It seems that I have a little more to get off my chest about Nelly’s comments on the BET Blog concerning Hip Hop vs. America, especially how He ended it. Here is the direct quote:
“Now, Hip Hop is making money, we’re making strides, we’re the biggest music on the planet, and we’re also the largest black employers on the planet, so its allowing more brother and sisters to do other positive things, and send my kids to some of the best schools in the country. And to solidify trust funds, leave trust funds, have health care. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Now at first glance you might say he’s saying something really positive, like “We as a people are doing better because of the success of rap music.” But what He’s really saying is,
“I’M getting richer and MY life is significantly better and MY kids have a better education, health care, and trust funds.”
That’s one of the major beefs I have with rappers today. Why does it always have to be about what YOU have? I’m going to make a comparison for a moment. Whenever I see a pop star or an actor on the cover of a magazine or interview spread it is seldom, if at all, you see them profiling their automobiles, homes, jewelry, etc. I generally don’t see a lot of that. Yeah, we know they have lots of money and big homes, but their primary focus is to talk about their upcoming projects, philosophies, and so on.
With rappers it’s always, “Check out MY phat ride. Look at all this ice I’M flossing.” This relates somewhat to my article, My Brother’s Keeper. What message are you sending to kids? Not everyone has the ability to attain that kind of wealth or materialism and that’s not what it should be about. And, before some of you start with “It starts from the home, we can’t raise your kids“, yes, I agree with that, BUT not everyone has the luxury of being raised in a stable home.
There are kids out there that have no guidance because they don’t know where daddy is and momma’s on drugs. Think about those kids for a minute. I see them all the time. No respect for authority, no motivation to succeed at anything, and the sex, violence, and materialism in today’s rap music reinforces their behavior. The music is not the cause, but it fans the flame. Try all you want, but you can’t deny it. I know some rappers are doing positive things for the community but kids don’t see that because the media downplays it in favor of negative press to keep promoting the bad boy images that help sell CDs. Nas had the right idea when he dropped I Can back in 2002, and I would love to see more songs like that to speak to the youth. Even if you reach only a few, it’s a start.
That’s just my opinion, but I think I’m right!
Nas I Can
[youtube]84uWGVAcKR4[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 7
[youtube]eRqZfts4ClU[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 8
[youtube]AWpe6_VgZIg[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 9
[youtube]LE7tsMZ1i8w[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 10
[youtube]UkQd0Tk7_mQ[/youtube]
Nelly vs The Truth: Part 2
Danger S
Danger S is a die hard verbal demolitionist when it comes to serving his arsenal of criticism. He does not sugar coat his words because He is a glutton for the bitter truth. His experience has involved Graff Writing, B-Boying, and Emceeing from the East Coast to the West Coast, and He is now Old School Scholar's most Danger S voice!
It seems that I have a little more to get off my chest about Nelly’s comments on the BET Blog concerning Hip Hop vs. America, especially how He ended it. Here is the direct quote:
“Now, Hip Hop is making money, we’re making strides, we’re the biggest music on the planet, and we’re also the largest black employers on the planet, so its allowing more brother and sisters to do other positive things, and send my kids to some of the best schools in the country. And to solidify trust funds, leave trust funds, have health care. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Now at first glance you might say he’s saying something really positive, like “We as a people are doing better because of the success of rap music.” But what He’s really saying is,
“I’M getting richer and MY life is significantly better and MY kids have a better education, health care, and trust funds.”
With rappers it’s always, “Check out MY phat ride. Look at all this ice I’M flossing.” This relates somewhat to my article, My Brother’s Keeper. What message are you sending to kids? Not everyone has the ability to attain that kind of wealth or materialism and that’s not what it should be about. And, before some of you start with “It starts from the home, we can’t raise your kids“, yes, I agree with that, BUT not everyone has the luxury of being raised in a stable home.
That’s just my opinion, but I think I’m right!
Nas I Can
[youtube]84uWGVAcKR4[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 7
[youtube]eRqZfts4ClU[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 8
[youtube]AWpe6_VgZIg[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 9
[youtube]LE7tsMZ1i8w[/youtube]
Hip Hop vs America version 10
[youtube]UkQd0Tk7_mQ[/youtube]
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