Disclaimer:Just my thoughts. Just what I’m feeling at the time you know what I mean. Don’t sue me or throw a shoe at me.

Barack Obama I believe is the best example of advancing culture and doing things your way without losing the masses.I think creative people have been far more daring and risk taking as of late. Everyone wants to start a movement and revamp the culture. I credit most of it to a desire to not be boxed in and typecast as “one of the rest” since so many people write/model/sing/rap/act. We all know that settling for the status quo is never the way to go, however when you take a giant creative leap and fall flat (or appear to fall flat), you have no one to blame but yourself. It’s become too cliche to say “oh I just went over the audiences heads”. Sometimes this is the case but recently it’s more of a cop out creative people use when their work doesn’t connect with the masses. Maybe they do get “it” and just don’t like “it”. Maybe they do understand and appreciate your attempt but “it” didn’t suit what they expected.

Just yesterday I had a conversation with Jabari of HipHopGame and one of the things we discussed was how his recent short interview with Soulja Boy about beef was probably his most watched interview ever, while the lengthier more in depth second installment barely scratched 1000 views. We concluded at the end of the convo that it’s cool to do what you want to do, but if you want mass appeal you have to appeal to the masses.

When Jay-Z dropped Kingdom Come only die hard Jay-Z fans and people who were in a similar mind state enjoyed the album. Same with Kanye’s 808′s & Heartbreaks. If you are a Kanye fan or you just lost someone and know the feeling of heartbreak then that album is probably classic to you. If you were just in search of entertainment then you probably find both Kingdom and 808′s to be a bit on the boring/annoying side. Jay-Z and Kanye aren’t wrong for making what they felt like making but neither are you for stating that you didn’t quite enjoy it.

Even I went through this last month with my Sweatpants In The Club EP. I was going through so much that I needed to let out. I didn’t care about ill flows and slick metaphors. I just wanted to get my message across. Those who’ve followed Phella since day one and those who were going through similar emotions loved the EP. Those who were not gave it a so-so review. Not my fault, not theirs either. The problem comes in when the creative person gets upset with the fans or the fans get upset at the creator. Neither party is at fault in my opinion.

I believe the perfect balance is achieved when Kanye does College Dropout or Jay-Z does The Blueprint. Both albums appeal to casual fans who just want to hear nice tunes and the die hard ones seeking thought provoking music from their favorite act.

I won’t give away Seven Pounds but there’s really not much to give away. From the moment you walk in, you’ll know how it ends. The stuff that fills up the time between beginning and end had me checking my phone and dozing off periodically. I’m a die hard Will Smith fan and I like his work because it’s witty, action packed and thought provoking. This movie was only thought provoking and barely at that. It will appeal to people who can’t get enough of Will or people who have experienced the devastation of medical issues. To the casual fan seeking the entertainment of Men In Black or Independence Day, save your money.

“I can take Seven Pounds but it might confuse em/Cuz that ain’t the Happyness we like Pursuing”-Phella “So Real”…can you say prophecy?

Oh and with all that said I loved Kingdom Come,808′s & Heartbreaks plus I enjoyed (some parts of) Seven Pounds. I’m speaking for the people who don’t idolize Jay, Ye and Will.