartney were washed at 35? Stevie Wonder was done at 40? Sun Ra? Miles? Peter Gabriel is 75. He's corny? James Brown was 73 when he passed and he'd wipe the floor with every twenty-something rapper on Earth.
"Why, as a culture, have we abandoned and discarded our architects? Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are both 80+ years old, and the Stones are still doing stadiums. If Cold Crush did a tour in 2025, what would that look like? What about Funky Four Plus One? Would a booking agency even touch that? Why not? Who would go? Ask a 28 year old kid in a rock band about The Beatles, and they'll be able to rattle off the entire discography. Ask a 28 year-old rapper about Spoonie Gee and they'll look at you like you have nine heads. G Rap is 57. I’ll put him against anyone dead or alive. Nas 52. Jay is 55. Ice-T is 67 years old. KRS is 59. Kane is 57. All these gentlemen are still performing at the highest level. We need to make a conscious effort to show appreciation for Grand Wizard Theodore. For Fantastic Five. For Treacherous Three. For T-La Rock."
(Vinnie Paz.)
📸 Jimmy Giambrone
