DeLaWho? DeLaWhat? DeLaWhere?

Here is a post from a delawhere blog Political Tracker showcasing this conservative's ignorance and simplistic thinking with respect to rap and hip-hop culture...this stuff sort of gets under my skin...

Rapper involved in stabbing....

Associated Press: Police Seeking G-Unit Rapper Young Buck

Some rapper named 'Young Buck' stabbed a guy at the Vibe awards last night for puncing 'Doctor Dre'. What a great culture the whole rap world is. I sure hope my kids look up to people like this.




MORE...



Posted by: Ryan on Nov 17, 04 | 6:54 am | Profile


COMMENTS

People killing eachother at the Vibe Awards--who would have thunk it? Worth remembering that there are plenty of degenerates in all genres of music--although I never saw Liberace stab Elton John.

Posted by: Ken on Nov 17, 04 | 9:43 am


"What a great culture the whole rap world is."

Its not the whole thing...I agree it cant be coincidence that Rap award shows often end up in brawls, which is both sad, and ass kickingly funny, but theres plenty of more level headed, smart artists out there.....think Mos Def, Talib Kwali, Outkast, Roots, etc...

Posted by: Neil on Nov 17, 04 | 12:15 pm


Who, Neil?

The problem is, save for Outkast, those artists are not celebrated by the Hip Hop community and condones violence as a legitimate expression.

the Vibe awards, last year, was subject to violence in case anyone forgot

Posted by: Bryan on Nov 17, 04 | 2:14 pm


who, what? I gave at least four examples there...

and without getting too deep into the hip hop thing...These groups like 50 cent, G-Unit, and all this half assed gangsta stuff is not what i'd put under the title of hip hop...Hip hip was born as a culture, a way of life, through music, dance, etc...and in it's inception was "a uniter, not a divider", kinda like Dubya. The artist's i listed above are certainly celebrated acts...they just dont play on MTV 12 times an hour. Truth is, the Media and Radio and MTV is just as responsible for the negative image associated with rap music. The majority of rap today, in my opinion, is junk. Cant stand it. But as long as there is a Black Star, a Mos Def, and Outkast, Roots, Dialated peoples, Black eyed peas, common, etc you have a pool of rap arrtisits who come from a positive outlook, and quite frankly, are more talented and alot easier to listen to. They just dont get the exposure they deserve from the garbage pushers on Radio and TV...(save outkast and the Peas)

Posted by: Neil on Nov 17, 04 | 2:43 pm


I've got XM radio and I listen to like 90% of the music channels. Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues, Latin, Reggae, Classical, Techno, you name it and I listen to it. The only channels that never get used on my XM are the 'urban' genre.

Maybe there are a few groups out there who are worth a listen but in general this type of music is not worth my time.

The point I'm trying to make (in a tired, rambling way) is that these people do not have an exceptional talent, and they are not exceptional members of society; so why does popular culture revolve around them?


Posted by: Ryan on Nov 17, 04 | 3:43 pm


"these people do not have an exceptional talent, and they are not exceptional members of society"

i agree that element exists, no question. I'd just rather we dont lump all these folks together, as it isnt true for all of them by far...

Posted by: Neil on Nov 17, 04 | 3:45 pm


You're right Neil. That does paint them with a pretty broad brush. It just seems like in that industry; the worse your behavior is the more famous you are.

But it isn't much different from professional sports. If you're a total dick, don't know how to play as a team and tend to be at the scene of the big shooting on Friday night then you're most certainly a star. (Ahem, Iverson....)


Posted by: Ryan on Nov 17, 04 | 3:51 pm


It's sad that some people will completely disregard an art form whose origins are deeply rooted in social and political activism. Sure, there is an element of violence in rap music (admittedly some of it glorified), but it serves as an element of inner city life. As rap has become more pop, the socially conscious music has been left behind. Much of the hip-pop is watered down, just as pop country is watered down, pop rock is watered down. I feel sorry for those people who are so ignorant and lazy that they disregard an entire genre of music because it addresses issues that may shock them. Open your eyes and your ears to a life outside of your "white" one...Listen to the Fugees "the Score"...it talks about violence, selling drugs, and hustling...but it also talks about how to avoid those lifestyle choices. Look past the harsh words and you can see the fear, anger, and frustrations of life in the city. there is more to music than the limited one that you are experiencing through your XM radio. make the effort, go out and buy reflection eternal "train of thought" or common "Like Water for Chocolate". In case you are too lazy to do so...i will leave you with a verse from Common's "6th Sense":

Somedays I take the L to gel with the real world
Got on at 87th, stopped by this little girl
She recited raps, I forgot where they was from
In 'em, she was saying how she made brothers cum
I start thinking, how many souls hip-hop has affected
How many dead folks this art resurrected
How many nations this culture connected
Who am I to judge one's perspective?
Though some of that shit y'all pop true it, I ain't relating
If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds
Travel the world and penetrate the times
Escape through rhythms in search of peace and wisdom
Raps are smoke signals letting the streets know I'm with 'em
For now I appreciate this moment in time
Ball players and actors be knowing my rhymes,

Posted by: Ivan on Nov 17, 04 | 9:39 pm