Name: oldsoulindaSouth Comment: What's your point, man? To further vilify Hip-Hop?. I noticed a pattern of this in 2005. Even with all of it's inherent qualms and shortcomings, our culture (Hip-Hop) has actually given countless numbers of youth something positive to do and has made a positive impact on this country and the world over despite the negativity that gets pushed to the forefront thanks to "you-know-who". Now, if you only listen to your local 'pop' station, then your vantage point is largely skewed because you're being puppeted by the product(s) of payola. It is a part of a grander scheme to discredit Hip-Hop because it is our culture that will ultimately be the unifying force in our struggle for liberation - truth, justice and equality. So it seems to me that instead of riding B.G.'s d*ck about a petty little traffic stop turned sour - purposely, no doubt - spit the same sh*t, with the same fervor about the real gangstas and criminals that are financed with "your" (our) tax dollars. That %*$!es me off way more than all the alleged rapper shenanigans. I think a nice segueway into the so-called new year would have been an eye-opening piece on how caucasians commit the same crimes at higher proportions but rarely get locked up, rarely get showcased on the evening news or in newspapers and rarely get anything more than the absolute minimum sentence if by chance they are convicted. Why not speak on that Mr. O'Kelly (sp), because that right there, my good sir, is our real problem, not our brothers and sisters that simply exhibit the localized effects of a pervading cause. Peace in 2006 from a thirty-something year old Hip-Hopper.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Real, real simple. There's no secret that there are two standards of justice in America and nobody would in their right mind argue otherwise. But to somehow contend that it was a petty traffic stop (with a gun and drugs) is incorrect. To say that that type of behavior which is PERVASIVE within the Hip-Hop community is somehow acceptable is incorrect. Why are YOU so worried about what Caucasians do? It doesn't matter if they are arrested as MUCH as we are...it only MATTERS if we get OUR community together. Because at the end of the day, all the caucasion arrests in the world won't improve the African-American community. Nobody tries to discredit Hip-Hop except Hip-hop. And if you want to make a DIRECT comparison, Caucasian entertainers and artists would be the yardstick, not caucasians in general. As for 'minimum sentences...it's clear rappers like DMX and others have had exceptional preferential treatment in the courts. The facts are NOT on your side. Our own house is not in order. Stop worrying about the Caucasians. They're SURELY not worried about us. (Katrina) You don't have to agree with me (although drugs and guns is not petty) but until you back up your contention with facts, you're not on firm footing. Hip-hop needs to be accountable and responsible...and it is not. You don't have these problems in R&B or any other genre. That's not a COLOR thing, it's a behavior thing. In fact, you didn't have this problem in old-school hip-hop so it's also a generational thing. MC Run for example says he doesn't even LISTEN to today's hip-hop because in his mind it's not saying anything. Thank you for proving my point...nothing but excuses for Hip-hop.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Oh, and please list all the "positivity" you're talking about...don't talk in generalities...talk in specifics. Are you referring to the music videos? Are you referring to movies like Get Rich or Die Tryin'? Are you referring to the misogyny? Are you referring to the wanton promotion of alcohol and materialism? Are you referring to the debasement of women? Are you referring to general chicanery and minstrel-like behavior? Are you referring to that positivity? Happy 10 year anniversary of Tupac's murder...go celebrate.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Hip-Hop, the "unifying force in our struggle?" Oh Please! Oh Please! Maybe in 1988. Hip-Hop has incredible power and has no intention of using it. There are no Public Enemies, no X-Clan's no Poor Righteous Teachers, no BDP...there is no unifying movement. It is not being used as a way of informing the masses, it is not being used as a method of enlightening the uninformed. It is not educating anyone on any level. It is not giving African-American kids "an alternative" to life on the streets. It is not helping Black men love Black women. When and only when it does one or two of the aformentioned then we can talk about it being a unifying force in the struggle. Anything that is devoid of love AND education is divisive, not unifying. And I'm gone... Happy New Year.

-----

Name: zuluman2 Comment: Mr.O'Kelly, Finally someone who has a grasp on reality has spoken. I agree with you 100%. The behavior of these HipHop ignoramuses is ridiculous. Anyone who tries to defend them and their foolishness needs to have their heads examined. Keep on speaking the truth. Some of us are listening!

-----

Name: oldsoulindaSouth Comment: Mr. O'Kelly, you're generally wrong. No, I didn't prove your point. And "no", I'm not making excuses. If you read more closely, or better yet, outside of the box, you would have recognized the elusion to "you-know-who", payola, propoganda and the disproportionate jailing/convictions of Blacks as facts. The truth of the matter is that Hip-Hop is singled out in hopes of shining light on everything negative that happens in the Hip-Hop community thereby building a platform to discredit anything positive that attempts to emerge from all of the purposeful negative portrayals that we see across all media channels. I'm a thinking man Morris, so making excuses is not my MO, there's no truth in that. Many Hip-Hop artists do commit very immature, embarrasing and criminal acts - that's a fact, but by playing nothing but those songs that use profanity, violence, misogyny, sex and drugs as a premise does not bring us to the truth of Hip-Hop music/ culture - Hip-Hop is much bigger than that but you have to get out of the tunnel to see it. It's parallel to a radio party plug (or TV commercial) - if you listen to it over and over, no matter how corny or uninviting it initially appears, sooner or later your interest is piqued (if you listen to it often enough) and you may be programmed into believing that everyone in that particular city will be there, subconsciously desiring to be there as well (yourself). The same basic concept applies to continually hearing the "bad" news about Hip-Hop artists...after hearing that over and over whether it's proven or alleged, it can be misconstrued as a particular person's truth that eventually gets projected onto you as your own truth(if you let it). And how many times have rumor and lies been perpetuated into facts only to later be disproven? So to set the record straight, I'm not concerned with caucasians - for what, that's fruitless??? I used them as a point of reference with regard to the injustice that we suffer in this country in comparison to another group of people. It's only common sense that if this type of disparity exist and applies to Black folk across the board (men, women and children, high class, working class, whatever), it certainly affects Hip-Hop artists in the same fashion. I'm sure you've heard the saying "things are not always what they seem"...well, that was the core of what I wanted to get across. It wasn't to attack you but to give you a different perspective, a perspective from the ones attacked from every angle, every day. That's all, nuff said.

-----

Name: slinky07 Comment: (Applause) Mr. O'Kelly, thank you for breaking it down. You are absolutely correct in everything you have written here.

-----

Name: SweetieDarlin Comment: OldSoul> I understand defending something you love but please do it with open eyes. First of all true there are whites arrested and let go for the same offenses but that's neither here nor there, wrong is still wrong and heck if you know this is a pattern why fall into it. Everyone knows what 'driving while black' gets you so why be dirty when you are stopped? And why be carrying drugs and weapons in the car, illegal is still illegal if 2 billion white folks do it wave their joints in the air and firing guns, doesn't mean it's right and fo' sho' if you are black you can't do it, BTW they way the answer would be jail as many white folks, not stop stopping and jailing black folks for doing things against the law. With that said, yes I have watched hip- hop grow and since I'm in my mid 40s I was there for the very beginning, I was one of the defenders when other peers were still into the old RB etc, I got people to open their minds and listen but now I see both sides. You do have more kids trying to emmulate gansters and ballers than the positive rappers (yes there are some out there) there is more disrespect for women and for once in my life I'm almost afraid that parent influence just isn't enough anymore, the radio stations and video outlets do not push the positive so no one really gets to see it unless you really search hard, for every Common and Kanye you have a bunch of fools talking about pimping women, fighting and drinking all the time. As Morris said, we don't have the balance we used to have, true it is probably by design but saying there is a conspiracy again rap isn't going to make things better if so many of our rapper agree to go along with the bullcrap to make money.

-----

Name: oldsoulindaSouth Comment: Congratulations, no one told me that C. Delores Tucker passed the torch to you - "Happy 10 year anniversary of Tupac's murder", that statement threw out any respect that I thought I had for you. But Hip-Hop has no class, right? That's a f*cking joke, hypocrite! You seem to be one of those neo-negroes that need a finger of blame to point for every ill that our community faces...take the one out your %*$ and point at the mirror - you, too, (fake) zuluman2. Enjoy your Freddie Jackson and keep hope alive!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: The whole point of mentioning Tupac is that he is the most salient point and example of the direction of Hip-Hop...guns and violence. And 10 years later little if anything has changed. P.S. Sadat X just arrested...gun charges.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: 50 Cent brags about being shot 9 times. Tupac bragged about being shot and surviving before he was shot and killed. The predilection with guns only afflicts our community...nobody else's. And by the way...you yet to answer any of my questions as to the "positive" nature of Hip-Hop. You can name call all you want, but until you present some facts, your argument is fiction.

-----

Name: zuluman2 Comment: To:OldfoolindaSouth Thanks 4 the "shout out". Much love back at u. Have a happy & prosperous "New Year" to come!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Here's a BRIEF and ABRIDGED 2005 Hip-Hop retrospective...mind you, I've left out about 10 no exaggeration 10 other incidents... _____ Rapper Arrested over Gun Reportedly Found in His Hotel Room (New York -WABC, October 18, 2005) - The rapper know as Sticky Fingaz is under arrest, after allegedly leaving behind a gun in his hotel room. The rapper, whose real name is Kirk Jones, also stars in the hit show "Over There" on FX Quan Arrested On Various Charges Friday - October 28, 2005 J-23 Nas’ latest protégé Quan, who made noise on his mentor’s single ”Just A Moment” was arrested this past Tuesday on a variety of charges. The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Peacock, was staying in a motel in Hampton, Virginia when complaints of marijuana smoke brought a couple of patrolmen to his room. According to reports, Peacock put up no fight and let the officers enter his room. Rapper Cassidy is set to be re-arrested Jailed rapper Cassidy is set to be re-arrested on first-degree murder charges, after prosecutors announced plans to refile the charges against him. The Hustla rapper has been behind bars in Philadelphia prison ever since turning himself over to police on 17 June (05), when he was charged with the first-degree murder of 22-year-old Desmond Hawkins and the attempted murders of two other men, all stemming from a 15 April (05) shooting incident. Wainwright rapper-soldier charged with murder By Melissa Vogt Times staff writer A Fort Wainwright, Alaska, soldier who sang rap on the side was charged with murder Monday in connection with the shooting death of an aspiring civilian rapper in Fairbanks. Pfc. Lionel J. Wright, 21, is being held in the Fairbanks Correctional Center until at least Wednesday, when a grand jury will meet to determine if he and two fellow soldiers will remain in custody until their cases go to trial.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police have arrested a rapper sought in the slaying of his music partner last month at a southern Nevada recording studio. 21-year-old Amon Naquito Ball is due Thursday in a Las Vegas court on a murder charge in the July 20th shooting of 28-year-old Keith R- Jett in southwest Las Vegas. Police say Ball -- who goes by the name "Loc" -- was arrested a little before 11 A-M Sunday at an address (on Karen Avenue near Lamb Boulevard) in east Las Vegas. Gucci Mane Arrested At Miami Nightclub, Hit w/ %*$ault Charge Last Friday, Gucci Mane, aka Radric Davis, was arrested and charged with aggravated %*$ault on his way to perform at Miami's Club Wharehouse. Gucci, who was billed as a special guest at the club, is presently in solitary confinement at Fort Lauderdale's Sheriff's Department. No bail has been set and he is presently waiting to be extradited to Atlanta. Police arrest rapper for %*$ault Police arrested rapper Memphis Bleek yesterday after he and another man allegedly beat up a busboy at a Manhattan nightclub. The 23-year-old victim told police the %*$ault occurred after he entered a VIP room at the NV club to clean off a table. He claimed Bleek -- a protege of Jay-Z whose real name is Malik Cox -- and Ravelle Talik Smith punched him in the face and head, knocking out a tooth. Police officers arrested Bleek, 25, of Monroe, N.J., and Smith, 26, of Queens, at about 1:50 a.m. outside the club.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: New Orleans rapper surrenders in bar shooting CONVENT, La. A New Orleans rapper accused of being an accessory to a murder has been arrested after surrendering to St. James Parish sheriff's deputies. Jerome Cosey, who performs as Fifth Ward Weebie, was booked yesterday as an accessorty after the fact to second-degree murder in the shooting of 25-year-old James Robinson the third of Mount Airy. RAP STAR RAMS BRONX SQUAD CAR April 16, 2005 -- Troubled rap star DMX was arrested for driving with a suspended license last night after his 2005 Dodge Magnum collided with a cop car in The Bronx. The rapper was driving southbound on the Deegan Expressway when his SUV hit a car and then bounced into a squad car from the 46th Precinct, police said. http://www.nypost.com/new.../44674.htm Rapper held on shooting Paralyzed athlete in stable condition By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff April 4, 2005 A 26-year-old local rap artist is to be arraigned today at Lawrence District Court on charges related to a shooting last week that left Lawrence High School basketball star Hector Paniagua paralyzed from the chest down. http://www.boston.com/new...ts/article s/2005/04/04/rapper_held_on_shooting/ JUDGE PUTS SHYNE'S RAP CASH ON ICE March 29, 2005 -- A judge has frozen the %*$ets of jailed rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, who inked a $3 million record deal while serving time in the infamous 1999 club shooting involving Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, The Post has learned. Citing the state's revised "Son of Sam Law," Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Garson ordered that any money Barrow receives from his new deal with Island Def Jam records — as well as royalties from his music — be held in escrow, pending the outcome of civil lawsuits by victims. On Dec. 27, 1999, Barrow was part of a crew with Combs and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez at the Club New York in Midtown. Rapper Charged In Felony Gun Possession Case LOS ANGELES -- Rapper Master P and his brother were charged Monday with carrying unregistered loaded guns. The 37-year-old rapper, whose real name is Percy Robert Miller, was arrested along with his brother on Jan. 27 after campus police stopped their leased car near the University of California, Los Angeles because it didn't have license plates, according to the arrest report. http://www.nbc4.tv/entert...etail.html • rent Rating 5.0 XZIBIT ARRESTED IN GUAM FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION Rapper XZIBIT was reportedly arrested in Guam on Sunday (13MAR05) for possession of marijuana. http://www.femalefirst.co...5232004.ht m Rapper Lil' Kim Convicted of Perjury 1 Images Rap diva Lil' Kim was convicted Thursday of lying to a federal grand jury to protect friends who were involved in a shootout outside a radio station. http://www.boston.com/ae/.../03/17/lil _kim_convicted_of_perjur

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: You're right Linda. What was I thinking? Look at all that positivity! I'll just ignore the common themes of drugs and guns . Like Chris Rock parodied... It's the MEDIA...RUN!!!!!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: This is just TOO easy... _____ DECATUR, Ga. (AP) May 25, 2005 - It may help his street cred -- but not his rap sheet. Click Here for more WPVI.com Entertainment News Rapper Gucci Mane and his debut album ended up both being released yesterday. He was arrested last week on a murder charge and was able to post a 100-thousand dollar bond to get out yesterday, the same day his album "Trap House" hit stores. Police say the rapper is responsible for the May tenth shooting death of Henry Clark. G-Unit Rappers Arrested In NYC NEW YORK, August 10, 2005 (AP) G-Unit rappers Lloyd Banks and Young Buck were arrested on felony gun possession charges after a concert at Madison Square Garden, police said. Sadat X Arrested On Gun Charges In Harlem Saturday - December 24, 2005 Brand Nubian group member, Sadat X, was arrested on Thursday (December 22) in Harlem, New York, when he allegedly brandished a firearm in public, threatening to "kill everybody," according to the NY Post. Rapper Dizzie Rascal was arrested on suspicion of possessing an illegal weapon when police stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger in Bow, east London. He was suspected of carrying a pepper spray, which is considered to be a Section 5 firearm. 3 stabbed at slain rapper B.I.G. record party Updated Wed. Dec. 21 2005 11:35 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Three people were stabbed early Wednesday at a Manhattan club that was hosting a record-release party for a new collection of duets featuring slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. Detectives also were investigating a shooting near the club, named Exit, that occurred around the same time. It was unclear if the two incidents were related.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Couldnt you write this same article about NFL players, NBA players, black police officers, PASTORS!!! The percentage of criminals amongst rappers is no higher in hip-hop than it is amongst students on any college campus, black or white. Anytime you have a group which consists of young people (black or white) you will hjave these same problems. When you add in the poverty that members of the group comes from, you get more of these problems. There was crime before rap, but I guess we blamed that on "Funk". DAMN YOU George Clinton!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Giantsfan... You've interrupted me, I still reviewing 2005 with just hip-hop...here's what you do. Find the same type of arrests for any of the groups you've listed and I'll listen to your story. _____ Saturday, March 5th, 2005 The rap war that exploded in gunfire last week heated up again yesterday when The Game taunted rival 50 Cent at a concert - and dared him to take his best shot. With cops in riot gear massed outside The Vault 350 in Long Beach, Calif., The Game stripped off his bulletproof vest on the club's stage and threw down a challenge for 50 Cent. "Come get me, you little %*$!(!" he snarled. "I ain't scared." Investigators here have been stymied in their attempts to question The Game about last week's shooting outside the headquarters of the Hot 97 studios in Manhattan. Two Source Magazine Executives Charged with Attempted Murder By: Alyssa Rashbaum July 25, 2005 Two employees of The Source magazine were charged with attempted murder on Saturday [July 23] after a shootout erupted outside a New York bar. Source general manager Leroy Peeples and salesman Alvin Childs were arrested outside the Limerick House pub on W. 23rd Street, across from the magazine's offices, according to The New York Post. One investigator told the Daily News that after argument --- A Brooklyn security guard who worked for rapper 50 Cent has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon after allegedly firing shots outside a Jersey City hotel in September as the rapper was checking in. --- After being stopped by police on Feb. 5th, Suge Knight was arrested on suspicion of violating his parole after police found marijuana in the vehicle he was driving. Sheek Louch Arrested LOX member Sheek Louch was arrested last night after police received a tip that he had a stash box and guns in his vehicule. Cam’ron, CEO of Diplomat Records, has been driving the blue Lamborghini since at least June of 2005. "I bought the Lamborghini especially for New York," Cam'ron told a 106 & Park audience prior to being arrested. “Because we figure that we can only see stuff like this in Miami, but I am bringing it to the streets of New York." In July, police in Harlem stopped the rapper and arrested him while driving the Italian sports car for driving with a suspended license. 10/28/2004 8:28:34 PM Rapper JA RULE and his posse had a bit of a shock when German cops arrested his tour manager for possessing drugs. The rapper’s group were nabbed at Cologne airport and the chief roadie, Burnz, was found to have marijuana on him. He was handcuffed and led away by police for questioning. Ja went with him to offer support.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: And you're wrong...Name 10 NFL'ers arrested for gun and or drug charges this year. Name 10 of ANY group you've mentioned who've been arrested as frequently and for similar charges. There is NO comparison no matter how you cut it. The facts are NOT on your side.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Sorry, I can't name two pastors who've been nailed for drug, murder or %*$ault charges. Maybe financial misconduct, but nothing even approaching this. Stop arguing with your heart and use your head. Not even the worst of the NBA acts like this. You have ZERO facts on your side.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Giantsfan...we had young people 20 years ago. We had rap 20 years ago and we didn't have either of these problems. Once again, the facts are not on your side.

-----

Name: zuluman2 Comment: To:Mr.O'Kelly, Once again,you have more than proven your point. Time after time, day in and day out these Hip-Hop hooligans are "making headlines" with their idiotic behavior and violence (usually against other blacks). I can't for the life of me see why anyone would try to defend their actions or deny this truth! I'm still waiting for the naysayers to prove otherwise.

-----

Name: SweetieDarlin Comment: Giantsfan of course there was crime before hip hop but the issue is the amount of rappers who seem dumb enough to live out their own lyrics. Too much money but no sense. Most people with that much money sit down and enjoy, these people keep getting arrest for downright foolishness. Let's see in the seventies, how many singers can you name were arrested for gun charges, murdering, attempted murder etc? No back then so many people were happy for their good fortune to get out of the ghetto and were not back in bad neighborhoods starting ish. Also back then they had better managers and handler who talked people out of foolish crap, now the rapper have their 'boys' many who are the main ish starters, and will give you ill advice instead of even thinking heck if my boy with the money gets in trouble, I can no longer benefit. There is no comparison and it is an old arguement that has been offered since people started noticing the inordinate amount of rappers getting into stupid trouble or dying.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: NFL:Mike Doss, Barrett Robbins, Tank Johnson, Dwight Smith, Sean Taylor, Larry Johnson, Daryll Lewis, Nick Harper, Jamal Lewis, Lawrence Phillips, Willie Middlebrooks.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Your right about one thing Morris, Pastors dont get arrested for drug or gun possesion. They specialize in Rape and domestic abuse!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: How many of the NFL'ers you listed were arrested in 2005 alone? NONE! As I said...get your facts straight. As for Pastors...name some. You're alleging something, but you offer zero names. All the football players were arrested over the course of the past 4 years and not even all of the ones you named are Black. EVERY rapper I named was Black. AGAIN, the facts are not on your side. If I went back to as far as 2002 like you did, I could find another 50, that's FIFTY rappers arrested. This isn't even close.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Oh, my bad Lawrence Phillips was 2005, but he doesn't even PLAY in the NFL, hasn't in more than 5 years!

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Next...? Anyone wish to debate facts with me. I've shown dates, charges and locations...all withing 2005. Does ANYONE wish to debate facts and show a comparable group of offenders within one calendar year?

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Dwight Smith was a BB gun, Willie Middlebrooks was domestic violence and Jamaal Lewis wasn't even in 2005 when he was indicted/arrested. It was 2003. Barrett Robbins is white. Nick Harper was domestic battery. Your 'facts' are flimsy at best.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: How many NFL'ers NBA'ers and MLB'ers were accused of murder this past year? If my math is correct...zero.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Tank Johnson, Mike Doss, Nick Harper, Larry Johnson, and Torrie Cox were all arrested this year, get your facts straight!!! Save me some time and finger cramps, GOOGLE: Pastor arrested in 2005. When you finish reading the results, tell me I'm wrong.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: If you just want to count 'arrests.' Remember I left out all the others like IRv Gotti, the multiple arrests of DMX, Cassidy's original arrest...Foxxy Brown, I could go on for days...and that short list right there is longer than everyone you named...which doesn't include the ones listed in previous posts. You're WAY behind...not even close.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: And again Larry Johnson, arrested for domestic issues. I got news for you. Domestic issues will always be a problem and unless it turns into attempted murder, you're still flimsy. Yes, the NFL has its problem children, but the sheer math is not even CLOSE to the Hip-Hop world. It's indisputable. There were at least 30 Hip-hop related arrests this year, no exaggeration, most of which were violent in nature and involved drugs and guns and the best you can offer is 5 NFL offenses, 3 of which were domestic violence? Are you serious?! If the stats were the other way around and favored you, you'd be telling me my argument was ridiculous. The math doesn't lie.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Look at your average rapper/ hip-hop artist. Male, 17-32 years old, grew up in the inner-city, no father at home, minimal education. Now use the same characteristics, but take out the word rapper, with the group you are left with, do you think the arrest record would go down or up? If you want to talk about a problem with blacks committing crimes, thats fine, but to think that rapping or having a recording contract makes these people any smarter or less violent or criminal minded is silly. You constantly talk about hip-hop artists as if they are grown in a seperate part of our community and they are supposed to be immune from the pressures that other people have.....

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: You make my point for me!!! Do you know how many people make up the world of hip-hop??? If there were a hundred arrests this year, it would be an extreme small percentage. I could find more black cops arrested for drug dealing than you could find rap artists arrested for the same thing. You know something, I'm wrong. The percentage would be about even, because both groups are coming from the same pool.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: The same stats are true of NBA players, especially since the high majority of them do NOT go to college now. At WHAT POINT is a person responsible for their own actions. No father, poor education, but no common sense in regards to drugs and guns? You're saying that as a multi-millionaire you're not able to put guns and drugs down? Hell Jay Z was an ex-drug dealer...he stays out of trouble. Our degree of poverty was a problem 10-20-30 years ago. The level of black on black crime wasn't as high. The level of disrespect of women wasn't as high. THERE AREN'T PRESSURES TO SHOOT SOMEONE. THERE AREN'T PRESSURES AS A MILLIONAIRE TO USE DRUGS. THAT'S SIMPLY RIDICULOUS. THE EDUCATION OF RAPPERS IS LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES...YOU JUST HAVE TO CARE ABOUT RESPECTING THE LAW. To get arrested and then promote your album at the same time has nothing to do with poverty or growing up without a father, it has to do with not caring to set a decent example. You don't need a father to know that shooting someone is a bad idea. You don't even need an education for that.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: I find it odd how you just right off domestic abuse unless it turns into attempted murder. I guess I can beat a women with my fists, but it becomes a problem if I stab or shoot her....

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Case in point...Foxxy Brown's behavior in court. She just doesn't care. No respect. That's not an illeracy issue. That's not a poor-upbringing issue, that's an I don't give a damn issue. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Nobody is ever responsible for what they do. We're not responsible for our own communities and if we break the law, it's someone else's fault. Enough is enough. If YOU put a gun in YOUR car and drive around with DRUGS and a suspended license...YOU are a fool. YOU are the idiot and YOU deserve to go to jail.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: I don't 'write off' domestic abuse, I'm saying that domestic abuse is a problem that tends to occur more 'naturally' instead of picking up guns and shooting people. The best of families can have domestic incidents. But guns and drugs...sorry. That's not heat of the moment, that's forethought and stupidity. Therein lies the difference. You can have an argument with your girl tonight and all of a sudden you're in an incident. Guns and drugs are a different animal.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: You have domestic violence in ALL walks of life, in ALL segments of society and it is not disproportionate in any segment. But in terms of attempted murder and drug charges, hip-hop is leading the way.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Your missing my point. I'm not excusing these crimes no matter who does them. I want them all arrested, but if you look at arrested black cops, black NFL players, NBA, whatever group, you find the same backrounds. That goes for whites also. To pretend this is strictly a hip hop problem is short sighted.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: No, I'm not saying it's strictly a hip-hop problem, I'm saying that disproportionately to any other group, even hip-hop of 15 years ago...hip-hop leads the way. And you'd be loathe to argue that Hip-hop doesn't influence hip-hop. Don't tell me that there isn't a real and measurable segment of hip-hop who revel in the lawless behavior. At best, regardless of whatever 'causes' this behavior, it's unacceptable. I never said it was 'the music.' I am saying that those who lead hip-hop lead the way in getting arrested. There's an undeniable correlation between the lifestyle that hip-hop promotes in its music and the lifestyle that hip-hop is getting arrested for. It's undeniable. When it WASN'T promoting that lifestyle, they weren't getting arrested for those things. It's not a coincidence.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: And again, it doesn't matter what White folks are doing...or at least it shouldn't. All I know is that guns and drugs are killing literally killing our communities. The same can't be said of White communities. The guns and drugs are under control to a certain extent. White people don't get stabbed or shot and white music industry events...period. White people aren't killing each other with the regularity in which we kill each other, so to 'compare' them to us is also short sighted.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Domestic Abuse occuring "naturally"??? WTF! Here is what is natural, if I live in a bad neighborhood, and im 17, and I have already been to more funerals than I can count, Im gonna carry a gun, I hate to say it, but its true. Thats not a hip-hop mentality, thats a "I want to see tomorrow."

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: Naturally in the sense of, you can't eradicate it. You can't. You can enforce laws against it, but it's been around since the beginning of time. It's not condoning it, just a reality. And if you continue to carry a gun (or beat your wife for that matter) you will go to jail or die. Period. Tupac and Biggie both had guns. Choices will save you...not a gun.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: If you 'have' to carry a gun and you're not a cop...then you have to revisit your choices in life. It could be a choice of where you live, with whom you frequent or places you visit. Choices. I promise you that gun will not save you. Even if you shot someone, someone will just come back and get you the next day...and so goes the story of our people.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: And back to the discussion at hand. You allege that if I look at the arrested Black NFL'ers or whomever, I'll find the 'same' background. Uh, what 'background' are you talking about? Jamal Lewis came from a decent family, went to Tennessee and was already a multi-millionaire when he helped traffic drugs. So if anything, it's not a 'background' thing, it's a 'choice' thing. Barret Robbins (who you listed) was bi-polar (as well as white). Nate Newton was similar to Jamal Lewis and had extensive financial means and a decent upbringing. It's about choices. I would say upbringing matters in a young man or woman's life...not 30 something old men like DMX or Master P et. al.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: In closing... The most important distinction is (other than the overwhelming numerical statistics against hip-hop in terms of arrests) ONLY hip-hop openly promotes such behavior. Not pro sports, not any other facet of society. Since they lead far and away in the aberrant behavior and the only ones that promote it, their negative influence on the youth and those who might go either way is tremendous. I doubt a handful of impressionable inner-city kids know or care who Barrett Robbins the bi-polar white center for the Raiders is or wish to be like him. But they know who Mystikal, DMX, Cassidy, Master P, C-Murder, Memphis Bleek, Gucci Mane, et. al are...and often try to emulate them. Therein lies the difference.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Jamal Lewis was raised by a single mother who was never there, and he committed his crime 3 moths before he was drafted. DMX was diagnosed as bi-polar just like the white man you would give an excuse to.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: BTW, I would never carry a gun, I was just giving a scenario.

-----

Name: MorrisOKelly Comment: 3 months before becoming a multi-millionaire?!!! That's just stupidity. You don't need to have a father to know better. I didn't give an excuse to Barrett Robbins, but I am saying Robbins isn't out there promoting lawless behavior and being arrested 6 and 7 times on drug and gun charges. Since you want to continue that direct comparison.

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: HE TRIED TO BEAT TWO COPS TO DEATH!!! They had to shoot him repeatedly to get him to stop. Cmon Mo, your reachin!

-----

Name: giantsfan Comment: Thanx for the exchange, I will check out your board tomorrow.

-----

Name: oldsoulindaSouth Comment: SweetieDarlin>I can't say I fully agree with you but I do respect your opinion - you were able to comment about a subject that we had differing views on, holding on to your sentiment, at the same time seeing both sides of the coin - you are a part of the solution...thank you! giantsfan definitely made some good points as well - again, part of the solution. It looks like Mr. O'Kelly had ample time to compile his "research" on all the many misbehavings of Hip-Hop artists in 2005 -- the utter delight that you took in doing so emitted brightly from the text like canary-colored ice on gold grills. Let's for a minute try to look at the bigger picture, which always helps. Yes, a select number of commercial Hip-Hop artists have been naughty this year. There will be others in 2006 and beyond just like in any other walk of life. And if Hip-Hop stays true to its roots, which it will, we will all continue to be astonished and amazed at the lewd, graphic and senseless behavior that has made Hip-Hop/rap infamous in recent years. Has anyone maybe stopped for a moment and asked the question, "why"? Please allow me to answer. Rap, the music form that is an extension of the culture of Hip-Hop has always been about speaking truth to authority and painting reality-based portraits of life whether lyrically, instrumentally, or literallly. Rap music has always been a mirror of society meaning that whatever is going on in the streets- the country-the world will be discussed over a beat - that is the essence of the culture. So it seems downright asinine to think that this brand of music would choose to sugarcoat the view of such a bitter existence in which many of these artists live. It's also ludicrous to think that a signing bonus and record deal immediately absolves the built-up dysfunction that has developed over a period of time gone untreated.

-----

Name: oldsoulindaSouth Comment: Today's television programming is the most crass it's ever been in Amerika's broadcasting history, the family movie is damm near obsolete, politicians, or so-called public servants, stay in the press apologizing or rebutting indictment after indictment, the grapevine reports the infidelity and homosexuality of so-called pastors, divorce is at an all-time high, children born to married parents is at an all-time low, there's no more physical education in most schools, obesity now affects even pre-adolescents, only a video recorder can mete out justice for a 60-year old retired teacher who gets beat down by the cops in pursuit of a square, and we have a president who stole office twice with blood on his hands for the many atrocities committed against innocent people in the name of Democracy, a concept that we in Amerika get only a glimmer of yet and still Hip-Hop is to blame for all of our communities' woes. I think not...and I'm not going to sit around and let anybody speak on Hip-Hop artists out of the proper context, especially when they really don't know what the hell they're talking about outside of regurgitating a few facts and/or allegations. You see, there's very little balance in this world at present, so the same goes with Hip-Hop unfortunately. It is our responsibility to push the pendulum back to normalcy, and we will do this through educated words of encouragement and empathy not mindless condemnation and judgement. We should remember that those old negro spirituals that are now revered as a cornerstone of the freedom-fighting that took place pre-1863 were despised during their day...well, we should also remember that there's nothing new under the Sun. Peace, I'm gone...