I am once again tardy in linking to my latest Spot-on column. It’s called Hip-Hop for the Long Haul and it focuses on the supposed conflict between 50 Cent and Kanye West. My point was that while the competition made for a great marketing angle for their respective new albums, the hip-hop genre is struggling to sell units. And in fact, while the piece notes how well they both did their first week, both albums fell off dramatically this week, with Kanye suffering a sales slide of 76% and 50 Cent dropping 79%.
This week, Congressman Bobby Rush held a day-long hearing entitled “From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images.” If you follow that link, you can get copies of the prepared testimony and watch video of the proceedings. I didn’t catch all of it, but I did see all of the second panel with rappers David Banner and Master P, along with writer Michael Eric Dyson. A number of witnesses made the point that some of the problems of rap lyrics are not unique to hip-hop. Should hip-hop clean up its act? While I don’t believe in making art primarily as a social good — if it ain’t no good, it will not do any good — there is much that can be improved in hip-hop. But as Dr. Dyson pointed out, why are burdens placed on young black men who don’t have the power to affect broad change? There is violence, drug use and sexism in our society. Is it up to Snoop to fix that?
David Banner said it best: “Hip-hop is sick, because America is sick.”
At the same time, there was both valid and invalid criticism offered and some legitimate debate. For example, David Banner reflected a Dirty South rapper, with songs such as “Like A Pimp” and “9mm,” who has a college degree and a strong history of social contributions. Master P built his career on the gangsta style, but is now alarmed by its influence. The hearing also made it clear, as I have before, that this stuff is what white listeners will buy and what the major record labels will promote, so it’s hard to see why most rappers would record anything else.
Also see:
- Is hip-hop a destructive force?
- Monica Goodling: Music Critic
- I-Man gets fired. Should hip-hop get bounced?
- Tanya Morgan, Queen of Hip-Hop
- “Nothing’s ever promised tomorrow, today…”
- It’s bigger than hip-hop (first take)
- It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop (second take)