THE HIP-HOP SIDE STEP!!
By L.T. Dinwiddie
After watching Oprah’s Town Hall Meeting today where the Hip-Hop industry came to it’s own defense amidst public opinions that the culture demeans, disrespects, and demoralizes women, gays, and the overall black man. I can’t help but get the sense that Kevin Liles, Russell Simmon, and even Common (which I don’t understand why in the hell he was there in the first place because he doesn’t make the music, or spew the questionable lyrics that we are all discussing) were skirting around the issue.
At first they blatantly refused to accept accountability for the fact that Hip-Hop is getting worse! The culture that we’ve embraced for 30 years isn’tevolving or progressing.
Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television, invites Hip-Hop’s elite on her show, when we all know she isn’t the biggest fan of hip-hop to begin with. And what does hip-hop do—we side step.
The fact of the matter is that these “poets” that Russell and Kyle so vehemently defend isn’t acting with social responsibility. Am I, or many others from the African-American community putting all rappers in that category—no! However if you look at the current billboard charts, then you would see that most of today's music is hip-hop based. And the most popular hip-hop songs have to do with the exploitation of women on some level, no matter how subtle.
This was the opportunity of a lifetime to address Middle American—AKA—white people about what the real issue is. And they spent damn near 20 minutes thanking Oprah for allowing them to come to her show. What the hell was that about?????
And was I the only one who watched Russell Simmons, one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop, defend offensive lyrics by saying they (rappers) just don’t know any better? I didn't grow up with a mother to teach me that calling a woman a bitch was wrong, but something inside of me knew that it was.
While I understand that Hip-Hop isn't to blame completely for societies issues, and the depiction of African-American woman, it plays a much bigger part than people from within the industry want to admit!
I’m over it!! Hip-Hop, in this instance has disappointed me!
After watching Oprah’s Town Hall Meeting today where the Hip-Hop industry came to it’s own defense amidst public opinions that the culture demeans, disrespects, and demoralizes women, gays, and the overall black man. I can’t help but get the sense that Kevin Liles, Russell Simmon, and even Common (which I don’t understand why in the hell he was there in the first place because he doesn’t make the music, or spew the questionable lyrics that we are all discussing) were skirting around the issue.At first they blatantly refused to accept accountability for the fact that Hip-Hop is getting worse! The culture that we’ve embraced for 30 years isn’t
Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television, invites Hip-Hop’s elite on her show, when we all know she isn’t the biggest fan of hip-hop to begin with. And what does hip-hop do—we side step.
The fact of the matter is that these “poets” that Russell and Kyle so vehemently defend isn’t acting with social responsibility. Am I, or many others from the African-American community putting all rappers in that category—no! However if you look at the current billboard charts, then you would see that most of today's music is hip-hop based. And the most popular hip-hop songs have to do with the exploitation of women on some level, no matter how subtle.
This was the opportunity of a lifetime to address Middle American—AKA—white people about what the real issue is. And they spent damn near 20 minutes thanking Oprah for allowing them to come to her show. What the hell was that about?????
And was I the only one who watched Russell Simmons, one of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop, defend offensive lyrics by saying they (rappers) just don’t know any better? I didn't grow up with a mother to teach me that calling a woman a bitch was wrong, but something inside of me knew that it was.
While I understand that Hip-Hop isn't to blame completely for societies issues, and the depiction of African-American woman, it plays a much bigger part than people from within the industry want to admit!
I’m over it!! Hip-Hop, in this instance has disappointed me!
Labels: Hip Hop Issues
posted by IM OVER IT at 4/17/2007
4 Comments:
I think the way to get the point across is to stop buying the negative music. If we especially woman stop buying this music and only support the postive ones we can make a difference. It's all about what sells so let stop it from selling. I also wondered why Common was there. I don't recall his music being offensive.
^^^
Newsflash, we don't even buy the music anyways! 80% of rap is bought by white kids, hence their parents current "outrage." The problem must be addressed higher up, because these labels provide money for these rappers to make videos, they are the end all be all in what tracks go on albums, so they need to stop acting like they don't know what's going on. I believe Common was there because he is seen as an intelligent voice in hip-hop, and you know Oprah doesn't invite all the other people she doesn't like. I think it would have made more sense for her to have a rapper who actually says derogatory lyrics to answer for himself, but I bet they wouldn't have showed up anways lest they get verbally bitch slapped by the audience.
First Im happy to see that o1vt has opted to post this topic among the other celeb godssip ,because this topic is very relevant for our people. I think that Russel and crew did a great job of sidstepping around this issue and not not addressing it as they should have. You are given a platform like Oprahs show(she has millions of viewers ) and thats the best ya can do to attempt to justify what these rappers say?lol
It would have been nice to see some of the rappers who create this type of rap ,to hear what they had to say about their music since they are the ones writing and rapping it.Common represented but I too am confused by why they chose to have him on the panel only ,when he is one of the more enlightened, socially aware rappers out.
dude, have you listened to Common's albums? he says the same things that everyone else says. don't let those sensitive videos and showtime commercials fool you.
Post a Comment
<< Home