Words by Landon A.

Every year, Hip-Hop artists unleash new and exciting trends upon the masses last year it was rapping about coke, the year before that it was Flavor Flav (don’t front, you know you watched the first season of Flavor of Love) and now this year we see a trend circulating within the music industry itself: retirement…or at least the threat thereof.

Rappers who have threatened to retire this year:

Saigon

Jean Grae

Lupe Fiasco

The Game

Rappers who have actually retired (thus far): 0

As you may remember Jay-Z faked his own retirement in 2003 in the hopes of busting heads in the corporate world. Now, after triumphantly returning to the game, releasing two albums and inking a $150 million deal with Live Nation, Hov proves nothing pays better than (kind of) retiring.

So why are these other rappers keeping Hip-Hop heads drooling in suspense?

Disclaimer: Each rapper on the above list has at least one album or mixtape in constant rotation on my iPod.

Now with that said…

Saigon, Lupe and Jean Grae have all sighted industry ills when confronted about their threats to retire. Saigon chose to release his frustrations via Myspace with his infamous “I Quit” post after the good folks at Fort Knocks Entertainment bumped his album back to Nevruary 31st, ultimately we’re all glad Sai stuck around.

Jean Grae is in the same boat – homegirl had every right to consider leaving the game after being put through four years of neglect as well as rigorous negotiations concerning sample clearance. No worries ‘Ma, we get it.

Lupe is another story altogether. Lupe offered the simple explanation that he was just tired of the industry. To my knowledge, both of Lupe’s albums went off without a hitch, and, to my knowledge, both albums had a Top 40 hit single. So what’s there to complain about? Does he have the Jigga syndrome? Hope not, but we’ll see as Lupe prepares what he claims to be his third and final album.

That leaves us with perhaps the most controversial artist on the list: The Game. A name synonymous with trouble…

In a recent tearful interview, The Game decided he “doesn’t want to be a part of Hip-Hop anymore” because of the lack of coherency in the industry. This year he released a track called “911 Is a Joke (Cop Killa)” addressing the Sean Bell shooting, and apparently no other artists felt passionately enough about the subject to step up on the track. Sorry homie, but what do you expect when the only thing that draws listeners is a vocoder club track with T-Pain on the hook?

So, before these MC’s go and hook up with the AARR (American Association for Retired Rappers,) they might want to give thought to the example they’re setting. There are plenty of Soulja Boys and Soulja Girls out there waiting in reserve to take their place.

Stray Shots

Alchemist – 1st Infantry

K-Dee – Ass Gas Or Cash (No One Rides For Free)

Ice-T-Power-1988

Ice-T-O.G._Original_Gangster-1991

Funkdoobiest-Brothas_Doobie-1995

Bishop_Lamont-N*gger_Noize-2008 (Untagged/No DJ/Remastered)

Teflon-My_Will

M.O.P.-Warriorz

M.O.P.-First_Family_4_Life

The_Coup-Kill_My_Landlord

The_Coup-Pick_A_Bigger_Weapon

The_Commission – The_Game_&_Young_Buck:_Laugh_Now,_Cry_Later – 2008

Kidz_in_the_Hall-Geniuses_Need_Love_Too

Three_6_Mafia-Presents_Hypnotize_Camp_Posse-2000

Three_6_Mafia-The_End-1997

VA-The_Wackness_(Purple_Tape)_(2CD)-(Bootleg)-2008

Twista_Feat._Anthony_Hamilton_-_Sunshine-Promo-CDS-2004

VA Rawkus Presents Soundbombing Vol. 1

Next – Platinum & Gold Collection

Next – Rated Next

Stray Shots