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Prof's "King Gampo" is rap at its worst
Prof’s King Gampo (Stophouse) is asinine, narcissistic self-indulgence run completely riot, without a shred of redeeming artistry.
The best thing about rap in the dawn of its era was that pioneering firebrands like The Last Poets and Sugar Hill Gang didn’t need to be singers to make records. Being excellent prose-poets and spoken wordsmiths was enough to put them on the market. Even N.W.A., with their foul-mouthed, blatantly barbaric sexism, did it with skill. These days, all it takes is somebody with enough money behind you to go in the studio and come out with something for which you can strike a distribution deal.
Hence, this stuff that wouldn’t even have been recorded in the early 70s, let alone met with the success it enjoys today—with Prof garnering praise all over the place, including high-profile radio and print, for profanely epitomizing the inane. Point in case, from “Anamoly”; “And I’m staying lubricated daily/ Slip my dick in whatever it fit in…” and “…I’m a motherfucking hustler/ And I am married to the game, I take her out to eat, then fuck her/ Rollin’ down the block in my bicycle, Steady smoking on my Mom’s white widow.” And “Gampo,” with, “You can find me stiff, like a samurai, on a llama ride, down a waterslide, getting sodomized/ I’m a wallaby, I’m a king of a colony/ By the way I’m Wil’n’out you would think I just won the lottery,” and “…Uncle Prof sit back and get shitty, unlock a big fresh pair of titties.”
There is more, ad nauseam, including, from “Daughter” featuring Brother Ali, “…You’ll die when you see her fly when she’s grown yeah/ Suck my dick get a faceful.” “Gampo” has some racism tossed in for measure, a la “I would like that yellow bone girl in my office.” When this knuckle-dragging Neanderthal isn’t waxing vulgar enough to turn a buzzard’s stomach, he’s breaking an arm patting himself on the back with self-congratulations for being a white man, particularly a white man boldly going where mostly black men have gone before as a ghetto-spawned phenomenon.
If not for the lavishly produced music tracks, there’d be nothing at all worth listening to on this disc. It’s enough to make you wonder just how much worse things can get, how much more rap can degenerate into a base, ruthlessly appropriated ripoff of the legitimate, groundbreaking art form it started out as.
Release show for Prof’s King Gampo: September 9 at First Avenue with Blueprint and Soulcrate Music. 8 p.m., 18+, $12 at the door.
701 1st Ave. N.
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
The longest continual entertainment and music venue in the Twin Cities. A unique and innovative cultural environment, with musical vision not limited by fashion, fortune or fame.
Calendar of events on website or by phone.
701 First Ave N
Minneapolis,
MN
55403
Phone:
6513321775
Twitter:
FirstAvenue 
Dwight Hobbes (dwight [at] tcdailyplanet [dot] net) is a writer based in the Twin Cities. He contributes regularly to the TC Daily Planet.
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Comments
Saw him in Madison last week.
I went to see Murs & Fashawn in Madison last week at the Majestic and Prof was part of the show also. I had never seen him live or really heard much from him until this night. To be honest HE WAS THE BEST ACT OF THE SHOW! I have never seen a rapper/hip-hop artist with so much energy and stage presence. This dude is so underrated. He is unique, and very talented. I am sure we will be hearing more about Prof in the future.
Quit hatin
@ the person who wrote this article: Your just mad cause noone cheers for you stay behind your desk and hate on those that are doing what you never could... SMH I saw prof for the first time this year and became an instant fan his music is unique and honest.. Hard to find in rap these days......
This dude clearly didn't
This dude clearly didn't listen to "Myself" or "Karma"...or he conveniently left them out of his critique of Prof.
i agree
Dwight Hobbes is just so out of touch is seams with music and art. hard to see how he gets cred to write bull like this
From Seattle
I'm a little late here but, caught this guy at an Atmosphere concert in Seattle in August (2011) and he was handing out free cd's. I have yet to go a week without listening to this cd all the way through. I gave up on rap/hiphop since the mid 2000's. Started to listen to Atmosphere a couple years ago and now Prof. This is a well produced and wrtiten cd. This is what I have been looking for.
haha
This article was pretty funny to read, cause it's super off base. I've never seen such a harsh critique of Prof. In fact, this is maybe the first bad press I've ever seen about him. He is full of mighty swag, and he comes from Powderhorn, not some suburb. Even if his lyrics aren't always complicated or entirely sensical, watch that shit live and tell me dude didn't snap.
Dwight doesn't understand and the meaning of GENRE
WHO'S GOING TO KATO THIS FRI?! DEF GONE GRAPHICS!
Dwight, I invite you, hell, i'll give you a ride. Sorry you cant appreciate different genres, ignorant hip hop is my dirty pleasure. Starting to think it's your's too Dwight, you just have a problem admitting it outloud. GAMPOOOO
missed the point
"all i want to do is have a party but they wanna have a conversation bout the dalai llama I'll be like NO!"- Not all music has to conform to your little box, some music can just be fun. And saying he doesn't have talent because he can also sing doesn't make any sense, I like a rapper that can sing his own choruses. I think Dwight should go to a show... then he might get it.
Complete and Utter BS
I begin by first saying that this article quite frankly ticked me off. I am an avid Prof fan, not simply because he is from MN, but becuase I see his music as different than other rappers'. While his lyrics may not display some of the hard pressing issues of the day, as it was in the old days, his songs are nonetheless entertaining as all hell. Most rappers today basically talk with a beat in the fact--some of the most boring crap I've ever heard. This is simply not Prof's style. As for the language and topics in his songs, how is it any different than 2Pac and Biggie Smalls talking about having sex with other guys' wives, etc. To even mention the fact that Prof's lyrics are explicit is to essentially disregard much of the rap genre. Nor does he say F*&k every other word like some out their--he uses profanity to convey a message, not just for show. Read up a bit more next time before you put down one of underground's up-and-coming stars, although in my mind he can't touch Brother Ali.
Music?
This guy thinks he is making music? This is the worst music
I have heard in many years! if this is hip hop I am Jesus! This album is one of the worst I have ever heard!!! Serious
this article is the dumbest
this article is the dumbest thing ive read in my LIFE!
lame
This article is complete rubbish. Prof goes a lot deeper than his silly exterior, you would know if you have heard any of his previous work. Why write an article about music when you are an average closed-minded listener?
credibility gone...
You have every right to your opinion Dwight, but your credibility goes right out the window when you use the sugar hill gang as a point of reference. No self respecting journalist who's actually done their rap homework would use sugar hill as the benchmark for what hip hop should be/stand for, they were known frauds. Do a little digging Dwight. You don't like Prof's album, cool. But get off your high horse, because you made it clear in the opening of your piece that you talking about a subject that you'd do well to research a bit more.
I couldn't agree more. who
I couldn't agree more. who can argue with catchy beats and impressive lyrical stylings. Prof pours his most personal harsh moments into his music while being extremely optimistic about the future. I think most artists in the 70's weren't appreciated in their time by the adults of that generation, and the story is no different here. Prof is lyrically talented and didn't have any help in the process. get your facts straight, and be a little more open minded about todays rap artists.
the king gampo ain't goin' nowhere!
I'm just so confused on where
I'm just so confused on where everyone is getting this idea that Prof has money?? He is NOT some white, rich, kid from the suburbs that got some money from mommy and daddy to record an album. He's a Minneapolis rapper with a loyal fan base for the past 5+ years. He started from the bottom and worked hard to get to where he is today. And so what he isn't putting out "groundbreaking, change the world" music, he does what he wants and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. He's a talented rapper that produces fun music that all the kiddies seem to love. Get use to seeing more of him.
SOLD OUT SHOW!
SOLD OUT SHOW!
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