Actually PG . . that is the wrong Question The right question is. . . WHO IS SELLING IT? It amazes me . . .folx will yack about the lack of GOOD MUSIC in general how CRAP like Brittney Spears/Nickle etc is being promoted and sold etc OH THE EVILS OF THE RECORD COMPANIES!!! If they offered better people would see what crap the others are However . . .when it comes to Rap Music the blame/criticism never makes it that far up the totem pole The hip Hop/ Rap most people see . .. is exactly what those Companies are promoting it does not mean it is the DEFINATIVE RAP OR HIPHOP only what those companies CHOOSE to promote Like the other If more was offered . . maybe people would choose differently Rocket River
I think the following would disagree with you: Queen Latifah MC Lyte Lauren Hill Da Brat Etc…. And while I agree that older songs like “Sexual Healing” or “Superfreak” weren’t calling women B’s and H’s, the message of those songs was still “I want to get busy with you”. I found this writers comments on another site and he/she clearly expresses the point I’m trying to make (much better than I could). After reading these comments my question, again, is do you just have an issue with rap music or 70% of the entertainment out there today? I believe that America itself is deeply misogynistic. I could bring up many examples but I'll just stick with this- why was there only one female presidential candidate this year? The Philippines has a female president and we can't even muster two candidates? Hip-hop is a reflection of our flawed values in the U.S., as are other pop culture mediums like movies and magazines. It's just easy for the powers that be to scapegoat rap music. But that blurs the issue, and I'm not one for letting us off the hook just because we're being attacked from the outside. Like Lizelle, who's complaint started this meme, I think there needs to be more honest critique from the inside, from those who live and love the culture. So here it is and here we are getting the convo started. Hopefully somthing bigger will come from all of this. The problem is the business of rap music which helps promote not just sexist attitudes, but homophobia, violence, and other ignorant ills. First off, the people who own and control the music have no respect for it. No, I'm not talking about Dame Dash or Dr. Dre. I'm talking about the guy who's two levels above them both, running Universal Music and pushing the green or red button on what gets produced and promoted in hip-hop. If Universal wants to push ant-women type music this year millions of dollars will pumped into the budget of whatever rapper is ignorant enough to write the lyrics. Sure the artists can choose to make something different. They just won't have the backing that others do who agree to play the game. Let me use movies as an example. When the big studios want to make a White gangster film they get the best in the business- Scorsese directs, DePalma writes, and Pacino stars. It's violent, but it's art. However, when they make a Black gangster film they find the latest hot rappers to play in it, and a music video director to pull it together. More thought goes into the soundtrack than the script. Same thing for hip-hop. They push artists to make a quick hit with salacious lyrics and a video to match. They go platinum, then try to do it again for the second album. After that they're done with the artist. They don't want him to get more creative, more introspective, more worldly. Artists on their third album like to step out of the box they've been given, and the record labels hate that. And don't try to ask for a bigger share of the financial pie- no, no, no! This doesn't happen to White musicians as much. White pop musicians maybe. And here's the problem- all hip-hop is treated as pop music with no artistic value. There's a lack of respect for for our music. The music industry is deeply racist. And I don't say that lightly. But am I still letting us off the hook by blaming others for what we say? I don't think so. There are plenty of rappers out there who don't objectify women in thier lyrics. They just can't get a deal. It takes a lot for them to find a label who will stick with them past that first single and album. These artists are out there. However, without a good record deal we consumers don't even get the choice of buying their music. I'm not saying to get rid of the the club bangers, or even the overly violent gangsta rap. I confess- I like it and I buy it. But as I get older I also look for something a little deeper. Not deeper like "positive" or "conscious." I mean deeper like honest and sincere. I find myself turning to reggae and old soul albums for that. What I am saying is that we need need to open the idea market up. There's 101 non-sexist untold stories that mainstream hip-hop is not touching on. Thank goodness Kanye West has made an album that explores the anxiety he felt trying to finish college. I can relate, and I love it for that reason alone. If I am downplaying the issue then let me go even further and say that I believe sexism in hip-hop is getting better. Foxy and Kim are out, Missy and Eve are in. The latter pair are both sexy and powerful at the same time. This is an improvement.
Icehouse, I should have made clearer that I was addressing your comment equating music in the '60's and '70's with the sexist Hip-Hop lyrics I've heard... when I've been exposed to them. Catching some of the music and music videos while channel surfing. A passing car. If sexist and violent Hip-Hop makes up the majority of what I've heard, it may simply be coincidence. That there are those out there writing music that isn't like that is unsurprising. It would be great if they could find a wider audience. Based on what I've heard? You should read my post again. There is just not a valid comparison, in my opinion, between the two genres in regard to the treatment of women in the music. I was bee-boppin' around back then, and very, very interested in the fair sex. Listening to music was a major part of what I did every day. Was it all sweetness and light? Absolutely not, but the over all thrust of the music of the late 1960's was the opposite of much of what I've heard of Hip-Hop. Trim Bush.
I think the biggest problem with hip hop is that it teaches a very poor form of grammar and communication. Not having proper verbal skills is a HUGE disadvantage for young blacks, imo. If you come into my office for an interview and start throwing around ebonics-sounding grammar/slang/etc, you are not getting a job (regardless of your color). Professionalism and etiquette are totally shunned by the hip hop culture because it is seen as catering to the white culture. That's a big mistake. I mean, I hate to say it, but you can even see it around here. It's obvious who has communication/writing skills and who doesn't.
that has nothing to do with hip hop why do people think this? ignorance, closely coming to domestic xenophobia
Does the same apply for country music and white youth? LOL...are you serious with this post? I guess I should thank the Lordy that I learned hows to talk proper since I grew up listening to rap music!!!! Oh, so it only teaches black kids to talk like dummies and not all the white kids that BUY the music?
So who are the defining hip-hop musicians these days? Who does the hip-hop world look to as the best guitar, bass player etc? Rap is about words, not music.
why are you still talking about hip hop when you don't even listen to it, turning on the radio is not listening to it, producers are who really run the music behind rap dr. dre, pimp c, scarface, rza, ?estlove. kanye west, dj primiere all make exceptional music, these are people who musicians from other genre's respect as musical masterminds if you want to talk about societal negative effects and woman what do you think about playboy?
So if they don't play an instrument it is not music? Anytime somebody does not use an instrument, it is not music? Right?
Don't get too upset that your cherished rap music is musically void. It is what it is. I get that. One day you will grow up and appreciate real music. I will help get you started. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hfjtoNzh7p8&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hfjtoNzh7p8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
look i listen to everything even racist country music don't judge me because i'm defending rap music. you are making ignorant statements, that's all i'm saying
it's obvious not only is he uninformed but he has closed his mind to the idea that hip hop is more than what he hears on the radio or sees on mtv or bet
