To hip-hop:

In the news alot recently have been several pleas to hip-hop music to clean up the lyrics they have. I think that this is a step in the right direction, mainly because it is something that needs to be done for the good of all communities.

But once again on the flip side i think that this attempt is a useless one. I doubt that just asking them to clean up their lyrics is going to allow them to come under realization such as "Wow. I can benefit from what's being said" or "Yea i really should clean up my lyrics." They are just going to keep doing what they are doing, because they are making money, and people enjoy the music that they make.

But should the fact that young, impressionable minds are at stake if rappers choose to keep rapping about drugs, sex, and violence? Even if it is not any of those things in particular, just the expilcit lyrics that are used, can incite children to talk to adults that way?

This is a rough choice on all sides. On one side, you have your freedom of speech at stake, the other young minds, and the mindsthatg are easily influenced, and on the third side, which probably matters most to all of them, is the money they make from keeping the lyrics the way most people like it.

I am so glad I'm not a rapper...

Music and Women

Okay so let me ask you a question: If you were a woman, would you want to be called a slut, hoe, whore, prostitute, or anything like that? I'm sure that there are not a ton of women waiting in line to be called any of those, and other things that have become very common of hip-hop, rock, and many other popular artists of these days.

Why is this done? I mean do people think that women don’t care whats being said about them in music? It is similar to the use of the N-word. The use of such terms in music, and objectification of women that exists in music videos, and that sort of mentality that exists is what “waters down” the hurtfulness of such words in the minds of some. It boils back down the influence that people let music have in their lives. If people really want to believe that every woman is a hoe, then that’s their business. But if you call me a hoe, then we are going to be fighting.

And if women want to believe that the only way that they can get attention from anybody is to dress as such, then sorry to say ladies...we do nothing to help the stereotype and become no better than the people who say it to us.

The "N-word"

Although I already addressed the use of vulgar language in music, I think that the use of the N-word enters an entirely different category in the sense that the word has a great amount of bad blood and history behind it. As I said before, musicians have that right coming into the industry, to express themselves freely, and they do so. But in the sense of using this word is that still okay? The words use is quite common not only in music today, but in everyday life for many people in New York. But I think that the N-word, when it is used goes into a hateful use of speech, which I believe to be is an abuse of our rights to use free speech, just like any song with lyrics that are too vulgar is also an abuse of free speech.

Recently there has also been a lot of controversy surrounding that word. For example in Texas a mayor wants to fine anyone caught using the word $500 dollars. In New York the word has been banned to try and help kids (and entertainers) remember the history and the hatred that stems from that word. Personally I think that it is a good idea. But people shrug it off like its nothing, like pain and suffering isn’t some part of that word.

This comes from an article posted on the MSNBC website. It relates to rappers using the word: “Hip-hop artists in particular have been singled out for weaving the term into music and entertainment, which some say waters it down and convinces younger audiences that the word is acceptable.”

A councilmember that supported the banning of the n-word says that by using this word people are “Disrespecting their history, and putting themselves into a negative light and it needs to be corrected”.

It’s a shame that music plays a part in resurrecting something so horrible.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17382727/