State of Black Music

[DOVE1920]

I'm a die hard music fan. However, I'm kinda concerned about the direction music, specifically R&B and rap/hip-hop,is taking nowadays. Whats up with the topics? Every song sounds the same...
1.I want to have sex with you ASAP
2.I loved you but you slept with my bestfriend/brother/sister/cousin so you have to get out of my house
3.I have more jewelery/cars/houses/women than you
4.I grew up poor but I have so much money and everyone is hatin' on me
5.I can use my body to get material possessions.
What does this say about us as a community since we continue to support such trash?

[shannieglass]

GIRL...YOU FEEL MY PAIN TOO! This trend has been going on for way too long..but I think it has reached the pinnacle..I actually heard a song called "if that's my baby"..this guy was singing about cheating on his girl, and gettin this other girl pregnant..and this guy was singing his heart out..I'm like, is this for real..what is wrong with music..my answer is it..there is no more good music..those in the "business", let the business(read MONEY)become more important than the music..I sure hope it changes..if not..I still got my Aretha good and ready to play daily
toodles!!

[Alias_01]

As a aspiring hip-hop artist I must say that the state of music is definitely in danger. It all falls on what "the consumers" want. Unfortunately people live fantasies through music. Jay-Z alone should be getting paid royalities for advertising prducts in music. People like to hear about the cars, money, women because honestly they cant have it. Nowadays if an artist gets play on MTV its usually uphill from there. "MTV KIDS" suck up our culture and have no background knowledge of whats really going on. Some artists try and do something different but they are usually shunned by the "mainstream" thus creating the underground scence..whic thrives off of those individuals who difer from the norm. When referring to rap/hip-hop I think it all boils down to females. I the ladies feel it is a song worthy to bump in the clubs then the dudes will agree and thus you have a hit record. PLease add more thoughts.

[BlueReign]

I personally do not listen to this sh** that is played on popular stations today. I'm with Steve Harvey--old school!! I am a serious old school fanatic and that's all I listen to. I do like some music that is out now but the majority of it I do not listen to so most of the time I am listening to the oldies station. My kids complain in the car that they don't know any of the new songs that their friends are singing because I don't play the popular stations. I explain to them the difference and basically tell them what "good" music is. Like for example, the Marvin Gaye re-mix that is out now. I tell them who Marvin Gaye was and some of his songs. I do this often and just realized it as I am typing this. My children know more about Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle and other old school artists than these so called "artists" of today. And we wonder why our elementary school-aged kids are having sex

[Shelacious]

It says that some in our community are morally bankrupt or blissfully ignorant if we think that listening to these types of messages to a catchy beat over and over and over doesn’t affect the way we look at life. Whose writing these songs anyway? It’s really a vicious circle: folks are writing about life as they know it, which is often a faulty empty one. Those whose lives are not faulty and empty think it’s cool to have faulty and empty lives after listening to the songs. There is some good music, but in different genres than mainstream.

Let me start this by saying that I support equal access and opportunity for women.

That being said, I have to agree with Alias that some of what's happening in music, as in some of our culture unfortunately (I say unfortunately because it shouldn't be OUR responsibility, but the responsibility of both genders, but anyway) can be traced back to women’s leniency in our male/female interactions. We, not men, have always had our finger on the moral pulse. When we take pride and pleasure in bumping and grinding, being called b****, being thugged out, basically cursing and drinking in public like men, men feel it's perfectly okay to produce this music, act this way, say these things. I'm not saying that women should throw back to the 1940s. I'm saying that women should evaluate when and where and to whom they do things to, because if we are looking to men for acceptance and approval…yikes! It will take women to say “enough. You will not do that around me, and no you will not see me shake that ass, even if I think you’re ready for this jelly, and no, I don’t need you to pay my automo-bills. I don’t need you to grab the back of my neck, and no, I will not back that ass up after you want to meet me by calling “ehhhhh.” (Okay, I'm sounding like Lauren Hill now, so I'll stop ).

[blu_theatrics]

I have to say that I agree with you all, I wish that we had some men in here to hear there points of view however.

I think that it is a shame that peoiple listen to music and actually can say it word for word and don't sit and listen to the words. I have talked to plently of people who will say that they don't like to hear people speak like this or that but they will listen to this or that in the music.

And I myself am the same way, I can remember the Jay-Z song " Can I get A..". I would tear someone up for calling me a b**ch, but I actually sat along and sang the words to that song.

I firmly believ that ID should be nesscary to by a parental advisory CD and I think that parents should listen to what there kids listen too because I have noticed that my 4 year old can sing a song backward and forward from spending the summer with his father (more so his teen-age uncles). I had him for a few hours last night and he was singing the words to "peaches and Cream"nd before I knew it the radio was off and I was holering at him like he was grown enough to understand my anger.......but anyhow, my point is that had I not cared and had this continued and he starts singing more and more and it gets more intense, eventually he will hear these words in his head and not think that it is wrong to say these things.

As mothers and wifes we can make a difference because we control what comes in our houses and in our cars. If every mother/wife/signifcant other sat up and said you are not listening to that in my house, apt., car or presense it would not be as popular as it is....yes, there are those who won't be affected, but it would be a start and it would at least make people notice we are tired of this "so-caled" music.

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It took three rough drafts to create a masterpiece....
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated
Epsilon Chapter

[This message has been edited by blu_theatrics (edited July 11, 2001).]

[JinglesSpr99]

I agree with all of you on the state of blcak music. I am always to hear the new musicians comming out. Alicia Keys, Jill Scott and some others are keeping it on a positive note. They are showing true talent.

[JinglesSpr99]

I agree with all of you on the state of blcak music. I am always to hear the new musicians comming out. Alicia Keys, Jill Scott and some others are keeping it on a positive note. They are showing true talent.

[CelestialBlu1]

...art imitates life...life imitates art...art imitates life...life imitates art...then the art is no longer life...and life becomes the art...



[This message has been edited by CelestialBlu1 (edited July 26, 2001).]