Depression and Rap?

[SummerChild]

Joan Morgan in "When chickenheads come home to roost" raises many interesting points. In one section, she discusses the culture of hip hop and its widespread mention of alcohol and drug use as examples of some evidence of the depression that AA males often face growing up in these dire times. If I understood her correctly, she thinks that many of these performers are actually very sad and somewhat depressed (or angry) about their life experiences, instead of proud as they verbally indicate, and are dealing with the depression through alcohol and substance abuse. Hence the extensive mention of all kinds of liquor and drugs.

I thought that this was fascinating and probably true. Who can truly be proud of some of these very harsh and sad conditions and life experiences (abandonment by parents, loss of friends to death, etc.) that many have experienced. Also, we all know that another way to deal with sadness is by a little retail therapy. She did not suggest this but it seems to me that the third most discussed element (along with liquor and drugs) is what they can or do buy.

What do you guys think?

SC