Poor Little Rich Boys! 50 Cent - "Blame Anybody BUT ME"

Um the $400 million dollar man speaks about Hip Hop, Imus, the Iraq War, movies. Master P, in one big rambling mess. At some point does he say that the Vice President resigned? The gist of his comments is that he is not responsible to the devolution of culture. Russell Simmons taught him well. Brought to you courtesy of Black Exploitation Television. Thanks Angry Independent

Then here comes T.I with fatherly advice ( He's a father of five. I'm not touching it.)


If we take T.I.'s argument to its natural end.. Using his logic, we don't need child safety caps on medicine because well... the kids parents should be looking. We don't need to put fences around pools or covers on manholes or any other of steps we take to protect children. The truth is that we have some really crappy parents TRUE, but there are easily some devoted caring parents who are battling for the hearts and minds of their children against the materialism, misogyny and thuggery glorification that is commercial Hip Hop.

The problem with his final statement about "as long as there are "b's" "N-words", and "h's" in America , rappers deserving to rap about it is that the African American experience is not monolithic, but you wouldn't know that by looking at what the large entertainment industrial complex presents to the world. To hear urban radio tell it, the only way to get outta the hood is to sell drugs or women.

I'm not saying stop anybody from saying anything. I have a problem with a total an complete lack of balance. Maybe if T.I. didn't listen to so much rap music as a child, he would know that there are multiple careers options available that do not require violating the law, preying on the weak, and poisoning the next generation so that they end up rapping about how screwed up their lives are.

MIGHT I ALSO ADD that Tupac for all his flaws managed to be conflicted. For every "How Do You Want It." there was a "Dear Mama". For every "I Get Around" there was a " Keep your Head Up." So even if you start out talking about drugs, sex, and money, where is the growth? Where is the evolution? Are they going to be on Social Security talking about "slanging rocks?"

Somewhere our ancestors are rolling in their graves. There were hundreds of years when Black folks had alot less than we have today. Heck for hundreds of years we didn't even own our own bodies, but we managed to establish families, a rich and vibrant culture, and even risked our lives to learn how to read.

I think Langston Hughes said it best in his poem, " Mother to Son"

I'm tempted to send a copy to 50 Cent and T.I. Stop whining already. People did a lot more with a lot less and managed not to compromise their morals or exploit their own people in the process.

Comments

[zillz]

i've been discussing this very thing with a CNN correspondent named Roland S. Martin on my site. He pretty much takes the stand that you are.

But what i've proposed to him is WHY target hip-hop? obviously this type of climate has existed in other industries and music: hooters, abercrombie & fitch, the price is right, strip clubs, playboy, playpen, Warrant etc. etc. etc.

Nobody is saying ANYTHING to them about these same images in the mainstream. And Al Sharpton is an ass. He just wants spotlight time. Those cds come with explicit content labels and follow every bit of the law to produce them. I do believe that it's up to the parents to do their job and filter out what they do not wish their children to listen to. Especially being that we live in a free speech society embeded in a capitalistic economy. For all of the music that I do not like, nor want to hear, I just turn it off. Otherwise, I'd be attacking a freedom which I truly enjoy. What will be next? Are the crusaders going to go after King magazine for showing off women's bodies?

[The Angry Independent]

These guys are pathetic examples for the youth...

And what was half cent talking about??? "The President's #2 Man"... WTH????

And BET is beyond disgraceful. They are constantly giving these people a platform...whether it is through music videos or press conferences. Yet BET refuses to show any kind of uplifting, educational programming.

I don't know what was worst, their comments or the fools clapping... as if these guys are real heroes to the so-called "Black Community".

[g-e-m2001]

I do believe that it's up to the parents to do their job and filter out what they do not wish their children to listen to. Especially being that we live in a free speech society embeded in a capitalistic economy. For all of the music that I do not like, nor want to hear, I just turn it off.

But parents aren't doing thier jobs. The whole "just turn it off" argument falls flat when you are thinking about teenagers who are biologically incapable of exercising the judgement of an adult with a fully developed brain.

[DJ Black Adam]

50 and T-I are class "a" clowns, they are just two untalented hacks who don't want to face a world where they can't disrepsect black women and sell records doing it. These brothers are sad excuses for men.

Bottom line, they are about there money and it is their god, they will have their reward.

[Symphony]

Maybe parents aren't doing it but as long as garbage makes money it will be produced. We have to make a change by making a change in us.

So how does the change occur? Do you hurt others, collateral damage if you will, to get the point across? Stop buying the albums of all Interscope artists to get the point across about 50 Cent?

I took a look at their artist lists. I'm not sure too many blacks are buying many of those artists. But seriously, Interscope is the home of Keyshia Cole, Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, etc. If you hurt those artists--if record labels lose money off of all their artists because of the actions of a few maybe that will make a difference.

Of course there will always be that faction who will make the offensive language their niche.

The business of offensive media is everywhere but somehow rich, drunk white kids on the OC isn't seen as offensive. Drunk and ready white (for the most part) kids on Real World isn't attacked though it is much more accessible than dirty lyrics.

I was thinking back to the early 90s and wondering just how in the world did "Married with Children" ever survive.

[g-e-m2001]

The stakes aren't as high for drunk white kids.

[Symphony]

Agreed but I wasn't talking about the stakes for drunk white kids. I was simply speaking of the lack of outrage other forms of the offensive receive--which we are all very aware of.