Buy this album on Tuesday, December 18th!!!
Twenty years. That's how long I've been listening to rap music, if not longer. And believe me when I say I have heard it all when it comes to rap music. I'm a fan of all music genres, but for most of my life rap music has always been the music of preference. There has always been something about it that has always moved me. Whether it be the heavy bass drums thumping through my speakers or the art of a rhyme slayer spitting out metaphors that make my head spin and make me have to stop and think about what I had just heard. I've always been enamored by it. But Satan must be investing in some snow boots right now because my thoughts on rap music has changed dramatically over the last few years and there are a few reasons why.
First and foremost, I was fortunate enough to meet someone very special a few years ago. She helped me shape my views on what a lot of these rappers were really saying. At first I wasn't having any of it because to me it was all entertainment. It didn't matter what a rapper said on the mic because I knew in real life that these guys didn't actually believe what they were saying. They just said things in their songs that they would never get away with saying or doing in real life. What is the big deal? The big deal is, is that it hurts people.
When rappers spew out venom about disrespecting our women it sets a very bad example for our youth. Rappers see nothing wrong with portraying our women as nothing more than sex objects as opposed to respecting them with the highest regards like they should be. Would Lil' Jon get upset if I went up to his mom and said "come on skeet skeet, mother fuckin' ass hoe, do dat come on, skeet skeet more now" or would he be okay with it? I think he would wanna have his posse kick my ass. Yet these are the things being heard on just about every rap album that gets put out. I'm sick of hearing about bitches, hoes and stripper poles. And kids these days think it's the normal to degrade and disrespect our women. They think there's nothing wrong with calling a female a bitch or a ho. There in lies the problem.
Listening to rap since I was at least seven, you would think that I would have zero respect for women, but I was a lucky one. I actually had someone there to tell me right from wrong and how to respect people. And if there was a time that I didn't do what I was taught, you can rest assured that I paid the price for not listening. So I had someone there. A lot of kids today don't have that. More and more households have single parents who can't always be around to remind their children how to treat people. Instead the radio and television are raising our youth. And if it's not radio or television, it's their peers at school or on the streets.
Rappers don't have a responsibility to raise our children. The thing is kids often imitate what they are seeing on t.v. or hearing in music. These rappers have a choice on whether or not to be a positive or negative role model. I've heard many rap songs talking about coming from broken homes and families so, if we are to believe their struggles then why aren't they trying to be positive about it? They say art imitates life. They just rap about what they saw and went through growing up. I can understand that. What I don't understand is why they would continue to be so negative in their music. If it was that bad wouldn't you want to make a difference so that your kids and loved ones wouldn't have to go through the same struggles you did?
It's not just disrespecting women either. It's the narcissism, jealousy, envy and ego driven personalities that go along with it. It's the "I'm a bigger man" attitude and I'll prove it because my chain is bigger than yours. I have more bling than you and it shines brighter. I got more hoes in different area codes. My cars are more expensive, faster and have bigger rims. Really? Who the hell cares what you have? Why don't you take more time and pay attention to what you are saying in your rhymes. How about you go out and do something positive in your community. Na, because then it would make you look weak. And you don't wanna look weak.
When did it become so cool to sell drugs? As a kid growing up, did anyone have the dream to grow up and want to sell crack? Is it really that cool to talk about wanting to kill somebody? We just lost eight wonderful people in a horrendous, tragic, cowardly, senseless act. Ask the families of those victims how cool it is to kill somebody. I can answer that real quick. Not cool! And if it really was all that cool then what's with all the sadness when another rapper dies from being shot? You rapped about it. I guess you reap what you sew.
Every new rap song that comes out today is basically garbage. It has no substance or meaning, trash! When your lyrics are so simple that a third grader can understand them you definitely have some work to do. Of course maybe a lot of these rappers have a third grade education and that's the reason many of them act like they're 10. Even though many rappers are in their mid 20's or earlier 30's. It's time for you to grow up. Be a man and make a difference in the world. If you are that gifted use your talents in a positive way. Don't continue to be a part of the problem. And to the younger rappers, stop and think about what you're putting out there. I guess you wouldn't understand because you are just imitating what you're use to seeing.
There are some great rappers out there, but very few of them garner mainstream success. Chamillionaire, Common and Talib Kweli are just a few. And now I give you Lupe Fiasco. Fresh off his critically acclaimed debut, "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor" Lupe strikes back with his sophomore set "Lupe Fiasco's The Cool." I have not stopped listening to this album since I first got a hold of it last Wednesday. To me it's better than his first album and one of the best rap albums I've heard in a very long time. From beginning to end I can listen to the whole album and just vibe out. Although there are a few favorites such as "Intruder Alert" and "Hip-Hop Saved My Life", the album as a whole is just incredible. The Cool is a well rounded album, touching on current events, the issues we face as a society and the problem with rap music.
If you have never been a fan of rap music or had been a fan but grew out of it, give "The Cool" a listen. When rap music is done right it is incredible and amazing. I can not find enough words to describe how much I love this album. I just wish more rappers would stop and think about what they are saying and try to do something positive in their songs instead of always being so negative. I'm glad that Lupe has stuck to his morals and beliefs and didn't cave in to mainstream pressure. Thank you, Lupe!
For you, Kelley!
1 comment:
Well written article.
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