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Posted on 06/10/2005 6:33:23 AM PDT by iwannaknow07
Hip-hop music usually gets a bad rap for its misogynistic overtones and violence, but amid the criticism comes a refreshingly courageous song with a message to which parents can proudly expose their children, particularly teens.
"Can I Live?" which debuted recently on Black Entertainment Television's "106th & Park" video music show, stars former Nickelodeon television star, turned rapper and movie star Nick Cannon, as the yet-to-be son of a teenage mother.
The video, set in the 1970s, takes place at an abortion clinic where a teenage mother, played by actress Tatiana Ali, formerly of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," arrives to get an abortion. Cannon, who plays a ghost-version of himself, tries to persuade his mother to choose life and reconsider her decision to terminate her pregnancy.
The mother sits in the waiting room where others are facing the same dilemma. As she fills out medical forms, Cannon's character talks about the struggles she would face as a teenage mother.
Ali's character is then seen in a hospital gown, lying on a table, ready for the abortion procedure. With doctors standing by, Cannon again appears and sees himself in the form of a baby in the ultrasound on a screen behind him.
He implores her to think about the consequences of her actions and what he could become one day if she would only let him live. As if she could hear him, Ali gets up from the examination table and leaves the room. Cannon thanks her.
Ali runs outside to the street and sees a crowd of children of all sizes and ages wearing white t-shirts, emblazoned with three words: "Can I live?" Those words are also heard in the song's chorus, which is sung by various children.
Months later, we see the young mother in a different hospital room surrounded by family and friends while holding her baby.
In the entertainment industry, sex is often viewed as the most effective tool to sell a product. As a mom, however, I would like to think that an uplifting message like that found in the "Can I Live?" video is much more powerful.
While watching this video, I was moved to tears thinking about the mothers who thought they had no other choice but to abort their child, but I was even more affected by the voices of the children, begging to be born.
Hopefully, more mothers who are conflicted over matters of life and death will be able to hear their child's voice as clearly.
Another great video, sort of a country western version of the video above. I plan on linking both of these videos into repeating playlist for my county Right-To-Life organization's booth at this summer's county fair.
Maybe the left will slam it so hard everyone will want to see what the fuss is about. (Sorry about the grammar)
Thanks for the link. Very powerful.
Just wanted to pin the Canteeners to this.
"While watching this video, I was moved to tears ..." Well, this old man was moved to tears just reading that a rapper has made such a video ... Life is the big romance. Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Thanks for the *ping*--nice to see some positive influence coming from the Hip-hop world for a change! Thanks, Nick!
It is a tear jerker and I don't care at all for rap.
I have never (before today) heard a hip-hop song that inspired and moved me. I love that song.
The country song one is allright, but I don't think it holds a candle to the Nick Cannon one, and that's coming from someone who loves country music and has never heard a rap or hip-hop song that he liked before today. I haven't been able to do a "save as", or find a useable version in my temporary internet files. Does anyone know where I can download a high quality version of this?
Truly moving!
Try imesh.com... free file-sharing site. Since I am at work I cannot access the site and see if the video is available. Hope so, it truly is a beautiful video.
Bump and thanks for the ping.
I am no expert on hip hop, but from what I have read, the subject of abortion is addresses in hip hop more than any other type of music. Specifically, there are quite a few hip hop songs that take an anti-abortion position. I can mention a few I've read about, including "One Mic" by Nas and especially "Real Killer," by Tech N9ne. I looked up the lyrics for the later and it's quite a chilling and fearless song. I've also heard about "abortion," a song from the 80's by Doug E. Fresh, but I don't think I could find the lyrics to that one.
Popular Hip Hop artist Common has a nice pro-life song, entitled "Retrospect for Life", here are some of the lyrics,
"from now on
I'ma use self control instead of birth control
Cause
$315 ain't worth your soul
$315 ain't worth your soul
$315 ain't worth it"
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/c/commonlyrics/retrospectforlifelyrics.html
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
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I remember seeing a Black video that had a vague pro-life message several years back when the Box was still on cable. The abortion occurred but the whole thing was one of sincere regret told from the man's viewpoint.
Thank God something has come of rap!! Personally, give me rock, metal, country, or Irish folk any day!
Don't forget disco and Motown.
The video, skillfully directed by Cannon himself, beautifully dramatizes the torment and the uncertainty as Cannon's own mother arrives at a "Women's Health Clinic" (abortuary) in the late seventies with the obvious intention of ending the life of her child. Cannon himself appears in the video clad in white, symbolically portraying the person of the as-yet unborn child, and giving voice to his own implicit right and desire to live.
Throughout the video he tries to connect with his unheeding mother and to plead his own case, at one point crying out to her "300 Dollars that's the price of living what? / Mommy I don't like this clinic / hopefully you'll make the right decision / and don't go though with the Knife Decision."
In the second to last scene Cannon's mother rises from the operating table as her unborn son's silent arguments penetrate and she runs from the clinic into the sunshine. There she is greeted by several dozen children singing the chorus and wearing T-shirts with the words "Can I Live" printed on them.
The video closes with Cannon hugging his present-day mother saying "I am just telling ya'll my story/ I love my life / I love my mother for giving me life / We all need to appreciate life/ A strong women that had to make a sacrifice / Thanks for listening… / Mama thanks for listening."
Cannon has received a slew of support from his fans on the message board of his official fan page, with many confessing that they wept the first time they viewed the video. One woman recounted how his video confirmed her in her last minute decision not to have an abortion.
Most remarkable of all is the message Cannon himself posted on the message board which runs as follows:
"This record is extremely important to me and to our community. There are a lot of young mothers in need and have had to struggle to raise their children. I just wanted to recognize all the strong women who are raising children on their own like my mother had to do. Myself and my foundation really want to help these young women. If any of you out there know a single mother between the ages of 15-25 who may be having a difficult time I would love to hear the story. Please write to me and explain the condition and how I could possibly help. I will check the website and respond accordingly."
Subsequent posts by the board administrator assured his fans that Nick had received all the requests for assistance and was deliberating how to best assist each woman.
See the "Can I Live" video:
http://www.nickcannonmusic.com/index_main.html
Thank Nick Cannon for his work by leaving a message on the message board at his official fan site:
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/dpc123
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