Newsday Article: Hip Hop At A Crossroads
In “Hip-Hop vs. America,” the rappers on the panel often find their chairs becoming hot seats. When Nelly touts his work with nonprofit foundations, writer Nelson George counters that Nelly’s videos have far more impact on young people than his charities. Later, when T.I. comes under attack for rapping about drug-dealing, he responds, “I really have done these things, and I’m just giving my testimony — no different than a preacher on Sunday.”
The discussion often centers on whether rappers are role models or mere entertainers, a dilemma that has dogged hip-hop ever since gangsta rappers like N.W.A. and Ice-T made violence and thuggery a major part of their lyrics and personas. One panelist tells T.I. that as a single mother she has “the hardest job in the world,” and his music only makes her job harder.
This BET special should be interesting, I want to see how rappers respond to some attacks. Thoughts on T.I. saying, “I really have done these things, and I’m just giving my testimony — no different than a preacher on Sunday.”
Suggestion Box
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Unoooooooooooo
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:04 pm
i aint gonna say T.I. is fake? he could juss be sayin it kuz he dont wanna throw himself under the bus? or he could be like almost every other rapper juss fakin it til they make it. an shit when they make it they juss fake it some more.
unoooooooooo
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
If they gonna attack music(hip-hop)then they need to attack movies as well.
I could go on and write a novel about this but I’m gon’ chill.
At the end of the day,hip-hop doesn’t raise children,parents do.
September 24th, 2007 at 3:13 am
I agree, if you’re going to be complaining about music, then you might as well complain about movies & video games.
“raise yo’ kids, raise yo’ kids, raise yo’ goddamn kids”
September 24th, 2007 at 4:35 am
I am tired of rappers trying to compare themselves to pastors or religious spokes people or saying church all the time. T.I unless he is makind a taped confession for the feds would have changed facts and names of the events by using creative license. Plus the fact that many rappers still try and claim they are still living that lifestyle even when rappers like prodigy are getting punched and striped naked by other rappers they can still can still quite happily rap about being “Gangster”. The Movie thing is a slightly different issue as most big films have a hero, a love story and a positive end. Where in Hip Hop there are two many people glamourising a life the do not live.
September 24th, 2007 at 5:28 am
I was listening to MMLP while reading this article..and first thing I thought was Eminem’s song “Who Knew”.
so yeah, they always complaining..but they need to raise their kids goddamn it!
September 24th, 2007 at 5:39 am
How the hell is bet gonna do the special.
They are the ones broadcasting this bullshit music.
September 24th, 2007 at 5:56 am
TI’s comment was on point. im sure the nigga done sold some drugs, he dont look that clueless to me.
anyway, i have 3 kids and i dont allow them to watch or hear certain things because i am a good parent. how can she say that a rapper is making her job hard? being a parent is hard, the reason its hard, is because its like you have to fight the world to try and keep your kids safe.
what about the kids in school who may tell your daughter about sex, or the lil boy that tries to get your son to smoke weed? what about the movies that show how a man can torture and kill human beings? life is full of negativity, and fron the words of Anon#4 “raise yo’ kids, raise yo’ kids, raise yo’ goddamn kids”
stop looking for someone to blame
September 24th, 2007 at 6:43 am
I Agree wit TIP
Down here in Atlanta niggas know who REALLY REALLY was in the streets a while back, and ok, he did his thing back in the day, so u cant get mad at the man for tellin his story. The shit that kills me is, EVERY nigga thinks they a D Boy now. every nigga think a dime bag here and there is movin sumthin,and its stupid. TIP started and niggas jus fell in line.
But on the America Vs Hip Hop shit, its really not up for discussion.. America got bigger problems that a damn T.I. song….
September 24th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
…look at the weak number of comments left, nuff said.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I would like to hear some change in hip hop music. Jus because you sold dope don’t make it right for the young kids who don’t have to sell to listen to how its done. In hip hop the dope game is in the spot light more than you hear about brothers who are dead or locked up. Every rapper has thought to themselves before am I doing Gods work and I’m sure they can’t say 100% yes. The reason why they don’t make change is bc hip hop is what they eat off of. But mark my word the Lupe Fiasco’s and the Kanye’s will make it happen watch. Look at 50 vs Kanye? think about and remember Jus-b-you
September 24th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
There’s a big difference in how you tell your stories. Preachers use their stories to tell young people not to follow their footsteps. Songs by TI talking about the hardship of his past life, he’s not really discouraging people to do what he did, instead, most of the time, he’s often proud of it and bragged about it. I have no problem if that’s how you come up and respect how you got here but don’t compare yourself to a preacher. It’s just how it is nowadays, tough guy image is what sell these days.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:46 am
EVERYBODY HAS MADE A GOOD POINT..REALLY THERES A FEW WAYS U COULD LOOK AT IT..BUT IN THE END IT REALLY AIN’T ABOUT T.V…GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE SOMETIMES DAMN!!…RAISE YO GODDAMN KIDS!!!..GET THEM A BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CARD..TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER/BOY WITCHA!!