This video brings out the problems with hip hop music today

Not sure exactly how this "brings out the problems with hip hop music" or "corrupt labels". I generally like Lupe (his next single "Stardom" is way cooler and less self-congratulatory) but this track left me bored. Maybe I need it to be dumber for my stupid ass.

Claiming to be overly smart and accusing people who don't "get" you of being dumb is not the same as actually BEING smart. That and the video feels like a tossed off bit of nothing that doesn't bother to pay me the compliment of acting like it is even trying to be worthy of my time.

Really interesting. An absolutely unintelligible song about the dumbing of hip hop. If it werent for the cartoon interludes (token black guy, token white guy) - you'd have no idea what the hell was going on. Even the hook, "Dumb it Down" is so overly compressed that it sounds like a defective audio hiccup. I know Lupe thinks all of this is great, but why hide a simple message in such a cryptic song...? Especially when even hip hop heads agree with you.....

In fact, wouldn't it be more potent if you dumbed down your approach? What is more effective, a secret song complete with hidden message - or - a pop banger with clear anti pop sentiment?

The track almost becomes self defeatist.

hey lusk - check out ugly duckling's tune of the same name, on their 'bang for the buck' album. pretty much exactly what you're talking about! pop tune, anti-pop sentiment...

i dunno - i kind of admire the no-pop straight-rapping nature of the tune, it's just the video itself is boring as hell. is there some law telling you to cut from black studio to white studio and wowwwww it looks kind of cool and makes up for nothing else happening? do hip hop artists only look 'cool' in black and white?

the song is OK, he's at least trying, the video, whatever.

I also have a slight feeling of deja vu. Boring.

I know, but I was told by sources to give the credit solely to Lupe, as he co-directed as well