Bobby Shmurda! Shmoney Dance! Rowdy Rebel! It’s Bobby Bitch!
Either one of these phrases we have been hearing a lot lately and when I say A LOT I mean A LOT!! They are being ran through the ground whether it’s radio, shows, or just being mentioned in everyday conversation with phrases such as “Shmoney,” it is becoming a daily thing in our lives.
The other day I was listening to Power 105.1 and a DJ (I don’t remember his stage name) was bumping “Bobby Bitch” and replayed it about three times and then shouted out “Brooklyn.” While listening to the DJ shoutout Bobby, this feeling came over me, not a new feeling, but, a good one, and then it came to me! This was the same feeling I got when I would hear DJ Clue blast Fabolous the same way on the radio. Granted I was about nine at the time (at least I think so), but I remember the feeling of enjoying the fact someone from my hood (I was raised in BedStuy) a some what direct connection to me made it! They made it out the hood! They succeeded! The feeling of knowing someone that walked the same blocks as me, shopped at the same grocery store, ordered from the same Chinese spot…. MADE IT!
Just like Bobby, Fabolous came equipped with a new sound that represented our city and became like a ambassador for Brooklyn Hip Hop residents. He was the prince and we all hailed to the sound of his name, taking on his vernacular, mimicking his style of dress, we all wanted to participate in the lifestyle, Fabolous, had gotten the opportunity to enjoy.
Also like Bobby now, Fabolous came in the game with a team, if you were raised in the Stuy like myself then you already know the name and know a few of the members personally to, the name “Street Fam.” It consisted of members such as Freck Billionaire, Mike Shorey and Paul Cain, all very well respected street lyricist. When Fabolous came in the game he was like fresh air he was the one who was going to put our names back in conversation.
What about Jay Z? Well around that time he was going on hiatuses which ultimately led him to retire for awhile, so, we needed someone to keep our voice present.
Anyway hearing the praise being given to them from New York Dj’s and Promoters then made me pose a question.
Did Street Fam have a shot at this same success together? Since Bobby has signed to Epic Records two other team members have also signed deals and got label backing.
Gs9 is surely on the rise gaining presence in Hip Hop song by song, person by person.
Unlike Gs9, Street Fam,though talented, did not stick together or was given the same joint opportunity. It was like Fabolous made it and established himself and the others faded to black. Granted the others made have appeared on some features with him, but that was it, no one without Fab got the notoriety I feel they deserved as an artist.
Gs9 brings the same thing to Brooklyn that Street Fam brought in the early 2000’s! They bring unity to Brooklyn Hip Hop residents, they bring a new lifestyle to both Hip Hop and everyday life, as well as, their a threat to those in the same way of rap as them.
Writing this article was painful because being as huge of a Street Fam fan, I am, it hurts to come to the realization that if the unity was kept in the “Fam,” this could have easily been their success stories. I don’t know the technicalities of the disputes that caused the group to not end strong,but Gs9 is a splitting image of them, when it comes down to the impact they are having on Brooklyn’s spirit.
This article was not written to just talk on similarities of the two but perhaps pose a debate on whether Street Fam had the potential to be then what Gs9 is growing to be to us now?
Would Street Fam have been a empire right now of lyrical mc’s that made it out? Or where they just not that good? Was Fabolous the only one that was marketable? What ever happened to the guys that brought us hot songs such as ” “Baby,” “Make you Mine,” and “Can’t Let You Go.” They had the talent! They had what it took to be a reinvented Rocafells in a way! What went wrong?
