Regarding "Vulgarity": It may not be about the subject matter as much as the choice of words and delivery. Nevertheless, what's "vulgar" today, will be considered "passe" tomorrow.

Perhaps the distinction Gladys was trying to draw was: Marvin may have sung about giving his girl some head, but not about "eating her pussy out", or that "You Sure Love To Ball" was not "You Sure Love To Fuck". That's how I interpret what Gladys was trying to say anyway.

Certainly all love songs (or songs in general), yesterday and today, incorporate a certain amount of sexuality. I mean dayum, we're human beings, and we are sexual creatures. But when contrasting the lyrics of many of today's songs (Hip Hop, Rock or whatever) against the songs from Gladys' days, I can easily see where she came to the "vulgar" conclusion. Though I also understand that many see Gladys' comments as an attack against Hip Hop, the form of music embraced by many of today's youth.

But as I see it, 20 years from now, there will be some popular movement within the youth culture that will be raunchier than anything even the most streetwise 14 year old of today could imagine. By that time, young stars will probably have devolved to beating-off in their videos, while busting nutts to the beat, lol. And it neither will go unchallenged; a 50 year old 50-Cent will be trying to say that the music of that day has gone too far, and the kids will be trying to tell him to sit his old ass down, lol (...in fact, they're telling him THAT now, lol).

Remember, back in the day, network television wouldn't even air Elvis from the waist down... because he was considered "vulgar". The beat goes on.

...and fatherless.

And all of that because the influence of hip-hop?

You guys act like ya'll never heard of people like Iceberg Slim

You guys act like ya'll never heard of people like Iceberg Slim

Exactly!

There's ALOT of positive rap music that gets ignored sadly,,,and the kind that has been glorified these days are straight up from the plantation alley. At least Drake, Jay-Z(who's an influential force) are upgrading their level and I hope others take notice.

BUT....

Lets keep it real, isn't hip-hop a direct influence from the American system and HOLLYWOOD? I agree with her but lets not make hip-hop to be an easy target when Hollyweird is just as(if not MORE) racist, vulgar, misogynist and sexist.

Vainandy, you are wrong about there being no funky hip hop.

Many productions from producers such as Battlecat, DJ Quik, Frewreck, Meech Wells, Dr Dre, etc. have a lot of funk (not just samples and interpolations, either).

...incidentally, I hear "Mama Black Widow" is coming to theaters in 2011, can't wait for that!!!

They are definitley going to cut ALLL the good parts out!!! I bet the main character is not even going to be a drag queen. I bet the sisters are not going to be doing what were doing in that room next door, or the ending turn out the way it did.

If that's where they'll go with it, there's really no point in making the film. The filmmakers should bring it to HBO, lol. HBO would do "Mama Black Widow" justice!

Box office films always take the juicy parts out.

steelyd said:

This documentary so absolutely hits the nail on the head!!! This sums up EVERYTHING Gladys Knight was trying to say... AND MORE. Some of the interviewee's didn't even have the balls to look at the camera or even answer the questions they were being asked!!! This documentary is very powerful, thanks for sharing!

And no, it ain't always midtempo Andy you're missing out on ALOT.

Mama Black Wodow.
One of the best books I ever read if not thee best fictional / non fiction I have ever. Now his literature never glorified his backgournd. Most of them never had happy endings and just told a gritty tale about grwoing up in the 30's to 40's for an African American.

Gladys grew up listening to songs like "Tutti Frutti. So I'm not particularly buying the "Hip-Hop is too Vulgar" argument.

I'm sayin, you can't get much more vulgar than that!!! That shit is more vulgar than the shit that's on the radio today.

The only difference is they were slicker about their presentation.

That's true because back in the day, "Tutti Frutti" WAS considered vulgar.

Yes, Chuck D. spoke the truth. At the end of the day, be a man and stand up for what you really believe in, instead of selling yourself and your people out "just to get paid". This whole documentary broke it down, glad you liked it.

LOVED IT! In fact, I just went and obtained the entire documentary as one whole intact .avi file to save for future reference. Too bad the kids that could really benefit from watching it will never will. (...and you couldn't have made it any easier by posting it here - all they have to do is press "play").

Yes, indeed! TELL IT! This is truth. Hip hop is an easy target to say "this is what is wrong with society", when in actuality Hollywood is waaaaay more perverse and vulgar, just disguised. Wolf in sheep's clothing.