Hip Hop: Poison or Art?

[litAKAtor]

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

[dzdst796]

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

I totally agree with you. It is so easy to create a song that demoralizes the black community, but what happened to being pro-black and uplifting our people. Or better yet just having a good time. Like with songs Peter Piper-Run DMC and Eric B for President.

[litAKAtor]

Originally Posted by dzdst796

I totally agree with you. It is so easy to create a song that demoralizes the black community, but what happened to being pro-black and uplifting our people. Or better yet just having a good time. Like with songs Peter Piper-Run DMC and Eric B for President.

Right - because it doesn't take any real thought to say [w]itch this and [w]itch that. Or N this or N that, etc. etc. etc. It takes some thought and some intelligence to talk about something of substance and something that affects our community.

I think someone may have mentioned this, but there was a documentary on a couple of weeks ago about hip hop (I think it was on PBS) - very good expose on how far the genre has dropped. . . there were guys outside a record studio that were spitting verses about something conscious and then said that the record execs don't want to hear that because it doesn't sell. What baffles me is why someone would think to themselves, I am going to sacrafice a part of me for the green to spout ignorance, instead of doing my own thing cutting some cd's and promoting myself . . .I know that is easier said than done- but why sell yourself and your integrity . . .

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by litAKAtor

I think at its inception and in its realest form is art . . . the ability to use words to explain, examine, express one's feelings about their environment over a beat is something that ONLY an artist could do. Hip Hop wasn't embraced by mainstream when it was preaching about teen pregancy, drug infestation, crime in our communities, unemployment, etc. But as soon as the music begins to demoralize and objectify women, it is embraced; as soon as the message is kill a n or N this or n that; as soon as the music lost its message that is when a PORTION of the art form turned into poison . . when we allowed mainstream America to pimp us for a few measly dollars that is when it became poisonous. . .do you think white america as a whole was listening to Tribe or Jungle Brothers or KRS-1 . . NO! But you can bet your butt they are thumping 50 cent, Cash Money, and any other artist that talks about killing, pimping, hoeing, stealing, and the list goes one. People like Naz and Common who speak truth and have not lost their souls to the might dollar are, in my opinion, true hip hop. The others are sell outs who are focused only on green and not concerned with the impact their words have on society and its views of our community. . . .

Wheeeeeeeeeew girl!

*Five Mics and a Thumbs Up For This One!!!*

[litAKAtor]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

Wheeeeeeeeeew girl!

*Five Mics and a Thumbs Up For This One!!!*

LOL! Thanks MzDocta.