Bobby Shmurda is a Brooklyn-based rapper who raps almost exclusively about violence, drugs, and money — the trifecta of rap tropes that is about as engaging as a pile of paperclips.
Shmurda is a top-fifty clone, churned out by the machine, regurgitating the same things heard on every major radio station in the country. His team GS9 has fulled his ascent by embracing a lifestyle of malice and exploitation. But in this package, coming from a kid who doesn’t know any better, a person who lacks the ability to contextualize what’s going on, it’s a sad ascension with little to respect.
Shrumda’s shtick is the same as Soulja Boy‘s. He’s young, up to date on the latest trends and has a team behind him willing to pour money into his campaign at all costs.
His breakout hit “Hot Nigga” is — sad to say — his claim to fame, a flaming pile of diarrhea spewing out from an unwiped ass. The beat is generic and under produced, which is perfect for a guy who has no writtens. He spells it out for you as plain as day: [LISTEN]
Shmurda is relying on the tired claim that this is the life he lives and all the violence and drugs are a part of it, bearing witness. That claim has its purpose, but for a baby faced kid it doesn’t translate, it’s mimicry at its most shameless. Almost everything he says is questionable, and for some reason his credibility has stood.
His second major hit “Bobby Bitch” is a rage filled song full of violent imagery and poor penmanship. He’s frothing at the mouth and mean muggin’, but it all seems groomed and contrived with no discerning details that would separate himself from the next wannabe on the come up. Even within the pantheon of street rap, it’s too scripted to be convincing: [LISTEN]
It should be noted that Bobby Shmurda is currently in jail charged on a 69 count indictment that includes murder, attempted murder, drug distribution, and weapons possession to name a few. He is also accused of firing shots into a crowd and serving as the ringleader for his crew GS9.
In an interview with Billboard Shmruda came out and said that his lyrics are all fabricated, that he’s just playing a role, which is in stark contrast to the image he’s projected thus far — proof that he’s just another poser with a good marketing team, that all the tough guy facade falls to the wayside when it’s time to own up to your claims.
Without all the facts and a proper investigation it’s hard to say whether or not he actually belongs in jail. In a bullish move prosecutors are trying to use his lyrics against him, but a state Supreme Court in New Jersey has ruled rap lyrics as inadmissible unless it has a strong connection to the crime. His label Epic Records has left him out to dry and all he has to his name are a few hit singles, not even enough money to post bail. And based on his interview with Billboard he seems like he’s a star in jail, which is a sad but true fact.
Shmurda is just a kid, and he’s learning just how distant people can be when you’re down and out. But then again, like you hear on “Living Life,” it’s hard to feel for a kid whose entire enterprise is based off the misery of other people: [LISTEN]
