Flashy jewelry, the latest clothing, shoe brands and millions of dollars stored in banking accounts have attracted many youth to the lifestyle and culture of hip-hop.
Music scholars and moguls describe the industry of hip-hop as a brand within itself. The multi-million dollar business has a formulation that includes magazines, music videos, sold out CD’s, tours and independent films.
“The hip-hop is just like electricity,” Rev. Al Sharpton said in a recent statement. “It can be used negatively or positively. The same electric current that lights up your house can also electrocute you.”
Emcees (rappers) use drum patterns blended with 808 base synthesizers to create freestyle lyrics to tell about their life struggles. For some rappers, writing song lyrics is very therapeutic and gives a sense of release, while many youth who listen to their music gets somewhat of a different, negative message.
Sharpton said the misuse of the hip-hop culture has attacked women and promoted violence, but the community must encourage the proper use of the hip-hop culture.
Rap artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake, and Eminem among others are known for their multi-platinum provocative and violent songs including “Every Girl,” “Lollipop” and “Kill You.”
“Rap music was created to bring a vibration of what it is today, but it has changed to trap music which is a breed of rap influencing youth to be drug dealers,” said Christopher “Son of Thought” Pace, a local music artist and producer.
Hip-hop artists and fans of the music have noticed a change in the genre that was once concocted for parties and for Blacks to enjoy themselves.
According to music veteran Russell Simmons, “legendary hip-hop groups and artists such as Run DMC, KRS One and Public Enemy created songs to help inspire listeners and not dilapidate their mindsets.”
Michael Cobbs, a local artist known to many as A.C.E. O.N.E. said hip-hop music has taken a giant step backward.
“The rap music out today is disrespectful and the artists who create the music don’t care who is being offended and the violent message it sends to youth,” said Cobbs.
Experts suggest crimes committed by youth are done because they imitate the images they see on music videos, and the music they listen to.
Music artists say don’t blame the music, but instead parents should take responsibility.
“At the end of the day, parents should take responsibility and be more responsible of what their children listen to,” said Pace. “I really don’t have a positive outlook on kids or adults being murdered, but don’t blame the artists, blame the record executives who ultimately put the music out.”
Supporters speak out:
“Rap has taken a lot of Black culture and put it in the forefront, in the mainstream. It’s a globalization of the Black culture. [The artists] are showing an honest representation of their feelings. So as long as the mainstream doesn’t accept that, then it makes it more appealing to the youth.”
—Russell Simmons, entrepreneur
“People say that kids can’t understand what lyrics mean. Yeah, but they understand the tone. They understand the whole energy that comes with it. It’s the same with watching TV images of weed-smoking, alcohol-drinking and booty-shaking being etched on the brains of our children.”
—Jada Pinkett Smith, musician and actress
“We as artists have to use our tools to reach out to the youth and cultivate (youth); we might be the only voice they listen to for their reason.”
—Bruce Ford, motivational speaker
Critic speaks out:
“Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, some unscrupulous elements hijacked this influential conduit to our youth and loaded it with the evil and debasing, hate-driven messages in the lyrics we now know as ‘gangster’ rap. Hence the artistry of the rappers in the streets is used by the ‘gangster’ in the suites to spread cultural garbage among our youth.”
—Dr. C. DeLores Tucker
