Spike and the Dangers of Gangsta Rap Music
 

I guess I'm on a roll today (read - I don't feel like working).

Quote from Spike Lee: “I’ve always felt you can feel the progress of African Americans by listening to their music,” Lee said. “Some of this ‘gangsta rap’ stuff, it’s not doing anybody any good. This stuff is really dangerous.”

I gotta say (in my opinion) he's on point on this one. I remember in the mid to late 90s there was a resurgence of Black consciousness. Groups like Public Enemy, KRS 1, etc. were popular and blasting on the airwaves. Then another form of rap began - Gangsta Rap - with NWA leading the charge. Now I don't know if any of this is fact, but in my opinion, white folks got nervous and seeing that NWA was saying the stuff that went along with their stereotypes of Black America (ie., gangs, drugs, misogeny, etc.), music moguls promoted it in lieu of Black conscious rap. Now of course WE bought into it, and more importantly, bought it en masse.

What is the course of action? When do we say enough is enough? How do we go about brining our Neo-soul, Black conscious music back to the front and going away from the denigrating music that is over crowding our airwaves? If Spike's assessment is true that the progress of our community is demonstrated by our music - we are in a sad state of affairs.

Of course - all opinions and comments are welcomed. Any comments?

Well I dont really consider myself a pessimist...but my outlook is pretty dismal on this topic. If anyone reads my posts..my solution ALWAYS goes back to the family...and since the black family and our communities are in disarray..I don't really know what the solution is. To me, EVERYTHING depends on what you get at home. If your parents allow you to listen to this "gangsta rap" at age 5.. AND they're not providing a positive example for you to follow...what can we expect? (I met a 5 year old girl that didnt know her middle name or address...but knew all the words to Kelis' song MIlkshake!!) Parents are more concerned with their own needs than their children's. Jay Z and Fifty Cent have more influence on young people's lives than they should...but are the Artists responsible? I say no. Its up to us to raise our children...the Artists out to make that money...and they are getting paid too.

I actually agree that this music reflects the young generation. RAP has 5 central themes 1. MONEY 2. CASH 3. WOMEN 4. VIOLENCE 5. MATERIAL THINGS i.e. jewelry, clothes etc... ITs So sadd..but soo true..

All I can do is try to make a difference in the lives of my nieces and nephews..and the young women I come into contact with at Delta Academy and other activities in the community

I think if we all did a little more than was required of us..we could really make a difference

Unfortunately, the aspects of our culture that have gained mass appeal is the part that is negative or steretypical. In this instance, certain types of rap music is seen as more "credible" or "keepin' it real" when it comes to what the media wants to paint as black culture. And some of us believe this as well.

The general media knows that the majority of Americans (although they may not say it) are scared of us - they consider us to be criminals, violent, uneducated, high sexually charged people, etc. And we all know that violence/sex sells. Why else would every blib of information about 50 Cent include the number of times he's been shot and why he wears a bullet-proof vest?

You know, within the last few months, I switched over to listening to Christian rap. Yes, Christian rap. The only difference is the message is positive and uplifting and not CONSTANTLY about money, cash, hos and popping somebody. You can not tell the difference musically. The beats, tempo, styles are the same.

Music such as this and that of other Neo-soul rappers such as Talib, etc. will never be embraced by the media because it doesn't portray us how THEY think we are.

So what is we gon' do? :cool: First, we need to stop excusing or supporting damaging behavior like this, simply because its by somebody black. If a someone broke into your home, would you not call the police and file charges because the are black? Of course not!

Collectively, we need to stop supporting that type of music because again, MONEY TALKS!! Stop trying to book those types of acts for your schools Homecoming concert or party. Let BET/MTV know that you will no longer watch their programs or support their ADVERTISERS until they start a more balanced format!

Money talks!

HK, I would disagree with you on the artistic merit of Christian rap personally, but that is a matter of taste.

As to the appeal of gangsta rap- I dont listen to it, dont buy it, but can not deny that for people who live in my area they feel that it expresses their truth. That bleakness, the importance of the material are all things that start out in the desperate circumstances in the hood. Not all black people are middle class, not by a long shot. Most of rap claims to represent, if not target, this poorer audience. Whether or not the artists involved are being genuine in their representations of themselves, they are saying something that our poorer communities feel to be true. Their way of reminding society that they still EXIST. They have a right to that expression.

The problem, as is the problem with so much of our people in entertainment, is that there is not a true spectrum of representation. The focus is SOLELY on this aspect of black music and culture- partly because IMO there is a sharp truth to it- and partly because that is how the media has ALWAYS been most comfortable labeling us- as somehow less than human, with nothing more than basic emotions and needs. There is no balance to the representations because that is what society is comfortable seeing.

Solutions? They start on a real-life level. Gangsta rap ceases to be interesting or particularly important when you realize that it is just the smallest bit of an idea of what life is like, and not the ONLY truth for black people born poor. I know that I take VERY seriously the thought that for kids at my school I am an example of the possible. Of different opportunities. This should be the goal- showing our folks what is possible. Approximately half of black children are raised in homes that are at or below the povery level. What are we doing for these kids????? It's not enough to say that they should have stable families. They don't. We have to consider them part of our own families and educate them the way we would want our blood educated.

There are those that would argue about the artistic merit of Neo-soul rappers, but that is neither here nor there since we are not talking about taste, but about the fact that only one type of rap given merit in the general media.

I don't call for replacing one type fo rap for another. I'm just calling for BALANCE. There are many facets to rap besides what is "gloried" on in pop culture. Unfortunately, pop culture for us (or how it is portrayed) is mutually exclusive to one type of music.

I agree w/much of what you guys are saying........but the simple solutions is to stop supporting any media outlets that promote this type of music. Any business is based on economics (profits) the reason this stuff sells is b/c we support it either directly or indirectly by listening to it or not objecting to it.



This is off the subject but I just got in from NY. and I must admit I was scared to death on that plane....forgive me I'm tired and out of my head.