Current Events > SZA about to break a record held by Thriller album.

(+) Yeah! (+)

ai123 posted...

I think it becomes pointless to compare eras where music consumption is so different.

Scott Joplin sold over a million copies of the sheet music for Maple Leaf Rag. Is that a bigger achievement than Thriller? I couldn't say.

Fair enough.

Touch posted...

CE didn't even know who Ed Sheeran was, whether trolling or not. They constantly choose to live under a rock and act like it's the norm lol

CE also had a lot of people who claimed theyd never heard of Lana del rey

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Your top 20 list was horrible and then you claimed you were stretching to even name rappers past that 20 lmao

Yes, I think many would disagree that drake is a top 15 rapper of all time and that wasnt even your worst take in that topic

my top 20 list had 15 people you straight up couldnt argue against, how the fuck is that bad ?

kendrick
nas
Jayz
dmx
biggie
tupac
ice cube
kanye
50 cent
lil wanye
Rakim
Em
jcole
drake

none of that is arguable, position sure but theyre all top 20

gamepimp12 posted...

SZA album is good. But its streaming numbers are being carried by the facts it has the best RnB song in at LEAST 15 years on it.

Yall not knowing who Sza is at all tells me yall arent very attached to black culture or people.

Not knowing who SZA is, isn't really indicative of their level of attachment to black culture. There's more to black culture than Hip Hop and R&B, so that's not necessarily a good correlation.

It is indicative of their attachment to R&B though, as she's huge in the R&B scene.

That said though, a good chunk of CE mostly listens to Rock and Metal. So I'm never surprised by topics like these.

gamepimp12 posted...

Yo mean my take that by almost all metrics drake is a top 15 all time rapper

He is absolutely one of the biggest rappers of all times when it comes to record sales and streaming numbers. I wouldn't place him at the top for any other metrics though.

gamepimp12 posted...

Yall not knowing who Sza is at all tells me yall arent very attached to black culture or people.

you're always saying weird, gatekeeping stuff.

there's a number of reasons why someone might not know to SZA is while still being tapped into black culture.

could be generational, could be preferring different genres, could be not being into music (such people exist), and so on.

gamepimp12 posted...

my top 20 list had 15 people you straight up couldnt argue against, how the fuck is that bad ?

kendrick
nas
Jayz
dmx
biggie
tupac
ice cube
kanye
50 cent
lil wanye
Rakim
Em
jcole
drake

none of that is arguable, position sure but theyre all top 20

were not doing this again just keep your takes to yourself or make your own topic about it

her youtube only has 5.03 million subs lol

Also, didnt Weeknd break this record already?

NoxObscuras posted...

Not knowing who SZA is, isn't really indicative of their level of attachment to black culture. There's more to black culture than Hip Hop and R&B, so that's not necessarily a good correlation.

It is indicative of their attachment to R&B though, as she's huge in the R&B scene.

That said though, a good chunk of CE mostly listens to Rock and Metal. So I'm never surprised by topics like these.

He is absolutely one of the biggest rappers of all times when it comes to record sales and streaming numbers. I wouldn't place him at the top for any other metrics though.

thats why i further clarified to black American culture, that song is so huge and universally loved its crazy to say youve never heard it.

and a lot of the discussion on drake is basically centered around how you value how hard he tries as a rapper, he has the lyrical talent he just intentionally doesnt showcase it in favor of a song.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

He hasnt been off the billboard hot 100 in like 15 years or something like that. Plus hes consistently breaking streaming records with every album released since streaming became the primary way to consume music. Commercially, hes undeniably a top 5 artist for this generation.

*man who has heard 15 rappers* this Drake guy has to be top 15 of all time!

Makeveli_lives posted...

He hasnt been off the billboard hot 100 in like 15 years or something like that. Plus hes consistently breaking streaming records with every album released since streaming became the primary way to consume music. Commercially, hes undeniably a top 5 artist for this generation.

Yeah hes commercially successful but that has nothing to do with being one of the greatest rappers of all time. The guy said by almost all metrics hes supposedly top 15 which is a hot ass take

Success does not automatically mean quality.

gamepimp12 posted...

thats why i further clarified to black American culture, that song is so huge and universally loved its crazy to say youve never heard it.

and a lot of the discussion on drake is basically centered around how you value how hard he tries as a rapper, he has the lyrical talent he just intentionally doesnt showcase it in favor of a song.

Bruh youre literally trying to tie knowledge and awareness of black culture to one song

gamepimp12 posted...

thats why i further clarified to black American culture, that song is so huge and universally loved its crazy to say youve never heard it.

Dude, this isn't a hill you want to die on. I love SZA, but you cannot tie that to African American culture like that.

and a lot of the discussion on drake is basically centered around how you value how hard he tries as a rapper, he has the lyrical talent he just intentionally doesnt showcase it in favor of a song.

He has a good voice and cadence, sure. I don't know if I'd place him even in the top 20 lyrically though.

Baron_Ox posted...

you're always saying weird, gatekeeping stuff.

there's a number of reasons why someone might not know to SZA is while still being tapped into black culture.

could be generational, could be preferring different genres, could be not being into music (such people exist), and so on.

its not gate keeping, Im not hiding anything from you guys.

im just calling it out

gamepimp12 posted...

its not gate keeping, Im not hiding anything from you guys.

im just calling it out

The things you try to call out are often very wrong and make you look bad then

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Bruh youre literally trying to tie knowledge and awareness of black culture to one song

No, Im tying being current and update to date with black culture to one song.

you could just legitimately be living under a rock, my fathers the same way I wouldnt say hes not apart of black culture, I would just say hes not socially up to date.
NoxObscuras posted...

Dude, this isn't a hill you want to die on. I love SZA, but you cannot tie that to African American culture like that.

He has a good voice and cadence, sure. I don't know if I'd place him even in the top 20 lyrically though.

it wasnt a top 20 lyrically its top 20 over all.

gamepimp12 posted...

No, Im tying being current and update to date with black culture to one song.

you could just legitimately be living under a rock, my fathers the same way I wouldnt say hes not apart of black culture, I would just say hes not socially up to date.

it wasnt a top 20 lyrically its top 20 over all.

Attaching anything of significance like cultural awareness to ONE song is ridiculous and you should realize this. Can someone involved in the culture just not listen to SZA? Would that make them not up to date?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

I like Drake and his songs, even his singing on songs like Passion fruit.

But i still dont view him as a top 15 rapper of all time

Have only heard a handful of her songs.
She seems pretty decent. Congrats to her.

gamepimp12 posted...

its not gate keeping, Im not hiding anything from you guys.

im just calling it out

"calling it out", in this case, is gatekeeping, though. -> you aren't into this if you aren't aware of this/them.

it's also silly to create such rigid boundaries - for instance, Afro Beats is one of the bigger, growing music genres/sounds in the world; not just with black people, but if someone was like, I don't know this particular song by the AB artist, it means they're not into black culture? come on, now...

plus, you also haven't qualified why you should be able to make such judgements.

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

Attaching anything of significance like cultural awareness to ONE song is ridiculous and you should realize this. Can someone involved in the culture just not listen to SZA? Would that make them not up to date?

when the song was number 1 in urban radio for months and is critically acclaimed and considered the greatest RnB song in at least 15 years.

its extremely hard to have never heard that song.

you actively avoid the radio or your friends the club etc etc.

Baron_Ox posted...

"calling it out", in this case, is gatekeeping, though. -> you aren't into this if you aren't aware of this/them.

it's also silly to create such rigid boundaries - for instance, Afro Beats is one of the bigger, growing music genres/sounds in the world; not just with black people, but if someone was like, I don't know this particular song by the AB artist, it means they're not into black culture? come on, now...

plus, you also haven't qualified why you should be able to make such judgements.

I already clarified for the Afro beats statement by saying black American culture.

and for qualification, Im a DJ and social media personality who has written and interviewed for major media brands in the past.

I know thats hard to believe If I wont dox myself

gamepimp12 posted...

when the song was number 1 in urban radio for months and is critically acclaimed and considered the greatest RnB song in at least 15 years.

its extremely hard to have never heard that song.

you actively avoid the radio or your friends the club etc etc.

I dont know anyone my age who listens to the radio anymore and Ive never heard it play in any club ive gone to.

Again, its a popular song and I have heard it, but not knowing one song says nothing about a persons cultural awareness

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]



by radio I also clearly mean steaming sources like playlist as well.

and I would consider that living under a rock would you?

gamepimp12 posted...

I already clarified for the Afro beats statement by saying black American culture.

and for qualification, Im a DJ and social media personality who has written and interviewed for major media brands in the past.

I know thats hard to believe If I wont dox myself

Afro Beats is also big amongst black Americans.

plus, I was speaking for black culture in general with it.

for the DJ & social media thing - cool? I mean, those are cool positions to have, and I don't doubt you (I think I actually remember a picture of posted once a while ago, and you remind me of someone...I won't say though just in case you don't want me to).

that doesn't mean you're qualified to speak about who's into black culture, though; it just means you might have a special insight into the club scene (idk where you DJ), social media, and stuff like that.

Meh, records are meant to be broken. If this is what does it, who cares? MJ is dead, his legacy is tarnished, and nobody will even remember this 5 years from now.

Is SZA supposed to stand for something?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


If youve listened to as much rap as you say you have youve definitely heard her music before.

shes the leading RnB feature music wise for the last 5 or so years she was on the last Drake album like 3-4 times for example.

Baron_Ox posted...

Afro Beats is also big amongst black Americans.

plus, I was speaking for black culture in general with it.

for the DJ & social media thing - cool? I mean, those are cool positions to have, and I don't doubt you (I think I actually remember a picture of posted once a while ago, and you remind me of someone...I won't say though just in case you don't want me to).

that doesn't mean you're qualified to speak about who's into black culture, though; it just means you might have a special insight into the club scene (idk where you DJ), social media, and stuff like that.

oh I wouldnt say if you dont know sza you dont know black culture. I misspoke when I said that earlier and went ahead and Clarified later. I dont listen to Afro beats myself, im aware of the bigger acts but I wouldnt call my self a fan or knowledgeable.

black culture as a whole

Makeveli_lives posted...

He hasnt been off the billboard hot 100 in like 15 years or something like that. Plus hes consistently breaking streaming records with every album released since streaming became the primary way to consume music. Commercially, hes undeniably a top 5 artist for this generation.

So literally nothing that has to do with quality. But congrats, you are right that he has commercially succeeded by objective metrics. When someone is asked to name their top 10 <genre> artists, they don't generally respond back with the top 10 artists in streams or record sales.

Otherwise, Justin Bieber is one of the greatest singers of all time

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Hes palatable and non controversial in his music. Like hes never been political in his music for example with BLM and MeToo movement. A lot of people dont like rap for speaking on taboo subjects, been an everlasting subject amongst people who dont like rap ever since gangsta rap took off in the late 80s, early 90s. So his music appeals to a lot of people who would like rap but dont because of the subject matter in it.

Also he got called on it by Kendrick but Drake has always been one to have his thumb on pop culture and ride the wave of upcoming artists and their slight changes in style to the genre which helps maintain his relevancy in the genre. Buy him being as big as he is, him riding the wave is what led to an onslaught of that style in the culture. The biggest one being the rap-sung style of hip hop.

gamepimp12 posted...

by radio I also clearly mean steaming sources like playlist as well.

and I would consider that living under a rock would you?

There's a bazillion songs on streaming and the listener has control. Not everyone is reaching for the Top 40/Hot Tracks/Whatever playlist

Never even heard a SZA song and until this topic I thought she was white and an artist like Lana Del Rey. Shame to see icons lose these well deserved accolades, but it always happens with time.

They really do need to separate them from like streaming and prior. It really is a whole different world.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Hes palatable and non controversial in his music. Like hes never been political in his music for example with BLM and MeToo movement. A lot of people dont like rap for speaking on taboo subjects, been an everlasting subject amongst people who dont like rap ever since gangsta rap took off in the late 80s, early 90s. So his music appeals to a lot of people who would like rap but dont because of the subject matter in it.

Also he got called on it by Kendrick but Drake has always been one to have his thumb on pop culture and ride the wave of upcoming artists and their slight changes in style to the genre which helps maintain his relevancy in the genre. Buy him being as big as he is, him riding the wave is what led to an onslaught of that style in the culture. The biggest one being the rap-sung style of hip hop.

2 things in here.

while he does hope on a lot of different cultures he is a pretty early adopter on the rap sung style. I wouldnt necessarily call him a pioneer but hes close.

drake is an extremely talented rapper who actively chooses not to rap at his best ability. Which as a fan of his is very annoying.

but any one questioning his lyrical abilities hasnt heard enough of his music.

its a more reasonable question to say how can you rate him high if he only tries one or two songs a year

gamepimp12 posted...

2 things in here.

while he does hope on a lot of different cultures he is a pretty early adopter on the rap sung style. I wouldnt necessarily call him a pioneer but hes close.

drake is an extremely talented rapper who actively chooses not to rap at his best ability. Which as a fan of his is very annoying.

but any one questioning his lyrical abilities has heard enough of his music.

its a more reasonable question to say how can you rate him high if he only tries one or two songs a year

A top 15 rapper tries more than once or twice a year, yes. So Drake is not top 15 clearly.

gamepimp12 posted...

2 things in here.

while he does hope on a lot of different cultures he is a pretty early adopter on the rap sung style. I wouldnt necessarily call him a pioneer but hes close.

drake is an extremely talented rapper who actively chooses not to rap at his best ability. Which as a fan of his is very annoying.

but any one questioning his lyrical abilities hasnt heard enough of his music.

its a more reasonable question to say how can you rate him high if he only tries one or two songs a year

Kanye and Andre 3000 did the rap sung thing first and initially got lambasted for it by the puritans in rap community for it, he can't even pretend to be a mainstream pioneer of the style but he was successful primarily because those 2 projects later grew to be appreciated by the rap community. He's not a pioneer at all, he's a vulture that changes with the crowd of teenagers he's constantly trying to appeal to by hopping on with an artist that gives him the "credibility" necessary to make it passable. He's done it to Wayne, Nicki, 2 Chainz, Future, Fetty Wap, etc and then stopped messing with them once he got the juice he needed to be able to. Joe Budden spoke on it recently, there's a lot of behind the scenes reports of him recording for an up and coming artists and then refusing to allow the song to come out because the first collaboration wasn't doing numbers with his target demographic like he wanted. He's also the only artist in his position that doesn't age with his music, he changes the music every few years so the fanbase doesn't age.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Kanye and Andre 3000 did the rap sung thing first and initially got lambasted for it by the puritans in rap community for it, he can't even pretend to be a mainstream pioneer of the style but he was successful primarily because those 2 projects later grew to be appreciated by the rap community. He's not a pioneer at all, he's a vulture that changes with the crowd of teenagers he's constantly trying to appeal to by hopping on with an artist that gives him the "credibility" necessary to make it passable. He's done it to Wayne, Nicki, 2 Chainz, Future, Fetty Wap, etc and then stopped messing with them once he got the juice he needed to be able to. Joe Budden spoke on it recently, there's a lot of behind the scenes reports of him recording for an up and coming artists and then refusing to allow the song to come out because the first collaboration wasn't doing numbers with his target demographic like he wanted. He's also the only artist in his position that doesn't age with his music, he changes the music every few years so the fanbase doesn't age.

All legitimate complaints.

its no argument that the love below and 808s are the true pioneers in that sub genre. But Id say so far gone is third.

and my biggest complaint with drake as a long time fan (I listen to room for improvement more than any other drake album) is that he went all in on being popular at the cost of his lyrical content.

he could of the best rapper alive and he instead chose to be the richest. Its lame and corny

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

Is SZA supposed to stand for something?

It does stand for something, no 'suppose' necessary:

SZA is from the supreme alphabet. Like, The RZA is Rulers, Zig-zag, Allah. You have rulers like sovereignty over ones self and the world around you. S is the supreme alphabet stands for savior but that didnt sit right with me so I switched it to either sovereign or savior however you feel.

https://www.complex.com/music/a/insanul-ahmed/who-is-sza

ai123 posted...

It does stand for something, no 'suppose' necessary:

a simple yes would have sufficed