Zuko Music Industry Theories for Success Vol. 15: Logics Hip Hop Sundae Theory

Lets begin: Logic, u know, u love. He is a rapper whos entire aesthetic is built around references/sampling/replicating modern music/film/art. This is a huge reason why some people love him and another huge reason why some people hate him. I want to dive into why that is...

This theory was one that Logic said in a recent interview with Fantano. Logics producer mentor No ID gave him some producing advice. Logic asked No ID “how do i get kanye drums,use kanye samples and make kanye hooks” NoID replied with a metaphor about an ice cream sundae

He said “you can make a sundae with chocolate sprinkles and chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup” “you have to use rainbow sprinkles, vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup” ie if your going to take influence it cant be from one person or else you’re a rip off

Logic has skated a fine line between flattery and plagiarism The ice cream metaphor didnt click in a young logics head although he was on his way to perfecting his collage method But his vagueness leaves the choice up to the listener whether is biting or not

His mixtapes were pretty clearly not developing his own sonic style rather honing his lyricism and rapping abilities over an assortment of beats, some from classic hip hop, some trendy, some original. Very leaning on the biting side but it cool, they’re mixtapes! And great ones!

Then we get to his debut Under Pressure. Where Logic has found his own as a writer but i believe is still lost with his sources. The SAMIDOT sample is pretty much copied on here “Thalia” the robot is copied from TCQ A lot of beats are sounding like his but his references arent

Fans got even more critical with his kendrick lamar inspired flow on TITS. His concept of Everybody was taken from a famous tumblr post. Even YSIV had some blatant rip offs but featured the ppl he is ripping off like ICONIC and Wu Tang Forever. This turned off a lot of listeners

Then we get to his two most hated albums Supermarket and COADM where fans/critics have been expecting to pull out something original yet he continues to pull blatant rip offs like the Can i Kick it chorus or the “Chicka chicka slim shady” on homicide with eminem

And also b4 we get to the end id like to point out logics view on sampling. Which is that he thinks anyone should be able to sample anything for free. Not sure if thats a good thought or not but it felt important to share

Then we get to the clicking of the sundae metaphor. His final album No Pressure. His references finally came off as references because he made so many original artistic statements around them. The Outkast sample on Man I Is is very tasteful, the roots sample was chopped...

...uniquely, same with toro y moi and the song topics are original as hell like Dad Bod. He slipped in his references more subtly and used them only to add to his bigger artistic vision. Its the album he was striving for but barely missed on UP. Logics artistry isnt in question!

While Logic is the best example of this there are MANY other offenders of missing the sundae theory. The Game has been known to blend in to the style of whatever rapper hes working with, Greta Van Fleet is guilty, and even Tyler wore his influence on his sleeve too much sometimes

The Lesson:
Its ok to reference and take influence. But YOUR originality has to come first. You have to find exactly what you love in others peoples art and take concepts or patterns rather than parts or sections. Mix and match your influences and make something new and yours

Let me know what you think about this theory, about Logic and his hyper use of references. Do you think taking styles is a style? Is there such thing as true originality? Is originality actually important? Does this thread suck?

Thanks for reading til next time

- Zuko