I agree with his overall premise.

___


COMMENTARY
By Darrell Bowling
MSNBC
Updated: 11:19 a.m. ET Dec. 15, 2003"Y'all gonna make me lose my mind up in here, up in here." That's a DMX song and that's how I felt during a week in early December when I was overwhelmed by negative images of black men in the media. It hit me with many different emotions: sadness, embarrassment and anger.

But these emotions flow through me quite often. Why? I'm a journalist. An African-American journalist. I constantly see negative stories about black men. I hate it, yet I love my job because of the incredible possibility of greatness that journalism holds every single day.

That week in early December was particularly painful. There was a seemingly endless stream of stories about men of color allegedly doing bad things: a Cincinnati black man caught on videotape as he fought police and later died at their hands; Michael Jackson's alleged sexual abuse of children; a Hispanic man arrested for allegedly abducting a white college student; Barry Bonds appearing before a grand jury investigating steroids. A media crime parade of men of color.

"Are there any positive stories on black men?" I screamed. I got my answer. The Grammys nominated 50 Cent for top rap artist of the year, a story that MSNBC.com put on its cover.

That struck a raw nerve. I blew up in my newsroom, wanting to know why were we promoting more negative images of black men. Moreover, why did the Grammys give a nomination to music that is misogynistic, racially stereotypical and dripping with self-hatred?

Many popular rap music videos promote greed, hedonism and violence. Why is it OK that the most popular rap features young black men, for the most part, celebrating the "thug life" and "keeping it real"? With all the different forms of rap music out there, why is this version so popular, particularly with white kids?

Why were blacks willing to raise a ruckus and boycott a company that sold the game Ghettopoly (created by a Asian-American) because it "promoted negative images," but not protest when record companies and rappers promote the same negative images the board game touts?

These are tremendously important questions, and they must be examined and answered.

Hip hop has changed America forever. It has influenced nearly every aspect of American cultural life. You can't turn on the TV and not see the trappings of hip hop - dress, language and attitude - in everything from commercials to news shows to sports.

Black American music has been the heartbeat of our country. Our music gives America its groove. It has been tossed, turned, co-opted and stolen by others. There was even a time when blacks rarely got credit from the media - or the proceeds from sales and royalties.

Now, it's happening again. Our culture is being stolen again, only this time it's by young black men who are promoting racist stereotypes of our people simply to make money.

Black men put black women in videos and call them "bitches and hos," and promote drugs, sex, drinking and high-priced luxury items. If they were "keeping it real," they wouldn't be able to afford these things, at least not in the St. Louis neighborhood where I grew up.

Following our lead
White kids historically have followed black culture's lead and they continue to do so, not surprisingly. Because of the theme of gangsta rap, what is troubling now is the almost voyeuristic, horror movie feel to it. Let's be realistic. If a group of white kids saw 50 Cent and his G-unit walking behind them on a street, those kids would be as scared as if it was Jason wearing a hockey mask and carrying a chainsaw.

Even I provoke fear in white people when I walk down the streets of Seattle. And certainly none of these brothers, acting and dressing as they do in their videos, would be welcome in white neighborhoods.

So rappers offer white people a safe look at how young black men think, feel and behave. Then whites take that behavior and imitate it. They never have to venture out of their neighborhoods to meet a real "thug."

Black kids actually see themselves in these rappers. What is so frightening to me is that black children are imitating and emulating these negative role models. The anti-social behavior they glorify is one of the reasons why more black men are in prisons than in colleges.

In reality, what we actually get from popular rappers is cartoon characters behaving badly and living down to the expectations of what mainstream society perceives blacks to be.

Chuck D once called rap the CNN of the streets. It still is, but the mainstream is only seeing the make-believe, seedy side of rap music. And it seems that the music industry and the media are only interested in making money by pushing trash to our kids.

Enough's enough
Great rappers tell stories - Tupac, Biggie, Mos Def, Common, Chuck D and Naz. Jay Z was "Big Pimping" but he also told us "it's a hard knock life."

At this point in the pop rap business, all you need is a great producer - Dr. Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell. They come up with the phat beats, you drop the"f"bombs, say the "n" word, talk about jackin' people up, screwing women, how much money you have, cars, diamonds, mug for the camera, grab your crotch and there you have it - an instant hit.

If popular rappers really want to "keep it real," they need to tell the truth. Nobody parties 24/7 - try talking about real experiences, love, pain, sorrow, happiness.

And black people have to stand up and say we have had enough with popular rap music. It has gone too far. I'm not the only person saying this. Spike Lee said at a college recently: "We buy all this stuff (rap music), not even thinking about what's behind it. ... Think about the power that we have. We can't just sit back and think it doesn't affect us. We have to do something about it. We have to be more choosy about the types of stuff we support."

USA Today once called Eminem the new Bob Dylan. Well, I want to know where the Curtis Mayfield of popular rap music is? And why isn't he getting a Grammy?

Good post.

AMEN TO THAT. you know, we were watching tv this weekend, being snowed in and all, and i haven't watched the telly for a few years now.

i was the only one that noticed that in mcdonalds commercials when white people are involved, they just order food. but when it's black people they need to be doing the double dutch or the booty whop before they order. it's so obvious to me because i'm not used to tv programming but to everyone else i guess that's what they're used to seeing.

like this black lady using pine sol or something like that. why she gotta talk all like "yes, girlfriend" and all that. it's so stupid. my black friends and family don't talk like that.

what is that?

Your quickly becoming one of my favorites!

namepeace said:

You just summed up the reasons why I DETEST the majority of rap music. Too much misogynism, racism, and anti- African American stereotypes. Ugh. Remember when there was positive rap?

Everything is correct about this. And u know what? It is not the media's fault all the way. jerry Springer helped bring out the "trailer trash" but they never show them kinds of people on commercials. But i have to agree that maybe...MAYBE it MAY be a stereotype 2 showblack people in ghettos and in bad neighborhoods and sayin "honeychile" and stuff, but it is true.

And the way rappers, and rappers only are representing their music all it does is just help "the man" put us down even more.

I should go and watch Undercover Brother 2 ease my mind of this shit!

I suppose I miss the old days when labels like Motown and Stax actually made popular music that gave POSITIVE images of black people, and really helped change the world in the 1960's.

Today we have Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, and a few others. But it's mostly drowned out by "thug/bitch/ho/drug money" rap.

Even more irritating is when people claim that rap, in general, is worthless. There's tons, I mean tons of worthwhile hip-hop out there. It's just that most folks are going to suck up exactly what you put in front of them. People are lazy when it comes to discovering music. So they accept what the media sticks in front of them as the status quo instead of investigating.

The most valuable part of that article is the part where Spike talks about empowering yourself with those dollar bills in your pocket.
[This message was edited Mon Dec 15 10:45:51 PST 2003 by violator]

violator said:

As one who loves Mos Def, Aceyalone, Talib Kweli, Common, Digable Planets and The Roots, I wholeheartedly agree.

SweetKreme said:

Thanks!

Hear, Hear

Bring back the Tribe Called Quests and the Gurus.

This article is just a longer way of saying what Docta Shock wrote in the most recent issue of 'BG'. For those that don't know, BG is an indie newspaper/mag in Philly that showcases up and coming talent. Anyway, here's the excerpt:

...As you read this, Beanie Segal will be awaiting trial on attempted murder (among other things). To Beanie and all other hip hop "thugs": hang it up. I don't wanna hear any more excuses about how "the man" is after you...blah, blah, blah. You already know this, yet you still go out of your way to give them reasons to lock your dumb asses up! You have an opportunity that very few people in the whole world will ever have. Being "real" doesn't mean being stupid. Being "real" doesn't mean being ignorant or disrespectful. Being "real" doesn't mean shooting your brothers and demeaning your sisters. Being "real" doesn't mean being violent or pulling guns like a coward. Being "real" means being true to yourself, your family, and your people. Stop being the stereotypes, and start destroying them. Aren't you tired of hearing how STUPID we are?! DAMN!...

-SWANGkeepsitreal
[This message was edited Mon Dec 15 19:23:48 PST 2003 by SWANG]

SWANG said:

SWANGpostedsomethinthatmadeanegrothank!

Hip Hop is an artform and it is up to the community to keep it free from disease and misuse. People who hate on hip hop can't relate to it or see it in muffled misrepresentations. I will always love Hip Hop.

Excellent Post!!! Sums up my feelings as an African American male perfectly. When will we wake up and take responsibility for our actions?

Good post! I think Andre 3000 said it best "Everybody need to quit acting hard 'n' shit.."

SWANG said:

True indeed, SWANG.

I agree with what this journalist had to say, except where he attacks 50Cent and then praises Tupac and Biggie. These two, while both quite talented, rapped about the same stuff 50cent does (albeit, it was better). They both talked about being "thugs" and had mysogonistic lyrics. Sure, they were "stories", but they still were about gangbanging, abusing women and shooting people (usually other blacks). These two men both died living this kind of life, and yet they are celebrated for it? (okay, I will say that Tupac did at least try to tell kids that they shouldn't live the kind of life he had, but he still continued to rap about the same stuff all the time, so what good does that do? Do as I say, but not as I do)?

I'm sure I'm going to anger some people here, and that's not my intention. I just wonder why there is a double standard for these two artists. Is it because they are both dead?

SWANG said:

D-A-N-G

How come those industry folks are too slow to realize that?

SWANG said:

Many props to Docta Shock for this. I hope this is a growing trend in music, with people getting fed up with the BS of the "thug" lifestyle.

BlaqueKnight said:

BlaqueKnight said:

I accidentally deleted my post. Suffice it to say that the issue is much deeper than that Blaque and you know it.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 17 6:54:00 PST 2003 by namepeace]

namepeace said:

I know. I agree with the article overall, I just disagree with where the blame is placed. I REFUSE to let off the asshole sitting in the office baiting some poor sucker with no LEGAL money and no education with a record deal to STEP up AND "FETCH IT". The cats that are putting "gangsta rap" (which is bullshit because the gangster rap thing died around 1998 or so, but people are still holding on to the terminology because its familiar) on the forefront of the music scene are 99% WHITE MALES. The ad execs, the label heads and the A&R people. Why? BECAUSE ITS MAKING MONEY! The biz TARGETS THE YOUTH. Why? Long term $$$. They KNOW they are going to stop gearing new music to anyone over 25; they KNOW that impulse buyers are highest at the teenage years. The music business has NO INTEREST IN QUALITY - ONLY UNITS SOLD. PERIOD. I've been preaching this speach since 1990. There's a TON of evidence to support this FACT, yet guys like the brotha in the article still go on attacking the people who MAKE the music. Its a FORM OF EXPRESSION. They SHOULD make the music. There would be less incentive to make it if there were less DEMAND for it. Demand is generated by the INDUSTRY. Music videos, heavy rotation, etc. I would like to see a change as well, but attacking rap and rappers is as effective as arresting street drug dealers in hopes of ending the supply of drugs on the street. It hasn't worked; it NEVER WILL. You want change; start at the TOP. I'm very familiar with where the author of the article lives. Any black male provokes fear on the streets of Seattle. There isn't a large enough black presence to offset stereotypes. He needs to take a trip back to St. Louis and be reminded of how different the rest of the country is and maybe while he's there, convince some of his old buddies to start emailing and writing these labels, the RIAA and other truely GUILY parties, demanding change.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 17 9:17:33 PST 2003 by BlaqueKnight]

BlaqueKnight said:

And there it is layties and gents . . . the post of the day.

I applaud you both

great post

VERY good initial post, which to me was basically summed up in that 1 sentence:

"In reality, what we actually get from popular rappers is cartoon characters behaving badly and living down to the expectations of what mainstream society perceives blacks to be."


Then, I give BlaqueKnight props for his "counterpoint"; he's basically on point when he states that this "garbage rap" is being marketed to the most impulsive & impressionable sector of the music-buying public: teens & young adults up to about the age of 25. this relentless promotion of inferior product helps create & feed the demand for this junk.

bottom line: most record labels will market whatever brings in the cash & keeps it coming in. society as a whole will continue to pay for this, short term & long term.

VERY good post here, plenty of good debate & discussion.