The term "conscious rapper" is a vague, umbrella term for rappers who don't glorify packing guns, selling drugs, or degrading women. Instead, a conscious rapper is supposed to rap about social issues, positivity, and empowerment. Problem is, conscious-rap fans often insist on putting so-called "conscious rappers" on a pedestal, and it doesn't help that many of those same rappers occasionally project an image of superiority and impeccable integrity.
That's why people always seem shocked when a conscious rapper does some flagrant shit like when Jay Electronica recently talked on stage about a $20,000-dollar bet he had made with Nas about whether or not women like to be choked during sex. But here at Complex, we recognize that all rappers are human beings who are, well, complex. They have flaws, shortcomings, and are sometimes hypocrites.
We thought the best way to illustrate this would be to put together The Conscious Rapper's Hierarchy of Needs. Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, our pyramid (below) showcases the disparity between the ideals that we hold "conscious rappers" to...and the actual reality.
thegallantlife December 20th, 2010 at 04:29 PM
hahaha this is wild
seriously December 20th, 2010 at 05:14 PM
get a life complex, at least they are trying
FTW December 20th, 2010 at 05:43 PM
Why do people think just because we speak peace, we can't throw no joints... (c)
padsujad December 21st, 2010 at 02:05 PM
I-i-i dont know!
Tone December 21st, 2010 at 06:51 PM
Nice!
jokes December 20th, 2010 at 07:04 PM
i never write comments on sites, but jesus, this blog is so wack. my reaction to this article, like pretty much everything else on this site is "so what?" everything is stretched and blown out of proportion. the content on this blog is embarrassing
-keka- December 20th, 2010 at 08:51 PM
wack. someone was bored and came up with this foolishness... so what? ..i just farted! put that on there..
betrott December 20th, 2010 at 09:34 PM
electric circus was tight. DILLA! DILLA! BEATS! BEATS!
serdjrock December 20th, 2010 at 10:11 PM
so you mean even though they strive for ideals they sometimes make mistakes, unwise decisions, or commit acts they are not proud of in retrospect...hmmm..so you're saying THEY'RE HUMAN. Doesn't change the fact that most everyone you named TRIES to have a positive message in most of their lyrics and spread love, knowledge, and build...
Jason December 25th, 2010 at 04:10 PM
If you read the introduction of this whole article, they say exactly that and infact, what you THINK this article should be on ... its' on. They say they are 'concious' rappers yet sometimes stoop to 'other' peoples level ... because they are human (like the article says) All this article does is show the certain instances where they do fall down ... its' not a bad thing, no one is hating ... just point out shit that happened ...
IaintBuyinIt! February 1st, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Fuc outta here...U n this site r subtly hatin, tryin point out all negatives like we fuckin stupid n believe they r perfect,smdh...The devil is a liar, n the truth aint n him....They r deliverin a message, dont kill the messenger u fuckn fool....Big up 2 tru Hip Hop!!!! Kepp doin what u doin, cuz as long as we n flesh, we goin fuc up, but as long as we keep God n our hearts, we'll try 2 b better ppl!
afra December 21st, 2010 at 03:13 AM
man .. whoever the fuck made this needs to stfu ... your wack. The actual fans of these artist know better than that... you desperate to get shit out there so your editor wont fire your ass looking mother fucker.
Moses December 21st, 2010 at 09:40 AM
Whoever wrote this is a fool, their good outweighs their bad. You are only focusing on bad things, maybe you havent noticed but they are all human. So what Common's Electric Circus is his worst album, his he the only rapper to ever have a bad album, what about all the great albums he has had Ressurection, Finding Forever, Be. Complex i'm ashamed you allow this filth on your website. I hope you all burn in hell.
Complex December 21st, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Actually, we totally noticed that they were human. Did you read the intro? You know, the words above the pretty picture? Here’s a choice quote from it, just in case you missed it: “But here at Complex, we recognize that all rappers are human beings who are, well, complex. They have flaws, shortcomings, and are sometimes hypocrites.”
beMETA December 21st, 2010 at 02:07 PM
smh how did Nas confuse Alexander the Great with Napoleon when Alexander the Great conquered a majority of the known world LONG before Napoleons existence. Do your homework if you wanna mock our 'conscious' artists
Pagn December 21st, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Nas has never made much sense. Point well taken on homophobia and anti-semitism. However, mismanagement of money and unreasonable "assault" charges against Public Enemy and Dead Prez are nit-picky at best.
IaintBuyinIt! February 1st, 2011 at 11:17 AM
U dumb Bitch, if Nas neva made sense 2 u, it doesnt mean he dont make sense, just means u cant comprehend it yet...like 2+2=4 doesnt make sense 2 a 2yr old who neva heard it b4,smdh....Clown!
Complex December 21st, 2010 at 09:38 PM
Hey, history major. Can you do some research for us? Just google a few quick things for us. 1) In what era did Alexander live? 2) When was the gun invented? While you're at it, see if you can figure out what year the Persian military invaded Africa. Afterward, please listen to the third verse of Nas' "I Can." Thanks.
beMETA December 22nd, 2010 at 01:38 PM
haha thanks for the acknowledgment. Im glad you know I'ma history major. You'll be hearing from me soon. Anyway, I still don't see how Nas confused Napoleon for Alexander. Both of them targeted Egypt. Alexander is Persian. Napoleon is French. Napoleon is post French Revolution...Alexander is ancient history. Nas' last verse on I Can refers to the pre-modern state of Africa, he mentions Timbuktu, the first university established, and how Egypt was the center of knowledge for Romans and Greeks. Aristotle was the teacher of Alexander. Now ask yourself why all these great conquerors aspire for Egypt in their quest to establish a global empire. "Alexander advanced on Egypt in later 332 BC, where he was regarded as a liberator.[84] He was pronounced the new "master of the Universe" and son of the deity of Amun at the Oracle of Siwa Oasis in the Libyan desert."
Complex December 22nd, 2010 at 10:18 PM
Let's try this again. The confusion stems from the lines, "Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went/He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces/Shot up they nose to impose..." Minus 10 points for not following instructions and finding out when the gun was invented, but the point being there was no way Alexander The Great shot anybody. But there is the the long standing story of how Napoleon shot up the faces of statues in Egypt. However, that's not totally confirmed and may just myth (Popularized partly by Louis Farrakhan). So not only does Nas get his facts incorrect, he can't even get his incorrect facts correct. Also, it's a wonder how you know that Alexander was Aristotle's student, yet still think he was Persian.
beMETA December 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 AM
I don't follow instruction. Nas is right and yall reached. Does it matter who fucked up the nose of Sphinx? The point is the same. It's the same white man tryna dominate.
beMETA December 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Heres a little Napoleon quote for you guys at Complex: "history is a set of LIES agreed upon"
mr. c January 7th, 2011 at 12:47 AM
Complex: 1 History Major: 0
idiots... February 7th, 2011 at 09:03 PM
he didn't mean shoot them with a gun, you idiots....complex: 0 history major and everyone else: 1
MFK January 23rd, 2012 at 11:14 AM
you are all being trolled and it is sad instead of arguing about what happened and what didn't because none of you were there why not make your own damn music and find out your flaws before you start messin with otha people one such as NAS has fought the battle and earned the respect nothing you say can take that away cuz although you say he is a hipocrit he is still the most good hearted one in the lot slowly liftin the veil of lies from this nations eyes i derive from a chain of divine to protect those who serve for benevolence and kind so decide which team your playin for bad and evil or good its simple not mental and def not hood controversial yes facts minimal at best this is a test of true life but what you expect you dont always find you wont get applauded for takin the knowledge and undoin a thousand years of lyin steers who found it.