Sincerely Yours...

Dear Rick,


Okay let me get a few things out the way first. I don’t think you’re talented. In fact, I think you represent just about everything that is wrong with Hip-Hop today. Having said that, I want to see you win and have a successful career. It’s not your fault that the landscape of the Hip-Hop music business has deteriorated to the point that you can capitalize off of the most negative aspects of our people and community. (Although you don’t have to further perpetuate the problem, I can’t hate on you for trying to get yours). And although I probably will never support your music in stores or openly sing your praises, I want to use this letter to at least explain why so many people who hold Hip-Hop culture near and dear, dislike you.

You see, it’s not what you are rapping about that is the problem. I listened to Mafia Music and it is without question one of my favorite songs out right now. It was the first time that I ever saw any legitimate lyrical ability. We understand that the music is for entertainment so the gun toting, drug smuggling rhymes have its place. My problem is that you insult my intelligence whenever you do an interview. Al Pacino has played the most G’d up characters in the history of film, but he never ever tried to convince the world that any of that stuff takes place in his real life. We still love him anyway and support his work to the fullest. But to talk about how you make $10 million plus a year is just ridiculous for so many reasons. Furthermore, trying to make the claim that you are still one of the most dangerous gangsters in Miami is as stupid as it is an exaggeration. (Seriously, if it were true you would be placed under the jail with all of that self-incriminating evidence.)

When the information came out that you used to work as a correctional officer, your first reaction was to deny the story to protect your “image”. As if we don’t live in an age where information can be found and shared worldwide in a matter of hours. Did you think that no one could prove that you were once a CO? See normally it shouldn’t even matter and if you hadn’t bothered to create this false character, you wouldn’t have even needed to lie in the first place. We don’t actually care what you did or didn’t do so long as the music you make is good and you keep it real with your fans. Jay-Z and Fabolous has never killed anyone in real life but we don’t hold that against them when they rap about it because we understand and accept the game.

The truth is you’re a dude from Miami who is trying to live the dream – trying to use this rap thing to create a better life for you and your family. We all know why you would rather be an artist than a CO. Who would choose a normal career when you have the chance at greatness? We all love to hear a story about someone make it. We’re willing to support the guy in the picture, William Roberts but just don’t treat us like children and lie about who you really are. A little humility will go a long way towards developing that audience that can keep you in the game for a decade but if you continue to try and live your life “like a movie”, then you’ll find your career out of theaters and only available on bootleg.

Peace,

JusHH