Canibus :: Fallen Hero?
First let me state that I write this piece, not knowing Canibus personally. This is purely my opinion about what I’ve witnessed the past few days on the internet. The hip hop / internet world blew up when the KOTD rap battle from June 9th between Canibus and Dizaster was put online. Everybody was in shock about The Ripper pulling out a notebook when it was his turn to “rip” his opponent. Dizaster crushed the rapper, once known for his skilled lyricism. Of course one is amazed when a rapper pulls out a notebook in the middle of a battle, which back in the days, consisted of freestyling and not pre-written rhymes, as nowadays seems to be the normal thing to do in a battle. When I first saw posts about a “notebook”, images of Canibus pulling out a Macbook or iPad popped up in my head (am I really that digitalized?) but it turned out to be an actual notebook where he WROTE down his lyrics in preparation for his battle with Dizaster.
But yeah, of course one is amazed by that action, especially when its an MC that once was glorified for his talent and skills. He stated that Diz won the battle, before he even notified the audience about pulling out his notebook; he just wanted to spit. The entire Hip Hop community on the internet bashed Canibus in every which way possible for the notebook-action, despite him explaining himself before he did that. Yes, we are all disappointed in the once proclaimed hero in Hip Hop, but there’s no need to go extra hard on a person that obviously has lost his way, going from the throne to the floor.
I saw Dizaster going in on LL Cool J, for absolutely no reason. Diz posted a phone call from a while ago, which was a conversation between LL and Canibus about the beef they once had. They both showed maturity in this, whereas Canibus was asking LL for advice and LL definitely told him the right thing, which is turn away from the negative and make it something positive. LL has no beef, this cat done earned his respect way back, when Dizaster was still playing with Duplos. I’m glad LL didn’t get into it online. I mean, a grown man trying to beef on the internet after he clearly already won a rap battle, is sad. Maybe he was still on a high from having crushed a name. Without a doubt Diz has skills, so I checked him out online, but after I read some of his tweets (the LL bashing ones), I just left his twitter page again.
Anyway, lets get to my thoughts on this “Canibus bashing” in Hip Hop land. I met the rapper in 2007, when he was here to perform at the Splash festival in Amsterdam. I got the chance to interview him. It was the first interview I ever did and have done so far, with restrictions on questions. I wasn’t allowed to speak about the LL Cool J situation, the Wyclef situation nor ask questions about his time in Iraq. I wasn’t so much interested in the first two subjects, but I did wanna know how his time in Iraq affected him. Needless to say, I dared to ask the question anyway… and got the expected response. He was a very nice and respectful person, even when he got upset about my question, he stayed respectful. But his vibe was totally “off”. I guess I should’ve stuck to the restrictions. Despite being upset, he still gave me somewhat of an idea of how time in the military affected him and his music. (You can read the interview here.) Once we started talking about his music again, and his ideas about layering raps, he was back to his “happy” passionate self again. I do have to say, between him and K-Solo, it was the weirdest interview I have done. I can’t explain the vibe of the conversation, nor can I explain how his mind came across to me. All I know is that I definitely believe that Iraq has messed him up. I can tell from the conversation we had, that Iraq left him scarred. As probably every soldier, in every war.
This guy (rappers are people too), fought for his country and came back to no help. He needed help and he either didn’t get it or didn’t get the proper help. Whatever the case may be. He has no family (as in wife, kids or whatever) as far as I know and he stated that himself. I just wonder where his true fam and friends are. He made an apology about the notebook-situation which was so far out there, that I think it’s terrible to judge this person for his obvious lost mindstate. Here I sit, reading all kinds of shit about him on the internet, when the same people probably used to ride his d*ck in his glory days. This person fought for his country and came back a mess and all people can do is bash him for his lack of connection with the world today.
My sum up:
1) He stated his defeat and explained himself BEFORE grabbing his notebook.
2) He apologized to his fans for his action (being the bigger man).
3) He fought for his country (nuff said).
With these things, I can only say, he doesn’t deserve the bashing that’s going around. Yes we can say that no rapper should enter a battle with a notebook, hell, with pre-written lyrics that is. But the way people been going at him is just ridiculous. Canibus is the prime example of how people will kiss your ass and ride with you when you’re on top but are quick to jump ship and stomp on you when you’re already down. Where are his people? Where are his friends? Where is his fam? I truly hope he has a few good people in his corner, who have his best interest at heart, not just being there, for the fame he used to have, but for the person he is.
Blessings,
-Pay
6 Responses to Canibus :: Fallen Hero?
Excellent article. I haven’t seen the video yet but I had a different impression than what you stated here. Canibus is known for his skills and to even bring a notebook at all was somewhat an admission of defeat before hand. Did he even attempt to spit a verse before giving up?
Honestly I can’t judge him. There are plenty of rappers who do the same, they just manage to memorize their verses before hitting the stage.
What you fail to realize is Canibus has been walking around like he’s better then everybody for the last decade.
He stalks Eminem and his affiliates like a deranged Ex Girlfriend for 12 years, J. Cole comes out and gives him props, to which Bis responds with a Diss record. He is verbally abusive to several Radio DJ’s who have asked him to appear on their shows……. etc etc etc
Watching him lose at the one thing he had left to brag about, his feared battle reputation, is Karmic Justice. Its like Watching the Playground Bully get beat up by the skinniest nerd on the monkey bars.
He deserves every ounce of this backlash, his whole career he never felt bad for all the people he harassed, now its his turn to be the laughing stock
Mitch 3K, I can see where you’re coming from. But, are you saying that we should just mess up the mentally instable even more? Instead of being empathetic? I’m not saying that all he did was right, but I don’t think this is any type of justice.
Canibus has mental problem.
That’s all.
can wasn’t messed up from iraq. he was never deployed. he was with a cavalry regiment ( i did four years with the cavalry prior to his enlistment) in Ft. Lewis washington. he was discharged because he “pissed hot.” Far from the ideal “soldier” to begin with. his “mindstate” comes from his obsessive, passionate, amd wholehearted study of all things “mental” to include metaphysical existence and so forth. he has taken his practical application of what he has discovered a bit further than the average man as he is an “overdoer.” even his zodiac description is on point as we share the same taste of taking everything to the extreme before we’re through with it.
diz has a nice little growing buzz as a “live” battle rapper. Even he acknowledged what the rest of us considered canibus as back in the 90′s when we would hear him. majority of the content against can in the battle was about it.
canibus was paid a handsome sum of money and given “months” to prepare for the battle. he was given the same respect and courteousy any other battler being hosted by KOTD would have received. he didn’t properly prepare. The results were obvious. all he had to do was stand his ground vocally for three rounds and prove what that big brain of his could suprise us with. he did suprise us, but not exactly for what he was paid for. Fortunately, the battle will still garner an exceptional amount of views to everyone involved in the event. Canibus is now relevant again… for a minute.
diz is young, hungry, and has enough of a bizarre performance to attract the likes of people like “drake” to see him battle. no one can take away the fact that he is good at what he does. he has a history of clowning people to get a battle. it’s nothing new. nothing personal. especially since both ll cool j was going after the heads older than him when he was younger as well. where they like “i’m a grown man. what i look like battle rapping some kid?” They probably were. if he doesn’t respond to dizaster. good. if he does. good. it isn’t personal. They don’t know each other.
All said and done. the last few generations influenced by american society and culture remain cursed to their short attention spans. This will pass with time. the partially older heads know canibus is still nice on a track and one battle can’t take away all the work he’s put in over the years which was likely the main reason somewhere in the back of our loyal minds we had some unrealistic expectations for him in a “modern day” battle.
Hey what’s up. Just wanted to say that this was great article about Canibis. This is my first time visiting your site and came here through a Tweet about your Killer Mike interview. But anyways, I’m big fan of Canibis and although I didn’t get see the rap battle I do hate hearing about the notebook incident. Everybody has their moments and I wish the general population wasn’t as cruel. People tend to forget that this is a man, a man who’s subject to the same trials and tribulations as the next guy. And I hope through it all he can find peace in his life.