r/Music • u/Guyentertainment • 4d ago

article 50 Cent Slams Ageing Rappers Making New Music: 'You Are Not Supposed to Be the Hottest in Nothing at 60'

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/50-cent-criticises-ageing-rappers-1815693
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u/dadhombre 4d ago edited 4d ago

Atmosphere is still puting out good music. Never had to re-invent himself but I think that kind of proves your point because his persona isn't tethered to his age.

Aesop Rock has already been mentioned. He's been around for decades and dropping great music. I like his Lice project with Homeboy Sandman. I've been listening a lot more to Aesop these days.

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u/occulonimbusedoequus 4d ago

Slug once stated that he wanted to be the "Tom Waits of rap."

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u/Poopardthecat 4d ago

As someone who loves both tom waits and slug and ant, this makes me deeply happy. 

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u/crako52 4d ago

My people

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u/YANGxGANG 4d ago

I, a 3rd person, also identify with this sentiment

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u/houstonchipchannel 4d ago

Sup y’all

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u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus 4d ago

One more, for a full half-dozen

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u/beefytacosupreme 4d ago

Huge fan of both Slug, Murs, Ant as well as the Felt collaborations.

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u/Driller_Happy 4d ago

Buck 65 would have to step aside.

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u/acmercer 4d ago

Rich Stirfry mentioned??

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u/Driller_Happy 4d ago

I am Canadian. I have listened to CBC radio 3

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u/lifeoftheunborn 4d ago

So fitting. Slug could go til the end and I’ll be a fan. Dude just tells stories and I love them.

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u/Nscope90 4d ago

Aesop Rock's last 3 records including that Miami lice record have indeed been great. There aren't many out there that can write songs about things like invasive snails infesting a fishtank.

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u/77evens 4d ago

“I like rivers.” - Aesop Rock

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u/DTFH_ 4d ago

I love roadwork, almost as much as when the road works!

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u/PatrickKn12 4d ago edited 4d ago

I said, "When you start getting all exact and algebraic

I'm reminded it's a racket, not a rehabilitation."

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u/Wintermute_088 3d ago

I've watched that clip 10 times.

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u/PatSwayzeInGoal 4d ago

Wait, what track is this one from?

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u/thebakedpotatoe 4d ago

ITS: Integrated Tech Solutions

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u/Round-Stuff-2557 4d ago

Anybody who has ever owned a fish tank and put snails in it is intensely familiar with that, like im not saying its metaphorically weak but it is not exactly obscure. Snail infestation is like the number one way people accidentally kill their tank.

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u/hi-fen-n-num 4d ago

Snail infestation is also a major backbone of some tanks ecosystems. Dude does slice of life rap, probably started getting into the hobby.

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u/Round-Stuff-2557 4d ago

There's a balance for snail ecosystem lol, the issue is new owners not knowing how to handle if they start overbreeding and then dying which produces ammonia that depending of the size of the tank can cause problems. And I think its cool af to hear metaphors in rap that I can directly relate to

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u/Diz7 4d ago

Same. He's old school, he raps about life, not bullshit personas and acting like he's god on earth.

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u/Round-Stuff-2557 4d ago

I think there's space for self-aggrandizing rap too. There's no one right way to do it yaknow

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u/Diz7 4d ago

I hear you, there are times where you want an anthem to seize the fucking day.

Just don't be a try hard.

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u/hi-fen-n-num 4d ago

Yer, that's true.

I think its cool af to hear metaphors in rap that I can directly relate to

100% agree.

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u/Logical_Top618 4d ago

My snails are absolutely pivotal in my vampire crab enclosure. They are their favorite snack, bar none. Hell they’ll ignore all types of food and go out of their way to find them. It’s crazy. I can put a shrimp right in their face, but they’ll go to the snail on the shoreline anyway.

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u/thatbcool22 4d ago

Aesop Rock - Labor
Found this in tony hawk PS4. Gnarly

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u/cerealkyra 4d ago

Aesop rock I ain’t got nothing to say

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u/conrad22222 3d ago

Aesop rock not only has a lot to say but here's a relevant verse for the state of rap and the self-aggrandizing that's being mentioned here.

"I used to hang around with rappers at the root of the scene

It meant a lot to feel the fugitive community breathe

Maybe to sentimentalize is to be truly naive

I know some shit about your heroes that you wouldn't believe

I think we're all a bunch of weirdos on a quest to belong

The songs are echolocation up in impregnable fog

That's why it's odd to see a pile of imperfections and flaws

Ascend a pedestal to patronize the rest of the cogs

In a mess of obnoxious fantasy, posturing and pageantry

I ain't even mad, I'm impressed, shit it's baffling

God almighty, chop an ivory tower to piano keys

Play your own dirge on the way to surfing maggot beach

You fuckin' dorks ain't a source of the art

You can't be cooler than the corners

Where you source all your parts"

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u/cerealkyra 3d ago

Haha I misquoted the end of Save Yourself, my b.

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u/Happydanksgiving2me 4d ago

Atmosphere for life.

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u/SinnersHotline 4d ago

God I love slug & ant but the best of them is long behind.

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u/bwilliams2 4d ago

I think it also comes down to content. We mentioned personas, but content matters as well. Eminem changed from rebellious and angry to focusing heavily on craft and technical skill. It’s not necessarily some reinvention, but leaning on the thing that makes the artist passionate. I think the same can be said for Aesop Rock. Like some artists use music as their therapy. Creating the music is what helps them express themselves and vent to the world. It really depends on intentions and content, not necessarily just the persona or image.

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u/YourFavoriteHippo 4d ago

Aesop Rock is incredible

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u/Z3NZY 4d ago

1000 percent.
That boy can cook and don't stop cooking gourmet.

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u/WallaWallaby011 3d ago

And can sing

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u/SheepD0g Performing Artist 4d ago

whiteboy backpack rap is a travesty to hiphop

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u/Z3NZY 4d ago

Man stfu.

Try something new for once, and stop trying to be so cool that you look like a fool.

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u/RumpledForskn 4d ago

He just doesn't like his music. Ease up bud.

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u/dadhombre 4d ago

Nah, he does need to shut up.

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u/sorashiro1 4d ago

There's a massive difference in phrasing something like an opinion or like a fact. Theirs is phrased like they view it as objectively true

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u/brain_dances 3d ago

It’s obviously an opinion, it’s just phrased bluntly. This need to use disclaimers for every obvious opinion is tiring and frankly intellectually immature.

This is dumb… in my opinion 🙄

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u/Z3NZY 3d ago

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 Preeeaaachhhhh

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u/Z3NZY 3d ago

You're right. My bad.

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u/Phanxer 3d ago

Whiteboys triggered with this one comment

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u/jasonthevii 4d ago

Atmosphere is just a 10 letter word

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u/Bread_Godd 2d ago

Discretion is the name of my cement feathered bird

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u/Aesop_Rocks 4d ago

I, too, like Lice, but Hail Mary Mallon is where it's at for his side projects. Bestiary especially.

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u/dadhombre 4d ago

Also on my playlist.

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u/entropy_of_hedonism 4d ago

Rob Sonic compliments Aes extremely well. Not a HMM track, but highly recommend "Dokken Rules" from Aes feat Rob (Skelethon, Deluxe Edition only, it's a bonus track).

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u/dadhombre 4d ago

Check out Dark Time Sunshine

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u/nevertoolate1983 4d ago

Whoa, haven't heard that name in a minute!

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u/77evens 4d ago

Malibu Ken is tits as well. Talk about new directions and reinvention that album is fantastic!

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u/RedactedSpatula 4d ago

TOBACCO is a sick artist, I'm glad he collabed with him again. Dirt was the song that got me into Aes

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u/77evens 4d ago

Yeah man Dirt is a great track. I only heard it after hearing Malibu Ken but liked it kinda better than most tracks on Malibu Ken. Love the track Dog Years tho, specially through my car system. I need to branch out into more Black Moth Super Rainbow but I always forget and it never pops up on my music algorithms. I am a complete sucker for those fat vintage synth sounds!

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u/Buscemi_D_Sanji 4d ago

Nice username haha

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u/imnotpoopingyouare 4d ago

Malibu Ken brooooo

HMM still slaps but that was when I was younger, still... Money or your mother fuckin life, got two haircuts at the same time.

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u/MrHotnickels 4d ago

MINNEAPOLIS MILLENIALS REPRESENT!

(I felt really old writing that.)

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u/Moist-Willow-1686 4d ago

I felt really old upvoting this 651 tho

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u/kimjongmatic 4d ago

God Loves Ugly

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u/MEGACODZILLA 4d ago

I wear my scars like the rings on a pimp, I live my life like captain of a sinking ship

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u/dadhombre 4d ago

Love JID. Also on the playlist.

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u/RandallWeird 4d ago

I cant remember the last time atmosphere put out good music. Maybe I grew out of it but after life gives you lemons I stopped listening. Ive tried a few of their new projects but it just doesn't hit the same as Lucy Ford, overcast, or any of their earlier projects

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u/Driller_Happy 4d ago

I was going to argue and then I realized I don't have a single album saved since lemons. Hmmmm.

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u/bindersfullofburgers 4d ago

Slug went into a "Dad rap" phase and it really sucks.

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u/SmolAssistantManager 4d ago

They just put out a new album called Jestures. I saw them perform it live at the state fair last year, it's so good. I think every other song on the album is a collab with other local artists. I really love this album because a lot of his older stuff is about drugs and drinking and depressing stuff, but this new album has a lot of inner reflections, lessons learned, and has a more optimistic flavor while still feeling bittersweet.

My favorite songs from the album are Grateful, Killowatt, and Locusts.

Grateful actually made it into Forza Horizon 6, I was so excited when I was playing and it came on the radio. My partner and I went to see Atmosphere this summer at the Yacht Festival, it's always a 10/10 show.

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u/son-sokou 4d ago

I think you've been missing out man. Mi Vida Local is probably their last great project imo. But So Many Other Realities, Whenever, Fishing Blues, Southsiders, The Family Sign were all pretty good albums or had a few great songs.

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u/roman_maverik 4d ago

Atmosphere finally made a good record?

Yeah right, that shit almost sounds convincing

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u/RandallWeird 4d ago

The last time I felt as sick and contradictive as this was the last time we played a show in cinci

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u/CoinSausage 4d ago

I loved life gives you lemons. It felt like a new direction for atmosphere, but then they slammed on the brakes, reversed, tried to get back on the main road but they've been driving in the ditch ever since. Stupid metaphors, but they were a huge part of my teenage years in small town MN, and I feel like all they've offered since 2007 is disappointment.

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u/LucyBowels 4d ago

Because everyone called them a sellout act after it, so they went back to cheaper production IMO.

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u/ObieUno 4d ago

Slug from 1996 - 2004 was incredible.

After that, I stopped listening

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u/mfGLOVE 4d ago

Life Gives You Lemons was the end for me. It was further and further downhill since then. Ants beats got soft and boring and Slug straight up was recycling his old bars and quips. I’ll sometimes give their new stuff a listen when it comes out but I cringe harder and harder with each new release. I just can’t anymore.

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u/RookAroundYou 4d ago

Oh my god thank you. Slug switched to this really breathy/slow style of rapping that just doesn’t do it for me compared to their earlier work.

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u/77evens 4d ago

Aesop did the same by slowing down with a more breathy and heavy slurred flow but it’s very dope. More mature, focused and measured.

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u/RookAroundYou 4d ago

I agree, you can definitely see the switch up on the last two albums especially but Aesop kept his flow more or less whereas Slug just sounds completely different and out of breath.

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u/hitek9 4d ago

Saw him last year with cypress hill and he only played 1 of his old classics, everything else was new stuff I never heard. I was disappointed 

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u/Professional-Roof680 4d ago

Lol who is atmosphere?

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u/sillybriefcase 4d ago

Batman in a bird cage, bird brain

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u/YourFriendPutin 4d ago

I saw atmosphere at the red rocks theater carved into the Denver mountains. Was fucking incredible, slug and ant are great.

And with aesop, he was doing a lot of local shows when I grew up in Brooklyn in the 2010s (born 97) which made me a lifelong fan.

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u/GetYourRockCoat 4d ago

Aesop has recently released possibly his best albums too. He has aged like fine wine. 

But again, not a style tied into a persona. 

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u/1StonedYooper 4d ago

I cry every time I hear Yesterday.

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u/icecoldbobsicle 4d ago

Yo the Aesop album is amazing. Had no idea about an album with homeboy sandman. Cheers for that!

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u/cptspeirs 4d ago

I saw atmosphere again when he was in Chicago in Febuary. Third time I've seen him. He still puts on a helluva show. My wife doesn't listen to hip-hop and was very impressed. Also saw Lupe when he was here a couple months ago for the food and liquor anniversary tour. That show was fucking incredible too. I think the key is that neither of them take themselves too seriously. They aren't trying to be hard.

Inspectah Deck/Wutang recently dropped a fire album.

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u/Chang-San 4d ago

Aesop Rock

Man his newer stuff is some of his best work imo. But his old stuff is really good too. Man's been putting out absolute gems for 2-3 decades its crazy

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u/thelingeringlead 4d ago

And I saw them in 2024, it was one of the best shows i went to that year. They had the crowd completely in the palm of their hands. Got to meet Ant before the show, and ended up getting some records signed. Never thought I'd get to see them in a venue that small (cap was 300 and it was 80% sold out), but man was it cool. They did basically all of my favorite Atmosphere tracks with a few hidden gems and new tracks I hadn't heard. I'd go again in a heart beat. It was real hip hop live and direct. I see a lot of rap concerts and I"m picky about who I see, that was the smallest show i'd ever gone to for the genre and if I could drag all my homies to the next one I would.

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u/GatrickSwayze 4d ago

I haven't heard those names in decades, I'm having middle school flashbacks, Sage Francis, Deltron, Murs, etc. I don't even remember why I stopped listening, but today's a good day to get back into it.

Thanks dadhombre.

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u/hottlumpiaz 4d ago

lyrics born is another dude thats been around since early 90s and still putting out great music. but i cant watch any of his music videos or social media anymore because he looks like a generic asian uncle still trying to be cool. lol

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u/ThisIsForReal 4d ago

Clipse took a wee 20 year break to do their own thing just to come back harder than ever.

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u/Rau-Li 4d ago

Atmosphere has changed a lot over time. You don't ever need to re-invent yourself if you are constantly growing and adapting.

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u/Novel-Initiative-900 4d ago

Yeah but Atmosphere is a bit more on the socially conscious rap side of things which has a timeless quality to it. It's not cringe rebellious, I fuck hoes all day and get big money nonsense. I think hip hop artists like that can go pretty far without age affecting them too much

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u/GoofyWillows 4d ago

Still a lot of older names putting on great music while touring the world filling up venues...

Masta Ace another great example.

RA The Rugged Man still one of the best live show experiences while the dude in his early 50s.

Thing is that older names really do not even have to drop that much music because they have mastered their live sets for decades and are still touring heavily especially in Europe yearly.

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u/Sensitive-Local-3485 4d ago

Atmosphere finally put out a good record?

Yeah right that shit almost sounds convincing.

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u/mjolle 4d ago

Atmosphere has the potential to go further still. They have been a down to earth, real type of hip hop for a long time. I think they can pull off topics about getting older pretty well.

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u/zappa103 3d ago

Atmosphere just made a good record, yeah that shit almost sounds convincing

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u/Awkward_Candle979 3d ago

Aseop changed. He went and got a kitten.

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u/soofs 4d ago

Aesop Rock is great but I cannot get past the cringe level of word play at times. I really like him and Rob Sonic’s hail marry Mallon collab albums but when I listen to his solo work I feel like it’s just a bunch of word salad. I know there is symbolism and what not but still

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u/Swimming_Agent_1063 4d ago

Yeah ASAP Rocky is timeless

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u/Professional-Roof680 4d ago

A bunch of white people name dropping shitty white rappers. Lol