Hip-Hop: The Obnoxious Bastard of Entertainment

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Site Last Updated: 5:13 AM EDT, October 11, 2008	Make BallerStatus Your Homepage

Published: Monday - April 30, 2007
Words by Tika Milan

Why does it always take some white guy's racist rant to make black people (or the hip-hop community, whatever works for you) take a step back and reflect on the damage that is caused by not being responsible for our actions. We have these God awful stereotypes that we perpetuate but excuse as "just being real" or justify as a subjective definition. "[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about hoes that's in the hood that ain't doing shit, that's trying to get a nigga for his money. These are two separate things," says Snoop. But when Richards or Imus start to mock the minstrel show, the negativity is validated.

Ok fine. If that's what it takes for people to start thinking that things have gotten a little out of hand.

There is an unspoken understanding that hip-hop is not just entertainment, but is also intended to be a reflection of urban culture and the agent that propels the youth. Hip-hop, in many ways, has become synonymous with the black and urban way of life. Therefore, when we start to define ourselves as niggas and bitches, or consistently put out there that the music and the culture thrive on money grubbing and hating women then this in turn becomes how the world defines us. I think artists need to be aware that hip-hop is no longer a self contained subculture anymore. It's worth billions and reaches all over the world. With that comes a social responsibility. I'm not saying that your favorite rapper has to become an activist or politicize what they're saying, just realize how powerful they become when the mic is in their hand.

Obviously, that's not what's happening. This is why the scrutiny of rap has spilled onto the "Oprah" show and "60 Minutes" (Cam'ron's ignorant... INGNORANT ass), Fox News, and 360 with Anderson Cooper. They are deconstructing everything from hip-hop's content to the Stop Snitching campaign.

And just a little FYI for all you young'ins that are reading this, stop snitching is not so much about being terrorized in your neighborhood. It's not about allowing ignorant ass niggas to son you or disrespect your mother or make you feel unsafe going to the corner store or scared to sit on your stoop. Stop snitching began as a way for people in the hood to protect themselves from the police or from a judicial system that's unfair to them. It's an idea that we can take care of ourselves. Not, "Oh there's a serial killer in my building. But I'm not a snitch, so he can hide bodies all over the basement if he wants." Fuck that. Bitch I'm telling.

Anyway, since artists are resistant to this social responsibility, the Coalition on Broadcast Standards is in development. They will serve as the watchdog over content and lyrics. Now, not only do you have the NYPD Entertainment Unit watching these rap cats' every move, but their artistic endeavors have to be babysat because along the way their vision has lost all semblances of integrity. Hip-hop, the giant on the hillside, is officially indoctrinated in the system.

However, I do have my reservations about how successful the Coalition will be with censoring rap lyrics. I think it may have the same impact as Parental Advisory stickers, which doesn't amount to much. I hate to be pessimistic, but I don't think that much will change once this media hype is over either. Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles were on "Oprah" with good intention, but the hip-hop world has a short attention span and at times lacks follow through. I doubt that censorship will become the next trend. Michael Richards will go back to his cave, the Rutgers girls will get over it, Imus's ugly ass will retire and the world will be filled with pimps and hoes faster than you can say "fuck bitches, get money."

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COMMENTS (8)

DJ Gee Says:
Monday - August 27, 2007 at 4:15pm

I just saw on GlobalGrind.com a political cartoon being run in Florida that blames Hip-Hop for making not snitching cool. People need to realize that Italians and Irish have always lived by this code and taught their children the same thing...this is not solely Hip-Hop's fault.

DJ Gee Says:
Monday - August 27, 2007 at 4:14pm

I just saw on GlobalGrind.com a political cartoon being run in Florida that blames Hip-Hop for making not snitching cool. People need to realize that Italians and Irish have always lived by this code and taught their children the same thing...this is not solely Hip-Hop's fault.

Ogunsina Says:
Saturday - May 12, 2007 at 5:51pm

Damn snitching, we need 2 start Snatching Weeds! The only way U clean up your yard is to snatch up the weeds. Then U kept watch & when they come back [they usually try] U snatch them up again. Snatching starts at home & the weed killer is a can of whupass. Nuff said, Ogunsina.

UpstateNY18 Says:
Sunday - May 6, 2007 at 10:44pm

From slavery to the civil rights movment and now in 2007 the black community is standing up for themselves and something they believe so strongly in. But is it right? Is it okay for the next social accomplishment from blacks to be the support of the usage of nigga in mainstream. As these words linger through the ears of 70 percent of white male teengers who buy rap music ,does that influence them to say Nigga more or start. Rap is just the surface to a more deeper rooted problem. Willie lynch once said put blacks against other blacks,.. if i am succesful at these ideas than it would go on for thousands of years. The destruction of black people in general has started before we had the right to be called people. but know as we evolve ,the art we created to show integrity and expression conforms to blacks calling and treating other blacks as animals. As jim jones would say we "BALLIN ", but what our we losing in return, only respect!

B Says:
Friday - May 4, 2007 at 2:46pm

Life influences Hip/Hop only people that Rap influences is suburban white kids..who once shit hits the fan, they run..so all their talk of 'hoes, no snitchin, makin it rain' goes out the window

thebaddrapper Says:
Thursday - May 3, 2007 at 9:09pm

To Helina. Easy there man-eater. count to ten sis....ok. I agree that corporate America is not to blame for the state of hip-hop today however they eat off of the shit everyday. But it's not there issue. How we treat each other or how we are molding our artistic legacy is no concern of any corporation. You are hella pissed off and reightfully so but I think any effort in making our art better can get lost in all the anger. I know it's frustrating but let's give a big woo-sah and build. peace

Helina Says:
Wednesday - May 2, 2007 at 3:09pm

You CANNOT blame CORPORATE AMERICA!! Corporate America does NOT go to these filthy low-life black men (or the correct word is really BOYS) and force them to spew THEIR FILTH!! Are Black people really mind-less human beings who cannot think for themselves? SOME BLACK PEOPLE ALLOW other races to do this! Everyone is responsible for his or her actions. That’s basic BIBLE and BASIC commonsense. Stupid black men decided to be pimps, drug dealers, and every other low-down filth you can think of. They are THEIR OWN SELF-DESTRUCTION!! NO one owes them any respect until they learn how to respect themselves. As a black woman, I’m willing to join and participate in any meaningful organization to stop the filthy black rappers and hip hop singers who sell millions of CDs, videos etc. that contain far WORST DEPLORABLE FILTH than the comments of Don Imus!! Blacks should PROTEST RAP and HIP-HOP music and they should PROTEST DISGUSTING BLACK COMICS such as Woopie Goldberg, Dave Chappell and many others. Blacks should be diligent in their efforts to stop the vile degrading and demeaning of our young women, not to mention the impact of other people’s view of us. Some Black people make me horribly sick when they don’t take the necessary actions or raise a LOUD VOICE to stop these filthy black BOYS from making millions of dollars by WHORING and HOing down the black woman. This should start a much needed UNITY of INTELLIGENT BLACK MEN and WOMEN to stand up for their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters etc. Here is an excerpt from Russell Simmons, a multi-millionaire who makes his money pimping off demeaning black women. 1. “Some defenders of rap music and hip-hop culture, such as the pioneering mogul Russell Simmons, deny any connection between Imus and hip-hop. They describe rap lyrics as reflections of the violent, drug-plagued, hopeless environments that many rappers come from. Instead of criticizing rappers, defenders say, critics should improve their reality. Simmons go on to say: “Comparing Don Imus’s language with hip-hop artists’ poetic expression is misguided and inaccurate and feeds into a mindset that can be a catalyst for unwarranted, rampant censorship,” Simmons said. The TRUTH IS: Russell Simmons, Robert Johnson (founder of BET), Snoop Dog, JAY Z, 50 Cents, etc. are the MOST VILE, FOUL, and CRASS human beings that breathe!! Since when should black men who don’t want to rise above their environment’ in a dignified manner, believe that: 1. It’s OK to demean your women to make money, so they can enjoy a comfortable life. 2. If they can’t make money by whoring their women, then (according to Russell Simmons)they want other people to help them out of their hopeless’ environment. Many of the troubles in black communities are created by black people themselves. NO BODY owes these filthy black thugs a GOD-DAMM THING!! BLACK WOMEN CERTAINLY DON’T OWE them ANYTHING! Of every racial or ethnic group of people in AMERICA today, NO other men or BOYS of any race will demean and ‘HO’ down their own women (in this vile way) like a filthy, crass black male would. Any person can lift himself or herself up if they really want to. Since most of these rappers are uneducated, why even put their self-destructive lyrics on the air? That’s a very SICK way to draw other people’s attention. I HOPE AND PRAY that those BLACK THUGS will get to read this post.

NAOMI Says:
Tuesday - May 1, 2007 at 7:50pm

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS AS INDIVISUALS,SO I FEEL THAT YEAH,HIP HOP MUSIC HAS ITS PART IN THIS OPINION OF WHO AND HOW WE USE THESE WORDS,BUT IT IS CLEARLY ENTERTAINMENT MUSICALLY I GURANTEE SNOOP OR WHOEVER PEOPLE THINK IS RESPONSIBLE NEED TO KNOW MEN LIKE HIM ARE MARRIED SUCESSFUL AND LIVING AND WORKING IN CORPORATE AMERICA, HOW CAN U BLAME THEM? IF YOUR WHITE OR EVEN BLACJ AND YOU CANT SEPERATE VULGARITY FROM SHIT YOU HEAR AND SHIT YOU SAY TO YOUR PEERS OR MOTHER ETC.,YOU MAY BE WEAK IN VALUE AND WORST OFF THAN ANY RAPPER CAN PUT IN YOUR EAR,ONE MORE THING LISTEN TO SOME OTHER MUSIC THAN RAP,THEY MAY NOT BE DROPPIN BITCH EVERY OTHER WORD BUT THEY DO WANT TO FUCK YOU LIKE AN ANIMAL!