99 problems is a pivotal moment in rap acceptability. a song to be used ironically in adverts and in lee mack sit coms. one that mums can do their comedy rapping to. one that millennial economists will reference in a tweet ("i've got 99 problems, but liquidity ain't one")
can't knock the hustle's like a mase a couple of years before that took hold. it's a move away from mid-90's east coast and shifting into that glamorous era. his outfit on the cover
This is where he sounds most indebted to Will Smith the Fresh Prince of Belair
then you've got the championing of kanye, which is rap's first retromanic moment. kanye's production of that era was the first time rap took a step backwards.
was he the only new york rapper to survive 50's ascent unscathed?
he was a great role model lots of guys my age. he took the language of hustling and all that and used it to talk about business acumen and all that. i know at least a few boys who completely bought into that, which probably kept them out of trouble ultimately.
Hidden wisdom secret knowledge goes from 5% nation today's mathematics to sensible investment opportunities
Listening to Westwood in this era was great cos there was loads of silliness like this