Comments on Stanley Crouch's Opinion - 7.2.2007.1

In today’s opinion in the New York Daily News, there is a piece by Mr. Stanley Crouch. It deals with the recent town hall meeting sponsored by Black Entertainment Television (BET), and the matter at hand was hip-hop/gangsta rap. This is a subject I have followed and discussed for over a decade. Since the corporate decision to promote, mold and profit off of the gangsta rap sub-genre I have felt it is too important to ignore.

It seems that the members of the panel have that feeling as well. From the claims of Nelly stating that he does more good than bad, to the realization of Master P that, as Mr. Crouch states he said

“It is time to lead the younger generation with all of the knowledge beyond crime and hustling that rappers like himself have gained since their early popularity.”

Yes it is well past that time. No matter what the proponents of the current gangsta rap mainstream may say, the fact that 4 out of 5 buyers of rap are reportedly white suburban males seems to confirm how derogatory this genre is. But to say this is a surprise would be a lie.

As early rap stars have gained wealth, had families, moved from the lower income areas that was the home of their youth, and gained maturity their has also come an understanding of what they have promoted and the damage it has done to the community and culture. Black culture today is a commodity. On sale at a discount so low it sells like crack. And with about as many virtues as that drug.

Not everyone will agree with me. But to those that don’t I ask why no one, including the abovenamed entertainers, could question the description provided about rappers

“too many of them are high on drugs, suffer sexual confusion, do what they are told and are plagued by enormous insecurities.”

While this introspection is gaining in popularity, and those of us who have made these comments, among friends and in public forums such as blogs and newspaper articles, are no longer looked upon as ‘haters’ we have far to go. Part of that process is to recognize that the current trends are not positive. Another is to recognize that the cause of this proliferation are executives at media companies that have litterally flooded us with this one image that they wished to exploit for their immense profit. Yet another is the fact that we have bought that image and fed into it. Be honest, if we did not buy the records initially, if we did not emulate the clothing styles, and incorporate the demeanor and lack of language gansta rap would still just be a sub-genre.

Continued in part 2...