The death of swagger

Today we come together to honor the essence of greatness. For many years it marked a certain level of self confidence and coolness. It didn't matter if a man wore a suit or jeans, if his hat was tilted to the front or side. We come together ladies and gentlemen to commemorate the life and glorious times of SWAGGER.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary Swagger has been around since 1596. The general definition is to "walk with an air of overbearing self confidence."1  Even the urban dictionary knows the definition ,"Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool. 2 Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automatically earn respect". Basically when a man or woman has a complete confidence in who they are it shows in the way they carry themselves. Now this can be best described as a chin up stride that makes you look like you know everything that's going on and exactly where you are headed. The opposite of swagger is someone with their head down, shoulder hunched, clothing out of place, and an air of false/lack of confidence...I basically described 3/4 of the rappers on top right now. NOT Every rapper though. I'm not picking on them but they are the reason we are here today to mourn the death of the true meaning of swagger.

In 2008 we elected President Barack Obama. Now Barack, he had true swagger. He is a man with the walk, the talk, the brain and the woman that makes people pay attention when he walks into a room. The only problem is that he's black (well kinda). Now African Americans were/are extremely proud of him for being the first black president, and came out in full support. The problem is that when describing him everyone new and therefore noted his overwhelming amount of pure swagger and the rap community noticed. Now when teaching a child to read its best to associated a word with a visual. In this case the word swagger was openly, and apparently overly, used with the visual of a black man and suddenly every black man thought it was okay to associate themselves with the word swagger. Not cool. Swag surfing, putting your swag on and so many more instances have lessened the true meaning of swagger making it something common. Urban dictionary best description of this is a Swag Rap 3 A popular style of rap characterized by its emphasis on swag, rather than lyrical creativity. It can usually be identified by its lack of talent and inspiration, awkward pauses during the verses, and excessive bragging. Every rapper has been guilty of this a few times but some have evolved past it. Jay Z, Kanye (depends), ....I can't think of any more, which is sad. The point is that they killed it. At least for me. I said they made it common, like when rappers started buying fur coats and diamonds making them nothing special and sometimes embarrassing.

Status symbols that were once reserved for the highest class to portray themselves as animal skinners and blood diamond purchasers, were now open and available for the hip hop community to do the same. Somethings can be made common and the special feeling that was once there ripped away and no one misses it. I mean really killing an animal just for the fur is grotesque and diamonds have much greater purposes and uses then to waste money on, so to me it's great that both became a joke as status symbols. But SWAGGER wasn't for the rich, the high class or the poor it was for the deserving. Stripping that word of its magic is a crime really. It was a great way to sum up a person in two syllables.

So here is to swagger. The word is dead but the essence still exist and is altogether distinguishable from any and all perpetrators. You can't fake or claim swagger. Swagger is earned, manifested, and a part of those who truly possess it.

R.I.P.

Swagger

One day you will mean

something special again...

one day.

1596-2011



NO, just NO.





"Art"......

What is art? That's a good question and a great place to start. Art is an outflow of a pent up energy really. Just think of it as rain. It builds and builds in the clouds and then pours out in a shower or a flood. But go further to the house it drenches and goes into the gutters of. Gutters filter and control the rain. In the end some gutters are pointed into gardens to help sheltered plants grow and some is diverted to the street where it goes directly down the drain sweeping up other unwanted things on the way. So art is a pouring out of energy the creative goes into the world and helps it grow while the crap goes down the drain...or at least it should.

Unfortunately sometimes the gutters get clogged or even detach and the water meant for the drain goes wherever it wants. And sometimes the rain is just acid to begin with and makes its way into the garden. The plants will survive but they wont blossom as they should.

Long metaphor right? Well the point, if you haven't gotten it yet, is that some art is good and some art is bad. Sometimes people think the bad art is good and vice versa. Other times the bad is so bad its good, think Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Also I've found that sometimes the bad art just desensitizes you due to prolonged exposure and doesn't seem so bad after while; but of course if you build a tolerance up to poison that doesn't make it not poison.

I'm using simple terms like "good art" and "bad art" because sometimes artist really are feeling themselves too much and try to make it more than it is. :-/

So whats the other point? That an artist has a choice. Art isn't something that must be shared, that's a human thing to show and tell art is kind of outside of that. Art is the sketch book, or the notepad, or the beat in your head, you can keep it to yourself if you really choose. So when it's put out for the public, an artist wants something from the art and are then held accountable for it. If the artist should have stayed in bed then I plan on saying so, if show and tell turned into something brilliant, i will give a standing ovation. I've got a life so i wont hit it all but I'll say what's real and if you ave something to say back, think of this blog as my art and I'm putting it in public and can take the heat.

Quote:
Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass.

Fran Lebowitz

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