Logic's Hip-Hop Journey: Triumphs, Criticism, and Controversies

Logic's journey in hip-hop reflects resilience amid harsh criticism and a struggle for authenticity.

### Logic's Tumultuous Journey: From Criticism to Commercial Decline
* 🎤 Logic's career has been marred by harsh criticism, with many labeling him as **one of the worst rappers** despite his **commercial success and sold-out tours**.
* 🌀 His struggles with identity and acceptance in the hip-hop community have led him to be **ridiculed for his openness about his biracial background** and interests outside of traditional hip-hop culture.
* 📉 Following his initial success, Logic's reputation took a significant hit with his 2017 album "Everybody," where **accusations of plagiarism began to surface**, damaging his credibility.
* 🎶 The controversy surrounding his hit song "1-800-273-8255" revealed deeper issues, as it was alleged that the concept was taken from fellow artist **Joyner Lucas**, leading to accusations of **creative theft**.
* 🤔 Despite facing backlash, Logic's **positive impact on mental health awareness** through his music was undeniable, yet this success also **alienated some of his original fanbase**.
* 📅 After announcing his retirement in 2020 with "**No Pressure**," which sold **221,000 units**, Logic seemed to have found closure, but he soon returned to the industry, undermining the significance of his farewell.
* 📉 His comeback album "Vinyl Days" saw a **drastic drop in sales**, moving only **28,000 units**, highlighting the **loss of momentum** he had built prior to his retirement.
* 🏋 As Logic navigates his post-retirement career, he faces the challenge of **rebuilding his reputation and regaining respect** in a competitive industry that often **punishes those who falter**.

this video is brought to you by Raycon. Stay tuned to find out more. Logic, you are easily one of the worst rappers to ever grace a microphone. I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't know what they tell you. I know you sold a lot of records. I know you sell out a whole bunch of tours, and I know just how successful you are. I have to be honest. You are horrible, man. I think he's a rat, but I feel like he just tries to prove that he's black too much for me. At almost every turn, Logic has found himself as the butt of a cultural joke, ridiculed for everything from his insistence on discussing his biraciality to his willingness to present himself as an open book to an inherently cynical audience. Logic has been written off by no shortage of fans over the years, but even as the world took from him with one hand, it gave with the other. Through it all, he's retained a passionate fan base that basically ensured that every time

that he dropped a record. It skyrocketed to the top of the charts, or at least that was the case until very recently when, after years of weathering PR disasters and public slides from others, Logic's stock appeared to take a noticeable drop. But before we get there, we need to look at when Logic's path through hip-hop began to veer off the norm. When he first came out of the gate, the MC was, for all intents and purposes, a traditional MC, and on his debut album, Under Pressure, he adhered to as many of the genre's origin story tropes as he could. As he later admitted to The Fader, the project was a case of looking at his perception of himself and wanting them, being the hip-hop buying audience, to like me, claiming that he'd been through things that can give me credibility. He initially decided to spotlight his rough upbringing, but over time, he decided to deviate from that in order to present a more robust picture of who he really is. When I let all that go and I was like

I'm an anime nerd, a Sci-Fi loving film-going mother that completely changed how open I was. The result of this would be his sophomore album, The highly conceptual, the incredible true story. And from there, logic had already begun to garner sideways looks from a genre which often, to its detriment, expects its mainstream artists to follow the template to the letter. However, it should be said that the warping of his public image didn't really result from this sci-fi oriented project. In fact, the anti-logic movement, which soon became rife in hip-hop, didn't really pick up steam until 2017's Everybody, at which point all of the niggling hang-ups that people seemed to nurture about him all came to a head in a way that would lead to that credibility he'd spoken of taking irreparable damage. For starters, attentive listeners began to see some glaring similarities in his rapping flow and lyrics to that of other artists. In the eyes of his defenders, logic was simply interweaving aspects of other

work into his own creative output in a way that mirrors his hero, film director Quentin Tarantino. But to others, what Logic engaged in was nothing short of blatant plagiarism. As while recreating shots to salute the movies that paved the way for your own distinct filmmaking is one thing, having the audacity to routinely steal elements from another artist's music or imagery within a culture that views biting as a cardinal sin is something else entirely. Over the years, the damning evidence began to mount up and will lead to videos such as Logic copying Kendrick Lamar for five minutes straight to be compiled. Likewise, he was accused of copying both contemporaries such as J. Cole and legends like Eminem. Elsewhere, the voice of Talia, which originated on The Incredible True Story and later provided context for songs on No Pressure, Bayer's startling resemblance to that which can be heard throughout A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders. But if there is any issue in regards to Logic apparently taking inspiration too far, it was his apparent theft to Joiner Lucas's

concept that eventually led to his biggest hit ever, the mental health awareness Anthem 1-800-273-8255. As Jordan Lucas said, this wasn't a case of coincidence, as Logic's manager had essentially acted as a spot and gave the idea directly to Logic after hearing what Joyner had been cooking up. Are you ready to hear things in a whole new way? Whether you're listening to your favorite podcast or playlist while working out, Raycon earbuds have you covered with optimized gel tips for the perfect in-ear fit. These earbuds are so comfortable, and they will not budge, trust me. They offer over eight hours of playtime and up to 32 hours of battery life, which comes in handy when we're editing our videos for hours and hours on end. Other features include the premium noise isolation and awareness mode for enhanced sound quality, which can be adjusted and customized to your liking, three customizable sound profiles, and easy tap function controls, which honestly put competitors to shame. Plus, with over 50

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In one of the more comical claims, Freddie Gibbs saw their parallel uses of religious iconography on the album covers for You Only Live Twice and Everybody Has Enough for him to tweet that white boy took that. While the accusation itself is definitely a stretch, the fact that Freddie felt sufficiently emboldened to go and demand an explanation from the white boy raises a larger question about Logic's place in the culture. Essentially, due to his persona, Logic had become a punching bag who could be off-handedly disrespected without fear of consequence, and in an industry that's fueled by machismo and asserting dominance, this might as well be fatal. In many ways, it was this perception of Logic that likely gave Joey Badass the green light to lie about being blinded by a solar eclipse to get out of his commitments to tour Rhythm. I just really wanted an excuse to be off the Logic tour, Joey later revealed. Blogs literally created a story, and I went with it because it was convenient for me at the time. Although he wasn't short on

haters' logic's positive impact can't be discredited, and over time, it was revealed that 1-800 had led to a massive increase in calls to the Prevention Hotline. But even then, the massive mainstream appeal of the track and being dubbed the voice of a generation by Ellen DeGeneres, of all people, likely did more damage than good. The same fans who had heard 1-800 and been like, This is amazing, this is so special, this is needed, were now the ones saying, This sucks, and he's too mainstream. He reflected in his autobiography, The most popular thing I'd ever done, the song that was going seven times Platinum, suddenly became the worst song Logic ever made. Suddenly faced with backlash from his own fans and the general disrespect of his peers, this was anything but ideal for someone who'd soon prove himself to be thin-skinned in a way that's simply not compatible with the intense criticism that comes with being an artist in hip-hop. Having shown that he could be willfully discredited

and mocked in a way that other MCS can't. Enabling this to fly with little more than the occasional gripe in an interview or a vague allusion to haters on wax has meant that this outlook on him has all but solidified over the years. And over time, he's found himself on the receiving end of some harsh words from some of the most barbed tongues in hip-hop. Let me be the first to tell you, I don't know what the hell Logic is talking about. I can assure you that nobody in this room has ever said, Man, you know who doesn't come up here? Logic. And that's not a diss, I'm just telling you, nobody cares. If I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't know what they tell you. I know you sold a lot of records, I know you sell out a whole bunch of tours, and I know just how successful you are. I have to be honest, you are horrible, man. While Button and Charlemagne shooting off at the mouth is nothing new, the

willingness to verbally tear logic limb from limb speaks to his reputation as an easy target. And while it may seem like kicking a man while he's down in the hyper-masculine realm of hip-hop, logic really only has himself to blame because once you allow the opinions of others to permeate your mind and form a part of who you are, it'll then be visible to the culture at large. And if we know anything about human nature, really, it's that when people are given free reign to take liberties, they will. As he revealed during an interview with Rob Markman, this is precisely what happened in regards to Charlemagne's conduct towards him. Rather than letting it go, logic allowed it to fester inside him and actively affect his life. When he basically kind of called me homophobic without even watching an interview, and for him to just out his mouth be like 'get your sister' like that, I actually held on to that for like six years, man. And I was like, 'this isn't healthy,' and I'm talking to my therapist about it.

Ain't that deep. Unsurprisingly, the same pattern of internalizing insults came into play when Joe Budden decided to level his scathing critiques in Bobby's direction. On that occasion, it even made such a dent in his confidence that it played a role in his decision to briefly retire from hip-hop. I really this and my heart rate explodes and I'm like, 'Oh my God,' and I go out and I'm at like the garden and everyone's like wrapping my lyrics, whatever, and I'm like, 'I'm a failure.' What I'm saying is at that moment, it was the height of me caring about what other people say. It was the height of people's opinions on me bearing deep into my heart and affecting my everyday, my everyday life. And after that, I was like, 'I can't do this anymore.' Known to have an extremely strained relationship with social media to the extent that he believes the internet was actually a much nicer place just a decade ago, Logic would announce his retirement from the game, signing off with July 2020's No Pressure, seen by

many as a triumphant swan song. The no ID-aided project shifted in emphatic 221,000 units and was only kept from the top spot by Taylor Swift, rounded off with a leap into the streaming world. Logic had suddenly cultivated more goodwill than he'd gotten from the industry in years. In fact, for the first time in a long time, it felt like he'd been able to escape with his head held high as he rode off into the sunset to go and be a father. And with that, Logic's legacy began to be seen with a greater level of goodwill than it had been given in years. Until less than a year on from his final album, he announced that he was returning to the game that he'd once claimed had driven him to the brink of a breakdown. In one Michael Jordan impersonating press release, Logic sacrificed the perfect storybook ending that he'd written for himself and, in doing so, opened himself up to the usual criticism once again. To make matters worse, he also began to discuss his past most hated.

projects and the questionable intentions behind them. No, but the funny thing is people didn't realize it was a satirical social experiment. LOL, he said of the widely hated Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. I win, and to this day the numbers show it is my most popular album, proving my point. Make a controversial album and people talk. I've never actually admitted this. Almost immediately, Logic's comments about his fifth record were contested by fans and critics alike, with some feeling angered by the fact that some of the tracks that they felt connected to were now being invalidated by the artist behind them. Meanwhile, while others saw it as nothing more than a case of trying to salvage the project's dubious reputation, with one Twitter user tweeting, So how do you explain Bobby Tarantino 3 being mid then? Is that another satirical social experiment? Combined with the decision to end his retirement in under a year, Logic's comments set the precedent that fans could no longer take anything that he says at face value. And considering that No Pressure was billed as his final

contribution to the culture of hip-hop. It can be hard to view any future albums with anything approaching the same degree of anticipation when it's likely that he'll drop another one within months. Sure enough, this predicament was epitomized by his 30-track strong comeback record, Vinyl Days, praised by longtime Logic critic Anthony Fantano. The record was actually regarded by many as a phenomenal return to his roots, which saw his strengths as an MC and a producer come to the fore. But in the wake of his retirement, Logic essentially killed off his momentum. As a result, his commercial appeal experienced a massive nosedive, as while his retirement album sold over 200,000 first week, Vinyl Days shifted just 28,000, garnering numbers which placed him below that of Kevin Gates's Casa, which was released the same week. While this next phase of his career will see him operating under the BMG imprint on a deal that likely made him a fortune, there's no denying that Logic has lost something which he simply can't regain once he renounced.

his place in the game at what had seemed like the perfect time. Logic's last-ditch effort to salvage his reputation and part ways on good terms became a relic of the past. Instead, he finds himself painted into a corner that was partially constructed by the perceptions of others, but that he also had an undeniable hand in crafting for himself through his own mismanagement of his career and his ill-fitting coping strategies to deal with things beyond his control. He faces an uphill battle if he ever hopes to claim her back to the highest heights of his early years with this new post-retirement career, and perhaps more pressingly, get the respect that he feels he deserves.

Logic: An Example of How to Kill A Rap Career

HipHopMadness

Logic has faced constant ridicule for his biraciality and open-book approach, yet he has maintained a passionate fan base that drives his success.

His debut album, "Under Pressure," followed traditional hip-hop tropes, but he later deviated to present a more diverse picture of himself.

The anti-Logic movement gained traction after his 2017 album "Everybody," leading to criticism over similarities in his rapping flow and lyrics to other artists.

Logic's filmmaking style, inspired by Quentin Tarantino, has drawn criticism for blatant plagiarism, with accusations of copying artists like Kendrick Lamar, J.

His use of similar imagery and concepts, particularly in relation to Joyner Lucas's work, led to his biggest hit, the mental health awareness anthem "1-800-273-8255.

" The mounting evidence of his alleged theft has turned the notion of his creative approach into a meme.

Freddie Gibbs accused Logic of copying religious iconography on their album covers, highlighting the rapper's perceived vulnerability in the industry.

Logic's mainstream success, particularly with the song "1-800," led to a backlash from fans and disrespect from peers, solidifying his negative reputation.

Despite his positive impact, Logic's thin skin and the intense criticism he faced made it challenging for him to navigate the hip-hop scene.

Logic's Struggle with Criticism and Self-Identity

Logic's tendency to internalize others' opinions has made him an easy target for criticism, particularly in the hip-hop industry.

He revealed that Charlemagne's and Joe Budden's scathing critiques deeply affected his confidence and contributed to his decision to briefly retire from hip-hop.

Struggling with the impact of social media, Logic announced his retirement from the music scene in July 2020 with the release of No Pressure.

Logic's Triumphant Return and Controversial Legacy

Logic's no ID-aided project achieved 221,000 units sold, gaining goodwill and a positive legacy before his retirement to become a father.

Less than a year later, he announced his return to music, opening himself up to criticism and controversially discussing his past projects.

His comments about his fifth record and the quick return from retirement led to mixed reactions from fans, making it difficult for them to take his words seriously.

Logic's Impact on Hip-Hop and His Career Struggles

Logic's recent comeback album, Vinyl Days, received praise for its return to his roots but failed to maintain his commercial momentum after retirement.

The album's poor sales compared to his previous work highlighted his lost appeal in the industry.

Now operating under a new imprint, Logic faces an uphill battle to regain his former status and the respect he desires.