It's interesting how hip-hop is one of the only art genres where people expect everything an artist puts out to be real or "authentic." There are tons of movies and books graphically depicting horrible things like rape, murder, torture, etc., people rarely go after the film maker/author about it being real or promoting that lifestyle (unless religion is involved). Rappers and other musicians are basically just story tellers. People get all hurt when they find out a thug rapper they like is really from a nice family in a nice neighborhood.
No one really thinks Al Pachino is really a murderous Cuban immigrant that built a cocaine empire, etc. If you think the stuff your favorite rapper talks about happens to them on a daily basis is true, that's dumb. I don;t know how the girl who wrote that article can take Rick Ross lyrics to heart as truth. Does she think her other favorite rappers are really getting in shoot outs with the cops and other hustlas, dealing keys of dope, driving 10+ $100k cars, and carrying giant assault weapons everyday?
"I'll fuckin, I'll fuckin sew your asshole closed and keep feeding you and feeding you..."
The reason no one thinks of Pacino as Scarface is because he's played many other roles. Rappers, most often, play only one- G, hustler, pimp, thug, drug dealer. This is a problem because so many young people fall under the spell or influence of these role models and propagate a myth supporting the life of a banger as a viable way of living. These lyrics are viewed as a manifesto of the G/thug/hustler/pusher/stick up kid/corner boy who who upeth lifestyle and because of this become present in day to day living.
I'm not saying that I don't get down with some music but I am privileged enough to see it as entertainment.
I've been listening to Black Star a lot lately, while reading a "A New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," and it's got me thinking about this quite a bit.
In fewer words, young people are especially susceptible to propaganda, are easily influenced, and are unable or unwilling to recognize or understand the truth that their favorite rapper doesn't slap women around, doesn't smoke 7 blunts a day, and doesn't need to carry everywhere he goes.
"once upon a time not long ago when people wore Adidas and lived life slow, when laws were stern and justice stood and people was behavin like hip hop was good..."
But (But!) he was runnin' and he made a left
Was skeezin' at top speed and ran into Mos Def
I slowed the young man down and I started: "Yo money
Yo, why you sellin' lies to our wives and children?"
He ran upstairs up to the top floor
Opened up the door then guess what he saw? (Who?)
JANE the chickenhead radio host
Who be yappin' 'bout beef between east and west coast
He said "This one's a bullet, you got ta give it run!"
The chicken said "Thanks." and spanked it #1
He went outside, was gettin' props all over
Then he dipped into his ride, the 4-point Rover
Raced up the block doin' 83
Some cats with Hennessey saw him at a R-E-D
He winked his eye like his star status mattered
They rat-a-tat-tatted to make his blood splatter
"You rockin' crazy ice and all you do is cling static
And rollin' down to Brooklyn late night is problematic..."
His eyes was bloody red, he hung on every word they said
They told the kid "Back down, that playa shit is dead."
Deep in his heart, he knew he was gone
But he grabbed his 45 and decide to blaze on
Wit' shades on founded had him astounded an'
Before long, the young man got surrounded
Those grabbed the guns, so goes the glory
And that is the way I got ta end this story
He was out chasin' cream and the American dream
Tryin' to pretend the ends justify the means
This ain't funny so don't you dare laugh
It's just what comes to pass when you sell your ass
Life is more than what your hands can grasp
Good Night!
Topic: I need to get a piece out right now about Rick Ross RE: date rape and his lyrics (Read 4566 times)