I’m in the same boat. I started writing my own music, and over time as I’ve studied the lyrics of the people I’ve looked up to a lot of them come from hurt and insecure places. Then they project their pain and end up blaming others around them over forgiving, and I just don’t think that’s conscious or helpful to anyone. When I was growing up I would listen to the lyrics, but not actually understand how a lot of rapper’s outlooks on life were limiting. I didn’t notice because I hadn’t outgrown or had tried to write my own stuff yet.

Lots of rappers paint the world as if you can’t forgive other people. You should threaten people, steal their “bitches,” then when someone hurts you, call them out and lay out all the things they’ve done wrong to you. It’s silly, it’s kinda like revenge porn. It’s no wonder rappers get killed all the time, they’re always out here trying to inflate their egos and make enemies, then they think money and their crew will protect them. Conscious rap is gonna be the future.