Logic Walks Away

Yesterday, Logic released what he’s calling his last album. He announced on all his social media  accounts that he’s retiring from rap, and No Pressure is his final project. I’ve grown suspicious of announced retirements and whether they indicate a true end to a career or an extended break.If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that the more ceremonious the retirement, the less permanent it tends to be. Still, the idea of leaving the public eye for a life of privacy is a powerful one.

When guys like Jay-Z, Kobe, and Dwyane Wade retired from their professions, they announced it. They turned the event into a farewell tour, and in the case of the athletes, they used it to mask diminishing skills. I see it now as less of a retirement and more of a transition. They want you to reflect on what they’ve done and follow them into whatever their next venture may be. All three transferred their popularity into their next phase and showed that not only do they relish the attention, they just might need it.

The real retirements are the ones we don’t always see coming. In the NBA, look at Dirk and Tim Duncan. They didn’t announce their departures far before they happened. They played their last games and bowed out shortly after, and we’ve barely heard from them since. It’s been similar with rappers Andre 3000 and Mos Def. They didn’t need to make an announcement. We just looked around one day and realized they weren’t releasing music, and were barely doing shows. That’s retirement. A real break from the industry and no sign that you’ll ever return to the regular schedule.

It’s important to remember that Logic is a different dude. He’s made it a point to describe how fame and fortune don’t suit him as well as others. His music has illustrated how much he regrets missing out on key moments with friends and family and he keeps a low profile when not recording or on tour. It seems that is what inspired his decision to commit fully to his new marriage and fatherhood.

This might be it for the 30-year old MC, so, here’s hoping that all he needs is a break from the spotlight to remember why he began rapping in the first place. In a time where thoughtful content at the commercial level is becoming harder to find, I look forward to the day his brand of rap returns.