Rapstrology | Rapstrology | Nas, Joe Budden and how to set the bar high like a true Virgo

Much like the name suggests, 'Rapstrology' celebrates the beautiful (and curiously slept-on) intersection between hip-hop and astrology. Whether exploring the Zodiac is a guilty pleasure hobby, something to roll one's eyes at, or a swear-by daily guide to WTF is going on, this column aims to explore the roadmap that is astrology, through the context of hip-hop, lyrics and current events.

Before sitting down to write this, it was only right that I cleaned my entire apartment. In the spirit of Virgo season, I had to make sure that I had everything I needed and all else was in its proper place before I could even begin. My laptop battery had to be on 100 percent, and my workspace had to be organized with a freshly opened seltzer remaining in arm's reach at all times and a subtle, but not distracting, news program playing in the background.

When it comes to perfection, especially in the workplace, Virgos thrive. With self-improvement at the forefront, each of the elements mentioned above is representative of someone who's hardworking. Virgos are critical thinkers and will try not to let you down. In other words, world, meet Virgo. Virgo already knows everything about you, world.

This earth sign, falling between Aug. 23 and Sept. 22, is well-represented by the allure of back-to-school shopping. During this time, you may find that summer nostalgia kicks in and many are eager to start the next chapter in life. One can be keen to try new things like journaling, buying new sneakers, doing new challenges. Dedicated to maintaining high standards and trying to make the world a better place, Virgos prides themselves on being the best they can be. While they can be a perfectionist to a fault, and occasionally neurotic by nature, Virgos are a sign of genuine intention.

As someone who frequently appears on fans' top five list, Nas is a quintessential Virgo who has secured his place in rap history through his top-tier lyricism, respect for the craft and a commitment to showmanship. While his legacy-building hasn't been a perfect road, he has shown vulnerability and honesty, as he shares his perspectives and life experiences through his music.

When accused of physical and mental abuse by his ex-wife, Kelis, Nas took months to respond to the statements. Thus, drawing more criticism due to the climate of the #MeToo movement. One can only assume the silence was due to his Virgo mind going over every detail and processing the situation, as well as his emotions, among other things. While setting aside this particular conversation for another day, Nas, like Virgos in general, must be open to learning the practice of surrendering and how to foster healthy relationships. Virgos often struggle with accepting flaws, whether their own or others.

Virgo, similar to Gemini, is ruled by Mercury, which is the God of communication. As such, intellectuals, creatives, and forward-thinkers should often be born under this sign. Virgos like to create a safe space, often finding sanctuary in their own homes, and build their identity around being loyal, analytical, practical, kind, and caring. Virgos such as Joe Budden, Lil Yachty, Wiz Khalifa, Playboi Carti, Famous Dex, 2 Chainz, YBN Cordae, Skepta and Wale, among others, each have worked extremely hard to stand out from the crowd and have developed strong personas along the way.

Now that we have covered some of the necessary groundwork surrounding all things Virgo, let's take a look at some lyrical takeaways to keep in mind, and when the mood strikes, on repeat.

"Virgo" - Nas featuring Ludacris and Doug E. Fresh

Lyrical Mantra: "Baby girl, won't you come and hold my hand? / Won't you come and chill out with the Virgo? / Hey girl, just come and hold my hand / Won't you come and just chill with the Virgo?"

Virgo'ism: While some say this song is about a girl that Nas had a crush on, there are some conflicting ideologies in it. While Virgos do like to wine and dine their partners, it's more about seeing if they can build a life together than casual flings. The next line, "We sippin' on Merlot, you ain't got be my girl, though," shows Nas is trying to keep it fresh. But, it also shows that his ego gets the best of him. He's also famously stated that Doug E. Fresh is the best Virgo rapper, which shows how he likes to pay respect where respect is due.

Joe Budden's Funkmaster Flex Freestyle

Lyrical Mantra: "Got the vision of a Virgo, nah, it's more to know / I got the vision of a Virgo, nah, it's more to Joe / See nightmares when you look into my eyes, that's just my horror-scope / And who you looking to try?"

Virgo'ism: Joe Budden proudly claims #VirgoSeason. After all, he checks many of the boxes such as being stubborn, insightful, passionate, analytical, resourceful, and someone who enjoys playing devil's advocate. There are many layers to the man that is Joe Budden, and that is something he is immensely proud of. Just listen to one episode of "State of the Culture" and see how quickly the Virgo jumps out.

Song: "4AM" - 2Chainz featuring Travis Scott

Lyrical Mantra: "4 AM, I'm just gettin' started / For my birthday I threw me a surprise party / Reminiscin' 'bout the trap, playin' the first Carter / My life changed when I had my first daughter."

Virgo'ism: 2 Chainz is a man of taste. From his TV show celebrating the more beautiful things in life to him discussing how fatherhood has made him a better man, 2 Chainz is as down-to-earth as he can flex on wax. The rapper is all about upgrading his life and situation, and elevating his mindset along the way. So, of course, no one is better suited to know how to celebrate his birthday than he is.

Song: "Dirty Mouth" - Lil Yachty

Lyrical Mantra: "I don't really care about my enemies / My new crib came with amenities / You gotta pay for my energy / You gotta pay for my ohh, ehh."

Virgo'ism: Lil Yachty once stated that he felt misunderstood about where he was coming from, which is the plight of many Virgos. Perhaps to compensate, or to showcase another layer of his personality, Lil Yachty turns to his alter-ego, Lil Boat, which he describes as a "ruthless dude." However, he needs to approach getting his self-expression game on, and he's going to do whatever is necessary to get there. It's just the Virgo in him.

"Betrayed" - Lil Xan

Lyrical Mantra: "How you make it up? How you fake a love? / Holy son, I was the chosen one / I'm sippin' out the grail, she don't kiss and tell / She keep my wishes well, I don't need her, well / Oh, yeah, how my enemy a friend of me? / Why y'all feed off my energy? / Like I ain't dead yet, higher entity."

Virgo'ism: Lil Xan is a sensitive guy. He's had his fair share of negative and positive press, and at the end of the day, finds ways to relate with his fans who are also really going through it. It is what he has built his brand on, and as long as he can learn how to not be so hard on himself, it's safe to say the potential in his talent will remain ever-present. Lots of people are rooting for him. So, if he works on being mindful of his energy, he'll rise above his challenges.

Each One, Teach One | What Idris Elba, music’s former best-kept secret, teaches us about being a jack of all trades

As KRS-One articulated throughout his catalog and in his many teachings, "Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live." As the culture continues to evolve today, many feel it's not only important, but vital to preserve and honor the fundamental elements: Graffiti, emceeing, breakdancing, deejaying and knowledge. This column called "Each One, Teach One" aims to do exactly that. It will highlight various lessons that can be passed between new and old generations alike.

The conversation surrounding the ethos of being a "jack of all trades and a master of none" strikes all sorts of compelling arguments, especially in the context of a 2019 viral moment that served as the launchpad for ones entire career. In the world in which we live in, talent can easily fall to the wayside if a person finds a way to captivate an audience doing the one thing they are notably good at. However, the paradox lurking around the corner lies in the attention span of the given audience. So, what happens when the jig is up and the spotlight is still on you? Arguably, the saving grace in this situation is to have multiple interests and an adaptive talent. The second-half of the idiom that comes into play is the tall tale that, "A jack of all trades is a master of none. But, oftentimes better than a master of one."

For Idris Elba, he's mastered the art of the brilliant compromise when it comes to making self-expression the means to how he earns his living. That compromise is balance. Many would argue that it's not necessarily a compromise, though. Instead, it's rather a mixture of passion and strategy. Regardless, Elba wears a variety of hats. In fact, many are surprised to learn that the man they know from roles in "The Wire" and "Luther" or films like Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, American Gangster, and The Avengers franchise also knows his way around a DJ booth. Elba's career is mercurial, vibrant and hard-earned. And much like any person living out their dreams, there are plenty of gems to learn through his leading example.

Fresh of off making his directorial debut in 2018 with YARDIE, Elba has also launched his own record label, 7Wallace Music, and his own DJ-inspired fashion line called "2HR SET." In addition, the actor has landed one of the most monumental gigs of all time: DJing the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In retrospect, Elba has gone from DJing his parents parties at a young age to helping his uncle spin at weddings. So, the actor finding himself DJing such a historic event was an accomplishment that came full circle. Curiously enough, this engagement is not a singular win for Elba. Instead, it merely served as an occasion to celebrate the culmination of hard work he's put in over the years.

Now 46, Elba; who DJs under the moniker "DJ Big Driis," has checked plenty of things off of his bucket list during his navigation of both the music landscape and the world of TV/movies over the years. What remains one of his most admirable traits is his ability to not lose sight of his genuine excitement nor abandon his modest nature. Elba radiates the kind of happiness that is contagious, making it no wonder that he thrives in collaborations with other creatives.

As someone who has spent over half of his life dedicated to pursuing his passionfor music, one can only imagine how he felt seeing his Netflix series, "Turn Up Charlie." The show served as an introduction to those who didn't realize that he had an interest in music and has maintained one of the busiest people in the industry. The series, which debuted earlier this year, stars Elba as a struggling DJ and bachelor who ends up finding reluctant work as a nanny for his famous best friend's daughter. While it's not difficult to see how bits and pieces of the premise are drawn from the actors real-life experiences, off-screen is a different story and a very inspirational one. To give you quick overview, Elba who's recently married, had the opportunity to DJ at Coachella this April, and was featured on Wiley's track titled "Boasty." Not too shabby for someone who too many people had no idea was even interested in music.

While Elba doesn't put his victories in front of his handshake in music or entertainment, his self-awareness and unshakeable confidence are two qualities among many that we can all learn from. When he opened up for Madonna in 2015, playing for a crowd of roughly 17,000 people; the actor and DJ celebrated the moment by referring to it as a "regular Tuesday night." He then went on to humbly explain how the opportunity arose, saying, "I am a DJ for hire and she wanted a great one." Now, if only we can bottle up that energy and preserve it behind glass in case of emergencies.

Elba took a leap of faith and ending up providing a monologue on the intro of JAY-Z's tenth studio album, American Gangster. In addition, he has also created a character soundtrack of albums inspired by roles that he's portrayed for BBC Radio2 to celebrate African music. His authenticity as someone who loves creativity and the arts shines through. For example, Elba has even starred in and co-directed music videos. He's collaborated with artists such as James Blake, Skepta, Ryan Leslie, Macklemore and Nigerian rapper Phyno, and more. He produced K. Michelle's "The Rebellious Soul Musical," which debuted in 2014. He's recorded Christmas songs for fun and has even dressed up as Santa Claus to deliver presents to children at a hospital in London. He's served as one of the creative directors' for Stella Artois and starred in one of their commercials that featured one of his unreleased songs. All in all, Elba's career is a smorgasbord of fun-fact achievements and all of them are spectacular.

While his list of accomplishments is a storied one that continues to grow, his joie de vivre doesn't waver. On top of bringing a refreshing air into every project, Elba also knows the importance of paying homage to those who helped shape him and soundtrack his experiences. Whether it's through his carefully selected music selection or in naming his label after the Notorious B.I.G., Elba shows gratitude to the people, places and moments that mean the most to him. The intentions behind his art are best viewed in a kaleidoscopic manner, making him an impassioned enthusiast of his craft. His brand is strong and an easy one to cheer on.

Of the many takeaways that the multifaceted career of Idris Elba's can teach us, the value of being a jack of all trades is one of them. The ability to do so skyrockets ones life when they thoroughly enjoy what they do and cares about who they inspire.

Published here via REVOLT TV.

Each One, Teach One | How Drake continually masters the art of nostalgia marketing

As KRS-One articulated throughout his catalog and in his many teachings, "Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live." As the culture continues to evolve today, many feel it's not only important, but vital to preserve and honor the fundamental elements: Graffiti, emceeing, breakdancing, deejaying and knowledge. This column called "Each One, Teach One" aims to do exactly that. It will highlight various lessons that can be passed between new and old generations alike.

The concept that the music a person listens to during their teenage years will resonate for the duration of their life is not necessarily a new idea. It's simple enough, and isn't necessarily exclusive to music, either. Regardless, countless studies over the years have focused on such a phenomenon, with one conducted by the New York Times pulling from Spotify streaming data to note how gender and age play a role in shaping a person's listening tendencies as they eventually grow into adulthood.

The 2018 analysis found that childhood influences have a stronger impact on women than they do for men, as one's musical preferences setting in -- or "peaking" -- at age 13 for women and age 14 for men. The study focused on an identifiable pattern that showcased how the age of a fan, when a certain song came out, played an impactful role in ultimately shaping that person's taste in music. In other words, music that is popular during one's teenage years often becomes a lifelong love affair, as the majority of people gravitate toward music that soundtrack their high school years or earlier.

When shaping a rudimentary case study around Drake, in particular, it is important to note several pertinent factors that have helped mold his legacy outside of his talent and the divine timing of his ascent; including the average age of his core fanbase, his mastery during the rise of the streaming era and his seemingly effortless adaptability to social media. His career's dominance for over a decade has yielded him countless accolades such as breaking streaming records, garnering over 500 awards show nominations, amassing a net worth of $150 million, and more. However, one measurement of Drake's success is his ability to keep his fans engaged and at the center of every move he makes.

Drake's exceptional adeptness at resonating with his audience means that he doesn't necessarily need to reinvent himself to stay relevant or make an impact. New York Times pop critic Jon Caramanica stated, "One of Drake's real gifts is that he doesn't go away." The way he transitioned from "Degrassi" to uploading tracks online is something that his fans will always remember. Listening to an old Drake song takes the listener back to the place in their life when they heard it for the first time, and given the Toronto artists impressively consistent run, he's soundtracked an innumerable amount of coming-of-age moments and milestones.

Drake's core demographic is comprised of millennials and as an archetypal millennial himself, he was able to strategically and organically align with his fans as a voice for his generation. This hasn't wavered as he's grown up alongside his supporters, either.

From being inherently in tune with youth culture to understanding trends, and more importantly how to harness their power, Drake has gone on to find success through exploring (and even exhausting at times) an interpersonal narrative. Regardless of which genre influence or direction he's taking a song in, the inclusion of on-brand vulnerability has long become a staple of his music. His ability to wholeheartedly embrace his emotionally driven persona is his most powerful attribute, poising him as both malleable and unbreakable. He never lets on too much and because of this, the confessional nature of his lyricism is as relatable as it is surface-level.

As exemplified by the recent release of his Care Package compilation, Drake blessing his fans with the gift of nostalgia is a move from his tried-and-true career playbook that will never fail. Recognizing the value of his content, he celebrated his day-ones—a nod that many of his fans can identify with— by stating "[the project is] some of our most important moments together available in one place." It is as much a safe move to get everyone talking about how they miss the rap blog era as it is savvy promotional material both for the return of his OVO music festival, and to ignite whispers of what Drake being in "album mode" again could mean.

It's not the first time Drake has tapped into the art of nostalgia marketing, nor will it be the last. Earlier this year, he gifted another throwback to his fans by way of putting his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone on streaming services for the first time.

Drake withstands criticism by being a low-key, yet an omnipresent, mastermind who knows how to repurpose his content and play to strengths that he has identified with. This reiterates the fact that he doesn't really go away, even when the brightness of the spotlight may come in waves. We'd all like to see a new era of Drake, sure, but settling for the Drake we know and love is cool, too. Longevity in the rap game is something that isn't promised. But, by pulling on his fans' heartstrings through nostalgia, Drake doesn't seem all too worried about where he stands in the industry. When he's in a creative lull, his marketing prowess prevails. When his knives are sharpened, his momentum to be a legacy artist only furthers his mission. Moreover, his fans will stay engaged every step of the way.

Nostalgia marketing is as effective as it can be inescapable. When it works, it works. Nostalgia, for example, helps us come together and shape conversations around sentimentalism and authenticity, allowing us to skip down memory lane, and Drake provides the soundtrack to that. After all, sweet nostalgia can be hard to resist when you can relate.

As published here on Revolt TV.