Congress Examines Hip-Hop Lyrics
If you're just returning to the U.S. from a six-year trip, you may have noticed that there are a number of issues plaguing the public. These range from the highly criticized Iraq war to health care system, which is in dire need of reform. Some members of the U.S. Congress now want you to add hip-hop to list.
Yesterday, the House sub-committee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, held a session dubbed From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images. Subcommittee chairman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a former Black Panther, kicked off the hearing by setting a positive tone. "This hearing is not anti-hip-hop," said Mr. Rush, "I admire and respect hip-hop artists who have created an artwork, an industry and an environment where they can employ thousands of people that might not receive employment opportunity be it not for them. I respect the First Amendment. Great art is always controversial, but we must also take responsibility in our freedom of expression.
But Rush later added that misogynistic rap lyrics have "reduced too many of our youngsters to automatons, those who don’t recognize life, those who don’t value life."
No Limit founder and southern rap impresario Master P seemed to agree. "I just made the music that I feel, not realizing I'm affecting kids for tomorrow," said P at Tuesday's hearing. He also apologized for his own "negative" contributions to hip-hop. "I want to apologize to all the women," he said. "I was wrong and accept full responsibility."
Naturally, the House suggested censorship as a big band aid to hip-hop's social problems. Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris opposed the idea. "Artists' words are not my words," Morris explained. "I didn't live their lives, didn't grow up in their homes or their neighborhoods. I don't want to control their words."
David Banner, a Mississippi rapper signed to Universal, was also irritated by the idea of censorship. Hip-hop, Banner insisted, is a reflection of society. "Hip-hop is sick because America is sick...If hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present."
Both Banner and P raised some valid points. But the problem with these types of hearings is that nothing ever comes out of them. Again, this sounds like some politician's hobby project.
Photos © Getty/Chip Somodevilla
Comments
“Hip-hop is sick because America is sick…If hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present.”
-That’s a great point. I think they should be looking into health care instead of swear words.
Or hey, that war thing could use some bleepin’ help as well…
Umm, Did they forget the 1st amendment?
Also, this seems like congress is trying to distract us from the real issues that they have failed to fix. Like health care, the war, welfare, immigration, poverty, and other major issues that are hurting our nation.
the day congress shuts down hip hop is the day i eat myself
Last week the Senate voted Senator Jim Webb’s bill that would allow troops who have been on the front line to spend as much time at home as they do fighting.
Now they’re talking about a bunch of rappers who don’t even make the most money off their music.
And they wonder why people don’t vote.
David Banner’s testimony was a bigoted disgrace. His shameful attempt to use the “race card” to deflect any personal responsibility for his music and lyrics was sickening. His music art? Creative? More like a knee jerk response from the the brain stem. He makes money by exposing kids 8 to 14 years old to porn rated trash that is piped over satelite radio and the internet uncencored. Banner forgets that most “whites” are immigrants and don’t feel steeped in any cultural guilt or responsibility for slavery 200 years ago. It was nauseating to watch him bully his way through the hearing. He must have bullied his way through college using the same tactic that most people find easier to walk away from than argue because Banner isn’t worth it.
Please view this short video on the effects of the pro prison, anti black, Gangsta rap culture on the Black Community. You may post and distribute at will.
Gangsta Rap video http://www.redteamone.com/images/1Man01.wmv
Best
Don L. Rondeau
I’m reminded of that magic trick where the illusionist puts a ball under one out of three cups and keeps shuffling it around. In this case, the fiery conflagration of a ball would be Iraq.
They’re hoping to keep our eyes on the show, and forget what’s most important to watch: the illusionist.
i believe that hiphop is a very great business and good entertainments. but the only reason that they rap about thug life or gangs or bitches and hoes is because that is what actualy happens in the streets every day.
I believe that America and the world needs someone or something to blame on for all the violence, wars, drugs, etc. In this case they’re blaming hip hop and pointing fingers at people. I agree that lyrically hip hop is not in a good state..anyone can rap about money, cars, and b*tches but the government is not looking at the other side of the whole situation. There are some amazing rap artists out there putting out really great music like Common, Kanye West, and Lupe Fiasco just to name a few.
He gave us the power of life and death in our tongue. We reap what we sow so my people please wake up and get back to the roots of this country which was his holy word. With out any boundaries or guidelines my people will certainly destroy themselve not to mention there are wolves in sheep clothing and flat out predators who would love to see this great nation fall because of its properity coming from my convenant with Israel
Rap is proably one of the lowest form of “self-expression” from hip-hop “artists”. If we didn’t have hip hop our country would be veiwed as a less hostile place from other coutries. Thats why terroists groups are pissed at us.
Austin, you’re right. It isn’t global imperialism, aggressively exploitative foreign politics, unjustified and poorly managed wars halfway across the world, or blatant disregard for cultural norms that aren’t shared, Osama and his buddies just don’t like Eminem.
ok ppl. i think this hearing was good. rappers are such a bad influence!! i like their music but if you actually look at the lyrics word for word.. well it’s pretty bad. even if these issues are present they don’t need to poison our minds by repeating them. they are not even ‘poets’ as some say. it’s ridiculous what they write about and how they present it and their rhymes?? psh.
America has too many problems to be troubled by hip-hop. I came up in most of the stuff they talk about in hip-hop, hearing gun shots all the time, even being shot at. If we can’t express our feelings then I don’t wanna be a citizen in this country anymore. And while everybody is checking out hip-hop, why don’t you check out that death metal and satanic music that some people are listening to. Also, stop looking at all of the cons of hip-hop because there are many positive things about hip-hop. I am a hip-hop artist myself and I know in some of my songs some of the stuff I say is harsh to some peoples ears, but then again those are the people who have not had to live in conditions such as the ones I bring up.
Rap is just destroying the world,as everyone in society makes it seem. I hope people remember that nobody is forcing them to listen to it. For all those who dont want to hear it or allow your children to listen to it turn it off! The rap artists shouldnt change their expression because of a couple people who dislike it. i understand some of it can be vague, but not anymore than some of the books we read,the movies we watch and the news itself. we live in america and we have the right of freedom of speech. our freedom stops when other peoples freedom is violated, in this case its never violated because listening to rap is a choice not a demand.
i think all of what you guys are saying is true but we as people have to take part of this situation and try to fix it so we can make a better life style or better people.