Dear Waka Flocka Flame

Keeping it Real, like a very famous comedian once said (if you need the name, off yourself), is the most used phrase in the world. Everyone likes to keep it real. The question, however, is whether everyone can keep it real. Most people say they keep it real, but then when faced with the opportunity to do such, either keep it extra fake or, worse, keep it too real. Therein lies the problem: How real is too real? Does realism stop because of a less-than-honorable cause, or should we keep it real regardless?

via AllHipHop.com:

Waka Flocka Flame is currently in the recording studio working on completing his goal of releasing twenty street albums by 2011. Three releases are currently on deck, including Salute Me or Shoot Me Volumes 2 and 3 and the studio album Murda Man Flocka. Waka, who is a member of 1017 Brick Squad, will travel to New York this week to make an appearance on BET’s 106 & Park countdown show.

Enter Waka Flocka Flame (FLOCKA!!!!). You are one of my new favorite rappers, simply because you keeps it real. Waka, you don't try to fool hip-hop. Unlike 95% of the industry, who hide behind a guise of lyricism and try to dupe the masses into believing their raps are superior, you keep it 100. Your lyrics are non-existent, and you have absolutely no problem with that, and now, I have no problem with that. Waka, I can respect your hustle (this is when 'hustle' should be used) because besides making money and getting shot over a chain, you don't bother anyone. You stay in your lane of making ignorant catchy tunes and doing shows and are making BANK off of that. In fact, by saying that the lyrical cats in hip-hop aren't making money, you may have made one of the best points I've ever heard! Infectious singles make stars (for the most part), not punchlines and metaphors. I'm not going to sit here and say that I condone that (I wouldn't be keeping it real), but it's a valid assertion, Waka.

For what it's worth, your music is catchy in that 'I'm at a club with a drink in hand and nonsense on my mind' way. At the same time, it's never going to make me press rewind or be on my shortlist of best lyrical songs. As long as you're okay with that, I'm okay with that. Like you said, you have no wife, no kids, a brand new house, cars and are doing shows for over $15,000 each. And that all came from an admitted non-lyrical track that shot up the charts. AND you have another 20 albums on the way?? Waka, that is trill, to say the least. If more people kept it as real as you did, there would be no reason for the rap vs. hip-hop debate. The lanes would be clear, and everyone would have their slice of the pie...