Thug Life

GiggyZ · #1 08-01-2001, 05:00 PM

What is up with these thug love songs and all of the proud pronouncements of thug life? Trick Daddy singing about being a thug and magazines like Essense talking about Black women's obsession with thugish behavior and dress. I am sorry NO baggy jean, bandana wearing, platinum teeth having man would win this heart over something I could take home to mother and be proud.

TRUE ZETA · #2 08-01-2001, 05:49 PM

GiggyZ..you are my "adopted" line sister!!! I was about to post this same thing. I had this Thug Life that our youth is glamourizing. I hate the Thug Songs, etc. One song by a guy whose names eludes me, called JUST IN CASE. It talks about him wanting to make love to his woman JUST IN CASE he does not make it home tonite. The video depicts him slanging drugs and running from the police, and just being a thug. Why not have this man go to work for his family, and he may not make it home due to a car accident or something other type of accident. Why does he have to be a Thug in the street.

Also, why are our young women embraces this "THUG GIRLFRIEND" lifestyle? They are always naked ( Foxybrown, Lil Kim, Destinys Child, etc). I feel the youth is lost, and its scary because they will be running the country some day.

Also,...sorry for venting sorors. We at times shoot ourselves in the foot with this also. Toyota was accused of racism due to their ad with a black man with a gold tooth in the shape of a car. Well, I hate to say it, but what type of image do they see in the media..GOLD TEETH. Every other rapper has one. On that note, I went to the dentist one day, and as I walked to the door, there was a sign on the door. I was thinking are they closed? But, they had a 8x11 piece of paper that said..WE HAVE NO MORE GOLD TEETH!!! I was totally outdone.

TRUE ZETA · #3 08-01-2001, 05:51 PM

sorry girls..this is a typo..
"I had this Thug Life that our youth is glamourizing" I meant to say "I hate this Thug Life that our yout is glamourizing"..LOL!!

DOVE1920 · #4 08-03-2001, 03:13 PM

Well I know that this may be a little disheartening but "thug life" is a reality for many of our brothers and sisters. I guess the real question is why is it so appealing? And I have no idea. Nikki Giovanni has "Thug Life" tattooed (sp?) on her arm and I wonder why it hasn't changed anyone's perception of her...

DOVE1920 · #5 08-03-2001, 03:16 PM

Well I know that this may be a little disheartening but "thug life" is a reality for many of our brothers and sisters. I guess the real question is why is it so appealing? And I have no idea. Nikki Giovanni has "Thug Life" tattooed (sp?) on her arm and I wonder why it hasn't changed anyone's perception of her...

Finer Woman10-A-91 · #6 08-03-2001, 03:32 PM

Nikki did it as a tribute to the late artist Tupac Shakur, who wrote about "thug life" he lived it...and died by it.

Quote:

Originally posted by DOVE1920:
Well I know that this may be a little disheartening but "thug life" is a reality for many of our brothers and sisters. I guess the real question is why is it so appealing? And I have no idea. Nikki Giovanni has "Thug Life" tattooed (sp?) on her arm and I wonder why it hasn't changed anyone's perception of her...

------------------
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

Shelacious · #7 08-03-2001, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Finer Woman10-A-91:
Nikki did it as a tribute to the late artist Tupac Shakur, who wrote about "thug life" he lived it...and died by it.

Oh. Nikki Giovani and Tupak Shakur/his family were that tight?

Thug life is a reality for some brothers and sisters. Thug life has been made INTO a reality for most brothers and sisters who are currently living the thug life, I've noticed. It's by choice, not by cirumstance.

DOVE1920 · #8 08-04-2001, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shelacious:
Thug life has been made INTO a reality for most brothers and sisters who are currently living the thug life, I've noticed. It's by choice, not by cirumstance.

I don't think its a choice for all. In some sections of my city it's survival of the fittest. And being the sociology major I am I think that thug life may give some individuals survival techniques in some situtations. Or it may help them make sense of certain events in their enivronment.While I'll admit that some consider it glamourous and that's a choice but I don't think that is the case for ev'ry body.

Shelacious · #9 08-06-2001, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DOVE1920:

I don't think its a choice for all. In some sections of my city it's survival of the fittest. And being the sociology major I am I think that thug life may give some individuals survival techniques in some situations. Or it may help them make sense of certain events in their environment.While I'll admit that some consider it glamorous and that's a choice but I don't think that is the case for ev'ry body.[/B]

Agreed.

It's indeed a reality for some. I just don't feel it is not a reality for most. Most people may THINK it's a reality, but you always, always, have a choice in life--whether you think it to be the case or not, and whether you feel the choice(s) to be acceptable. I've seen most folks who are thugs make a conscious decision to be one. In the circles some people run in, it's easier and simpler to live the Thug Life than to buck the trend (as it's hard and potentially dangereous to live in a way that will single you out from the crowd) . There are indeed some people, based upon environment and circumstance, from whom not living a Thug Life may be a life and death choice. For the bulk, however, the lifestyle they enjoy lends itself to living the thug life. And since they will probably never be living an environment in which a thug lifestyle is NOT advantageous, they have no reason to do anything differently.

------------------
Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

DopeZeta · #10 08-08-2001, 07:36 PM

I don't want a "Thug" but I don't want a wimp either. A healthy medium is what I would choose. Actually, I would even prefer someone who was "rough around the edges" to someone who was extremely straight laced. That's just me though.

------------------
Sweeter than sugar and as good to you as milk
ZETAS are Finer Women and they're smooth as silk.

Shelacious · #11 08-08-2001, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DopeZeta:
I don't want a "Thug" but I don't want a wimp either. A healthy medium is what I would choose. Actually, I would even prefer someone who was "rough around the edges" to someone who was extremely straight laced. That's just me though.

That's interesting Soror. What would the women define as a "wimp" and "extremely straight laced" vs. "a little rough around the edges?" I'm actually very curious to hear examples of "wimp" actions and activities vs. "rough" actions and activities because I think many women share this desire.

Finer Woman10-A-91 · #12 08-09-2001, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shelacious:

Oh. Nikki Giovanni and Tupac Shakur/his family were that tight?

I think what Nikki saw was Tupac's artistic brillance. Granted he had lyrics that were contradictory in content...bitter, raw, offensive even. He had "issues". Who does n't? I will make no excuse for the dead. We actually had quite a few common friends. And if there is anything we all would agree on is the late Tupac Shakur had the potential to really be an artistic "great". He was an actor, poet, lyricist and dancer. Gone too soon...

------------------
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

[This message has been edited by Finer Woman10-A-91 (edited August 10, 2001).]

sistermoon · #13 08-10-2001, 11:08 AM

Finer-woman 10-A-91

i'm feelin you on the tupac thing ... indeed he was a brilliant artistic soul gone too soon ...

BlueReign · #14 08-11-2001, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Finer Woman10-A-91:
I think what Nikki saw was Tupac's artistic brillance. Granted he had lyrics that were contradictory in content...bitter, raw, offensive even. He had "issues". Who does n't? I will make no excuse for the dead. We actually had quite a few common friends. And if there is anything we all would agree on is the late Tupac Shakur had the potential to be really be an artistic "great". He was an actor, poet, lyricist and dancer. Gone too soon...

How you doing FinerWoman? Gone too soon, indeed. I really appreciated most of his work.

DopeZeta · #15 08-12-2001, 04:37 PM

Soror, for me, being "straight laced" or "rough around the edges" has to do with attitude. Rough around the edges = He has to give off the impression that you can't herb him. Think Mekhi Pfifer ("rough around the edges") vs. 'Carlton Banks'.

------------------
Sweeter than sugar and as good to you as milk
ZETAS are Finer Women and they're smooth as silk.