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What's with all the Hip-Hop/Rapper quotes with all these VC blogs? Is this their way to seem "hip and relevant"? Seems pretty forced and out of touch to me, an
by OzzyB 9y ago
What's with all the Hip-Hop/Rapper quotes with all these VC blogs? Is this their way to seem "hip and relevant"?
Seems pretty forced and out of touch to me, and have being seeing this trend more and more (I think Dave McClure loves Beastie Boys lyrics?!).
I guess it's a way for the ultra-rich to seem more "street" and equate their hustle of VC investing w/ the street hustle?
- coenhyde 9y agoBen loves Rap and he has always used Rap quotes.
- GuiA 9y agoA large proportion of rappers who are rich and famous now started literally at the bottom of the barrel - growing up on food stamps, without heating/electricity, etc, and that's what they rap about (there are exceptions of course). This is in contrast with VCs, who grew up (again, with exceptions) in privileged, upper middle to upper class environments, with a silver spoon in their mouth. Hip hop resonates deeply with them because it is the life story they'd like to have (from rags to riches only with a pen and a mic), instead of the one they have (from Stanford to Sand Hill Road only with daddy's checkbook and address book).
- 40acres 9y agoBen seems to like rap, I believe each chapter of his book begins with a different rap lyric.
- harryh 9y agoBen Horowitz isn't putting on airs. He grew up going to a Black Panther's church and is deeply connected to the African American community. That's the kind of music he loves. https://a16z.com/2014/03/02/the-legend-of-the-blind-mc-2/ https://a16z.com/2014/03/02/the-legend-of-the-blind-mc-2/ is a fun read (and listen).
- crazypyro 9y agoThis is ridiculous. Its almost like your premise is rich people aren't allowed to enjoy hip-hop music without there being ulterior motives. Its even more ridiculous because the author has been a fan of hiphop for a long time...
- OzzyB 9y agoI love all these insipid comments like "b-but he likes Rap!" LOL. What's ridiculous are all your conclusions that "this is just some dude with a blog who likes rap music"; my premise was actually about why someone who's in the (very conservative) business of dealing with $Billions (of other ppls money no less) likes to sprinkle rap music videos and lyrics all over their public communications. My bet is that he thinks he's cool, guess what, he isn't. VC money and their managers spouting insight like street rappers, yo! Because, you know, it's the same! Remind me to quote some Big Daddy Kane next time I have an appointment on Sand Hill Road :D
- dboreham 9y agoYou have no idea what you're taking about. Ben has been quoting rappers since before blogs existed and decades before he became a VC.