Remember that classic ’90s track, “Gangsta’s Paradise”? It had a catchy rhythm to it, and, clumsily trying to rap along with Coolio, you somewhat felt like a gangster yourself. Rap and hiphop was all the rage back then, and I remember many kids made it their whole identity. They not only had the CDs, they also decided they had to dress like rappers, and they felt compelled to go and buy a skateboard. I’ll admit, I wanted to be cool like them, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. It seemed as if they ditched their true selves, in a bid for others to buy into their whole tough-guy facade. Some pulled it off, others not so much. Me? If I had tried it, I would have felt like the biggest phony in the world and I feared everyone would’ve seen right through the entire gimmick.
Let’s get back to Gangsta’s Paradise for one second. See, as a kid, I had no clue what the lyrics were saying. I sort of had the vague notion it promoted the idea of being a tough guy, a gangster. Not true, it turns out. In fact, quite the opposite.
Now, don’t get me wrong, pointing out that crooks are no saints, that’s hardly earth-shattering. But trying to understand the song for once, being much older by that point, I heard the line, “I’m 23 now, but will I live to see 24? The way things are going, I don’t know.” Back then, I ignored that part of the song. Now, I figured I had missed the whole point all along. Perhaps, this song wasn’t just about gangster culture, and bad boys complaining about getting what was coming to them. It felt like a rallying cry for all those twenty-somethings scratching their heads, wondering where their life was headed to.
The second tought that came to my mind, “Christ, did he write this at twenty-three?” It made me feel bad about my own lack of accomplishments at that age. However, a quick Google search revealed the song dropped when he was thirty-two. Still impressive though. You’d be happy to reach that level once in your lifetime, no matter your age.
I found myself reading an article on Coolio’s life. What happened after his world wide hit? Well, he held onto the dream, made a number of other songs, but never quite captured the same success again as before. In a way, it seems like sudden success is a double-edged sword, especially if you can’t create a second hit, thereby proving that it wasn’t just a fluke. But I guess that’s just how life goes. You can’t worry about the naysayers too much.
Let me add one more thing, before I head off. I’m reading the Patton biography again, and I’m reading about the U.S. cavalry, which was still around even as World War II loomed large. Anyone with half a brain could’ve see their time had passed, but those in charge sat back and denied any and all critiques. They loved their whole routine, the polo matches, the fox hunts and their horse shows. If anyone ever came at them, they quickly replied with some baloney arguments, using their authority to squash any and all further discussion.
However, time keeps moving on. And the cavalry’s time had passed, no matter what nonsense they tried to put forth in their defence.
Something similar is happening with the whole AI thing. Change is around the corner and it’s never comfortable at first. It writes entire pieces of text, and it can even create beautiful pieces of art. So, if you’re just relying on skill, then you might find you’re out of luck. In my view, what will make the difference is personality. People like other people. And if it’s not about skill anymore, it’s all about possessing a magnetic personality. Food for thought.
Yours truly
Vincent J. Dancet