Rape, Rick Ross and Responsibility
In 2012, a drug named Molly, made up of pure MDMA (Ecstasy’s active ingredient) flooded the music industry and made its way into countless rap lyrics.
While those addicted to ecstasy or “molly” can be helped, there’s no questioning the damage done by rap lyrics glorifying the drug.
Last month, February 2013, Lil’ Wayne sparked national outrage when he disrespected the memory of slain civil rights martyr Emmitt Till in his lyrics by comparing his brutal beating to a sex act. This month, rapper Rick Ross stirred nationwide controversy as a result of lyrics that encourage drugging a woman to force her into sex. Mainstream rap has been suffering from repulsive content for a long time but this latest wave of filth is our breaking point. WE HAVE HIT ROCK BOTTOM!
While Lil Wayne and Rick Ross as well as 2 Chainz, Trinidad James, Chief Keef and many others should be held accountable for the content of their music, the companies which promote them are just as much to blame. Year after year, the mainstream music industry aggressively markets rappers who celebrate irresponsible and criminal behavior while ignoring the countless conscientious rap artists who deserve the same amount of publicity. Record companies, TV networks and radio stations make millions from this type of music which we all know has a huge influence on young people. While it is far from being the only contributing factor to the various ills plaguing our youth, mainstream rap music undoubtedly plays a significant part. At a time when urban communities are suffering due to high unemployment rates, limited access to quality health care, gun violence, failing schools and institutionalized discrimination, the last thing we need is a “musical soundtrack” to accompany these conditions. The music industry has a huge influence on young listeners and profits from their blind support with no concern of the social impact.
Now, we demand change.
We are asking for:
1) A system of safe guards that protects your consumers and more importantly the general public from illegal references promoting rape, drug use, violence and misogyny.
2) A concerted effort to test, market and promote more positive and conscientious rap artists. Grammy Award winner, Lecrae is a prime example of a hip hop artist who is highly profitable and more importantly positive.
3) To remember your consumers, partners and share holders that have the same values that you share with your family, children and relatives. The images you share with your children are universally appropriate for all communities.
4) Finally, we request a literacy outreach program that is promoted and endorsed by your company and artists. This long cycle of degrading images has caused many youth to be guided in the wrong direction by the artists that you aggressively promote. We do not expect you to be parents – only responsible members of the communities you profit from.
Use the hashtag #RRR
Sign the Change.org petition here
Woah woah woah. First of all I’d like to say that in no way do I condone these jerkoffs, nor do I support their lyrical content whatsoever. However, to put a ban on freedom of expression is REALLY stupid.
You have to understand that not every artist who discusses disgusting topics are doing so mindlessly. I am all for getting those dudes off of the radio, but the fact that you want to ban discussion on serious issues is literally taking something away from Hip Hop that any real emcee would find disgraceful.
Taking away freedom of speech is taking away Hip Hop. The ONLY WAY to encourage real lyricism and healthy content is for listeners to WANT real lyricism and healthy content, and there’s a decent amount of people that do. If you want to hear songs that provide a healthy, intelligent way of discussing these topics please feel free to ask me for more examples, but you can start with “Dance with the Devil” – Immortal Technique and “God’s Bathroom Floor” – Atmosphere.
If you can’t listen to a song without critically thinking about it and interpreting it objectively, then you have absolutely NO right to be dictating what artists write about. That directly effects me and something that I’ve relied on for 5 years to make me feel like a human being again. Get fucking real and do yourself a favor! There are plenty ways to enjoy art.
And for the record I don’t consider Ross, Wayne, or any of those guys are good artists if you even consider them artists. I don’t.
The horror of lyrics such as these and “men” such as this must be removed, Hip Hop embodies fun, love, revolution, thought, spirit and….love!!!!
Rev. Majadi Baruti
Udja Temple Ministries
As a young African living in Africa, I grew up listening to all kinds of rap music and I am glad to say Hip-hop schooled me and thought me in most part of my growing up years. It feels so disheartening to see that that same music is changing to something else today, to a kind that young kids can no longer learn from, to what no longer help teach morals and keep kids outa trouble. Rick ross n wayne should be stoped by any means before they commit any further damage on the lives of our innocent kids. Thank u guys @rap rehab, u doing a great job.
This dude is garbage him and wayne other radio stations need to follow suit.
You can’t un ring the bell. Once rap lyrics hit new levels of depravity trying to regain some decorum is like going backwards. In other words deemed corny. If you say anything against anybody you written off as a hater. Recently however a talented rapper (Kendrick Lamar) moved over a million units. So maybe there is hope yet.
You reap what you sow and is the reason why Lil Wayne is suffering now in the hospital. Syrup that!
Shameful!
Not cool, Mr. Officer. >:(
” some of y’all comments here are stupid and some of y’all should have your head examined by God not doctors….trash music right there and you stil have the audacity of tryin to support this nonsense and uncivilised rappers. Wish i met some of y’all to knock some sense out of you but ima let God deal with you.
i can not stand that song where is molly that song teaches young men how to kidnap and rape women and young girls. and abuse them in several ways that song really needs to be bared all together from this planet. he should not be able to make money off teaching violent acts against other people. he is sick in his head. and it shows what he is really thinking of doing to women in his mind.
IM A 60’S BABY WITH A 70’S HUSTLE CHILDREN OF THE 80’S AND BEYOND I GOT DOWN LIKE I GOT DOWN BUT LET THIS BE SAID TO EVERY ONE THAT HAS A VOICE TO CREATE,GENERATE ANY POSIITVITY DO SO WITH THE BREAKING OF THE FAMILY,SO MANY MOTHERS RAISING CHILDREN ON THERE ON THE LAST INSTINCT A MALE CHILD NEEDS IS THAT RAPE IS COOL ITS NOT ITS NOT ITS NOT ITS NOT BY ANY MEANS LOOK AT EVERY WOMAN,SISTER,AUNTIE,NEIGHBOR AND THINK I WILL NOT I CAN NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN TO THEM AND WHEN AND IF YOU BECOME A FATHER YOU WILL REALLY KNOW THE DAGREGATION OF A STATEMENT-PROTECT AND PROVIDE PROTECT AND PROVIDE…..
HA HA HA HA HA….. You think U Bad Thang…You think U Tough…..
All these Bammas talk that slick talk but Never Been In The Paint 4Real love to be pimped but call our women Hoo’s ??? Now to belive the whole world is against you is KOOL ? I thought if you were told you were a horse 3 times put on a saddle? If we Overhaul the system with “REALNESS” change will happen–.
and since Some with the GIFT don’t use it RIGHT , it gets TAKEN !!
Those Real WiseGuys & WiseGals that have risked their lives living foolish & realized
the systematic Trap in their Foolery Should be the only ones alowed to touch ah MIC.
It’s now “ALL OUT WARFARE” & It’s Not About $$$ , It’s About “HUMAN LIFE” !!
((( Time 2 Rock These Bammas 2 Sleep… GoodNite )))….#SALUTE 2 PAUL PORTER & RapReHab.
@DC360WISEGUY
#CHANGEYOURPOSTURE
#RRR
This music is leading this generation straight to hell in gasoline thongs!
I’m so happy to see that we are taking a stand against such disfunctional thinking. Ross thinking it’s ok to rap about date raping is morbid. The fact that he thought that line up with no reasoning or repeated it, if it was written by someone else, without questioning the line, shows how wreckless, weak, and detached from morality he is. Where has his ability to respect human life gone?I hope he learns from this, in understanding the errors in his thoughts.
I am also glad that William Roberts (rapper Rick Ross’ real name) and Lil Wendy’s, I mean Lil Wayne’s music completely pulled from rotation. The stations here in Chicago: WGCI, Power 92, and B96 needs to grow some balls and stop playing disrespectful soundtracks to these kids. I’ll even go as far as saying that the labels these cats are on, need to disappear for good and people of African descent, or blacks need to bring communities again. People like Lil Wayne and William Roberts that causes Chicago Public Schools to close down in majority black populated neighborhoods.
Rick Ross is a fat ass lame! Lower than pond scum to even rap about something of that nature. How would you feel if someone did that to your momma or daughter? You are a coward! Your music is crap and I will be a thorn in your side makin’ diss tracks about your fat sloppy ass BITCH!
Growing up in the 80’s I LOVED HIP HOP! Loved it! … and now I haven’t purchased any hip hop music since Outkast’s last piece. I’m sick of my young men demonizing themselves and us! Truly their mothers and fathers couldn’t have been that bad of an example. Truly they have experienced some love, compassion, and humanity in their lives – so why portray the complete opposite just to sell a record…?? However, who is worse the product or the purchaser? The product or the publisher playing it on the airwaves? We have to be a better steward over our children our young people our future! Their messages are crap any way! Rocking live but aint say’n NOTHING!! The lyrics are so booty! WE MUST HOLD BACK OUR MONEY – No change, then No change$$!!
I’m sick of these artist promoting Genocide!!!!! If you rape a woman, you go to jail!!!! Whether she wakes up and not remember. It’s disheartening that we’re subject to this negativity….
I not going to say what Rick deserves if he does something like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If HIP HOP is a culture, & the culture ain’t the business, ‘HIP HOP is forever living, do the culture can’t DEAD ….
…. ~ Wise Intelligent
HIP HOP is a BLACK & LATIN manifestation of an oppressed people….
…~ Pee Wee Dance : Rock Steady Crew
HIP HOP is rebellious music, therefore, ‘only the rebels should use it….
… ~KRS ONE
The above quotes, as I see it are explicitly clear & pretty much speak for themselves. HIP HOP was born out of dire conditions & used as a tool to UNITE & to quell Violence by means of entertainment. It also is the most potent form of education known to man… as I see it.
At it’s essence, it is meant to settle differences & uplift, & should be left to the HEADZ, the B.BOYS & B.GIRLS & to the poor. It is not meant for Corporations to peddle non essential nothings, Sucking the very Blood from the people who celebrate in the culture & created it. GIVING NOTHING BACK.
FOOL WITH MICROPHONES SPEWING VENOMOUS NONSENSE, HELPING TO CREATE ZOMBIES, PERPETUATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF EVIL THAT THUSSLY CAUSES HARM TO THE VERY PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
This man who calls himself Rick Ross should NOT be harmed, but he & his career should DIE in obscurity
P.E.A.C.E.
TSK ONE a.k.a. the BBOY
I have two daughters and I find that very disturbing for a man to promote rape..I am also a Dj and I can say I do not own any lil wayne,rick ross,gucci mane and a lot of other garbage rap that is being put out..I am more thatn happ to sign this petition…Thank You very very much!!!!