Ageism, too short, and why he doesn't stop rapping

For hip-hop culture, it is impossible to exaggerate just the influence that it is too short. He is the only rapper who has worked with all of the infamous Big, Jay-Z and 2PAC, and within the scope of his career, he has dropped dozens of acclaimed projects. He is former vice president Kamala Harris’ favorite rapper and is probably the only MC to release an album over the 80s and 50 years.

All of these are groundbreaking achievements in their own right, but Kicker still means the music is amazing. In his latest project, The sir is also $hort vol. 1 (A strange story)his new record has youthful urgency, and includes lots of pockets with short wraps expired like rent.

“And of all the rappers since the beginning of hip-hop/hip-hop/who got more platinum albums than I?” he raps with “Check Statistics.” “And don’t count Greatest Hits. Have you got more platinum albums than Go/Jay-Z, Eminem, 2Pac, Outkast, Nas, Drake, Lil Wayne, Kanye/$hort?”

There’s no one to answer. Considering one of the biggest records of his career, “Blow the Whistle,” who turns 20 next year, didn’t pop out until he turns 40, he’s probably known as someone whose smash hits are still hidden in his back pocket.

“How long can a rapper rap?” asks a short Billboard. “How long can a rapper rap and release related music? Will it be the right age to rap on stage and actually perform well? What are the limits of hip hop? It’s not written yet.”

Short turns 59 next week, and he openly discusses his age on his latest album, bends like Veeny Bisep after a good pump. “I thought you knew, I’m still rapin,” he spits out to the opener “still Mackin.” “I thought you knew, B-H, I’m still McKinn’/It’s the 2020s and I still repeat.”

Short spoke Billboard About his new album, about rap ageism, and how it felt like it was stepping into a film production chair A strange story.

“I won’t stop” is the first word The sir is also $hort vol. 1. You had an incredible career, but have you ever felt pressured to stop laps because of your age?

That ageism is biased towards both sides. Because older people think that younger people are not skilled enough to get into their game.

I compare my activities with BB King and seduction. People who are not in my genre continue to perform and satisfying audiences far beyond the elderly age. I haven’t measured this towards other rappers as the rappers haven’t gone there yet. When it’s all said and finished, I love the younger rapper saying, “Man, I want to stick like an E-40 or $hort.” motivation!

Ageism lies there, but at the same time I am in the battle to create stories. This is what I do and no one there dictates what it should or shouldn’t. It just understands that.

It’s been five years since your last album, a famous break for you. What inspired this break, and why did you feel like the right time to return to the studio?

I’ve made a lot of songs and a lot of the songs I make are really good – I haven’t released them. It’s like an industry. For example, do you become independent? Are you planning on dealing with your major? What about marketing and singles? That changed a lot from the way I was doing it – and as a result I got, I didn’t really feel like I had to prove anything.

How has your love for hip hop deepened over the years? Does Artform keep him close to 59 here?

Just draw a picture. I think there’s a pre-music video mindset approach to writing songs. When I say Pre-Video, I mean everything before MTV. There, you listen to a lot of songs before the video is made, but you can actually see the photos when you hear the song. You watch the movie, you watch the scene. Because they explain it to you in such a way that there’s no need for a movie. Lyrics and composition! I like to write visual songs and I’m part of that old security guard.

What do you think about social media and the use of tiktok now? For those who have been around since the beginning of rap, how do you feel about the current state of the genre?

I’m jealous of new artists! I’m jealous of the tools they have and the opportunities they have. What you can do now is definitely not available to me, and definitely not to me to sell the market, and even to make music. Like sports, you need to survive in your time. Whatever that is, you have to be at the top of the game of your era. Just maximize it. Where do you want to see it [hip-hop] Goin’ in a positive way. I know it never stays in one place, and I think hip hop is in a good hand – because it didn’t collapse as a business. Every year, many people get involved in the game and make a lot of money. Otherwise, I think that’s a problem.

What do you think about West Coast music, especially now?

When you have an artist that is constantly erupting, form G-Eazys to YGS and Kendricks and you’re proud of your area. Like OG, when our young people appear, we must support them, and we do it. The West Coast is a unit that rides each other. I think the wraps on the West Coast are in great condition. One of our companions survived something that no one else has survived. It’s an onslaught from Drake.

“Blow the Whistle” will turn 20 next year. Please tell us how you feel about that record now.

It’s like a parent with three, four or five children. You obviously love one of your children more than the other children. That’s that kid. You can’t even hide it either. I made that song when I was 40, I already had multiple platinum albums and gold albums, and it turned out [“Blow The Whistle”] It’ll be my signature song. You couldn’t find an artist who has engulfed a series of top-selling albums together in a row. No one did that. zero. Jillch. Not anyone. That’s too short!

What was the recording process like? Did you know that it would become a smash?

It’s not possible to choose a hit. I don’t know how to choose a hit, not yours or mine, or someone else’s. I feel that’s a jinx that makes a song a hit before leaving the studio. “Blow the Whistle” was created in 2005. Lil John produced it and he was really into clank rock at the time. “blow the Whistle” – At one point there was a rock guitar added to the song, and when it was mixed and mastered, it was mixed with the guitar. I had a conversation with John about not using a guitar and he said, “Nerman, it’s hot!” He assures me that the new way to use the guitar was the best way. So I went to the studio and muted all the guitars. It’s the version we all know and love.

Was Lil John upset?

At some point – after a while he came and said, “You won this.” We had disagreements in the studio before he was right. He had his opinion – and I don’t know if he felt any way for a while, but when it was successful, those feelings disappeared. I just want to add the next album The sir is also $hort vol. 2100% produced by Lil John.

How did you get into the production chair? A strange story?

It didn’t take long to say yes. I read the script before they filmed it. I knew about chapters that focused on me. They were asking me to “attach yourself to this project,” and I was saying, “attach me to this project!” It was mutual. At some point, they’re putting me as the narrator to the script. I don’t even know if that’s their plan. They gave me a cameo. It’s an Oakland film shot in Auckland, named after one of my songs. I’m on Cloud Nine now, Blue.

To add to that, you were also placed on the Rock the Bells Festival bill. How do you feel about that?

Ah, you told me, I didn’t know, s-t. I consider myself a part of the Rock the Bells family. The motivation for people all over is to truly protect the legacy of hip hop and not let you forget, and I am truly proud to be a part of it. I’ll receive my salary [radio show] I do, but I promise you won’t do that show for your salary. I’ll do that. Because I really signed up to be part of what LL Cool J is preaching there.

LL was very rog-ablous and very close as a young rapper, but as an old rapper OG rapper, he is ambassador hell. Open Heart and completely different L.

Next year marks the 15th anniversary of Wiz Khalifa’s “On My Level.”

It was another of those bridges. I am an OG rapper in ’05 and ’06. I’m just riding my waves. I’m doing what the game has given me and another bridge comes. For the new look it gave me, it turned out to be a song, I was opening my show with that song! It will involve the crowd. I love Wiz for that guy. He put me down gooooood song.

What are some tips you have for young artists who want a long life that is too short?

I think the loyalty of this game has a lot to do with longevity. Stick with people who are really your friends you started, who really know you, who love you, who say you aren’t Really ais s — t. I think a lot of our young artists are off by industry because it’s not instant enough and not Folger’s coffee. People who should be here will be here.

Everyone who had a long career, it wasn’t just a long term thing. Big f- Put dry spots in the middle where you have to understand it. A huge moment of doubt. The intersection comes, I don’t say much, but they come constantly and when you stand at that crossroads you have a choice. So you might make the wrong turn. so what? Find a way to get back on track.