Guilty Pleasures

I try hard to avoid characterizing things as guilty pleasures, if only because I believe in being unrepentant about what you enjoy, and because I believe the term sets up a false distinction between high and popular art.  But this Gucci Mane-Usher joint, "Spotlight," definitely qualifies.



I want not to like this.  Gucci Mane is an utterly absurd stage name.  The lyrics are semi-offensive: trust me, it's not a compliment to tell a girl that if she was a hooker you'd have to pay up because she is just so fly, and that doesn't even get into some of the creepy physical descriptions.  But I am genetically incapable of resisting an Usher hook.  And while I think Gucci could work on articulating his lyrics a bit more (I listen to hip-hop for the words people), he's got a really pleasant, bouncy flow.  And the video's surprisingly sweet: dudes don't tend to portray themselves as looking that depressed when they split from a girl, or that gratified when they get her back.