As I flipped through the Atlanta Journal Constitution tonight I came across an article talking about rappers Ludacris and Young Jeezy’s recent community outreach programs. Both rappers are known for their exceptional word play and beats as they tell tales from the street. Ludacris normally raps about street life partying while Young Jeezy raps about street economics. It’s probably an understatement to say that the language and topics covered in their music is colorful, but all that being said, both artists paint a vivid depiction of the reality of some Americans.
Recently, rapper’s depiction of reality has come under fire. Many argue that a majority of rappers solely depict the negatives of society – mistreatment and degradation of women, drug and alcohol abuse, distain for formal education, and an encouragement of violent tendencies. The argument continues that rappers aren’t doing enough to uplift the communities that support their music. In other words, they aren’t using their celebrity responsibly to promote positive change.
Well, by the tone of today’s AJC article, Ludacris and Young Jeezy appear to take this criticism to heart. Both are using their celebrity to encouraging positive change and awareness. Ludacris is touring college campuses promoting HIV / AIDS awareness while Young Jeezy is sponsoring a $1,000 college essay contest. Rappers are always asking what’s really hood, well that’s really hood – improving your community and encouraging people to better themselves through awareness and education, as opposed to only preaching negativity.
I can understand people rapping about the negative aspects of their reality, but at some point you have to say – life can’t be that tragic all the time, and if it is, then you’d think they’d want to devote energy to improving the stance of their community as opposed to glorifying the horror. Unfortunately, I think a majority of rappers have conceded to glorifying the horror, which in turn normalize the tragic state of their community. In other words, subsets of people begin to believe that it’s okay for their neighborhood to harbor persons committing violent acts and selling drugs. Worst yet, some aspire to be those persons and the negativity continues into perpetuity.
In order to break this cycle, rappers have to do a better job of being responsible. They can share their once reality, as I’m sure most have moved out the hood since becoming famous, but they must also encourage people to strive to be better through awareness, education, positive community involvement, and hard work. They don’t necessarily have to turn into complete “positive rappers”, but they at least could rap a line about saying in school, staying off drugs and dissuading drug trafficking in the hood, giving back to your community, stopping the violence, while also associating themselves with worthy causes.
1 comment:
Rap artist do have an infuence. Look at the style of dress and lingo that their audience uses...as the saying goes, "The greatest form of flattery is imitation".
In this, rap artist can be a positive influence...but back in the early 90s, rap began to glorify the ghetto and many things of a voilent nature (Specifically West Coast rap).
It became cool to embrace negativity.
And slowly but surely artists like Will Smith, somewhat of a poineer in rap music seemed to fade with that change.
Violence and shock value sells it seems and again, as i said before, there are those who tend to emulate what they hear and see.
It is good that there are a few left who do go about pushing out a positive image, but the ones who dont, well, maybe they are too "Cool" to show their weakness thinking another artist will exploit that in a song or two..hurting that artist pride.
In the end though...not many are "hard" or "tough".
They have body guards, weapons and entourages...all of which is VERY easy to hide behind.
Alas, rap artist do need to let their young listeners know that there IS a way out, there are other directions one can go than the negatives they experience day in and day out in the "hood". Because lets just be honest, how many high profile rap artist are still living in the hood?
.......
That's what i thought.
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