Gangsta rappers in the U.S. should be happy that world tours don't normally include Senegal, nor any nations similar to it. As tough as they would like to say they are, and a few are indeed all the criminal low-life they propose to be, I imagine most would look quite bad skittering across the stage.
Now the reason I say this is because in Senegal a man of 70 decided to let a group of rappers performing on stage know how he felt about the lyrics they were spewing. He did so with a rifle. Suffice to say they stopped performing.
The reason for this incident was because the elderly man was offended by the lyrics of a particular rap. It dealt with a "cranky old man". The 70 yr old felt it was a disrespect to him, I am lead to believe. When the performers would not abandon the song, he opened fire.
I do not advocate the use of a weapon on entertainers. Not even for rappers that I personally find to be lower than scum for their admitted (and potentially over-glorified) role in dispersing poison (in the form of drugs) to communities. Not even for a horrendous performance. But I can see how the man could have been so enraged.
As I am aware, Senegal is not the most progressive nation in the world. I could be wrong as I have not been there and base this on the news I have seen. So that is a factor. But I have to wonder what would happen in the U.S. if parents and adults took a non-violent yet similar stance to rappers.
What if parents refused to allow their kids to buy the albums that contain offensive lyrics, or watch videos with allusions of drug-fueled grandeur? What if entire communities protested when admitted drug criminals performed in their area? What if felons of violent crimes and drug charges were shouted down when they get on stage and begin songs that promote the death of children by imitating or glorifying their illegal path?
Or on a more personal level what if parents stopped buying the records, and provocative clothing? Blocked the BET's from their cable channels, and monitored the songs their kids listen to? Wouldn't that be something.
Yes kids would still be able to listen to songs and rappers when they are out of the home. But that is a limited time. Unless you allow the child to roam the streets, even after 11pm at 12 years old, as I have seen in some places. Because parents have the power.
A child has no money of their own. They don't work. So either you are buying the trash for them or you aren't paying attention on what they are doing. Because if they have a new pair of stupidly expensive jeans that don't fit and sneakers that cost over $100 and you didn't pay for it you should ask questions and get involved.
But my main point is this. While the Senegalese man was over the top in his reaction, he had a reaction. In the face of apparent disrespect and dismissal of his complaint he did something. The wrong thing, but something. How many parents in America have done something? As I mentioned, by the number of kids roaming streets far beyond any reason, the number of those that dropout of high school, become single parents, get addicted to drugs, and die before the age of 25 they are not doing much.
Gangsta rap is a business like any other. Were it the equivalent of a pharmaceutical company it would have been recalled and banned due to its negative side-effects a decade ago or more. But this is the music industry, and unlike in Senegal many just accept the insults, profanity, degradation, and promotion of illicit drug use because 'it's just music'.
Rappers, like all artists, have the freedom of speech. I respect their right to perform as they choose. But that does not mandate an obligation on my part to listen nor provide them a financial incentive to continue. Even if they are Black or Latino. Call that my non-violent Senegal-style gunshot to the gangsta rappers.
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