HIP HOPS EFFECT ON THE WORLD

[POETICVIBEZ]

Hip Hop's Images

Are images of sex, violence and drugs in hip-hop music harming the Black community or making it stronger? Does seeing bling on your favorite artist motivate you to work hard and earn money honestly or does it make you want to knock over a jewelry store?

[LaVerdad]

I think hip hop affects us the way we want it to affect us. A lot of people moan and begroan about how bad an influence hip hop is to the youth, but in all reality it all depends on how you look at it. Yes, I for one have seen the young thugs who want to be 50 cent and young girls wanting to be video ... but at the same time, you get some young'uns who see hip hop for what it really is... an open forum to express yourself in a way that connects with the urban audience in a non-negative way, or atleast non-violent way... hip hop wasn't always about bling, that's just what sparks our attention nowadays... sex, violence and drugs in hip hop isn't what is harming the black community for the black community has been battling these things way before hip hop started. Music is one of te things that can only reflect the times, and if the times are bad that is exactly what will be produced and sold.

[LIFE AND DEATH]

Wow thats so true. Alot of people try to look for a scapegoat, something to blame the problems on. My only concern is that with the Publicity it is receiving will it cause this problem to spread out to other communities remember not all black communities were troubled but with the way it is glamorized on tv its caused allot of areas to seek that kind of existence. Remember what age group it is thats listening to this music right now. Their nothing short from impressionable. Its a very bad game of follow the leader.

Just my 2 cents

[smoke]

i think we have to distinguish hip hop from rap. hip hop is a culture whereas rap is the commercialization or 'takeover" sorta' speak by the music corporate marketing industry who is maneuvering the trends to fit a wider scheme that does not benefit black advancement, and in fact contributes to black destruction. a mature individual can listen to 50 or ja or any of these artists and "pick the bones from the fish" and eat what's good. but to the undeveloped and uncultivated mind, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. so in some respects the music is good but in many respects, it has become another tool to sell degradation and death to our people. if the hip-hop world is to become a positive influence on our youth, the lyrics will have to at some point begin to reflect the growth of an artist and the art form, otherwise, many of the artist are doing nothing more than pimpin the game, and sellin us out by reinforcing negative images and sterotypes throughout the world about our people!

[LIFE AND DEATH]

THERE IS ALOT OF TRUTH IN WHAT YOU SAY MARK. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO ESTABLISH A CHANGE. HOW CAN WE REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF RAP ON OUR COMMUNITY?

[jforjustice]

i think of legends such as RunDMC, Slick Rick artists such as YoYo, Quenn Latifah, Sista Soulja, etc.....nowadays people think of Destiny's Child, Nelly, Nas, Jay-zee, etc....true these artists are very talented and entertaining but when we look at how they influence our society we have to take into account that a large part of their listeners include te who are not of suitable age to understand that this is entertainment and not a "revised Bible"! The young ones tend to strive to be like them and it seems that they go way beyond the boundaries they should cross to achieve this. I think that Hip Hop is no more...it has faded into meaningless vibes to help others learn how to mismanage money, degrade women, look down upon our brothas, disrespect our elders and families, and raise children to be either greedy or always searching for the uneccesary! And as to how we reverse the effects of rap on our community...its simple...if we don't support...they don't gain from their nonsense....i can honestly say that i take this to heart..in fact the last album i purchased was the debut release of Jill Scott and since then i basically refuse to spend my money on nonsense that i could here from thugs simply by walking to the corner store!

joyce

[LIFE AND DEATH]

I FEEL THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF INTERESTING THINGS SAID IN REGARDS TO THIS SUBJECT SO THE QUESTION I ASK IS WHAT DO WE DO TO SLOVE THIS PROBLEM.