Examining Hip-Hop Culture

Nelly made the analogy of not cutting the weeds, that's what some artist lyrics in hip hop are in my opinion, at the surface but to pull them from the roots. I too do not allow my children to watch MTV or BET because the videos are poison. Yes I can control what my children watch but what do I do when I need to go school shopping for my daughter and everthing is short, low-rising and sluty. Hip-Hop is influential and as an black woman I am sick and tired of the horrible lyris and hoish videos!

Claudine Lamb, Kansas City, MO
Friday, June 29, 2007

I watched the hip-hop nation's birth through the lives of my three sons. There have been many changes since this form of music was introduced into the culture. Over the years when my sons were living at home I took time to listen to what they were into. Some of the messages were/are very counterproductive against black peoples well being period. I also heard various artist who still voiced the messages of pride, concern and responsibility. It is unfortunate that many of them do not receive mainstream airplay.

I have also worked with the babies of the nation in my classroom. It is interesting to see how many parents beam with pride when their son or daughter can imatate the moves of video babes or rap a set of totally inapprorpiate lyrics out loud on one hand and fail to see that their child is not being pushed to be proficient with learning foundational tools for their education. It still makes me angry when I think about the numerous children who are being fed a steady diet of "ear smack" as development nourishment for their minds and self-image.

I still believe that it is up to the elders and the hip-hop nation to respond to those images that do not promote the best for ourselves.

I have no doubt that the white male influence that rules the industry is in full operation. I feel that a lot of the video imagery that is used to promote songs is based on some of the same stereotypical myths that have been black peoples lot in America. The belief that we are still a people who lack any the ability to be law abiding and socially restrained as members of this society has just been re-mixed to suit the times. When haven't we had to shoulder the belief that we are a group of people who cannot be counted on to behave in socially acceptable ways. It seems that the artists who promote their music by using counterproductive messages have an identity crisis as members of the race.

Deborah Latham-White, Columbus, OH
Thursday, July 26, 2007

Don Imus criminally attacked an entire women's college basketball team. Rappers talk mess but not to anyone directly...that is the difference...Don Imus' remarks, with his producer in the Amen corner, was intended to hurt, insult, cripple, diminish...and only recently did I realize he accomplished his goal...my little cousin came to visit...she's 23...she asked me why black women, particularly young black women were fair game for these attacks and why young black women trying hard to accomplish goals and dreams were targets of disrespect...she wanted to know what did young black women do to garner so much disrespect...she has quit college because of it...I am devastated because not only did black women, like Harriett Tubman, prove to be so vital to abolition and thousands other black women to subsequent civil rights and anti-apartied successes (I myself was an NAACP minuteman at 12 years old "swimming in" pools that white people poured acid in, being dragged out of "white only" establishments...I cooked Breakfast for School Children for the Black Panther Party, standing up against the brutal and oppressive Kansas City, MO Police Department), but we have supported brothers in all of their efforts and now we feel helpless because no one is defending us, particularly our young black women...all the rappers are defending their positions as to what kind of ho's they are talking about.

The reality is that young sisters are being grabbed and fondled everywhere they go, raped, even CHILD molested and in the islands I received an email that a recent college graduate, 21 years old, was attacked by a man she rejected and was chopped to death in broad daylight in public, having her head dismembered from her body. Somehow a message has been sent that from infancy, we black women are disposable playthings for masculine pleasure...I have to come to the brothers and ask you what young sisters have done, especially with our history of heroics internationally, to garner this disrespect and unpunished criminal attacks?? Also, what are the brothers going to do to correct this? Are you going to leave us hanging like you used to hang from tall oak trees?

Saun Hytche, Tulsa, OK
Thursday, April 19, 2007

I think many have lost the concept of words and the impact that they have on others. Sticks and stones may break my bones and yes words will hurt. When you are aware of the power of your words, many times out of respect you digress for the sake of unity. When did disrespecting black women become a part of the norm? Rappers as one would call it-rappers are divided into two class- we have first class, second class. Now the old school hip-hop rappers the ones that promoted hip-hop without the Whores Bitches -yet were from the hard core streets is someone I can respect these are the first class rappers. These were people that were socially aware of their lyrics. But the second class rappers are the ones that also came from the hard core streets that have lyrics that promote death, destruction, drugs, and degrading women. What happened over the years? If you are speaking about experience most of the rappers do come from hard core backgrounds so what separates the first class from the second class?

There has been a great exchange of money in the place of souls. One will lose his soul to gain fame and money if the price is right. Talk about sell out- the second class rappers has sold their souls to the devil himself for the exchange of the dollar bill. The dollar bill has no respect of person when put in the wrong hands-the hands of greed. If you ask most rappers how far they would go for the dollar bill-don't be surprise, most would tumble off a bridge straight into speeding traffic for the right price. But in saying all of this why have WE as the Black Community- tolerated these lyrics over the airwaves? We have allowed our kids to purchase these CD'S and have them stored in the home. So what is the big uproar over Imus and his comments? Imus words are just as degrading as the rappers, but we get so twisted in a frenzy about Imus comments alone because he's a white man-ooh how racist... If we are going to be a people of standard than we must stand for right even in our (black men) face's and confront him as we do the white man.

No one is exempt from being confronted of his/her wrong. Snoopy Dog made a disturbing comment as if it's okay for him to degrade black women-he must be sucking on a retarded stick- to make such comments to justify his ignorance. What ever happen to the fabric of a man's integrity? This should be the question that rappers should be searching for.

Lisa Price, Kennesaw, GA
Thursday, April 19, 2007

I am all for people expressing themselves through hip hop, but damn every song doesn't have to call a woman a bitch, hoe, or other degrading words and all that excessive violence is so unnecessary.

Faye Hallingquest, Aiken, SC
Tuesday, April 17, 2007

For me, the problem with Imus' words is the scary attitude that they mirror. Why is it that for every black person who has asked me if I were a teacher, there has been a white male who solicited me for prostitution? I am a librarian. This outburst is merely that latest installment of the mind-set reflected in the African-American adage, "No matter what we achieve as a people, we are never viewed or treated any better than our lowest common denominator." WHY? Why did a public commentator choose a defining moment in the lives of impressionable adolescent African-American girls, to reduce us yet again, to the level of prostitute?

We are living in a new millennium and still, black and white Americans are vastly ignorant about black people, history and culture. The words and views of people like Imus reflect the kind of perceptions that have a profound effect on my quality of life: how I am viewed during a job interview, what it was like when I purchased my first home, and most recently, a little something funny that happened when I tried to rent an apartment. While I believe in the laws of a country that allows people to say whatever they want out loud, I am also grateful for the outcry that affords me some degree of protection in a country that has a long way to go before fulfilling my right to full citizenship or even in extending the simplest courtesy of a congratulations to an award-winning group of black women.

P.S. From ragtime, to jazz, to gangsta' rap (excluding the more enlightened hip-hop), African-Americans have always been in the forefront speaking out against black musical forms and performers whom they felt perpetuated ignorance and lowered the race. An estimated 70% to possibly 80% of rap music is purchased by American whites and the US makes up only 10% of the world-wide rap music CD market. If Europe hadn't embraced Louis Armstrong or Josephine Baker (shunned by African-Americans during their times) their music would have never been as widely known. Hip-Hop accounts for only a portion of the hundreds of kinds of black music that we create and listen to world-wide. Whether an old English street rhyme or a riff tossed from an urban street corner, young people's ditties and raps have never been clean. The difference is that English publishers had the power to uplift their culture in the eyes of the world by distributing Shakespeare; while we as black people must watch as the American Music Industry (black and white) makes its millions from hocking the newest form of minstrelsy.

Philecia Harris, Washington, DC
Monday, April 16, 2007

Do any of these rappers think about the consequences of the "N" word? That's the word Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Harriett Tubman, Martin L. King, and many other of our great LEADERS dedicated their lives to raise above. Living in Germany I have learned so much about my "American Culture" just to realize that what the Europeans know has nothing to do with ME!! They consider us Americans but don't realize we will never be American. Separate but Equal will always be a part of Afro American history. These rappers might have BLING BLING but in a large portion of the USA they are just "A NIGGER WITH MONEY!!"

Brian Hardaway, Nuernberg, Germany
Monday, April 16, 2007

Thank you, Don Imus. You've given us (black people) an excuse to avoid our real problem.

You've given Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson another opportunity to pretend that the old fight, which is now the safe and lucrative fight, is still the most important fight in our push for true economic and social equality.

You've given Vivian Stringer and Rutgers the chance to hold a nationally televised recruiting celebration expertly disguised as a news conference to respond to your poor attempt at humor.

Thank you, Don Imus. You extended Black History Month to April, and we can once again wallow in victimhood, protest like it's 1965 and delude ourselves into believing that fixing your hatred is more necessary than eradicating our self-hatred.

The bigots win again.

While we're fixated on a bad joke cracked by an irrelevant, bad shock jock,

I'm sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat of 50 Cent's or Snoop Dogg's or Young Jeezy's latest ode glorifying nappy-headed pimps and hos.

I ain't saying Jesse, Al and Vivian are gold-diggas, but they don't have the heart to mount a legitimate campaign against the real black-folk killas.

It is us. At this time, we are our own worst enemies. We have allowed our youths to buy into a culture (hip hop) that has been perverted, corrupted and overtaken by prison culture. The music, attitude and behavior expressed in this culture is anti-black, anti-education, demeaning, self-destructive, pro-drug dealing and violent.

Rather than confront this heinous enemy from within, we sit back and wait for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue and make the mistake of repeating the things we say about ourselves.

Paul, J., NY, NY
Sunday, April 15, 2007

I am a native NY'er ( Brooklyn) and grew up in the Golden Age of Rap. I remember certain songs like "Wake Up" by Brand Nubian, "Black Woman" by the Jungle Bro's and "Ladies First" by Queen Latifah, "You Must Learn" by KRS-One. They were all conscious songs by artists with great talent that made me proud. As a HS student these were just the messages I needed to hear. Now as a teacher my students come in singing "I'm in Love with a Stripper" and "Meet me in the Trap- It's going down." It saddens me that now more than ever money is the prime motivator for the garbage that these rappers put out now. It has been several years since I have purchased anything related to hip hop. These artists see no moral or social responsibility to the junk they put out. Yet it sells millions. I believe we need to boycott the industry until it cleans up its act. We also need for young Black women and men to stop being in the videos and to discontinue the support of their music, videos, and movies and any other money making venues accessible to them. The other post was correct in saying that hip hop is not responsible for the destruction, I think it is clear cut evidence for the destruction and a prime example of what slavery and that continued mentality has done to us and what we continue to do to ourselves.

Simone, Atlanta, GA
Sunday, April 15, 2007

Every American has a responsibility, whether they are of African or European descent...Number one, as an American- to respect, honor and uphold decency. The problem that is coming to light, in more ways than one, on a national level - is in my opinion what non-Americans have been observing for years in our country. Anything Goes, as long as we profit monitarily from it. Of course, that's the American way, right? This "Imus" situation is not simply indicating a racial divide; it shows we have lost our Decency, as Americans; something that we have lost in our most recent generation. We, as Americans are chasing higher economics and personal gains, simply at any cost (no matter the cost, and it's a great one). It appears, when it comes to making money- whether, Black or White - no one, but no one, has respect for women, children, the elderly, or anything in between. We need to get back to values; or figure out what our values are today, accept a common decent ground and work from there.

A Viewer, Hammond, IN
Sunday, April 15, 2007

I strongly believe Hip Hop is the worst thing that could happen to black people becuase it sets us back 200 years and the only reason it is allowed on public TV is to degrade us in the open. One more thing I might add that I speak for a lot of black people who feel Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are no body black people consider black leaders. However Don Imus is a klansmen from way back and he finally spoke his mind and the only reason this whole ordeal is blown out of proportion is because black people are the one race when talking about consumer wise. So corporate america feels threatened that they will loose money by Imus' little comment so they dropped him finally. Imus is a millionaire off of previous statements about blacks and jews so who really cares.

Reginald Vanstory, Norwich CT
Saturday, April 14, 2007

I like Rap Music that has a positive message. With this in mind, I think about Public Enemy who made (make) very socially conscious music--music that causes one to think. Of course, music, like any other form of expression, often reflects what people see in their daily lives whether positive or negative. At any rate, no one should say, do, write, or sing anything that will degrade others or oneself. All people, to some extent, walk around with preconceived opinions or notions about others who do not look or act like them. I am guilty of this at times. We, as the human race consisting of ethnicities, must treat each other with dignity, respect, and love. Individually, each of us must have self-respect in everything we say and do.

Dexter, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Hip hop is simply about thinking. If you want to sell records, you're going to put up some of the same old commercial garbage. That's the problem. "Conscious" artists are about challenging people, forcing them to think and improve their situation - collective thought. It's as simple as that, but at the same time not so simple, because most of the people who dig hip hop are living hard. Peace and respect to those who share the love for the advancement of awareness.

Brent Wallace, Lamoni, IA
Friday, April 13, 2007

Thank you for a easy format to speak. Today we saw what happens when the market place applies financial pressure to a radio or television station.

So now, we should go after the media vehicles which promote emotional and mental genocide toward black women overall and other women as well. Women bring forth life to the world. We should be cherished not torn down and spoke to or spoke about like trash.

Its time to take a new direction with our creative expression and still make money, and do something else with your money besides buying bling!!! and cars. Bling and cars say nothing to your character.

A Viewer, San Gabriel, CA
Thursday, April 12, 2007

Whether you are talking about hip hop or gangsta' rap, what I hear missing in most of the music is Hope. Today, in an interview Snoop Dogg said in response to calling women hoes is that he is speaking of the scheming women from the hood some men deal with. So this grown man feels a need to include these negative women in most of his songs! That's the kind of comment I'd expect from a man who appears in so many "Girls Gone Wild" tapes and who enjoys the image of the ageing Pimp and Mac Daddy. It's all about the money! Don't these wannabe hood "poets" know that there have always been "loose" women and pimps in any neighborhood, but no one felt a NEED to glorify them in song after song. If it was vital to our community Motown and other music labels would have done so long before all of you came along!

We've always had it hard, but even on the plantation our songs were about Hope and the Promise of a brighter day for our people and the next generation. Old school music focused on love for one another (Smokey, Gladys, etc.) and social issues (Marvin Gaye - What's Going On, War, Gil Scott Heron, Curtis Mayfield - Movin' On Up, etc.) That music, our churches, our belief in God, our families, and our communities is what lead us to action and change, to Success for our civil rights and educational opportunities. If all we were fed back then was the gangsta' mantra of killing, shot first, sex, drugs, money and cars, we'd still be sitting in the back of the bus, full of despair and bitterness at our plight in life. I agree with so many of the messages posted on this site about our need to wake the hell up, push for meaningful music (and there are some TRUE talented urban poets out there who need to be heard) and get rid of these no talent bums who simply put 'cuss words to a beat and shake their butts at a camera. No other ethnic group still uses the derogatory words given them by other groups in movie, song or t.v., so why do we? Our future generations are counting on us to put them on the right path. I'm doing what I can, you do what you can and together, like in the past, we can become one united front for action and positive change for our people.

Anita
Thursday, April 12, 2007

The real point in this whole thing about Don Imus is that he speaks basically what the majority of the world thinks about African American women. African American women are disrespected in every level of life in our homes, jobs, and even in our churches. As for the culture- Blacks don't really have a culture- just a certain way of life that we try to survive in. But, perhaps I have lived in a box all my life.

But for many African Americans to say "Rap" music is the black man and woman's culture, is ridiculous. It has never defined me as a black person, nor have I ever felt the need to indulge my intellectual mind in succumbing to its lyrics, except with utter contempt. But it seems there is a certain majority of black women (those who like to be fondly called, "video ho's") and those who seemingly take to being called, "bitches and ho's". What are we as black women who are trying to live our lives with respect and dignity to say or think about all this? Especially when our own black men disrepect us, and have no desire to protect us from such remarks by persons like Imus or even those who make the rap videos? But instead, write these lyrics, produce the undesirable videos, and buy them. And even sit around and play them to their small children. Yet we have a single problem with Imus. Let's be real. Imus as lame as his reason for doing what he did, he did it because the audience he has feels the same way and he felt right at home by displaying the act.

Even those who are running for President, like John McCain, etc., all said they would return to Imus' show again. What does that tell you? Racism in America is accepted and widely demonstrated not that it has ever ended.

In order for these types of atrocities to stop against African Americans as a People, we first must understand "WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE" and start portraying our true worth to the world. Again, Don Imus is not the problem- we are ourselves. Why? Because we refuse to get the picture that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others such as Dr. W.E.B. Dubois wanted us as a people and the world to know- We are beautiful, intelligent, talented and gifted individuals. We have a lot to offer the world, and it is not just playing sports and dancing. But we have intellectual minds that need opportunity in order to be a part of this great world to exist as great influential contributors to society and not people who should be degraded.

In closing, by pointing fingers at Don Imus alone is wrong, for he alone is not the problem but we as the world are. We all share in the sense that we as humanity have become truly desensitized to racial hatred, and cruelty when it is perpetrated against the innocent (whoever they maybe) as a whole.

Anunka Amalya, Durham, NC
Thursday, April 12, 2007

RESPECT YOURSELVES SO OTHERS WOULD RESPECT YOU

A Viewer
Thursday, April 12, 2007

There is a severe problem. I discuss it with my girlfriends all of the time. What did blackwomen do to blackmen to make you guys hate us so much? This is the way it appears. So why should another culture care what they call us, we act like we don't care.

Have our brothers sold us out for a dollar? Did we sisters sell our dignity for a dollar?

Music lyrics, the television shows where sisters are calling each other bitches, this has got to end. We are destroying ourselves.

Martina Brown-Johnson, Temple City, CA
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

I feel that we are never too late to reply to this topic and others when it comes to the images that hip-hop portrays of women by some Rappers.

The statements by Imus, Pat Robertson, Krammer of Seinfeld, and the countless others in the future who dare to defy and degrade us, only shows the power of words used in hip-hop. The bible says the "tongue is the tree of life", and if we look at 'who's buying' the music then you can see why whites have gotten "homey" with using the terms of bitch, ho's, niggahs, pimp and niggers so freely.

I had a white girl tell me that "she didn't want to get ghetto up in here" at work about an issue. As long as Rappers are making money off degrading the black race, we will continue to have our souls up for sale to white devils hiding in sheep's clothing.

Now that Imus and Krammer know better, they can do better. We have to teach people how to treat us by boycotting hard rap and advertisers who continue to support these shows. They are not my homey lovin' friends and I am entitled to demand my respect and ask rappers to be more conscious of what they put out in their music.

Black women Tavis (Mr. Smiley) suffer violence from their Black male partners more than twice as often as White women suffer from their White male partners. All this despite our attacks on legalized racism, institutionalized racism, educational disparities, UN-equal healthcare access and services. Grandma always said that "respect starts at home". In so doing it must start with the record companies that think it's okay to allow hard core rap to further degrade the black community just for the almighty dollar. I say all of this in unconditional love for our race.

Ms. Gail
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

What some of you guys are missing is the "Machine" that is behind the denigration of people of color through music while making BILLIONS at the expense of the black community. BMG, Arista, Universal, Jimmy Iviene (the man who signed 50 Cent) are just a few of the bastards who are personally responsible. Think about it. Out of the millions of black men who aspire to be "Rappers" why is that they only manage to find the most vile, misogynistic, n word saying, It's Murdeeeer Music shouting, Cook Coke Crack being, In love with a stripper touting, block hugging, drug selling, rim spinning, P.I.M.P being rappers on the block. That can't be the only talent in the pool.

Next, these non-black owned/managed companies who finance, promote, and sell this artistically evil musical genocide (BET…. MTV, Clear Channel, Immis Broadcasting, Radio One, Viacom etc.) via their media outlets are responsible for teaching by repetition how black people and the world how to view the black community.

Now fast forward to Don Imus in which he along with other ignorant people have learned THROUGH THE MEDIA (because believe me he does not have any true black friends because if he did he would know better) that women of color are commonly known as Hoooooes (a derivative of whore) and it should be taking lightly.

This is why I personally do not support the record industry because they are the true "sponsors" and architects of this mental and physical genocide of people of color. Young impressionable children/adults of any color will mock and imitate anything that they see that is packaged in an emotionally appealing package regardless whether it's positive or negative. This fact is known but yet these companies choose to continue their madness. Why? The Jewish community stopped the King of Pop dead in his tracks when he tried to say "Kick Me Jew Me" bla bla bla. But yet, they promote 50 Cent until no end. Why? I think we should all have a serious problem with that. Imus is simply a result of Corporate Sponsored artistically evil musical genocide that a select few have been paid "monkey pennies" to be frontline in this sad modern day tragedy.

Macman
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Hip Hop/ Rap Music is fine, there is just a need for it to evolve. The art has become stagnant focusing too much on money, girls and clothes. The materialistic side of it is pushed so much... average people are tired of it, and turned off by it.

As long as the rappers have something to say.... sometimes.... one song out of 3...people will continue to listen, and grow closer to the artists. The message dont have to be all positive cake and ice cream all the time but for god sakes have something to say when you grab the mike. If it has meaning that can be used by the listener... that even better.

DeShawn Jones, Killeen, TX
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

As I listen to all of the talk about Don Imus' reference to the Rutgers basketball team as nappy headed hoes, I can't help but think about the [Hip] Hop culture. Rappers include the H word, N word, and the B word in their lyrics on a regular basis. Why has the African American Community allowed Snoop Dogg and other rappers make millions of dollars promoting negative images, while many of the young people that support them are illiterate, live in poverty, and have no self respect. The Hip Hop culture is spreading venom that will affect generations to come. They want to talk about it and not be about it. You can talk about being poor and living in the hood all day long, but if you are not willing to go to school and get a solid education to better your life, you are digging your own grave. Furthermore, you limit your options for making an honest living. We need to be more selective in what our young children see because we are truly setting them up for Failure! Every generation has made a stance that the older generation just couldn't understand, but many of the so called Hip Hop artist have influenced our young people stay in a state of despair, desperation, and selfishness. When are we going to make some noise about that!

A Viewer, Detroit, MI
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The true testament to the legacy of hip-hop will be in the generations to come. If hip-hop is able to transcend music, culture, and lifestyle into transforming multiple generations into change agents in their communities, then I will say, Amen.

Marlon A. Hill, Miami, FL
Friday, April 6, 2007

I am replying to the question Jerry Hargrove put to the black community, "Which African American leader is going to step up and keep Martin Luther King's dream alive?" It is because We do more finger pointing than actually doing that we ask silly question like these. If you are a black man concerned with the state of black culture, it is YOUR responsibility to become active in the leadership and the development of solutions for the community in which you serve. Respectfull submitted

Anthony B, San Diego, CA
Friday, April 6, 2007

I think that Hip-hop isn't a bad choice of music to listen to because [to] those that are from the hood, some of these Hip-hop music lyrics let us know that we are not alone. Like for example there is this new song by Ludacris and Mary j and its main point is about runaways. So i mean there is some music that some of these men and women are making is kinda...off the wall. But those that don't agree with our music they should not knock our choice of music just how we don't knock them. Hip-hop reaches out to people either way it goes just because it doesn't reach to you it might reach out to the person beside you.

Melissa Huhn, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, April 3, 2007

There is no difference between rap's glorification of the raping, torturing, enslavement, and killing of women and girls and White Power music that glorifies ultra-violent racism and anti-Semitism. Could one not argue that White Power music is an "art" form that merely reflects deep-seated bigotry against ethnic minorities and Jews? Could one not argue it is rebellious? Could one not blame parents for children who mimic hateful behavior and violently attack a member of a group targeted? Of course, yet no one in their right mind would make such an outrageous defense of such obvious hate.

Yet, as a society we not only tolerate ultra-violent hate towards women and girls, but we celebrate it. The posts here are a chilling reminder how bigotry is outrageous to all until it targets a person for being female. Do not trivialize such blatant and violent bigotry as mere "disrespect." Intolerance and hate should not be confused with rudeness.

I have bought numerous rap records and have attended concerts so I know the culture thoroughly. They are nothing short of hate rallies, especially Eminem's concerts. Women and girls are too ignorant or in denial to understand the gravity of this situation. When a rapper uses "bitch" as a synonym for female they're talking about you, since it's a damn slur. (Remember how "porch monkey" was once used to attack blacks on the account of laziness, yet it degraded all blackness.)

Only a fool would equate hip-hop with rebellion, specifically with its bigoted portrayals of women and girls. Unless you think "Father Knows Best" or right-wing talk radio is rebellious. There is no excuse for bigotry--not authenticity, poverty, bad mood, sad childhood, lust for money--not one damn excuse. The ruthless dehumanization and demonization of (black) women and girls will only stop when we wake the hell up.

God bless.

Thompson, Dallas, TX
Saturday, March 24, 2007

I feel that the hip hop industry has turned out to be a mess that only shows an image of us to be what the media says we are, which are thugs with no class and no representation of our culture.

Sam Garcia, New York, NY
Monday, March 19, 2007

Hey folks, quit judging the many by the actions of the few. I see a few posters here that seem to want to throw all of this "poison" into one bag, which is analogous to burning books that haven't been read. If you actually read and/or watch the interviews Mr. Smiley did, then you would be significantly better infored. And issuing statements like "This poison must be banned from the USA" are not realistic, will never happen, and just prove that most of the music's detractors aren't even familiar with the music and want to throw it all in the same bag.

Much like those who think we need to deport all Muslims and all Mexicans and everyone else who isn't "American."

And of course, you will always have the scantily clad females, drugs and violence in ALL music, not just Rap and/or Hip-Hop. Let's not forget about AC/DC, Lynrd Skynrd, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper (the list goes on) and how they glorified drinking, drugs, and violence.

Dave, Philadelphia PA
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

THIS will pass soon as white men stop making money off these fools.

A Viewer, New York, NY
Friday, March 9, 2007

First of all, hip hop cannot be blamed for all of societies ills. Black on black crime, degradation of women, drug abuse, and all these other problems existed long before hip hop music came along. We have to put things in their proper perspective.

A Viewer, Baton Rouge, LA
Thursday, March 8, 2007

Interesting that the terms "hip-hop" and "rap" are used interchangeably. I won't get into it here as you can read other posts and understand the difference. I will, however restate the obvious in that music is an age old form of entertainment. Knowledge and education are the keys to survival. When rap music becomes the replacement for knowledge and education, well…we see the problems that exist in the black community. We (including myself) must realize that music will be what it will be. Banning it will not solve the problem. We can instill the importance of knowledge and education by being socially conscious parents to our children. Don't let rap music raise our children. Understand what they are listening to and talk to them about it. Turn it into a teaching tool. After all, that's what we all are right? Teachers training the future generation. Peace and blessings.

Mike, Virginia
Monday, March 5, 2007

Crime, violence and in general the street life will always be present in our society. If it wasn't, then there would be many jobs lost and rappers would have nothing to rap about and we would have nothing to talk about. In other words, we have to find a way where those negative influences don't affect our children. You have to ask yourself why some people turn out to be great people and then you look at the parents...

You can't place blame on the music industry or anyone else knowing you aren't doing all that you can do.

A Viewer, Maryland
Monday, March 5, 2007

Too many hard working African Americans have died to save our people just to have this so called "art form" to continue to destroy their image. WOMEN, BLACK FOLKS, WAKE-UP.

Bill, Portsmouth, VA
Monday, March 5, 2007

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 states. Our elders who fought and died for our rights knew that the way to better life was education. Has Hip-Hop assisted in the black community forgetting about the pursuit of education? YES. Some of reasons why the black community is suffering, is their lack of education, and their lack of concern about their own people. And the world says if these people (the black community) don't care about themselves, why should we care? I firmly believe you train people how to treat you. What kind of training is hip-hop/rap conducting?

Rebecca, Sacramento, CA
Friday, March 2, 2007

I was born and raised in South Central, CA, home to many gangs. I am a special education teacher to gangsters and emotionally disturbed youth. I understand the viewpoint and the energetic drain you feel, K White. The thing that has single-handedly given a large percentage of these students a fighting chance and a little bit of hope is the music. Mr. Simmons has made his chunk, and I'm sure any of us may have done the same, if given the choice. (Simmons started the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation for disadvantaged youth, by the way.) I'm referring to the positive side of hip hop, and not the negative. Again I say, research, and gather the positive information. What you choose to focus on is how your world manifests.

Connie D., Sunland, CA
Thursday, March 1, 2007

I'm pretty tired of hearing about how the hip hop culture has had a positive affect on our community. Most people who think this are not seeing what I see on a daily basis. I am a teacher in a public Title one school and I also tutor underprivileged youth four days a week after school. Most of these hip hop moguls have sold their souls for money (bling) they can care less about the future of our black youth. How do you think that kids without an education will be able to afford what the hip hop culture has to offer, more bling? Russell Simmons, Master P his name quite fitting (master) because he is no better than Master Tom from the plantation. I challenge these so call revolutionaries to come out behind their egos and volunteer their time doing something useful. Start a fatherhood program, tutor at an after school program, visit the trenches where the real people are making a difference. Before you say it, know its not all hip hops fault but it does add fuel to the fire.

K White, Decatur, AL
Tuesday, February 27, 2007

First of all, there's hip hop culture, and then there's rap. The two do not tend to connect. To say that hip hop has destroyed young American mentality is not an accurate statement...to say that gang rap has been a negative influence on our youth would be truthful. But to say the hip hop culture has had a negative impact on its own doesn't account for our education system, our longer work hours and lack of attention we are available to give as parents, violent television, movies, and games we allow our children to take part in because we are not home, our militaristic government, and our negative attitudes about life in general.

Hip hop is about life. It is the expression of an artist in their essence as they've experienced the world. It is the inner reflections of a society that has extreme elements we all have lived, from love to hatred. To single-handedly place blame in the hands of the few misguided rappers is to completely ignore the art form of those artists who choose to inspire, entertain, and uplift the youth. It also takes responsibility out of the hands of the parents. Doing one's part to raise consciousness by actually researching what it is one protests will ultimately create awareness, instead of prejudice.

Connie D., Sunland, CA
Monday, February 26, 2007

Mr. Hargrove's venomous response [below] has the typical flaw of wishing to keep Dr King's dream alive. I believe his dream should be fulfilled. If Mr. Hargrove, Ms. Benjamin and others of like mind would pay sincere attention to what Hiphop says rather than what is sold or shown via corporations, I think they would find that "the dream" as spoken by Dr King, is being realized through Hiphop. And point of fact, the so-called "I Have a Dream" speech was actually a speech about how America had promised all the freedom to pursue happiness but had given certain citizens "a bad check." That defaulted "promissory note" these days involves all Americans and includes Middle East misadventures; militaristic values reflected in the 2007 budget; the prison industrial complex; spying on Americans; and redundant tax cuts for sambos such as Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell at the expense of people who earn less than 30K per year. How dare you blame America's sorry condition on music, any music which demands that this system allow us the opportunity to pursue, "the riches of freedom and the security of justice."

HaveNCredible, Durham, NC
Sunday, February 25, 2007

Hip-Hop is Chemo-Therapy. It is poisonous but it is also beneficial to the healing of the unacknowledged ills in America. It is a sobering mimicry of the hypocrisy that is evident but unaddressed. It is an extremity on the arm of social justice that grabs and shakes the entire world into consciousness. Condemn not Hip-Hop but what prompted its existence. Oppression, poverty, and hatred are its parents. If we treat/remove the cancer, what need would there be for Chemo-Therapy?

Sandra, Virginia
Saturday, February 24, 2007

Hip Hop culture is great for the mind, body and the soul. It's the past, present and future. It's the young and the experienced coming together and expressing ourselves no matter what the issue. Hip Hop is agreeing and disagreeing but learning to rise above our setbacks and pushing on towards our goals in life. Hip Hop speaks to me that we are all the same. Labeled illegitimate but very much revolutionized. Big up to all the firsts and pioneers of this saving art. Much love and respect family. Let's keep fightin' our way through the storms.

A Viewer, Baltimore, MD
Saturday, February 24, 2007

I've questioned the morality of hip hop for some time now and I feel like [Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes] put everything into great perspective. All of the perspectives thrown together in this video are very thought provoking. I was immediately inspired to read Tavis Smiley and Michael Eric Dyson books and also some sociology.

Michael Castillo, Lubbock, TX
Saturday, February 24, 2007

The problem I have with hip-hop or rap or whatever label you are putting on it today and women, is that women are accepting these negative labels and images, and selling themselves out, for what? The men are portraying them as object and we allow it, it's up to women to stop supporting these rapper images that we are nothing more than sex objects. You don't see their sister and mother in the video. If they don't respect us as the black women who was there with them through slave, Jim Crow, and all the other hard time in life. Then let them make video with someone else not black queens.

Sule-Stephens, Oakland, CA
Saturday, February 24, 2007

The hip hop crave is a wave that young people are surfing as a means of expressing themselves. It is no surprise that their expressions would be limitless without the proper harness applied by the governing authorities in charge of policing the airwaves.

Calvin Clark, Sanger, TX
Saturday, February 24, 2007

I think that hip hop has become the oppressor because we live in a capitalist system. I don't see any rap artist trying to help the hood by employing their people or anything of that nature.

Mark Milliner, Chicago, IL
Saturday, February 24, 2007

The problem with hip hop is the same problem with society as a whole. The same violence that is in rap music is the violence that is portrayed in movies. I don't see the difference between the two that others attempt to make. Is hip hop violent? Yes, at times. Is the world violent? Yes, at times. As you see, the music is a just a reflection of the world.

DeQuan Shanks, Ypsilanti, MI
Saturday, February 24, 2007

TThe dangerous element of hip-hop is that a great deal of the African American community sees it as a lifestyle to lead. Furthermore, a hip-hop life is glorified as an exit to the poverty that many African Americans live with. This is the wrong message, and it is destroying the African American's community to help itself.

The path to success is simple: education and college. Stay in school. Today, with student loans, anyone can afford college and overcome blight.

Put the LP's down and pick the text books up.

Craig, Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, February 24, 2007

The Hip-Hop "artists" who have written the statements have very limited ability to express themselves in words or in their "art", so it is difficult to know in precise terms what this genre is, but when one looks at the kind of lives they lead, the drugs, the people they surround themselves with, the jail time etc. one can only conclude that Hip-Hop is not a positive influence on society. One cannot ban it, only try to influence children to find entertainment elsewhere.

A Viewer
Friday, February 23, 2007

Hip-Hop or rather MUSIC is not the reason for the destruction. Black community nor the Diaspora at large. It is the SYSTEM and the DECISION MAKERS!

Most URBAN mags, clothing, music exec are owned by or operated by folks with last names that rhyme with or sound like: Manachevitz ( not calling a race card here, just stating facts.)

Do the Math and look at a mast head for publisher.. king mag for example.

If hip hop is the destruction than what say you for Blood diamonds in Africa and the constant exploitation there?

The Biggest gangstah and murderer is the one you dont see!!!

But every now and again you see one... BUSH!

A Viewer, Upstate, NY
Friday, February 23, 2007

Hip hop music is responsible for 80 percent of the destruction in the black community especially in urban African American neighborhoods. Hip hop promotes murder, drugs, drug dealing & racism. This poison must be banned from the United States of America. 50 percent of these so call rappers have criminal records and to me are hypocrites. For example rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg is supposed to be a football coach for his son’s little league football team and supposed to set an example, but at the same time he's recently been arrested for drugs and firearm charges. As a father I wouldn’t want my child on his football team.

Which African American leader is going to step up and keep Martin Luther King’s dream alive?

Jerry Hargrove, Richmond, VA
Friday, February 23, 2007

I'm very proud of our youth. Primary issue of concern: we have young men and women looking at rap and hip hop. My concern is that they forgot the reason behind all of this: to bring forth African American people for success, not to disrespect us as people. We also forgot how we got there on the back of others, who have died so they can be disrespectful. It used to be about social issue, thoughts, and new ideas. The other issues: we are taking this fame and glory too far, Bling, Bling, fancy cars, guns, gang violence and all of that is not helping our people.

Sally Ann Benjamin, Executive Director, Missionary of a Women Crisis Center, Plainfield, NJ
Friday, February 23, 2007

The line between hip hop and rap have been far too blurred...

In its infancy hip hop was all about fun and dance; a totally positive influence.

It is the record execs that blur these lines in their striving to "categorize" and box items according to type. They throw it all into the same category... and in turn the buying public begins to blur the lines.

This leads back eventually to the artist who then define their recording according to mass demand leading to…the cycle begins.

Mic, Tejas
Friday, February 23, 2007