Elvis wiggled on Ed Sullivan, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 14 yr old cousin, the Beatles smoked pot and protested Viet Nam, Ozzy Ozbourne bit the head off a bat. What does this have to do with anything? Well in reading some news I ran across a bit on DMX and this on Murder Inc.
Now in my posts Rating Rappers in Movies, Thought from previous days and More old thoughts I have addressed various points that I disagree with pertaining to Hip Hop culture and Rap (including the entertainers themselves). So my predisposition is noted, and I do not intend for Black Entertainment Blog to be a anti-rap site. I do enjoy pre-'91 rap music, mostly. I think that Tupac had potential to really say something. I find some of the lyrics by Emminem to have strong meaning. But I cannot sit by as the majority of Black culture is warped by what I can only refer to as criminals-waiting-to-be-arrested.
I mentioned some other entertainers at the start of this post and this is why. At the times that the above acts were done they created outrage. Scores of parents wrote letters or phoned in objections to the above actions. Demands to have these individuals dropped from their contracts were lodged, and in some cases arrests and civil penalties were enforced. This group I mentioned are a mere drop in the bucket, but I feel represent the nature of the actions of their respective times and genre. None were destructive blatant criminal acts (well perhaps the Ozzy incident).
Rap and its performers are another thing. Besides the rampant adoration of drugs, gun violence and degradation of women that is directly stated in every video and song, we have the performers actively engaging in criminal acts to help boost their careers. DMX getting a 104 mph speeding ticket is not a big deal, compared to smashing into a gate and impersonating a federal authority at Kennedy Airport. You try that and see how long you get locked up for, not a fine and probation. Even with such forgiveness he continues to blatantly break the law and the fact that he can easily afford someone to drive him while his liscence is suspended makes it worse.
Murder Inc. is slightly different. Comparisions to Suge Knight do come to mind, but as the article mentions knowing a criminal, and/or doing legal business with one, is not a crime. Yet I must disagree with Mr. Russell Simmons when he states "Poverty and ignorance is more of problem in our community than convicting our poets", when the poets commit and then glorify their crimes. I feel little sympath for individuals such as 50 cent, Suge Knight, Lil Kim and (sadly) many others. It seems to me that the poets are perpetuating and reinforcing the ignorance that can be found in the Black community for the end of gaining wealth. While ignorance is the lack of knowledge, these individuals and their ilk are obtuse in my opinion.
Black entertainers are no different than any other. The fact that many have had difficult lives and many challenges does not infuse them with the right to do as they please. Moreso having abandoned the street/thug/ghetto in their personal lives (many living lives closer to the suburban or upper income, especially in regards to their childrens' upbringing), it seems almost deceptive that they continue to propagate images of the virtues of a lifestyle that never gave them any of the success they enjoy. Responsibility, discipline and punishment for criminal actions should be applied to them as they do anyone else.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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