Comments on: Rappers, Hip Hop Artists, and Responsibility to the Community http://no-song-unsung.com/blog1/2007/04/18/rappers-hip-hop-artists-and-responsibility-to-the-community/ Uniting the World Through Music Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:55:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: TMNK http://no-song-unsung.com/blog1/2007/04/18/rappers-hip-hop-artists-and-responsibility-to-the-community/comment-page-1/#comment-56 TMNK Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:04:37 +0000 http://no-song-unsung.com/blog1/2007/04/18/rappers-hip-hop-artists-and-responsibility-to-the-community/#comment-56 Asking rappers to play the role of community leaders, and clean up their lyrics because of its negative influence. Is a bit like taking pain medication to treat cancer, it might make you feel better, but it doesnt cure the problem. Hip-Hop's violent centric, and profane lyrics are not the disease, its a symptom of the disease. It's like acusing a child born with AIDS for being HIV positive. The Disease is the neglected inner-cities, urban centers, and impoverished communities that birthed hip hop. And given the afluency of America, the wealth that is paraded by our athletes, entertainers, and leaders why isn't their positive influence as noticeable and notable as these negative influences? Why aren't our best and brightest (and wealthiest) not visible teaching, mentoring, investing in the minds of the youth we blame hip hop for destroying? Yes, It's nice to see "Us" on tv protesting, marching, and debating about whats wrong in our communities. But how about less talk, and more walk. Instead of looking to our rappers as role models, lets look to those who have escaped economic slavery behaving more like Harriet Tubman. And lets, keep in mind Ms. Tubman didn't simply donate money to the "Free a Slave" foundation. Once she got hers, she actively went back to free others. Here's a list of a few items, Id like to see in Brooklyn, NY ,Newark, NJ, Washingtod, DC, Oakland, CA, and cities like them: 1. Oprah center for Film and Television Arts 2. Bill Cosby - Video New Media Training Centers 3. Micheal Jordan - Interactive Arts Computer Centers 4. Robert Johnson Day-Care centers for single mothers and how about Medical mentoring programs by our successful doctors. And instead of our Lawyers having our young men as clients after they get into trouble, invite some to work for them, invest in them the way drug dealers, and gangs recruit our children. -TMNK Asking rappers to play the role of community leaders, and clean up their lyrics because of its negative influence. Is a bit like taking pain medication to treat cancer, it might make you feel better, but it doesnt cure the problem.

Hip-Hop’s violent centric, and profane lyrics are not the disease, its a symptom of the disease. It’s like acusing a child born with AIDS for being HIV positive. The Disease is the neglected inner-cities, urban centers, and impoverished communities that birthed hip hop.

And given the afluency of America, the wealth that is paraded by our athletes, entertainers, and leaders why isn’t their positive influence as noticeable and notable as these negative influences? Why aren’t our best and brightest (and wealthiest) not visible teaching, mentoring, investing in the minds of the youth we blame hip hop for destroying?

Yes, It’s nice to see “Us” on tv protesting, marching, and debating about whats wrong in our communities. But how about less talk, and more walk. Instead of looking to our rappers as role models, lets look to those who have escaped economic slavery behaving more like Harriet Tubman. And lets, keep in mind Ms. Tubman didn’t simply donate money to the “Free a Slave” foundation. Once she got hers, she actively went back to free others.

Here’s a list of a few items, Id like to see in Brooklyn, NY ,Newark, NJ, Washingtod, DC, Oakland, CA, and cities like them:

1. Oprah center for Film and Television Arts
2. Bill Cosby – Video New Media Training Centers
3. Micheal Jordan – Interactive Arts Computer Centers
4. Robert Johnson Day-Care centers for single mothers

and how about Medical mentoring programs by our successful doctors.
And instead of our Lawyers having our young men as clients after they get into trouble, invite some to work for them, invest in them the way drug dealers, and gangs recruit our children.
-TMNK

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