BLAME IT ON HIP-HOP Written by gWiz
Many times when something happens like a shooting, words being said in a negative way, kids rebelling against their parents, etc. the blame is pushed upon the music; generally Hip-Hop. I agree with there being a lot of negativity in Hip-Hop, but there is also A LOT of good in Hip-Hop. We all know the events that happened from the shootings in the schools to Michael Richards to Don Imus. The blame was thrown around and people came up with general idea that Hip-Hop was to blame for these things happening. There so many influences in this world besides Hip-Hop we have movies, television, video games, billboard ads the list goes on and on, but what about other genres of music?
Why aren’t other genres of music attacked like Hip-Hop? Think about Reggae. I have heard a lot of Reggae songs in which they degrade a woman way beyond any Hip-Hop song, video or artist has ever. Listen to a song by Vybz Kartel, it explains a lot but yet in still their lyrics are not being broken down and used against them the way it has been done with Hip-Hop. Actually the music is accepted and loved by many, females included. Majority of Reggae songs are about sex and violence, don’t get it twisted I love Reggae but I am just coming from a different angle. There are also a good number of songs with artist expressing their hate for the gay community. I feel like if a Hip Hop artist ever makes a song or statement like that it’s simple, game over for them. Just like Hip-Hop there are also positive Reggae artist that make positive songs.
What about the Latin artist? I listen to Pitbull’s song, “Toma” “Si tu quiere’ que te coma toda” if you can't understand the lyrics just google it lol. I mean were all grown but my point is there is no equal standard across the board for artist when it comes to the music. It gives me the feeling that Hip-Hop is being used as the scapegoat for most of these events that occur. Who sticks up for it? Al Sharpton? That’s a whole different story lol, until next time. Peace.
10 comments:
People that don't get hip-hop run hip-hop. This is why the Crank Dat Batman group got signed to Universal/Motown. This is why BET decided Little Brother isn't relevant to the BET audience. Little Brother, Pharoahe Monch, Talib, Jean Grae, etc. get no air play; there's no variety in the music the general population hears. Usually the music they do hear is pretty one-dimensional, offensive, and ignorant.
So, the offensive, ignorant black man gets blamed everytime something happens. They don't go after Kim, Foxy, Remy, Debra Lee, Superhead (why did Oprah talk to her like a person and put Ludacris on the spot?!), or videogirls. They don't go after the white guys that run these companies. They don't go after reggae artists because reggae isn't big enough (but they always end up in trouble for their negative homosexual references when they go to Canada or England). They don't go after all both of the Latino acts (Pitbull and Fat Joe). They go after the black man.
They made 50 Cent change the movie poster he had because of the gun he was holding. A few months later, it's cool for 007 to hold it on a poster. It's not the first time black men have been made to be scapegoat. It won't be the last.
Just K every example you cited hits the nail right on the head. Who are the foot soldiers in the hip hop game? Mostly black (men) and some latinos. Those are ironically the majority of people in prison and on parole in this country too (who therefore cannot vote). We all know it's not a coincidence. This is why I get so upset when we start scrambling around tryna side with Massa whenever he does something wrong and twists it around on us (i.e. Rappers--yes she is still a rapper--like Queen Latifah saying that the Imus incident is also the fault of the hip hop community).
In terms of reggae and reggaeton, Wiz your comment about homosexuality is so accurate. The most rappers can get away with is usually the use of the word "faggot" against their heterosexual opponent. But they could never say that we should burn them and shoot them in the head like in songs such as "Chi Chi Man" and "Boom Bye Bye" (which did come under some heat for about a day). I think the major problem is that Hip Hop has no one going to bat for it except the rappers that are being persecuted. And the ones doing the persecuting already think the rappers are a bunch of pinheads so everything they say becomes irrelevant.
This article is in complete contrast with yesterday's "Shout Out to Bill O'Reilly" in many ways. I like that Past The Margin can do both; show the differences in the writers, because it parallels the differences in the readers. If a true and honest hip hop blog can't help but be more than one dimensional I think it says a lot about the hip hop game in terms of its own versatility.
Without question Hip-Hop and the larger black community gets blamed way too often for the ills of society. Politicians and activists would rather censor the rapper than actually attempt to fix the problem that the rapper talks about. Like Chris Rock said, "white man makes gun, its sold at wal-mart. Black rapper 'says' gun... Congressional Hearing."
Now having said that, I feel that too many people take the "victim" role too far. To the point where no one wants to take accountability or responsibility for their actions. This probably isn't directed at those who partake in this website but too many people in Hip-Hop feel that they can do or say whatever they want and there's no repercussions. And if someone were to dare criticize, then they must either be a bigot, a hater or misinformed. Bill O'Reilly says something negative? Oh, he must be a racist. Bill Cosby asks to clean up the music? Well he's just an old n***a that doesn't get it. Common speaks out about taking responsibility? Well, he's just hatin' cuz he doesn't sell.
The point I was making about Bill O'Reilly was that people were dismissing him as a racist without 1) having the entire picture and 2) not being honest with themselves about the validity of his claims. It's not Bill's job to show both sides, its his job to voice his opinion and we can't vilify him for his opinion the way many do. This speaks to a larger problem that Just K alluded to which is the lack of balance. We wouldn't get so upset at a Bill O'Reilly if there was a national news media outlet that can portray Hip-Hop in an equally positive light. That's really where we should direct our anger. Not at a white guy who dislikes an aspect of our culture, but at a station like BET who just perpetuates the problem by adding to the ignorance. We have to demand more of "us". We have to have our only media outlets provide that healthy balance. We need to go out to the stores and support the artists that provide balance. And we need to take criticism constructively and use it to improve ourselves.
Lastly, Hip-Hop getting unnecessary heat by mainstream america isn't an anomaly. Back during the Woodstock era bands and artists were getting reamed for producing lazy, refer smoking flower people and being "un-American" during the Vietnam war." Elvis was banned from television because he would corrupt the minds of young girls with his sex-charged dancing. When Columbine happened, Marylin Manson and The Matrix took crazy criticism. Mainstream America will always beef with Pop Culture because older people will simply never understand their younger counterparts. Today, Hip-Hop is the most powerful force for young people in America and as expected its currently in the cross hairs.
From time to time we deserve the criticism that we get, but we NEED balance. There is definitely more good than bad in Hip-Hop and we need websites, television shows and radio programs that will actively promote it.
Fin. lol.
An attempt at balance.
Jean Grae... a female who doesn't rap about her p***y. We need more of her stuff out there.
Hip-Hop has provided many youth with the vision of entrepreneurship which has created more jobs for people in the hood than anyone is willing to admit. For example F. Gary Gray started off filming rap videos. That propelled him to do "Friday" with Ice Cube and that led him to film "The Italian Job". (yeah alot of folks probably didn't know a Hip-Hop dude did that movie)
The power of Hip-Hop is slowly but surely blurring the lines of race. The face of Hip-Hop isn't just black; it's latin, asian, indian and just about anything else. The longer Hip-Hop breathes the more we will be viewed as equals amongst each other.
Jean Grae. Her name keeps coming up on PTM but I'm not seeing anything about her. I would love it if PTM would do a piece on her (or a bunch of positive females in the industry), and include links to her music. Forgive me but I'm just too lazy to go out and find the music on my own, LOL. Plus I log on at work (where I spend most of my life).
Oh and I think we all agree on the balance issue. I wish more knuckleheads read this site tho. There are so many people out there who go through the day with these one sided views. And while I love exchanging ideas and my pov I could use a good debate right about now ;-) (Don't mind me, being at work makes me a little aggressive)
Ok Im GOING IN>>> First of all, there was a lot of relevant statements made. However, some of the comments on Reggae are a bit onesided...the reason its not blamed in the US for much violence is because its not MAIN STREAM HERE. So it doesn't pose a threat to the community in the States. I agree that violence, sex, and drugs are major topics in dancehall reggae, however there is a balance. There are songs that lift up BLACK WOMEN, BLACK PEOPLE,AND BLACK CULTURE. Just because mainstream AMERICA has not heard these songs, doesn't mean they do not exist: HIT UP SIZZLA,JAH CURE, MAXIE PRIEST, DAMIAN MARLEY... download some music by these artist and you will see like ALL music there is an attempt to have balance.
Reggae artist sing about their culture and what they are exposed to. IT IS ILLEGAL, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, ILLEGAL, TO BE GAY IN JAMAICA, LOOK IT UP. So this is why a lot of reggae artist, and West Indians are homophobic. Not making excuses, just making a point. It is more common in American culture to see two men or women kissing or in a relationship, DO THAT IN JAMAICA AND YOU WILL GET STONED TO DEATH.
Just like hip-hop there are two types of artist, the conscious (which don't get that much play on radio but mad respect in the streets) and the mainstream, the ELEPHANT MAN, 50,SOULJA BOYS of the world.
Hip-Hop gets blame just like rock and roll got blamed at one point and still does,just not as much. So to answer the question why hip-hop gets blamed and other forms of music don't, its because hip-hop is so mainstream right now. Everybody and their mother has heard a hip-hop song whether they wanted to or not because its on the radio, in commercials, on the internet, its taking over. THAT, IS WHY HIP HOP GETS BLAMED. Not saying its right, but it is what it is...
Also, cause yall got me a bit excited now, I'm not feeling the entire video girl, or female rap scene at the moment. I love the fact that female rap artist talk about the things they talk about, but I wish they repped more as far as lyrical content. Not everyone wants to hear conscious music all the time. Sometimes I want to hear a female artist say F that dude. Let them talk about their sexcapades, I don't knock them for it, but have some dimension...
K Storm I agree with what you are saying, I said "like Hip-Hop there are positive Reggae songs". I am not bashing it I listen to the Jah , Damian, Sizzla, Gyptian I rocks with that.
On the homophobic side I thought it was forbidden to be gay and be in Jamaica, but true story I went to Hedonism 3 in January with my job in Jamaica and majority of the dudes that work there were gay. By gay I mean they were in the club at night with their shirts rolled up. It blew my mind lol, not saying this is everywhere but I thought it was interesting with the kind of feelings I hear expressed in songs.
K storm, def check in tomorrow, I think it will touch on exactly what you are talking about.
I feel you. Im definately thinking of ways to get more traffic to pastthemargin so we can learn a lot more from each other.
Tomorrow it is...
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