http://www.cnn.com/2009/S...index.html

i thought this was an interesting article. hopefully, the recession will teach everyone a lesson in economics and civilization.

We shouldn't act as if the Bling Era, as it is called, began this flashy trend. Slick Rick, Eric B. and Rakim, Run-DMC, EPMD, all rocked gold chains and talked about cars, clothes, et cetera. It's just that today's MCs compensate for lack of skill by rhyming about the things they have or the dirt they've allegedly done. Many if not most will wind up as broke as the next man if they weren't broke in the first place.

EXACTLY! today's successful rappers today don't have rhyme skills or stage presence and rely on their "riches" real or unreal to impress an audience. And true, the pioneers of Hip-Hop may have had a lil sparkle and some may have been dripping obscenely with jewels, but most had to rely on their verbal skills to get their props. now it's all about how decadent a lifestlye they're living and how many people they murdered or will murder to get and keep their lifestyle.