2/28/07
Los Angeles, CA
Great documentary. This documentary says what thousands and thousands of black people have been saying for years about commercial rap music. Which is that as it became commercialized, and as the target market became white, and the majority of the consumers became white, it turned into a modern-day minstrelsy show designed not to uplift or inspire the African American community, but to entertain and titillate the "white" community. That is where the money is and that is what ultimately directs the content of commercial corporate sponsered rap music. Ironically, when the smoke clears the young white male audience can just walk away, wondering 'what is wrong with black people?,' without taking any responsibility for the commanding role they play in destroying hip hop.
2/28/07
James Yarbrough
Columbus Ohio
I think one of the most telling aspects of the piece is when Mr. Hurt ask the Program Director for BET what he thinks the guy had nothing to say! Many of the artist that where interviewed in the piece know that they are perpetuating a stereotype but the money is just too much for them to overcome. I don't think they know just how the current culture of Hip Hop is hurting the future of many young black males trying to emulate this image. It hurts me to think that so many of my brothers are being manipulated by the corporate power structure thats creating an image that is helping to kill young black men. There is no counter balance and this is disturbing. Maybe we can study the past in order to forge a new direction for the future of so many young black males! PBS keep bringing these type of independent films through out the year not just Black history month.
2/28/07
Columbus, Ohio
I fully agreed with the issues regarding gangster rap. As far as these "beings" calling people bitches and hoes, I believe they are defining themselves to a T. What type of person would sellout their brothers and sisters, create a generation of murderous minded kids, and celebrate their own ignorance? That would be a Bitch.What kind of man bows down to what another man says is allowable for him to put out to his people, and can't stand his ground, but he will be rewarded handsomely by his pimp in corporate America? That would be a ho. All their bling bling they wear around their necks are truly their metals of dishonor. Yes once again in our longstanding history, have the we sold ourselves out for money. If we even knew how the brain worked and how words and images create vibrations of attraction to us, meaning as we think, speak and feel, so shall we become. Just 20 years ago we were breakdancing and rapping to positivity in the streets. Now through the words and images bombarded to our people by our people, we have manifested the same violent environment as these songs.
It amazes me that to find a way out of our situation, we always look to the white man's ways of doing things. You don't see Asians or any other race of people depending on America for their philosophy on life. We never seek the wisdom of our ancestors all the way back to Egypt when we were doing things that still can't be duplicated to this day. We keep relying on the foul destructive teachings of those who have always ruled over us as a people. These same laws of attraction are used against us and have had a detrimental effect upon a generation of kids who aren't wise enough to discern between an illusion and trying to imitate it.
What does the pimp in corporate America say? How can we destroy a generation of people and make sure they stop procreating by discouraging them from their own god given women? Let's use only the biggest fools and make them think what they have to say is of utmost importance, only if it is within our guidelines of violence against their whole race and it sells like hotcakes. And of course, the weakest willed answer the call. Like a prostitute on the street, he gyrates and grinds for his pimp. Puts himself out in front while the pimp works behind the scenes. He says he does this for money and to raise his kids and feed his family as he creates a violent destructive environment for his kids to grow up in. Real smart
This is just another form of mass genocide only, these weak mutants are getting paid handsomely. I'm surprised they are homophobic, being that usually any love shown is for a select few of their boys as they spew hatred and murder at the rest. The hatred they speak and perpetuate towards women is so completely unnatural, that I wouldn't be surprised if they themselves aren't on the down low, because as one thinks, so shall he be.
2/28/07
Kelly Coles
Enfield Ct
I regularly enjoy Independent Lens. I understand the angle taken with "Beyond beats and rhymes". We all know that more than 90% of the hip hop artists are African American. But to only look at what affects it has had on "black men" in todays society is incorrect if you ask me. The industry likes to talk black and white to the camera. The truth is it is unconsciously only a financial division of the American people. The less educated, the poor. Do you think that hip hop of today really has much impact on the African American Wall Street worker's son? I'm sure the kid may listen to it. But At one point being raised in that culture I am sure the son likes the sound but has been taught there are better and more successful ways than thugging it. And understands this is showbiz and unrealistic.Never crossing his mind to engage in this behavior as an adult. The blue collar kid is bedazzled by the dollar sign, sucked in, and brain washed. But what wasn't really mentioned in this film. is that it's not really a black or white thing. It's economic divide. These videos and lyrics affect the poor white kid equally as much as the poor black kid. When you are trained in school from early on that you will amount to nothing, you begin to look to TV and movies (usually the only look at the rest of the world you have), as to what your next step will be in life. I do not blame necessarily TV, Music, or Movies promoting such discuss. I blame a society that has neglected to be there for the child. Black or white. Somewhere in the last 30 years we did something very wrong in raising them. Morals went out the window. Standing up for what is right is gone. Being there for your fellow man is foreign to our youth. And I have seen just as much in black as in white, Puerto Rican, etc. We must blame ourselves, and our parenting. I live in the ghetto. Have since I became a parent. But do you think my children are being taught they have to be damaging to society to be rich? Do you think I place MTV on in my home at all in front of my children?
2/28/07
Christ
Tacoma, Wa
I want to say that your documentary is a start to awaking a sleeping giant. My hope is that the world will listen. It is not just hip hop that is influencing the generation of today it is all types of music. Are you a man because you own a gun? Are you man because you sleep with alot of women? Do you really want to do rape, or be raped, fight, steal or kill? Do you really want to do drugs? These are some of the questions you want to ask yourselves? I was coming out of the grocery store the other day, when I saw a female in her car with her two sons, Blasting Rap music. The speech in the music was alot of swearing, and degrading women,drinking, and drugs. Do we really want our children listening to unloving and disrespectful lyrics just because the Bass is hard? You know most of us listen to the music because of the bass... What are we teaching our children. I know that when I was younger I used to listen to hip hop (rap) music. It was nothing like it is today. If you listen to
80's Rap early LL cool J, Run DMC. It wasn't all about gang violence, sex and drugs. I agree the beats are great dance beats. But we need to think about the children, the next government, the next rulers of the world. Stop thinking of our selves and start thinking of the world in whole. Look at the news. If we keep the influence, that we portray in the music and video entertainment.Where will the world be in the future? Self destruction?
Why won't people listen? Have people forgotten about GOD? Is the devil winning? How do you want your children to grow up? Is it all about the money, sex, and power? Think about this it can all be taken away in an instant! God has given you a gift use it wisely.
2/27/07
KEVIN JORDAN
SEATTLE,WA
First and foremost,bravo to a job well done in this documentary,Second to Mr Russell Simmons,you are a hypocrite,and a sell-out.You say"I can't pick every issue to support" then why did you care more about KFC chickens,and PETA,than the blatant exploitation of beautiful African Women.And to Mr Hill of BET I say as 47yr old father,and a strong God fearing black man,your channel has been one dimensional for years now and is blocked in my home.
2/27/07
James Denson
Chula Vista, California
Bismi'Llah ar Rahman ar Rahim. This was a very good documentary. The thing that made me think was the fact when they said people don't want to hear " Positive " rap is untrue. Totally untrue there are many people out tired of this phony commercial hip hop, tired of this whole show off thing. Its old already but these corporate guys at the top of the chain don't care what we think. Nothing that i hear from todays commercial rappers such as Snoop, Busta, 50, Dr Dre, Eminem, Nelly and all these one hit wonders have nothing positive. What happened to the Malcolm X's. There is a such thing as positive music such as Immortal Technique, Mujahideen Team now that is real hip hop. You aren't hip hop because you have bling bling, so many cars, so many girls.That doesn't make you hip hop. Like Immortal Technique says " If your so hip hop, try moving your moms out the hood with your Ryhmes..." I know how the Music Business side of it goes, i under stand that all these artist are getting pretty much JACKED. If you don't sell the label is going to drop at the drop of a dime. It's getting old and ridiculous what type of commercial hip hop is out there. It shouldn't even be called hip hop, because it's not. I'm tired of MTV, BET , VH1, Fox, ABC, NBC the 4th branch of the gov. They are running what we watch. A bunch of garbage daily. From how we dress to eat, it's all garbage. People act like getting a record deal is the coolest thing. We need more Malcolm X's. It is true the record labels only want what sells. Being a convert to Islam, has helped me see how corrupt and disgusting are society is. I used to be out in the clubs thinking this music is cool B*tch this B*tch that.. drinking, smokin weed, ice this ice that. Now i realized how fake it is. But it doesn't take Islam to figure it out. It takes common sense. There so much i can say but i must finish.Thanks for your time, thank you for this documentary, we need more people like this putting the truth out there, Joshua Lopez
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
|
