Its 11:45pm May 27th a solid 77 degrees the rain earlier in the evening had ceased as I just touched down in Philly. I proceed to walk out to my close friends blacked out Denali and we cruise off and before we even leave the terminal the first question is “What the fuck is up with these internet niggas you beefing with” Of course I make clear this is no beef because I don’t see many if any characters on the internet as a equal. I also advise him that my battle is more of me not understanding how these guys don’t realize there are consequences to extreme words or actions if paths should ever cross. Not just with me, but with anyone. He proceeds to express how he just doesn’t get it. How he doesn’t get the whole social media concept, the dorks on it or anything about it. I tell him that people like him normally don’t. Then he proceeds to say “The shit is like Revenge Of The Nerds. The bottom of the food chain done linked up and figured a way to become relevant and dictate what ‘The New Cool’ is…” I laugh in agreement as he drops me off in Center City Philly. I check into my hotel with the his opinions burning a place in my mind. Is This Revenge Of The Nerds? If so, How Did We Let This Happen? At that very moment, there were a few questions needing answers.
I didn’t think about everything he said all at once, over the entirety of the weekend his words were somewhat replaying in my mind. Possibly more-so because I was wonder if I became one of the Nerds exacting revenge. However, in the context of the conversation I realize I couldn’t be. It’s not about current “popularity”. It’s about more than just being popular. It’s “so many things”, which I will try to delve into.
The Creation
I’m aware many come from other Forums, sites, etc. I personally, went from having Blackplanet to having Myspace. I wouldn’t have left Myspace if it didn’t completely die on me. I seen no reason to, being in the business I am a part of. Myspace if used properly was a great tool for musicians and bands to promote themselves. However, few used it properly. Spam, comment section abuse, bugs, viruses all played a role in Myspace demise. I held on until the very end (in my eyes). Interestingly enough the same friend I spoke with and others when I told them to get ‘Myspace Pages’ way back when, they all said “No, the internet shit is for nerds. Real niggas aint on the internet if they don’t have business there. We out in the streets.” That’s just it, and not to say NO “Real Niggas” jumped on the net but many people got their start there. For example; take Tone Trump. He seen the internet revolution and was one of the few rappers to take advantage of it. No offense to Tone but I never heard of him prior to Myspace. He literally took on the internet and conquered it. When I finally met Tone for the first time he was a humble dude. He still talks his shit but he was humble. What I would consider real. Let’s not get this misconstrued, “REAL” don’t mean someone who done a whole bunch of Illegal shit. There’s nothing you can tell me about an individual and I take it as fact. What someone did to you doesn’t mean it’s something they would do to me. Same with how they seem to you, etc. I have to deal with them 1 on 1 in order to come to a conclusion (another segment we will discuss later).
So while all the “Popular in the streets” guys, stayed in the streets, many “Nerds” began their revolution & evolution on the internet.
The Manipulation
You check your twitter timeline on your lunch break and I’m sure, within 50 tweets you see a “rule” or “standard” on twitter, coming from a guy who can’t make a rule or standard in their every day lives. At the same time you have everyone and their mother trying to abide by these same baseless rules or standards that were a part of an opinion that wasn’t truly formed, however they are following them just to fit in. A prime example is ‘@ or Dap’. It was a funny and interesting concept until people realized “@’n” would result in an ass kicking so now everyone tweets “dap”. They made it cool to be passive after it became dangerous to speak how you truly felt. “I don’t like you, I don’t like what you do or what you did BUT because I want NO problems with you, I will say some slick shit and apply the trendy *daps* on the end.” Whereas a guy like me, there is no *daps*. A clown is a clown. If you don’t want me to call you a clown, stop juggling balls. Simple. Even if you take something such as “Black Twitter” (Who created the aforementioned @ or Dap), what could have been an amazing concept. However you realize it came from a underdeveloped opinion that, like most “Black Trends” imploded upon itself. Prime example: Complex Mag, Vibe, as does brands not as expansive as the two aforementioned, have “networks”. Sites and Individuals they bring into the fold to expand their brand. At one point before it became a sideshow, “Black Twitter” was the most influential “faction” (for lack of better words) of Twitter. If it actually had LEADERSHIP most of these guys with scripted tweets and regurgitated opinions could be making a monthly if not bi-weekly check for their influence. Many aren’t. They are glad to see the perks. The “I’m just happy to be here” guy at every event. A leader expects success. We are never just happy to be somewhere we knew we would and expected to be.
‘The New Cool’ its actually semi genius. If none of the “real niggas” are around to check you, you can become “real” unabated and in all likelihood they don’t care until you step outside of your boundaries. The problem is many of these “Cool” guys have been pulling some uncool shit. In no case should a group of men be sitting around discussing another man extensively. Especially if pussy is present. I apologize for my bluntness but I have had numerous females come back to me about MEN bringing me up in convo to them or around them. “Oh his girl is @ ______” or “You was fucking Philly at one point right?” etc. Their coolness has leaks all in it. If you’re going to be a leader, have leadership qualities. You men are too concerned with the intimate details of other men like you want them or something.
Everyone wants to be a part of something.
Example: You have guys saying some of the geekiest, socially unacceptable things in order to enable and impress women they wouldn’t normally be able to land. Then you have women adopting this crap in order to be accepted by the in-crowd, that’s actually not really in. A chick once told me she followed me because I was always retweeted onto her timeline and she decided she wanted to know more. I said “If you want to know more you should be at my house later”, she said “Ok give me the address.” I NEVER gave her the address. That initial interaction alone told me: Entertain her at your own risk and don’t play it too close. There’s numerous cases as such. Which let’s me know; If these women are so willing because of my twitter presence, I’m sure others receive the same benefit. Even If I wanted to capitalize off of that, I would never advise her of that being acceptable behavior. No, its just me capitalizing off of your hoe-ish behavior. However, you have those who feel the need to coddle these women. “Make them feel comfortable to give me what I want without me doing much” is the thought. Again a leader expect it. No one is coddling anyone. You wont be fed sweet nothings if you don’t deserve it. Your hoe activities wont be made to be O.K. for the benefit of the situation. A leader I expect women to look at me and treat me different. Why? Because I come off different. I don’t see other men as my equal. I’ve worked to hard to be ONE OF MANY. I don’t see myself sharing my woman because any woman who fucks with me shouldn’t just be readily available to any other guy. Even a “jump-off”. I expect my “jump-off” to jump off with me because she sees me as a much greater opportunity and I bring that out of her. Not because she’s a notorious jump off. If you’re reading that and thinking “Who this mufucka think he is?” I’m likely talking about you all in this blog.
You can’t complain. It’s all of our doing. You were “too cool” to be on the internet. “Too cool” to get in on the digital branding aspect of branding YOU. Keeping it real kept “The Real” on the outside looking in. You now have those who have never been in a leadership position, leading. Followers leading followers, perse. We can’t blame them for taking advantage of an opening and exploiting it. America is a country that thrives on capitalism. However the capitalist in this situation aren’t properly capitalizing. Which makes it all the more frustrating.
