“I come to appreciate just the level of suffering that thug came from.” – Killer Mike. That tells a lot right there. One, that it gives him the odds on being truly authentic. If you can come out of desolation and be productive with truly artistic output, shit, you win. Second, if you can come out of that desolation being so truly unique as an individual that you’re making a new market for a product that didn’t exist before because it’s all baked into your persona, then, again, you win MF. Being the way he is and not giving a fuck is the result of and in reaction to the suffering and desolation. There’s mad creativity there but don’t fall in love with it. It usually breaks MF’s. But once in awhile it creates shine. Like tectonic pressure making a diamond.