audiences as a whole doesn't care much about authenticity or how hard someone is. They care about how good the music is. I believe mitchy is definitely talented, but rap itself hasn't really proved to be an intellectual breeding ground. I think rap has to grow up soon or it just going to burn out(there seems to be early signs of this). Don't get it twisted, i am a huge rap fan, but things have to change at some point. We need to be more proud of rappers who don't commit crimes to prove their music is 'real', stay smart and take pride that you have something to make money off of that isn't stealing or selling drugs. But also, i believe that the west coast almost as a whole is very neglected not only dago. Rappers/producers need to start focusing on the music (mitchy def is focused on lyrics tho) and start looking to different influences other than the same shit we've been hearing since the early 90's. Sorry if i am rambling/misreading your post. But shit, can you imagine if Duke Ellington was trying to prove how hard he was by taking pics with of himself with guns and blunts for his myspace friends? Pretty sure he wouldn't even have the time to compose his great music.