(Updated)
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The questions have been asked, Is Hip Hop Music Destroying America, Is Hip Hop A Threat To Our Children or Should Rappers Be Accountable For Their Lyrics? You be the judge. Earlier this year the song “Karate Chop” leaked online featuring rapper Lil Wayne. He raps, “Bout to put rims on my skateboard wheels/Beat that (expletive/woman genital) up like Emmett Till.” A few weeks later a song by rapper Rocko featuring Rick Ross was release called “You Don’t Even Know It.” Rick Ross raps, “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” Yes, we have our freedom of speech right, but when is freedom of speech taken too far?
Many would say both rappers have taken their lyrical content too far and offended too many. The family and estate of Emit Till have released a statement of disapproval over Lil Wayne’s disregard and disrespectful lyrics. Though his record label issued a statement of apology, the rapper has yet to do so. In the case of Rick Ross, a petition has been started over his blatant disregard for women and the issue of date rape. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that over 300,000 women are raped or sexually assaulted per year in the United States alone. That is a disturbing number and should not be taken lightly. His lyrics not only condone the behavior, but he boasts about it in the song. While some feel it’s only entertainment, many feel it sends and encourages the wrong message. Several individuals and organizations have taken a stand and so are we. Effective immediately Muskegon’s WUVSlp 103.7 the Beat has pulled ALL Lil Wayne and Rick Ross music from rotation. We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent. While we believe in freedom of speech, creative writing and individualism, we refuse to be part of the problem by spreading messages that could harm or end someone’s life.
Sign the Rape, Rick Ross and Responsibility Petition here
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If the kkk doesn’t get questioned about the marches and the parades they do preaching about hate. Then why question music and its speech?
@Janice Foster, I think you at age 62, might not be as influenced by rap as your grand kids my dear. Time to think about how times have changed. Music has a strong influence.
ok lets put our thinking cap on for once, now if their was no rap or hip hop do you think their would be no raping or killing in true fact form would their be no more drugs. Now am 62 years old i have tried using pills too solve my problems in the pass but rap didn’t didn’t cause me to take pills nor did it cause me to drink or kill anybody. I know some rap might sound offensive but i know not to listen to it if it do. am a old grandmother that do listen to rap and hip-hop and Busta is just one of my favorite. I really would like people to stop making decisions on what i want to listen to or see on tv or movies. I am tired of these so call glory crown wearing people.
As they should…but my question is…how did it even get to the radio? Where are the reps that list to these tracks before hand to give thumps up or thump down? Did they not listen? Did they not know about date rape and the drugs? Are they even paying attention? I can blame and will blame these artists who disrespect women and act like they don’t know better but I also blame the executives even the radio stations who kept playing the track until public outcry. When do they all wake up and see that the demoralization is poison that is not just affecting adults but the youths who turn into adults….
I agree that lyrics have been allowed to abuse the freedom of choice and creativity sections of the right to freedom of speech. I am a very successful songwriter and I know the damage negative lyrics can do to youth.
I have established a company in Conscious Music Entertainment for those who would like to support the movement in protecting our youth from violent graphic and sexual content that may not be suitable for kids..Lyrics that are negative and inappropriate…. I think artist hold a great responsibility to their audiences especially our youth who are easily influenced by what the hear and see…Time we Go Conscioua America…!
ALL Lil Wayne? They are barely gonna have any songs to play. Hopefully they start playing more POSITIVE and LESS IGNORANT music like… let’s say… LUPE<3
They won’t. The agenda is to make black men look like dogs and uneducated morons at any cost. Listen to Lupe’s song Dumb it Down. :”)
I blame the industry they are the one promoting gangster rap and suburban boy problem rap
Bottomline, I guess with your mentality, I would still be a slave. Stand for something…
think it’s bullshit! Rappers Have been promoting black on black violence for years! Why all of a sudden when lyrics are directed at rape on women does their music become a ‘problem’??!!
Concise mag you are a jackass. Bruce Willis movies are not played on the radio and are edited when played on normal cable. Grateful dead music?????? You should not be allowed to own a computer. Rap is NOT music. Rick Ross and tiny Wayne lyrics are garbage and should be taken off the air for being uncreative and dumb not only defensive. Here we go with the poor black people speech. It is so exhausting. How many decades is it going to take to get your shit together? I certainly would not consider hiring someone that listens to this music. Just a heads up people.
And I doubt anyone would want to hire a bigot. Just a heads up Phan!
Wow, Phan, how racist can you be? You F’n idiot! And you probably will have FEW employees with that stupid line of thinking.
Ppl b on sum bs…like buddie said nobdy eva says anythang bout movies, t.v., the fuckn news, rock music, hell even country music has sonngs bout loadn up shot guns & shit like dat..but as soon as a rapper says sumthin u ppl dnt like its an up roar..& rap music is killn da youth & destroying amercia….but not a thing is said bout when rockers talk about killing themselfs & dvil following..t.v. shows like law & order special vitems is all about rape every espidoe but nobdy seem 2 give a shit bout dat..like i said its only whn rappers say things ppl dnt like…& as far as dude talkn bout he whldnt hire ppl who listen 2 rap music..FUCK U rasist ass bitch…
i agree with you , speak the truth
It starts with one brick…
Well if we are going to attack Rap Music/Hip hop be accountable and attack movies, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger have been killing people on screen for years, and made millions doing it, video games, music in general love songs Kelly Rowland, kisses down low, Rock & Roll, heavy metal, Grateful Dead, music that is satanic, killing animals on stage, but Micheal Vick, went to jail for a dog fight, we were watching dogs fight since I was a kid, wake up Black America, everything is a double standard, unless you just want blacks to rise above white people standards. Just do not stop at what we have taken from society and made it a art form. Tupac tried to tell us this,and he died at the hands of another black man but we still blame each other, stop pointing the finger at each other Black America, that’s why other races think they are better than we are Black America.
Weak argument. Not a single young black kid wants to be like Bruce Willis. They want to be like the rapper on Minstrel Show Television aka BET.
I think you missed the whole point.
Rape is not a black on black crime. Everything is not a black and white issue. There is no conspiracy or double standard. This man is boasting about sexually assaulting a woman, for the world. That is wrong no matter who says it. Very simple. Even the lowliest of creatures in the animal kingdom knows to protect its female. This man is singing a manual to our boys about how to do us bad. There is no way allowing ourselves to take in such a foul message could be considered rising above Any standards. There is no way describing the steps to take to rape someone without them knowing will ever be art. It’s awesome to stand and be proud and fight, for the right things and with proper ammo. I am Black America and I don’t condone rape of any kind, fighting or relaxed. If you really want to rise above stop focusing on what everyone else can do bad but not you and focus on what you can do right. Then do it. Your passion deserves a better cause, and relevance.
But nobody flipped a gasket at all when slim shady talked about killig everybody. And his daughters mother. This America built by robbers for land kills for food and fakes for fun no matter how we try to change ur city state county at the end of the day it comes back to race. Hang it
Beautifully said.
Wayne used to be hip hop. Now every 1/2 bar got a fallatio undertone
You know it. I used to love the nigga. Now his music has absolutely no meaning or worth. Only raps about genitalia. Dude has lost it
What i dont understand is when an artist raps subject matter is about rape, radio stations and music videos companies wants to pull the song of their playlist, but when artist raps about Satan they continue to play it. Umm something is wrong with their priorities. im just saying..
@MIZZ MARIE: THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND CONVOLUTED TOPIC you’ve chosen to comment on and I applaud you for doing so. The reason this happens is because “isms” are mental processes; based on beliefs, thoughts and indoctrination. You can’t see or feel an “ism”, it’s simply a thought or idea. Rape on the other hand is a physical act of violence that can seen and felt — the negative effects are immediate, ie scars, bruising, bleeding, etc.
Even though the impact of both may be life-changing, people generally CHOOSE their “isms’; sexism, racism. etc. To my knowledge, people don’t CHOOSE to be raped. It’s easier and more tangible to act against someone spreading a message that incites ILLEGAL acts of violence like rape, than it is to act against a LEGAL belief. It’s not against the law to simply ‘believe’ something — but violence or other negative anti-social behavior precipitated by that belief CAN be.
Absolutely true Rosa. This is not Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a culture. Rap is just a part of Hip Hop. But these 2 individuals and others like them are “CRAP” artists. Exploiting the culture and misleading mainstream media and the simpleminded youth of today into thinking this is what Hip Hop is about. Phonies and Fakers. Rick was a corrections officer and “lost”” and “confused” Weezy is just a wannabe tough guy who had to be put in Protective Custody when he did time in NY. There’s still hope for my “beloved” Hip Hop. I don’t listen to terrestrial radio anyway.
Thank you for taking a positive stand toward these degrading and violent lyrics spewed by mediocre rappers. How could one degrade the sex that bored them idiots. They have daughters as well. I’m appalled their mothers has not taken a stand. I guess their money out weigh the dignity and integrity.