Mindless, violent hip-hop culture isn't 'keepin' it real,' it's destroying our kids

St. Paul Pioneer Press ^ | 6/8/03 | Alvin Williams

[Movemout]

I don't know for sure about this. I look over my graduating senior daughter's extensive collection of CDs and find some rap and hip hop. I also find a lot of pop and a sprinkle of C&W. I never censored what she read nor dictated what clothes she wore. I did preach the values of responsibility, hard work, and accountability. She has a few flaky ideas but most of us held some quirky thoughts at the tender age of 18.

This article is not bad on the surface but think about it for a minute. One of the traits of liberals is their penchant for being victims. There is always a scapegoat for something bad happening. In this case it is foul mouthed rappers who are causing kids to leap into the chasm of crime, bad manners, drugs, and general lassitude. I grew up in the 50s and 60s and my dad thought rock and roll was spawned by the devil himself. The songs of that era don't even raise a blip on societal mores register today.

I believe, as do others on this thread, that parents have to instill some basic values and let the lives of the young ones unfold. Some of it will stick and some of it will have to be learned again. The parents who didn't bother to try will reap the harvest of what they didn't sow. The parents who tried and failed will be greatly saddened but can take some small comfort in the fact they tried. The parents who succeeded can be proud.

[rdb3]

That's exactly what I thought.

[rdb3]

Everyone has an opinion, right?

[rhema]

This article is not bad on the surface but think about it for a minute. One of the traits of liberals is their penchant for being victims. There is always a scapegoat for something bad happening. In this case it is foul mouthed rappers who are causing kids to leap into the chasm of crime, bad manners, drugs, and general lassitude. I grew up in the 50s and 60s and my dad thought rock and roll was spawned by the devil himself. The songs of that era don't even raise a blip on societal mores register today.

I favor the rap-as-mercenary-accomplice supposition, not the rap-is-the-root-of-all-evil postulate. If the devil spawned Elvis's and Chuck Berry's songs, he's honed his deviltry to a diabolical edge in the current crop of "music" (see mhking's posts, especially). If you and I had emulated Elvis and Berry growing up, how much trouble could we have gotten into? Emulating today's "artists" would get you 20 years to life for cop killing or rape.

[rhema]

Everyone has an opinion, right?

I sure hope so, or FreeRepublic's out of business, and I can't wait for hell to freeze over before the mainstream media deigns to publish my opinions.

[rhema]

Grammar check: ". . .before the mainstream media deign . . ."

Don't want to be setting any bad examples for today's youth, who get enough of them from the rappers: ". . .every time him and someone tangled."

[biblewonk]

Heavy Metal is infinitely better than rap. I got my 15 year old Metalica's black album for Christmas. I wouldn't allow rap in the house.

[hchutch]

I got "Straight Outta Compton." I got a couple of Ice-T CDs, including a first edition "Body Count" (one issued before Time-Warner backed down). I have some Geto Boys, too. Haven't emulated them at all, because I learned that such stuff was wrong. Still, I like the music.

Blaming rap music for problems in society is as dumb as blaming guns for problems in society.

[Miss Marple]

I have a question. Can't rappers write music that doesn't contain the vulgarity and violence? If the songs were about racing cars, or dancing, or eating at McDonald's, would you still like the music?

[hchutch]

When I'm in the mood for that, I go for DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Freesh Prince - I got a few of the tapes (need to get the CDs, though).

But sometimes, I'm in the mood for something a little more hard-core. It really depends on the mood I'm in.

[hchutch]

Freesh should be Fresh...

I need some Mountain Dew...

[Wolfie]

If they just didn't show Elvis' hips on TV, we wouldn't be in this mess.

[Movemout]

I appreciate your response but I think you may have missed or dismissed my point. God doesn't build kids differently today as opposed to 50 years ago. The inherent ability to be good or bad hasn't changed. Evil, in all of its carnations, has been present since the beginning. The choice to be one thing or another is what defines humanity. I think achievers can come from non-achieving parents. I think good kids can come from bad backgrounds, and vice-versa. I believe in human beings in general until they prove they are not worthy of trust.

This point of view has been the subject of many a theologian's life work. It has also been the work of many a sociologist's life work. I subscribe to the view that a child is not necessarily an empty vessel, although that state predominates. Most kids will have successful and productive lives if they are given the proper data inputs in the first case. Those without appropriate cues cannot be expected to behave in an accepted manner. The popularity of misogynist, violent, and inappropriate music is not a product of the kids themselves but rather reflects the quality of their upbringing. Do you see the difference?

[Aquinasfan]

Most rap artists...

Puhleeeeez.

[CollegeRepublican]

I think that you all should blame the Democrats for this rap problem and then white people. Without government money replacing the fathers in minority homes during the 60s and 70s we might not have this rap issue to deal with. Next look to your children. It is white kids who keep the rap industry strong and these wanksters making money.

I will admit I have some rap cds. Eminem, Dr. Dre. Snoop, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Slick Rick, Easy-E, Cypress Hill. But I also have County and Western, Classic Rock, Irish folk, and gospel music. I have yet to "put a nigga on his back" or commit any other serious crimes during my youth and I don't intend to. However, that Irish music makes me drink like a fish :)

[CollegeRepublican]

I was not really addressing that last post to you. Sorry.

[rdb3]

You can apply your grammar check right here at FR and find that it is a 40+ hour a week job.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Run-DMC, whose Jason Mizell — better known as DJ Jam Master Jay — was shot to death in a Jamaica recording studio last fall, was just named the greatest hip-hop act of all time by music channel VH1."

There's an ERROR in the first sentence! Jamaica? Try Queens, NY.

[CollegeRepublican]

I think that the area of Queens that RUN-DMC were from was Jamacia, Queens.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Hard Rock has its share of violence gayness too. Marylin Manson anyone?"

And classical!!! My goodness, anything but this!!!