You know I've thought about this controversy and I feel that Hip-Hop is a form of entertainment and yes I know that you can choose or not choose to listen to it. But Oprah does have a valid point about the way that women are presented in Hip-Hop music and videos . I grew up on songs that talked about women, but it was done in a more respectable way such as "Brick House" and many of Prince's songs (except LPWM-that's another issue) and the message wasn't just put out there for everyone to see. So, basically I think that Oprah can put whoever she wants on her show and not all Hip-Hop is bad, but this controversy between her and Hip-Hop artists should be an eye opener to some of these artists to CLEAN IT UP!. What U think?

I don't think Oprah is really saying "clean it up". I think she just has the right to pick and chose who her audience would like to see. Her audience isn't the buying Hip hop audience necessarily and she has chosen hip hop artist that she has felt would be appealing to her audience, like Kanye.

yes hip hop does need to clean up its act but I don't think that's issue in this case.

Rhondab said:

It is an issue because the whole point is their portrayal of women as bitches, big booty hoes, etc. She can have whoever she wants as a guess on her show, but don't you think that instead of 50 and so many others basically saying f---k Oprah that they would want to go on her show and discuss their viewpoints rationally. Take for instance Outkast's Andre3000 refusing to do the show-you would think that they would want to. Hell, Oprah has made her money and the bottom line is that people will listen to her views because she has paid her dues and she's right about this one.

I agree also. I think the main problem is that things like MTV/BET think this is all people want to see. Sure there have always been Sexy women in videos, but there used to be some variance, now thats every Rap Video that is given airtime. Sure there is positive in hip-hop, of course, but the problem lies in the fact that labels and video channels feel this is what gets ratings, this is the demographic so lets give them what they want. But i do believe that sooner or later other things will win out, because right now, we see labels suffering big time and they are really nervous, and its spreading to things like MTV/BET which are also having some $$ issues, could the day of change be coming???

All in all i dont wanna make it like someone should be silenced for what they do, if a bunch of girls wanna shake their asses for a rap video then go ahead. BUT Oprah has every right to say thats not the image i want for my show, especially because she is trying to show the many facets of "Black People" besides the stereotypes that are depicted in 95% of these videos.

I've talked this topic to death already At this point I just want Oprah to give me a 50" flat screen to not watch hip hop videos on

lastdecember said:

CalhounSq said:

Just a 50"?

nurse said:

No I don't think they would want to go her show and state their view point. I've had never an expectation that Oprah would have fiddy or young joc or any of them on her show to do anything. My question is why did they expect to be asked on her show? They obviously watch her show enough to know they aren't what she wants.

I've heard that Outkast's refusal has nothing to do with the current issue with Oprah but timing, the current internal group issues, etc. I've heard that Andre would rather be on Oprah as an actor rather than rapper, ie Will smith.

Like Calhoun said, this issue has been done over and over.

Rhondab said:

It is true that Oprah's viewers probably don't give a damn about the state of Hip-Hops portrayal of women, but damn! shouldn't we as women care? I've also heard that Outkast's refusal was related to internal issues btw Big Boi and Andre, but rappers don't realize that the stereotypical views they give of African-American women is contributing to the demise of Black America. I mean hell we have enough shit to worry about and now the music is shit too! What the hell?

nurse said:

Of course we should care.

My question is that we have these forums and threads about this submit and we're all pissed but what are we doing about it. NOTHING. I remember telling someone that I wrote Bravo about the show "Being Bobby Brown." i think it was just awful to have two ACTIVE addicts on a show, ignoring their children and acting a fool. Do you know how many ppl dogged me for that?

all the revolutionaries, revolt from their living rooms nowadays and do nothing. Power to the people. yanno. If we want this to change, let's change it.

Rhondab said:

Rhonda, can you give up your 50 Cent songs?

Rhondab said:

I agree with you 100% . We need to stop the lip service and start to do something about it. It's great that you took a stand like that and I to you for that.

VoicesCarry said:

you suck. I'm keepin' all my fiddy songs....

until the revolution starts.


we have his first cd. I liked "In da Club" in the very beginning. I had no idea I would want to kick him the throat years later.

Rhondab said:

Really Rhonda?? That's crazy

CalhounSq said:

Told me the show was harmless or would compare it to the Osbournes. I've only seen one episode and that was enough. I know I make fun of the bobby and whitney thing, but they shouldn't have a damn show.

Rhondab said:

I'll admit I did watch that shit but it really is pretty tragic. And to think Bobby considers it his comeback - who the HELL would want to come back like THAT?? It was a trainwreck. They'd be better off getting some serious help for themselves than parading their crazy lives on tv...

who gives a crap about Oprah

Well i think women should give a damn about this "image" that is becoming the only image that is shown. The point is MTV/BET and things like that should be accountable for their actions and what they put forward. Im sure if U hit MTV?BET with a fine everytime their was a "shooting" or "Rape" or "Sexual Assault" that was caused by this image thats put out there, you'd see how quick the Video climate would change. Now im not an Oprah fan but she is right, its her show and she can do what she wants, if 50 cent wants a show than get one, if Andre 3000 or Ludacris wants to talk about their acting career or something then go on another Tv show, Oprah is not the only show in town.

Rhondab said:

All i heard about was Ice's Cube response to the situation, and i think i read about Luda's beef. Anybody else really shouldnt have a problem with Oprah.

Ice Cube didnt appreciate the fact that Oprah had the cast of Barbershop, and the cast of Black & White (t.v. show) on her her show and did not invite him. And then never mentioned that he produced them.

Luda i believe didnt like the fact that Oprah asked her a ? i think about his use of the N-word (im not sure though) and then she Edited his response.

Oprah has every right to make her stand in regaurds to Hip Hop. But in both of hose situations i dnt blame either men for not liking Oprah.

This argument needs a new angle or context. It supposedly has what journalists call "legs," meaning it is worth continual coverage because it's multi-layered.

Odd, isn't it, that the same layer gets all the coverage?

CalhounSq said:

I just want Oprah and Gayle to 'fess up on munchin' each other's carpet.

PFunkjazz said:

PFunkjazz said:

"When I was 22 years old and working as a TV anchor in Baltimore, there was a young production assistant in the newsroom, Gayle King. One night there was a snowstorm and she couldn't get home. I said, 'Hey, you can spend the night at my house.' She said, 'I don't have any panties.' I said, 'Well, I do. I have clean panties, and once I give 'em to you, you don't have to give 'em back.'"

- Oprah Winfrey

Not quite what you're looking for.

At any rate, I'm tired of this topic. Why do I even click on these things? I'm no Oprah fan these days, but damn she can't please anybody for the life of her. I want an Oprah filter on prince.org

I see what you're saying, nurse, but hip-hop's problems are obvious. No one needs Oprah to expose them.

Duggs said:

Indeed...I think folks are getting their debates mixed up....The beefs of Luda and Ice Cube are very legit...Anyone else commenting on the matter (50 Cent ect...) are just playing pile-on....

namepeace said:

true.


I watched the show with Luda. It didn't see where he looked bad. Its interesting that he went after Oprah when Sandra Bullock really had more to say to him.

and why did Ice Cube wait so many years to voice his issues with Oprah. I still think there's more to it than just her not wanting a "rapper" on stage.


who knows. The issue is deeper than oprah AND I wouldn't have most on my show either.

And I never thought I'd live to see the day where Ice Cube would care about Oprah one way or the other. True MCs don't care what she thinks or says.

namepeace said:

It not about she thinks of his music. I'm sure he doesn't give a shit. It's about the fact that he put a lot of hard work into two separate projects that she had interest in, and shut him out just because of his music. She didn't give him credit where credit was due. Barbershop and Black/White may never have been made without him. If she liked it enough to put it on her show, she should've given props to him as the star and the producer.
[Edited 7/24/06 10:10am]
[Edited 7/24/06 10:10am]

PurpleRighteous1 said:

Fair, but the point still stands.

Oprah's being duplicitous given Ice Cube's history as one of the grittiest MCs in the hip-hop game. He really can't expect otherwise. Especially when he keeps resurrecting that image.

So send her the message: love me or leave my projects alone. That's fair.

But Ice Cube should expect such hypocrisy from the mainstream. He's Ice Cube.
[Edited 7/24/06 10:36am]

namepeace said:

damn...ya right.

I still say there's more to the story than Oprah's PEOPLE not booking Ice Cube.

And where was his anger about it then. I NEVER heard anything about this until now.