Little Brother EXPOSES Struggles Of Rappers In Their 40s 

I know a guy who cried when he turned 23 cuz He thought he was too old to rap. Hitting 30 with a 1 year old son - I’m about to bring it. I needed to hear this - thank you 🙏🏼

Im 40 years old, just lost my damn job cuz i didnt disclose that my congestive heart failure was why i been confused and didnt do so good anymore, but im still makin these beats! Im all in now, big dawg ! Never thought much about sharing my music til recently. I got 5 - 10 years to leave my mark! Im gonna Get it! Keep reppin for us OGs left by the wayside! Now damnit, MAAA ! WHERE"D I LEAVE THE DAMN SAUSAGE FATTENNER???!! MAAAAA!

I’m all about that grown man Rap I grew up a rap fan in the 90’s and the the grown man word play is on point rappers talking money investment and being fathers and family men is some solid shit 💪🏽

Yet there were older RnB soul artist back the 70’s in their 50’s still killing it!!

Look at Kool Keith at 60 years old! Still doing 2+ albums per year! This man a legend!

This is why Nas is killing it right now. He's telling stories that are relevant to where he is in life right now

I made my best album at age 33.. a year later, still going strong. I think its important to challenge myself to talk about different topics, use my voice in different ways, find different flows, try all types of beats.

Appreciate this. And all your content. I’m excited to create music as a 37 year old and eager to hear what the older rappers, especially female, have to say as they continue on in their careers. We get to experience rappers maturing into their 40’s and on for really the first time since hip-hop is so new in the history of music. Happy to witness and be a part.

I remember buying “Charity Starts at Home” at FYE back in 2011. I was 15 back then, and Phonte blew my mind with the topics he was speaking on in that album. Getting laid off from his job and being a creative in the American workforce, the struggle of men’s brains being hardwired to cheat when in a relationship, etc. showed me there’s so many ways to make a song. Being 28 now, I still revisit that album and it makes even more sense than it did back then.

Thanks for the reassurance. I appreciate your encouragement of harvesting our wisdom 🎙️🔮

I think 40+ year old rappers want mainstream success only problem is their peers who are listeners have possibly moved on or are stuck musically in the past. The thing then is to turn to younger generations are you really in the same space as them mentally, emotionally, physically, financially? Probably not.

Little Brother is hella underrated even here in NC. Shame

Fax I respect struggle rap, which is why I fell in love with J. Cole’s discography being able to look out the window and see exactly what he’s talking about but after a while, I want to see your view on the topics and peep the game like the whole album of KOD being every song is a way that people deal with pain that’s some dope shit 🔥🔥🔥

Thinking of yourself as a Writer is a perfectly sound approach for working on the craft but a Reach as a method for dealing with age. " A Writer not a Rapper" in that context still plays into the idea that Rap is the domain of youth only. It also has implications of what the subject matter the respective groups ought to cover. If people are hesitant to even say they are a Rapper once in middle age, they might just believe on some level they are past the "acceptable age". If the position is that Rappers don't need to hang it up at a certain age, than they should not have to do mental gymnastics to continue to create, let alone to state what they do.

Man, just look at some of the old school guys still doing it. KRS ONE and GZA are nearly 60 years old and still killin' it. They could still move a crowd, just as much as a 20 year old rapper.

I just realized while watching, J.Cole and Kendrick rap about LIFE. They're not even 40 yet and the fact that they write as men, telling what it's like to be themselves and not selling stories that no longer apply to them. It's very possible to make that shift, because they both were rapping about women, money, etc. at some point.

I ❤ everything about this vid! You're giving me a shot in the arm AND inspiration (too much to explain)!

The beat at the end is going CRAZY!

“Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” - Carl Jung

💣The problem is "rappers" are not "hip-hopers" anymore. When you're young, it's easy to turn into a "rapper" : girls, clubs, having fun, try to proove to yourself or everybody that you're the goat...the youth stuffs. But when you turn 40, the transition from "rapper" to "hip-hopper" needs to be made : you have enough knowledge to use the 3 others items of hip-hop ▪ Disc-jockeying ▪ Painting ▪ Dancing That's it. "Rappers" needs to understand that violence, strip clubs and youth stuffs are not relevant anymore at 40 : they need at this age to use the 4 items AT THE SAME TIME in a project; then it's not a "rap" project that only focused on ▪singing▪, but a "hip-hop" project that use the 4 items at once. 💣

People don't be scared. Sometimes you just lose interest. Things I once enjoyed doing in my twenties, I don't find interesting in my 40s.

I'd much rather listen to 40 and 50 year olds than teens and 20's, being one that yearns to Learn. Overall though I think a sense of Self and Purpose would have us with enough to say to last a lifetime. Being in tuned with Nature (All Living Things) helps too, can't get stuck, as the world turns...

I’m just saying Rakim & Big Daddy Kane are still releasing music, heartbreaking I wanna hear the stories from my elders like rap about the experience of the rise and successfully “retiring” from the limelight.

Another classic. Age ain’t nothing but a number.

Now i agree with your take this is why in my earlier years always titled my self as a entertainer and poet which gave me freedom/space to grow and make music as i like and branch into many different genres without kick back. The key is your own perception and how you started your body of work was it from a same water down material or was on level high intellect and history

This was a great convo

Being a writer is interesting, from many aspects. I was binge watching four white comedian RU-vidrs, and their writing skills had me cracking up and learning. So much to learn and do many ways to flex this language.

Being young Braggadocious and ambitious doesn’t necessarily make art better or interesting. Getting older, mature, and having priorities doesn’t necessarily make one’s art less compelling and satisfying.

Heavy Metal is about 53-55 yrs old!! And most of these metal artists still touring from 40 and up!! The biggest difference between metal artists & hip hop artists is the record companies used to shame the metal by calling them the aging Rock Star and Rap fans clowns artists for trying to rap past 30!!! 🤷🏽‍♂️ how could they seriously dream of a legacy past that?🤔

thanks for this bro

Hip-hop is art. I subscribe to what I like. Also, I'll be spitting till I die.

congrats on all the achievements too bro

Real talk my folk always told me don't let a man tell you when and how u create Samuel Jackson is a perfect analogy didn't make his 1st big screen movie till he was in his late 30s Colonel Sanders anutha gd 1. I love music so I'm not gone let anyone tell me when to stop Especially if I have a base who's looking for it.

I had this discussion with my ppl a few years ago. Homie says ‘what do I rap about, trips to Home Depot?’ Yes, why not? How old is too old to make art?

LMAO at the Andre bars a little boy named Timothy lolol

Life is what you make it, be it dope or corny at the end of the day the results are based on the quality of effort.

It's all about growth and maturity bro.. you can rap and be grown about it. Crazy part is that the young cats actually need to hear it! Yeah I love hearing older cats rap because if it's done right, it's relatable. They young guys artist and listeners can benefit from it as shows them how to move on different levels as they get older through being an artist or being a listener

Andre 3000 is great, now if he had start his career as a musician his career would've taken a different path, they might not be an outkast group, so now he turn up the music scene as a rapper he now wanted to explore his career as a musician which his creativity will open up more

episode was fire beat in the bg on conclusion was crazy too

Curtis this was amazing

Big Facts💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🏆🏆🏆🏆!!!!

Thats wild ive always viewed myself as a writer / story teller. Interesting video.

I am 48 and I still write and record. I started Rappin at 14 years old.

You inspire me Bro thanks for the relatable content

I didn't even bother watching the Andre interview referenced. He was totally open about this since back in the day, albums & otherwise. I felt completely prepared for Andre to be done over 20 years ago. I appreciate the work, but was never in the camp clamoring for new OutKast albums post "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". I would not question why someone would want to leave the music industry, regardless of potential or talent level. Its not for everyone. Coupled with his own ideas regarding Aging-Out, I'd say the Run was about right. It wasn't abnormally short either, but probably came across as premature due to the deliberateness of the exit. Obviously examples that contradicted his view on Hip Hop and age were already present long before he stepped back - and frankly were there in the "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" days. Ultimately if he feels ridiculous Rapping for whatever reason (s), I think it's a good thing it wasn't forced or half-assed. Just seems like people cannot reconcile an Artist operating at that level - also viewed as Avant-Garde by many- having such a rigid limitation regarding the artform.

Shout out to Mecca! He’s wearing my homie Substantial’s merch for his album, ADULTISH!

I remember when I turned 25 coming home from prison I thought I was too old to make it as a rapper and people would tell me I could make it but it was the era of bubble gum rap Soulja Boy and them shake your laffy taffy dudes it was one of the worst periods in rap

Rock stars don't stop until they die why this happens only on Hip Hop!

Best interview MEO has had in a min🔥

In hiphop there's too much ego and cloud. Just make good music, that's all that matters!

At 44 you should be setting the bar. Instead of trying to find your way in, make the way for those coming up the alley. Otherwise you just made yourself a box on top of the box you were already in

Dre can do what he always did which is write about what everyone else writes about except in his own way. I love comparing his verse in the Int’l Players Anthem to everyone else’s verse. That man is in his own lane!

Hip Hop is the only genre where we age people out. it is simply insane and untrue that 40+ have nothing to say. We got the damn experience! Do what makes YOU happy!!

Salute Curtis as usual! I gotta ask tho bro are you a Little Brother supporter? Reason I ask Is because at 8:30 > The reason why Pooh says he keeps taking shots is because Andre 3000 & Phonte (2 of the greatest living imo) Take time while him & Big Boi keep shootin' for the group, not for creativity reasons If you get me fam

Rap is a young man's game it's dope that alot of Artists from the '80s and '90s are still around but they had success in their teens and twenties before they got to their 40s & 50s

If everybody keeps hearing they're too old, you'll see more flute albums popping up 😂

ninjas better pick up a flute or be creative lol

keep at it homie! Great vid

This was a great take on the subject, but I don't count my age by years bc that's a spell. I count my years by summers and that how you remember how young you are.

for Andre its also okay if he just isnt interested and maybe were overfocused on the age comment. but who knows, he did just drop the killer mike feature

I think Dre really just don’t want to be famous. He doesn’t want the life , lights , cameras and attention that come with being Andre 3000. Then like the pressure that prolly come with not making music that change the world, then having to follow that up. I think people should be more compassionate for my boy!

I'm growing as an engineer and vocalist a lil. Also, beat making and production.

I’m a creative why would I listen to non-creatives . God knows wat he doing

Another video in this nostalgia we all getting old theme going aruond the last few months. I think this "aging" thing is something more pronounced because there were only so many pioneers early on in a genre and so many followers who fill that niche as genre or culture of music. You know the 80s and 90s were really defniinitive in pushing rap / hip hop into the mainstream and giving a seirous definition to the concept of rapper. The same is true with other post pop rock genres such as electronic that started gaining traction as actual electronic instruments became normalized. Now I am browsing websites from 20 years ago and the error 404 pages are getting more and more common, I think its like that with OGs too more and more of them are just being lost to time. There is always something that is left but the very fabric that defined those times is fading and being replaced with new generations and new sources. These guys coming from the big first massive rap wave of the early 1990s. These are imo 2nd or 3rd generation rappers (maybe 4th). Competition will keep getting born to fill that niche unless the genre is in growth competition for airtime would just keep going up as more people enter that space. Its market saturation. This topic just explodes though there is so much more to it. I think a lot of rapping or storytelling is still going to be the audience you are communicating to. Like all this is probably just a bunch of words to people even if it is just providing an alternative experience and stream of ideas for people. Its a subculture, you know I am not a poser in talking about this but I am definately not representative of peoples experiences who tend to listen to rap. There is agisim in all music though if the primary consumers are 20 year olds not going to say that rites of passage and society itself builds broods for people at different life stages but really as humans we do have different life stages. I am forever young in spirit but the actual young folks may see an old creepy guy with a beard --- its just the idea of how people see you based upon what their worldview tells them you are - and the cognative dissonance that creates affective filters for interacting with you, your music etc.. rap is often playing with ideas though. I think with rap though of all types of music there tends to be more effort on the poetics of the words and ideas rather than purely identity politics but with any performing artists that is going to be largely driven by the brand created around the artist. Performance art isn't simply about the art but the way the art is presented. I think maybe this is in part of the art of presentation is that you are telling a story and to be a convicning story teller its not only saying the words but also displaying them within a cointainer of the story teller. Anyway long post. PEEEEEACE! YO Big wheels keep on turning. :)

Black thought never stop his craft and he’s at 50 what’s his secrete be with the family then be in the office read tons of books and write something incredible as an MC

Regardless you should be thinking yourself as writer Writer: Rapper,screenwriter,songwriter,lyricist Music falls under the category of Art You are an artist... At any stage of life is interesting to hear another side and share wisdom... A 23 year old can chill with a 50 year old without age being a problem it's still soul connection... I hate the word old or young... cause you are limiting yourself to greatness. It's not reality. Reality is that we are being lied too...Everyday, on who is able to do what... Adapt, educate, work hard, and innovate ;D

I am 46 and I can rap my butt off. Period!

im 46 im hiphop for life no age just a stage

Yes! As we all have been saying. If anyone could rap about colonoscopies and make it dope af it would be andre.

I can't relate because I'm constantly coming up with subjects we are still dealing with systemic issues especially as black men. There's tons of things to rap. I never had writers block. That's why I love Kool Keith so much he continues to come up with so many different levels of rhymes. Kool Keith know it's about rapping. Kool Keith came in the industry as a rapper so he's going to rap. Kool Keith is not doing a podcast, he's not cooking he just keep putting out interesting raps. Somebody should interview The Dayton Family. They always rapping about different issues. Tommy Wright the III rap about different issues.

It's always so funny to me because it's only like that a hip hop and other genres like country rock and roll in those spaces you can be 70 80 years old and people don't care they just care that your music progresses or even if you still doing the same type of music they still pull up for you it's only in hip hop that they try to push this agism I say ignore it and do what you feel

Great video here 🔥🔥🔥

LB GOATED

I’m a dancer who happens to rap & sing, so at 38 imagine how I feel lol

What’s that track at the end of this video, Curtiss?!

Rap is constantly evolving but now we're in uncharted territory. What will the game look like once agism is no longer prevalent in Hip Hop culture? I look forward to seeing a commercially acceptable 80 year old rapper and what that might sound like. What will Snoop Dogg be like at 70? These are things we should all anticipate and embrace.

I believe it’s all about range some artist just don’t have range or the ability to evolve beyond than what they do. If you have good content and can write about your present struggles and can find an audience age shouldn’t matter I think it’s an excuse because people are afraid of the streaming era

Thats who we want to hear the 40 yr olds

I DONT USUALYY COMMENT BUT I FEEL U ON ANDREE X3000

Like Floyd Mayweather, do i really wanna scrap conner McGregor 😂

💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Its a cop out..Jay electronica is one if the nicest Ive heard..Nas has no problem finding things to rap about..fab..styles p e40 etc etc

they are Incorrect , Future is 40 , ad the world loves him .. Future was 31 in 2011.. 2CHAINZ is 50 an we love him ... Snoop is 60 and the world loves him .. there is such thing as a "Rapper Age" when you make timeless Music ! Snoop ,Wayne , Future, jay z are still 25 in RAPPER YEARS >> them Google ages be off

Yeah, never really got this whole thing. It's as if people expect 40 year olds to be acting / talking like the 20 year olds 😂 Of course not, just be YOU - talk about things from your position in your life and experiences. As long as the music and patterns / melodies / phrases are there, it's all good.

I think 444 is Jays best work

I did not know know curtiss had a RU-vid! Great producer. But little brother without 9th is…well..they should be a different project. And I like kHrysis and all.

You just need to mature in your artistic worldview and output as you age. "My age advances, but so does my game."

It is so funny to listen to people tell you what to do based off of their opinion that they deem fact. Like they are God and make all the rules. When human beings had overcame others expectations throughout the course of history. This is a reminder why I don't listen to podcasts like this.

💯💯💯

bro you gotta think from a different perspective if you can understand analogy you gotta understand 3 stacks not tryna glow up in a system using the same syntax fuckin us up. not saying he aint doin features jus a different kinda jazz. not that i know him like kendrick or nun i liked da flute album doe ngl

Ageism In hiphop is super nonsensical. Hip hop is a lifestyle its about using your voice n with age that voice should be more powerful as perspectives change and you gain wisdom. The entertainment business is obsessed with age that’s the problem you gotta separate the two

Hopefully when you are older you are more logical. Also tell the truth.

The powers that be want people to believe hip hop is a young man's game. Only because they can be manipulated and taken advantage of. They don't want grown man rap to permeate the mainstream. “They” know the power of music. Vibrations. Hip hop is still a young genre. So this is new territory for hip hop (having “old heads”). And the bosses know it's power and have set the rules. And people play right into it. We have 4:44. But I feel like that was pushed only because it's Jay-Z. And I mean that in a negative way. I think Jay is more of a puppet. He was allowed to drop that album because it made his brand look a certain way. It was more about him (capitalizing off the cheating scandal and Beyonce’s Lemonade) and his businesses. Meanwhile, there are all kinds of shenanigans that leak about Jay. Like his private jet frequenting places where there are drug cartels. I think Jay is good for “business” and he's allowed to get away with things. For now. But there can't be too many albums like that. Let these record execs start pushing grown man hip hop. I guarantee we would see a shift in the black community. It won't fix all our problems, but it would be a big help.

40 yearolds can drop better jewels than 20 year olds these guys outta shape too why would anyone really take advice

It’s only with hip hop where there try to put a age stigma on it they been divided us from the beginning think about it there is no west coast pop it just pop music but with us it’s west east south north when the fact it’s all just hip hop rolling stone been on tour in they like 70-75 years old just go for yours that’s all I got to say

Actually your prime can be your best if rap long enough in 40s u should have a catelog of shit to talk about u can still og rap or give game to these struggling rappers who is destroying game as we speak today at 40 should be knowledge see j Cole would be example down the line

I feel people should let Andre do his own thing stop trying force him to do something he doesn’t want to do I’m just glad he still doing music. I rather him put out a flute album than put out an album of him rapping and his heart not into it.

i think lauren hill is a worse case 3stacks.

Writing is easy for anyone but do your songs relate to people and real Life

yeah, no. 44 year old wanna-be rappers look silly af