Since this album was released several months ago, I can't get enough of it. I've had "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2" on repeat. The sounds he creates in this song are out-of-this-world, spacey. Besides making me want to get insta-jiggy, I appreciate the lyrics and appreciate how he brings us to one of Shakespeare's original questions, "What's in a name?" Names have value and power beyond ourselves. There are birth names, nicknames, street names and they all root us to our culture, form our identity, and develop as we grow.
Obviously, his rap name is A$AP Rocky, and his birth name is Rakem Mayers. Which made me wonder where the name Lord Pretty Flacko Jordye 2 came from? Coming from Spanish origin and growing up in the "barrio," I know that Flaco, means skinny boy. But why #2? Who is the original Pretty Flacko? All of this was revealed when I saw an interview that A$AP did for the Red Bull Music Academy in London. The original Pretty Flacko is none other than Mos Def. Watch the following video to see for yourself.
Obviously, his rap name is A$AP Rocky, and his birth name is Rakem Mayers. Which made me wonder where the name Lord Pretty Flacko Jordye 2 came from? Coming from Spanish origin and growing up in the "barrio," I know that Flaco, means skinny boy. But why #2? Who is the original Pretty Flacko? All of this was revealed when I saw an interview that A$AP did for the Red Bull Music Academy in London. The original Pretty Flacko is none other than Mos Def. Watch the following video to see for yourself.
Yeah, so there you have it. Like father to son, or in this case mentor to disciple, old school influences new school, and so the world goes round and round.