[Huck]

Main Entry: syb·a·rite
Pronunciation: 'si-b&-"rIt
Function: noun
Date: circa 1555
1 [from the notorious luxury of the Sybarites] : VOLUPTUARY, SENSUALIST

syb·a·rit·ic /"si-b&-'ri-tik/ adjective

[presidio9]

Ping

[robjna]

Yea but at least rap gets the rapper their 3 Karat diamonds for their ears. Gotta have em

[verity]

RAP IS CRAP -YO ;~)

[AppyPappy]

The more I read about hip-hop culture, the more it resembles the Mafia. The hits, the desire to die on the street, the worship of crime, the desire of outsiders to emulate it.

[AmericanVictory]

"Poetry is a destructive force, Madam."
Wallace Stevens

Wallace didn't see nothin'

He shoulda seen bad poetry as a destructive force.

And to think that they used to tell us of the eagle, and speak of his dazzling wings.

[beaversmom]

It also stuck it to President Bush for invading Iraq

The hip hop generation doesn't like to think about the unnecessary violence of war while they are doing their drive bys--it can be very distracting.

[freedomlover]

Last week 21-year-old Savannah-based rapper Camoflauge was shot to death

Apparently Camoflauge's camo wasn't quite "real" enough.

[tell me]

I spent 4 hours on a train recently with a young black mother who was traveling with her children. I admired her as she struggled to teach her kids patience and manners during a very trying ride. Then I felt sorry for her when she eagerly borrowed my copy of the newspaper with a long article on the history of rappers. She seemed caught in the middle of knowing what's best for her kids and being drawn to the black culture of rappers.

[L.N. Smithee]

Fans object that there is plenty of hip-hop with constructive messages. True, but it's the "thug" brand that sells best. How many hip-hop magazines would there be if the music delivered only positive messages? Camoflauge, despite his searingly profane, violent lyrics, was regularly invited to speak at Savannah high schools. In the hip-hop world, "keeping it real" is everything, and the gutter is considered the "realest."

If Camoflauge's lyrics are any indication, he shared this view of gutter brutality being "the realest." Here's some lyrics from "Let's Ride" on his CD I Represent:

---

C'mon
Let's Ride
C'mon nigga let's ride

[Hook]
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride, let's ride

[Camoflauge]
Gimme tha keys to tha car, I'm ready for war
When we ride on these niggas smoke that a-- like a gar
Hit your block with a Glock, clear the set with a Tech
Like rain you gonna get wet that's a promise not a threat
You think I'm jokin, see if you laughing when tha pistol be smokin
Leave you head split wide open
And you bones get broken
Sh-t you will be floatin out to sea like a bird with wings
When we ride on these niggas we bringing tha pure pain

[Hook]
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride, let's ride

We gonna ride on these b-tch made

[Hook]
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride, let's ride, let's ride, let's ride,
let's ride,

Let's ride niggas for talkin sh-t
Bust in that nigga wig and it startin to split
Hot sh-t gonna touch ya, bullets gonna rush ya
Like Lil' Cease I crush it, yea motherf-cker
And when we ride it me homicide fo sho
And when we ride let em screamin let dem motherf-ckers know
(let em know) Uh-huh that we ain't playin no games

---

Looks like Camoflauge crossed someone who wasn't "playin no games" either.

From the USA Today article about Camoflauge's killing:

---

Many considered the rapper a role model despite his violent, profanity-laced lyrics and brushes with the law. Savannah high schools would invite Camoflauge to host pep rallies. In 2001, he was invited to appear at a Father's Day celebration at Savannah's Daffin Park.

Camoflauge said last year he always knew he would be famous.

"Everyone knew it was going to happen," the rapper said. "I just wanted to be like the boys I saw on the corner — with gold teeth and fancy cars."

---

Well, next Father's Day is going to be great for that kid, won't it? And what say we investigate who the genii are in the Savannah school system who thought this gentleman was a role model, and see what they have to say now?

[randita]

If white people had invented rap, they would be accused of attempting to destroy the hearts and minds of young blacks.

[chit*chat]

More like an accurate image of black america. Unfortunately; but they are loathe to learn from past mistakes.

[Publius6961]

As long as the street trash sweepers are on the job, what's the problem?

[dagnabbit]

I’m back from the store with my teddy bear, flowers, and candles.
Someone tell me quick – Where’s the impromptu memorial wall ?

[Delbert]

Sow hatred and violence, Reap hatred and violence.

[A_perfect_lady]

BOOK mark