Here’s something I’ve been pondering…
What’s going to happen to rappers when they grow old? Let’s look at some startling facts.
1. Jay-Z turned 40.
2. Dre is clocking in somewhere in the mid-40's.
Rapping, the essence of it, the very charm of it, is in the youth and energy. The act of rebelling against the old. Like Rock and Roll, it builds its fan-base by revolutionizing, shocking, and making music people can dance to. The difference is that old Rock and Roller’s have a tried and true career long into their grey years. The good ones, after all, are still virtuosos on their instruments. BB King’s guitar still shreds, Carlos Santana still bends notes like silly putty and Bono and the Edge still get down. The fact of the matter is, that no matter if they stoop, no matter if they lose their hair, what they do will still sound good.
I wonder if it’s going to be the same for Jay. Is he still going to be credible dropping those club hits featuring the next young singer 10, 20, 30 years his junior? Will the kids still jam to the Hova when he can’t open a jar of jam on his own?
Should rap stars be looking more closely at their retirement plans or will a comeback tour for Jay at the age of 60 be able to pay the bills?
Just a thought.
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