2/27/07
Ayeashia
Philadelphia, PA
Sometimes i have talks with guys around the age of 22-30 and i always caught myself wondering why they thought that Biggie and Tupac were the best rappers. i am 25yrs old and i grew up in the times when they were alive and none of the things they spoke of really related to me. i mean i listened to their songs and liked a lot of them but there was so much violence and hatred towards their own kind. in my generation i also noticed that "God Forbid" someone say something negative about Jay-Z and guys will fight you down. Jay-Z isn't gods gift to hip-hop. While watching this special i realized that i have no idea what hip-hop is anymore. I also was a little mad at the people from spell man college for the way they acted towards Nelly. He was coming there for a good reason to help people and others. if i was him i wouldn't want to come there either because this is not about my music this is about helping people. The fact that people think that women shaking there ass on tv is wrong the truth of the matter is that is the jobs they choose. I wonder how they could do that but that is how they make money and you cant judge them by saying these women are degrading themselves they have to live with that not us. I don't see a difference between those women and Beyonce. The only difference to everyone else is what???? This is her song??? I mean what is the real difference she dances around half naked shaking her ass as well, so why is it no picket lines or anything posted outside where she goes for her degrading herself? I mean Patty LaBelle or Stefanie Mills didn't do that they showed her talent and that was enough. Point blank sex sells, guns sells, and violence sells because it is always placed around every where we look because people say that "This is how we live" and not everyone lives like that. White people don't learn anything from what we talk about in rap songs they just look at us like we are fools cause we are acting like crime is the way to go. I have no idea what my sons generation is going to be like but i cant see it getting any better.
2/27/07
W. Don McCary
Carrollton, Texas
This show was quite sobering; no it was disturbing! Not in the sense of the negative being sensationalized but in the whole of this so-called "Hip Hop" culture so eagerly exploiting our young men and women for riches, wealth and fame. Choices made completely and utterly devoid of consideration of consequences or responsibility. Most distressing, was coming to the realization that the "fuel" or whole of Hip-Hop culture is NOT just Black youth but many other (name any color) youth. Even more insidious, Hip-Hop culture includes whole industries their executives and their stockholders! Mind you this industry is built on the backs (or should I say skin) of our young black women and men, singularly and treacherously fueled by economic gain!
To say that Hip-Hop is art imitating life is disingenuous. Significant segments of Hip-Hop culture have degraded to a commercialized and commodities shell of its former self! This is not much different than slavery or indentured servitude at best.King's Dream Is about Opportunity and Choice........... Intelligent, informed, and inspire Choices!
2/27/07
Tiffany Nurbecci
Washington, DC
I am so happy someone created this film. So many African Americans fall victim to hip hop culture, which is often dubbed African American culture, because they don't understand or see the consequences. I myself a 18 African American female was struggling all this year with the way others perceived me. I was so angry at all the stereotypes that were, are and will forever be put on me because of rap and thug culture. But i never saw that big of an effect. My mom told me that but i thought it was an over exaggeration but after watching this i know she was serious. I'm really glad this is out here for all to see. Understanding is the first step to solving any problem. This helped my to understand some things and I wish they would show this at my school.
2/27/07
Reggie Alston
Washington, DC
After watching your documentary I was thoroughly impressed with the depth of your analysis. As someone who grew up listening to Hip Hop and whose life was changed by Public Enemy and their mention of Black leaders, I too find myself sadden by the fact that young people today are not seeing the same images I saw in Hip Hop as a youth; images that serve to empower rather than destroy images that serve to educate rather than dumb down our people and struggle. I really wish that our Black groups and organizations such as the NAACP, the Urban League and others worked to correct this problem rather than worrying how many Black shows are on NBC this upcoming fall. If we cannot create our own positive images we can no longer blame others. We are our own worse enemy, and as a man, a husband and a new father I am standing up and saying NO MORE. I welcome a serious dialog with any of these so called hip hop stars that sell poison to our young people though their lyrics and I guarantee when shown real men they will recognize their errors. Real men create, they don't destroy, real men support their women they don't them tear down, real men help the communities they live in and the people they represent, they don't sell them out for a platinum chain and a new sports car. We need the light to shine and remove the darkness so that we as a people may rise. Thank you and God Bless!
2/27/07
Rita Clarke
Redford, MI
I thought this documentary was excellent. I can't say as it changed my perception but it did broaden my understanding. I live in the Detroit area so I see the hip-hop influence a lot. I am in business with many men who are Christian and they strive to be God-ly men. They work hard to provide for their wives and families. They are convicted of their faith. And they stand strong in their values. To me that's positive - no matter the income level or race. As far as negative representations go, I think anytime bad behavior is glamorized - it's a shame. And sadly, it happens all the time in our society. At what point does good behavior get rewarded publicly? Not that I think you should walk your walk just to be recognized but when will we celebrate the people who give back? The many-year anniversaries? The good work ethic? Maybe that explains why so many look to a "thug" lifestyle - because it gets rewarded more than an honorable lifestyle.
As far as M.A. Neal's comment goes, it's proof positive that most everything is about the bottom line. Personally, I get tired of hearing songs about hate, violence, giving up, getting drunk, getting laid, painting women as objects, etc. And that goes for ANY type of music. I can't remember the last time I heard a hip-hop song about something positive. Or is there one? That's a shame, too, really.
I don't really know what the answer is for the less conventional genres to gain more exposure - whatever the music style is. I can say as an example, Christian music has become a lot more contemporary and is only becoming more recognized as of lately. Maybe it's a case of going grass roots (making your own CDs, getting small venues, creating websites, blogs, et al) to get the message out. Or maybe it's just standing your ground and letting time do it's thing (if you can do that). Being proactive I think is about the only way to go.
2/27/07
Sherman Oaks, California
Being born and raised in South Bronx I have witnessed and was personally involved in the whole being "cool" act(impression management). Many inner city males need to present themselves as being "cool" in order to have some sense of identity. Much of the hip-hop culture need to find other more effective means of establishing social competence, self-esteem, and pride in themselves. They need to be not so one - dimensional. Adolescents want to feel accepted, and unfortunately one of the needs to conform involves hip-hop "cool" behaviors that are not "cool." Hip-hop behaviors, attitudes etc... will get you no-where in society. Outside of the hip-hop arena there is no substance to these artists etc... they have limited their ability and energy to impressing others by acting "cool." They have become their facades. Potential and growth are negatively affected as experiences that could help expand personal, social, and political awarenesses are thwarted. Jails and prisons are full of "cool" folk because that's where they eventually wind up if they continue being "cool", and "bad." Anti-social personality disorder is the appropriate psychological diagnosis for many who conform to hip-hop values and behaviors. If they're not dead, they're in jail, and if they're not in jail they're addicted to drugs or become alcoholics. Been there, done that. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to any of your future programs etc.. Thank you for getting your message out there, and for trying to affect positive change in the world of the hip-hop culture.
2/27/07
Richard Nance
Taylors, SC
At the risk of sounding like some type of religious fanatic, the answer to the negative influence of hard core Hip Hop is Jesus Christ and Hip Hop Gospel. Just ask those who embraced the Faith that use to be heavily into Hip Hop: KRS-One, Salt from Salt-N- Pepper, Mase, Run from Run DMC, and many others. Artists like the D.A. Truth, those of Cross Movement, and T-bone just to name a few are the new pioneers of the Gospel’s answer to Hard core Hip Hop. And who better to teach ALL men how to come out the corruptive influence hard core Hip Hop than his Creator. It’s been already proven those who truly embrace the Faith can still be successful in the music industry doing it for the glory of God. Their influence can defuse the negative imagery that those who represent Hip Hop today by displaying the agape live the GOD has for us all but many don’t get to experience because they don’t know Christ or don’t take the Faith seriously. But those in Hip Hop Gospel have embrace this change, man’s true purpose to love one another as God loves us and don’t have to be concerned with trying to portray some iron like image that pollutes the mind set of our youth today.
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