Lets start with a clear opening: There is nothing inherently bad about hip hop (even this).
But I find it disingenuous when people in the industry try to absolve themselves from responsibility for the content of mainstream hip hop, by saying its just the reality from the streets: When President-Elect Obama voiced concern over some hip-hop lyrics, Russell Simmons urged him to look at the social conditions that gave rise to the lyrics and then later said “"I was just defending hip-hop....It's good for politicians to say they're against hip-hop. But hip-hop's job is to tell the truth, and the truth can be shocking."”
Lets be serious, mainstream hip-hop's job isn’t to tell the truth, it's to make money. It's a money making machine. It's Birdman rhyming “champagne” with “bandana” in the same song where Lil Wayne provides detailed instructions as to the correct timing for taking shots, popping bottles, conversing with "hood rats" and finally...only when the preceding has been accomplished...engaging in interactions with models. If hip-hop was all about the truth, Young Buck would be killing people constantly. No, mainstream hip-hop overstates and glorifies this lifestyle, and that sells records.
On the downside, the appeal to young people is similar to that of mob movies, but more nefarious – because the effect is also to validate this sort of behavior to those most susceptible to it – poor, urban kids without fathers but with access to drugs and violence should they choose to go that route. The draw of money and the perceived social acceptance of criminal conduct can be enough to push them towards that lifestyle. If artists were really concerned about “telling the truth” about poverty, drugs and murder, their songs would presumably be geared towards drawing attention to its horror and pushing for social change away from that behavior. Can anyone keep a straight face and argue that that's the purpose of mainstream hip-hop? If it is, it may be the most unsuccessful social campaign in history.
On the bright side, Russell Simmons and Lil Wayne are rich - and I have no problem with that. There's nothing un-American about making money by cashing in on whats popular....and a lot of industries are engaged in legal activities that may have harmful effects.
My issue is with people like Russell Simmons acting as if these guys are merely messengers, reporting the facts and doing society a favor by letting us know about how they're trying to menage before they reach their garage and such.
In conclusion, a multi-multi-millionaire in a repartee with the newly elected President of the United States....now that’s shhtraight hip-hop!
PS - If interested, check out some truly creative hip-hop...Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Common and so forth.
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