Quote:
Originally posted by Blackwatch
...But I can't. The question of Pepsi's right to take Ludacris off of it's endorsement roster isn't the question here, Pepsi is a private company that can hire and fire employees at will.
The issue of a Double standard that has come up in several posts in this thread is interesting to say the least. Doggystyle says that Ludacris should be seen as an actor, playing a role , like Samuel L. Jackson or Al Pacino. Intersting because no rapper ever claims to be an actor on their records, that would cut into their crediblitiy "on the street" and record sales. Sure, Ludacris or Easy E probably never killed anybody, but in the records they say that they will, not some character that they portray. When Ludacris says "I got H*** in different area codes..." he's is not saying Ludacris is portraying the role of a pimp for this story I am rapping in, he is saying Ludacris is a pimp!!!
Part of the appeal of rap for years now has been authenticity, that they are giving you real life through the art of rapping. Acting is a different art form, it doesn't rely on the actor's own life experience necessarily in order to be performed. The best raps come straight from heart, written by the person performing it (ideally). The acting roles come straight from the actor's ability to tell a story not necessarily about themselves, or to portray a character. For the most part, actors aren't expected to write the stories they tell or the characters they play. For rappers to start hanging their hats on the nail of "I ain't keeping it real" it would take away from their credibility as rap artists, which, in my opinion is a joke. I haven't seen a RAP ARTIST in heavy rotation on BET for about 8 years. What you see now a days is a bunch of street hoods who are greedy, unashamedly so, and who will say anything that a record company wants them to say in order to get paid. They don't even have a clue about hip-hop aesthetics, artist integrity, or art period. They are giving away the art, check the soundscan. Eminem is the best selling rapper today. He by far isn't the best, but white folks say he is, because we gave rap to white record execs who now tell us what is acceptable in the rap game (a rap aesthetic). In 20 years, Rap will be like Rock and Roll, Jazz, and Blues with Eminiem going down as the best rapper of all time  .
Ludacris, just like 90% of the rappers out today, doesn't deserve the black community's support on this or any other issue. Until rappers get back valuing rap as an artform and not a cash cow, we will continue to see gross injustices occur towards them. Most rappers sell out the black community daily, it's time we hold them accountable.
Blackwatch!!!!!!
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Blackwatch is preaching!!!!!!!!!!
I am feeling you 100%!
Everybody wants to point the finger at others and say well they do this.......... and they still get ads........ Well, this discussion to me is about Ludicrous (rappers) and their influence on young black people. Blackwatch was right on time mentioning the whole "keepin it real" standard. Even if it is a lie what they're saying, they want you to believe they are living that life. For our community (most importantly African American women) to continue supporting rappers that call us whores, b*tches, and whatever else rolls off their tongue is absurd! THese rappers (and many other men for that matter
) only do what women tolerate. Do you think if when they called us whores and b*tches, we stopped going to their concerts, stopped shaking it in their videos (which is a whole new discussion) or buy their records they'd still do it? Think about it!!!! If we keep telling our children that this is ok, don't get mad at them when they disrespect us! All they see is the fast $ and they want that exposure too! And you know Pepsi didn't think about that, but we need to!