Oprah "under attack" about hip hop

[Anticipatience]

Hello Ladies,
I'm not sure if you're aware of this but certain hip hop artists (namely Ludacris, Ice Cube and 50 Cent) have recently been accusing Oprah of disliking hip hop music and therefore, being strategically unwilling to have mainstream rappers on her show for whatever reason. To date, Oprah has not directly addressed these accusations but has only gona on record as saying, "I do not have a problem with hip hop...".
Now, I am fully aware of Oprah's audience, which is not exactly young teenagers who listen to and get lost in hip hop, but I do think that with Oprah's status in America as a successful, Black mogul and worldwide as an African-American role model for many, wouldn't it be helpful for her to host a show on which she features rap artists? I mean, even though it might not reach the right audiences in America (even though I know a lot of parents who would love to know what rap artists are talking about half the time), Oprah's international appeal could address the currently-held perceptions about all Black Americans being rich, materialistic, misogynistic and careless with money (as I experienced during my recent semester in Capetown, South Africa)? Let me know what you think.

[Phasad1913]

"wouldn't it be helpful for her to host a show on which she features rap artists? "



Honestly, no I don't. Oprah has worked long and hard at having HER own show. She doesn't owe anyone, including "us" anything. She can have whatever topics discussed on HER show that she chooses. I, personally, have seen various rap artists featured on her show. Specifically, what comes to mind the quickest is when she had Ludacris on her show along with, I believe it was, Don Cheadle and other entertainers discussing the word "Nigger". She has people on her show who are pertinent to her topics when she wants and I don't think it's fair to try to make her feel obligated to have who we think she should have when we think she should have them. There are many different types of black people in this country and in this world who have varying views, likes and dislikes and Oprah is doing what she likes and wants to do. Anyone else who wishes to host rap artists on their show can do so whenever they wish. I understand and appreciate your point about her being such a high-grossing celebrity with an influential audience, but at the same time, the business savvy brilliance that she has is alos directing her on how to maintain her throne at the top of talk shows and to her, it may be that having that type of show may not be the best thing for her audience or her business. Who knows? Again, that's her call to make, not ours.

We can't be too bothered by what the citizens of Cape Town or any other black populated nation or region has to say about our people here in America. Cape Town citizens have their own varying social issues that they have to face. Perhaps those people there who are critical of Black Americans need to wise up and realize that just as depictions made abroad about Africa are not truly representative of the realities there, the same can and should be said about black Americans and America. Its not their fault the good about South Africa doesn't get depicted to us here in the U.S and its not our fault the good about black Americans aren't depicted there.

Bottom line is that Oprah has opened the door for other young, talented black people to get out there, use their brains and make it as talk show hosts or any other things that they choose to do. That means that other people can get out there and do that. ANy person who wants to have rap artists featured on their show can do so, but don't force Oprah to be the one voice or outlet of that one facet of our culture. That's not fair, espcially given ALL the things she already does for our community that NO ONE can argue that she doesn't do.

[Lady of Pearl]

I do recall seeing Kayne West on Oprah several months ago and it was a positive show and I believd he performed and gave a tribute to his mother I don't see how she could cater to the audience of her particular market with a hip-hop show. Tyra Banks has had her share of artists concerning that maybe they should check her out!

[Anticipatience]

I agree with the fact that since Oprah has worked so hard to come up and make her own show where she does things her way.
I also agree with the fact that she has had rappers on her show before (Ludacris, Kanye, Eve, and a couple others).

What I'm calling to attention is that when she had Ludacris, Eve and Kanye on her show, it was to talk about the movies they were in ("Crash" and "Barbershop") and to talk about up-and-coming talents (concerning Kanye). Never has Oprah has a show strictly about the contents of hip hop songs, which she stabbed at on the show with Ludacris without letting Ludacris address his lyrics (or editing out what he said). In my opinion, since she opened the can of worms (talking about what rappers are saying), shouldn't she close it properly by letting rappers speak for themselves?

By the way, is it not interesting that when she had the cast of "Barbershop" on the show, she failed to invite Ice Cube (according to Cube himself: http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headli.../?source=IDIF), the main character and producer of the movie? What was that about? I know she's not scared to have controversial people on her show. She had Chris Rock on. What's the matter with Ice Cube?

[f8nacn]

Maybe it was a scheduling conflict...how do we know that Oprah's people didn't attempt to contact Ice Cube regarding Barbershop, we don't know, we just know what they are "" saying...we can't believe everything we hear because frankly we aren't them (Oprah, or any other person challenging her). I don't blame Oprah for not having "hip-hop artists" on her show because as a whole, it does not reflect the audience that she serves and/or seeks to serve. However, she does has a place on her website for show ideas, that must mean that she is open to any new ideas and that just may be something that she may do.

[Anticipatience]

Her website gets thousands of suggestions a day...yes, mine was one of them but don't think I didn't write to Tyra also...

[Exquisite5]

It's Oprah's show and see no reason why she should be chastized for not liking hip hop, or not inviting hip hop artists, or talking bad about hip hop or whatever.

It's her show! Oprah could spend all day every day using her show to "vent" for the daily hour of "what Oprah hates" and would still owe not one of "the hated" an obligation to allow that particulare "hated" to come on her show and talk to her about why she shouldn't hate them.

I've seen this topic on other boards/email lists and I'm like <<eye rolling>> ..who cares? Does Oprah look like she likes hip-hop? I mean, this is the woman who was not even cool enough to get the Beyonce booty hop down good-- that was like a major event in her life. Somehow I think hip hop has a bit too much flava for her....like it does for my mom.

Oprah no more "ought" to have random hip hop artists on her show than Phil Donahue ought to have had Ozzie Osbourne on his.

[Anticipatience]

Social responsibility has gone out the window. Having the good, bad and the ugly should be a concern of hers in my mind. EXPLAINING the bad and the ugly (and giving them the chance to explain themselves) is what is necessary because no matter how many shows she does with Denzel Washington, Chris Rock, Shamar Moore, Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou and other "seemingly safe" African-Americans, people around the world will still primarily think about 50 Cent when it comes to Black Americans (I did a study while I was there about Perceptions of Black Americans among Black South Africans. Results were startling.) Don't let me get my own show...

[Phasad1913]

Originally Posted by Anticipatience

Don't let me get my own show...

Well maybe you should get your own show. That is what you, AS an African American, and largely because of Oprah, can do if you want. Get your own show and feature nothing bu hip hop artists and let them elaborate on their way of thinking. Problem solved

[teena]

I dont understand why are 'Cube and Luda itching to get on the Oprah show.

They need to get one of their own in house talents, support them getting a show, be a guest on the show once a week.

I really want those rappers to find something else to do with their time. Read a book, go to the zoo, visit the sick and shut in, just do something useful, just my opinion.

[black_princess]

Originally Posted by teena

I dont understand why are 'Cube and Luda itching to get on the Oprah show.

They need to get one of their own in house talents, support them getting a show, be a guest on the show once a week.

I really want those rappers to find something else to do with their time. Read a book, go to the zoo, visit the sick and shut in, just do something useful, just my opinion.

Were you reading my mind????? My sentiments exactly . . .

[firecracker08]

I think the issue is that both Ludacris and Ice Cube are actors for various films. When Oprah invited the cast of Crash, it would have been polite to invite Ludacris. Not to perform but as a member of the film cast. Does Oprah have to have them on the show? No... But if she invites the entire cast of the film, except one or even the perception of that action is where the trouble begins. No one wants to be overlooked. Regardless, I'm not an Oprah fan so whether they were on or not, I would have never known

[PerfectVerse06]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Ludacris was mad at Oprah because when he was on the show with the rest of the cast from 'Crash', she took that time as an opportunity to talk about how much she didn't like his music because of the derogatory statements, cursing, etc. that is found within the lyrics. He felt as though he were there as Chris Bridges, not as Ludacris, and they were all supposed to be discussing the film and not his music.

Now, I agree with all of you who said that this is Oprah's show and she can do whatever she wants to do on it. Ludacris and everyone else are essentially being invited to HER house, and when you're in Oprah's house you've gotta follow her rules. If she wants you to take your shoes off and leave them at the front door, pray that you don't have any holes in your socks or funkdafied toe jam, respect her place and just do it! I'm sure all her guests are privy to the rules and regulations that come with being on not just Oprah's show, but any television show.

[FeeFee]

I'm sorry, but the only one that I can kinda feel for is Ice Cube. He has 14 years of acting, producing, and directing experience under his belt. Imma need Luda and 50 Cent to be cast in a lot more movies before they can beef @ Oprah.

As everyone has said, she has no obligations when it comes to inviting folks on her show.

[PerfectVerse06]

Originally Posted by FeeFee

I'm sorry, but the only one that I can kinda feel for is Ice Cube. He has 14 years of acting, producing, and directing experience under his belt.

I agree!