Did HIP HOP help or hurt the State of Black America?

DR. I AM GOING TO BE HONEST. I DESPISE HIP HOP. I DO NOT LIKE THE WAY WOMEN ARE PORTRAYED IN THE VIDEOS. I DONT LIKE THE STEROTYPES. IT IS NOT MUSIC TO ME AT ALL. MUSIC USE TO MEAN SOMETHING. IN MY OPINION HIP HOP IS A BUNCH OF NOISE RINGING IN THE EARS OF OUR CHILDREN. IT HAS GIVEN THEM A FALSE TAKE ON AMERICA. SO MY ANSWER IS YES IT DID HURT THE STATE OF BLACK AMERICA, BUT SO DID CRACK. : )

Honestly, I think that hip hop has its advantages and disadvantages; Sadly though, for that industry, the way it effects black youth, overshadows what it may have to offer. Most hip hop nowadays is not beneficial or meaningful in its content (in my opinion); the message is rarely positive, and it often just speaks about money, s*x, and murder. If you think about the number of youth in gangs, or the number of youth with children out of wedlock, or the number of youth that are active in drug abuse, there is some connection to what that or those individuals intake on a daily basis. As a Christian, I believe that whatever gets the most of your attention or most of your effort, that thing will soon become a part of you character, and can in turn, either break or make you. I shall put it like this...only speaking for myself, as a young black women that loves Christ. There is something called cause and effect that is common to everyone;
Phillipians 4:7-9
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Think about it...if all we listen to are the opposite of what this passage suggests, what do you expect to see in us? If all we listen to and focus on is "get get get", then why do you expect us to understand or appreciate the things in life? If negativety is what we surround ourselves with, or what we indulge ourselves in, then how can you expect us to produce positive things in the long run?
If you dont want to look at or accept God's word as a means to giving reason why hip hop is not always beneficial, then look at the statistics. Its there. If anyone would like, I wrote a paper for one of my classes, which somewhat touches on this subject.
I guess all in all, it depends on who you are and what you stand for. But truth is truth; and the truth of the matter is, if we listen to or surrounded ourselves with more positively focused things, we would be more effective in today's world...and thats for all races.
Smile
CAD

As for why Hip Hop was started to a degree I have to disagree with you. It was started not because the youths had no perceived way out, it was started because 1. They had nothing to do and 2. It took it's shape after the game the dirty dozens.

Also people need to understand that Rap is a verb and not a noun, they also need to understand that their are many forms of Hip Hop and that most of what is played on the radio has more to do with the gangster style of the music. Hip Hop is an art form just like poetry to music. When that music included messages of political nature (one that would cause people to truly think and want to take action) radio changed the format and began to allow the gangster style to hit the airwaves and it has been that way ever since.

Regardless to what anyone wants to believe, there are still people living in the dire straights that are rapped about, but there are so many other rappers whose message is not in that form, but radio station do not play their music. One would say why is that and I say because it goes against the mental conditioning to keep people locked in a slave mentality believing that they are not worthy of anything more than to be a drug dealer and a stripper(or as they say video ho).
KRS 1, Public Enemy and the like have been replaced with 50 Cent & G-Unit, Beenie Segal's and the like.

When rappers like, Queen Latifah, Salt and Pepper and MC Lyte rapped about respect and self worth, it was replaced with artist like Lil Kim , Foxy Brown and others. I found it very coincidental that once Lil Kim showed most of her assets in a video, she was called everything but a child of god and now every woman in video look just like she did at the time.

Please take notice that the Hip Hop music that once was a reflection of empowerment has been turned to one of self degredation and once again that small percentage of media owners are making millions of dollars off of people of color.

How many times does one have to hear s*x sells to justisfy why videos even commericals have some form of s*x attached to it. The question that one should be asking is who are the people in the boardrooms making these decisions and what do they look like. Mainly if not all are men, white men. slave master yet again controlling his slaves in the only way they can. Mind control and conditioning.

I could go on, but I will leave it here.

Hip Hop has created a venue for the Black Nation it reached capitol hill so fast they did not almost "kilt" the yselves tryin' to git out the way. As the Black nation grew up in Hip Hop we stilllack knowledge of the industry and therefore learning as we went along. Classic case Grand Master Caz gittin'rob of all monies and credit for the 1st rap record to be signed at a major record label. That record was Rapper's Delight,history was made at that moment. Mind you thru the mis education of amerikka's education system we as a peolpe suffered. As adults we must learn(KRS One)from our own mistakes and the mistakes of OURpeople. Who leading these children who are signing these major deals and coming right back on the streets and selling drugs from money advances or profits from record sells. You would think with all the money Bob Johnson has made(1Billion) he would at least have some type of respect for Black Historyin amerikkka. Controlling what being played on BET. Now that mtv has it they put anything on who cares as long as we get money. Honestly I don't need his money I need to take care of my family making money globally is my plan and umma still be HIP HOP because that's what I was brought up on and I deejay for a living. Long live hip hop. I created myjob thru hip hop. Everyjob I have had when the B.S. statrs deejayin' has always paid my way. Hip hop saved me and taught me to do for self. At the end of the day I feel good because I know amerikkka did not pay me I paid myself.

I got so caught up in this I forgot to answer your question, Hip Hop it self has been wonderful, but the 1% of the other forms of Hip Hop that is the only form seen in videos and heard on the radio is what hurts Black America.

What choice does one really have when even those have been pre-selected.

Bad, Horrible and Worst. Oh my which to you choose. I for one Love HIP HOP, it is creative and innovative, but what we are and have been currently exposed to is not that at all, each song sounds the same and promotes the same message- like recycled paper. No creativity. Let's not forget the great Run DMC. They should have been included with KRS-1 and alike. They had a real message it was that music that made me and so many others Hip Hop lovers.

Marquerite, when is the book coming out. I can read your literature all day. I agree with all of it. I have nothing to add but to say Willie Lynch did a job on us. For me personally I enjoyed the 80's through the mid 90's hip-hop. I really haven't gotten into anything too deep after that. I just wish the positive hip-hop can come with some nice beats. You know BASS, the "boom-bat."

First let me say I love all music from Mary J to Patti LaBelle to Common to Michael McDonald. There is such this generalization about hip-hop we tend to label all rappers as poor role models when it is simply not the case. Yep there are some losers in the rap game, but there are also rappers like Lupe, Commom, Andre3000, MosDEF who show that there are responsible rappers out there. Alos. let me add that rap is not the only form of music that deals with explicit content for instance those "old down home" blues singers talked about some crazy nasty stuff not to mention your old school r&b s*x, drugs and money have been in lyrics for years. I don't think its fair to place the blame on rappers whos lyrics are a bit more explicit.

Rap and rap music is the modern day storytelling. Storytelling is very much a part of our culture. Our stories and music has been bought, sold and stolen. Today, in the name of capitalism or the Mighty Dollar,our stories are being pimped and hustled.
Hip Hop is culture , and rap music and hip hop music emerged from this culture, much like the art and music that emerged from the Harlem Renaissance. The culture of Hip Hop has exploded all over the world, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Canada, South America, this is a testament to the power of our creativity. Like the sister said, its an art form that is creative and innovative. The problem is ,when lyrics are controlled by the music business. They want to hear more pimp and ho lyrics because that is what sells and beyond that, I believe it slowly kills something in the spirit. Each artist of has a choice, money or priniciples. It seems today principles go out of the window . The older I get, the more I appreciate the way I was raised: to respect elders, to respect myself, to love God, Community and family, to value education, knowledge and wisdom. I know, I can hardly believe some of the lyrics I have heard, quite a contrast to "hotel, motel, holiday inn..." or " its like a jungle sometimes ...." which so eloquently told the story of being Black living in the innercities or working in the boardrooms in America,
Capitalism rules in this country, it is in the American culture, nothing is left sacred, be it church, education, The problem is never what appears on the surface we , it is always what is behind it. For example drugs. People using drugs, yes this is a problem, but the question is how did they get access to the drugs, how did the drugs get into the community, how did they get into the country and so forth. So it is with hip hop music. Why do the songs with positive messages of which there are a few artists, why don't these songs make money? Who is driving the music industry? Who are buying the majority of the records? Historically, we have encoded our music, stories, art etc with life sustaining messages. Messages of encouragement, Remember"we're a winner, and never let anybody say...that we can't make it" Now, by in large, the messages are dictated by those who do not have our best interest at heart.
Hip Hop has helped the American and Global economy, it has given some artists and families money and perhaps some have given back. The price of the negative overload of lyrics from some of the hip hop artists might cross generations...

Hip hop did not hurt the state of anything any more than Jazz or Blues did. Hip Hop is a tool. People use the tool in different ways.

Chastity said hip hop mainly speaks about money, s*x, and murder. Can we honestly say that hip hop started that? Think about how long people have been entertained by money, s*x, and murder--and then tell me what REALLY hurt the state of America.

Hip hop has its up & downs.. we pretty much see them everyday.. but mostly, I guess in the last few years atleast? Record companys have been having their way with youth. It seems to me that artists are more like puppets on a string, and alot of this is very much commercialized.Youth dont know that though, I am glad that I know the difference between whats reall and is gonna be real.. and whats never going to happen. I would love to imagine a world without hip-hop, but if it wasnt hip-hop, it would be something else.. for sure. Teens need an outlet.. that maybe we just understand?

Honestly.. I think everyone has a valid point. In my opinion, I feel as though yes, hip hop/rap does play a role in the negative parts of society but I dont hold it accountable.. I believe the lyrics tend to have a impact on kids a lot but when you think about it, the older brother who sells drugs or the father who wasnt there, the mother thats selling her body.. this stuff starts at home and i believe that the music just compliments it. Then you have to look at these positive rappers also, like people have mentioned.. if rap/ hip hop did a major change on black america, what did the positive rap do? Also you have to think about this.. rap and hip hop isnt what I used to be. I am fairly young but I feel as though I can confidently say that.. it wasnt always about "pimping hoes", whos has the best jewelry, or whatever.. Now a days you can say just about anything senseless and make a song that people love.. Also, what about rnb? Some of these same messages we hear in rap and hip hop is in rnb but its song over a melody and not spit over a beat.. does that make it ok? to sugar coat the negativity..?

I was asked to respond to a blog about HipHop that asked the neutral question/opinion, whether HipHop is being blamed in America to escape personal issues.*

"Deep blog great question Sis.

I love music as well.

I will say this I am for/from the black community, it has an affect upon where I live from crime to watching so many young girls walking around with baby carriages.

Is "Hip Hop A Scape Goat?”.
White America, as brought out by the "Black in America" Documentary, is funded by white people telling black people how to act like the old "Black Face" and "Stepin and Fetchit".
Its the same old game just new times in Massa dictates and gets the roughest ignorant black folk to do the job for the field negroes who follow along blindly like saying, yassa, nawsa.

Black women are exploited and I am tired of seeing college graduate young ladies so full of potential with a guy showing his butt with his pants down (stemming from prison and homos*xuality), gold plating over rotted teethes and don't comb his hair, getting yall pregnant, destroying yall bodies, dreams and goals, beating you up because they learned from the negative aspects of Hip Hop.
We have all seen it and for the ladies that see nothing wrong, they don’t have anything to say until they are popped in the mouth...
I don't even want to get started on the promotion of the bling, drugs, alcohol, death, violence, shooting, etc; in our neighborhoods.
Anyone remember the movie the Godfather where one of the Bosses in a meeting stated about they "don't care if drugs are sold, just sell it down there where the coloreds live"?
It’s all about influence...
And it’s from Athletics to Entertainment... They act out the music they listen to ruining careers people like me and many others dreamed of.
Then they get invited to college campuses as Role-Models like female rapper Lil Kim and Karinne Steffans (wrote book, “Confessions of a Video Vixen”, has a new s*x video), to mentor people and they dropped out of school...?
I'm not saying Lil Wayne (Latest song "Lick Lollipop", ain't talent), can't help, but his actions...?
I guess I will make a hit song about chitllins, hot sauce and rice.
Hey "Lip Gloss" was a hit right?
Lilwayne did a lip-lock with Baby his Boss from what I heard. So I guess more dudes will think that’s ok...? Hey something about that song "Lollipop" don't sit well with me. Hey girls still love him anyway... And hey did not Lilwayne blast Al Sharpton (No I’m not a fan of his either) but ignored 50 cents who put him on blast?
Yeah I keep up with what is going on in the world which is not hard to do when it's in my face everyday.
I'm not trying to be rude or cruel, just being honest in what I think, feel and believe.

"It's hard for a pimp", should not have been the 1st black song out of all the great black music to win a Academy Award in Hollywood! And then they are invited to Boys and Girls clubs across the U.S. as role models on national t.v.... Predominately Black Boys and Girls Clubs that is…

See where I'm going with this? How can I talk positive and spiritual over the growing negative aspects of Hip Hop and they blast and call those who sing positive songs "sell outs".

Jesus called a certain group of people "White Washed Tombs" because there was nothing positive to say about a certain type of people. This is not judging which I think can be over-rated substitute for an opinion of the facts.

I say this extra, I just happened to come across BET where the black teens are in the audience and they had Ray J on there talking about Reggie Bush got his "Sloppy Seconds" with Kim Kardashian and then he gave out his personal cell phone number for the teen girls to catch the hint and give him a call. Now how old is Ray J who made the s*x tape? The teenage girls screamed.
His latest song is what, "s*xy Can I"? This song is an aspect of Hip Hop right? So is Michael Jackson and R Kelly (Hide your teen daughters even though some parents will still let their daughters deal with him for supposed record deals...)
Some of these rappers got busted because they came from middle-class homes and neighborhoods, but made songs about the hood? It was not just Vanilla Ice.

Hip Hop is so influential, let’s just put it this way, if all the people that listen to Hip Hop had a choice to comment on a Spiritual Blog or comment on Flava Flav Hip Hop page, which blog would get the most hits, Jesus or Flava Flav?
I have been there by the way, I loved Tupac (The greatest Rapper Ever and his music meant something) and all the fellas did also.
Have I said enough here? Or do I have to be on TV. with a big name for anybody to listen...?
I have a lot more I could say here, but I would have a Book here.
Just my 2cents worth...

p.s. We all can share negative experiences from where one is at in life, but does one promote the negative to multiply negative or try to promote the positive from the negative.
See they have money and get praised, but if an average person did the same things, they would get blasted...
Oh and don't want to get started on the "N" and "B"-words... People need to stop trying to rename Ignorance that did not come from us... "

Hip Hop wasn't alywas misoginistic(anti- female), nihiilistic (full of negativity) and a way of triying to prove one has "street Credibility" I may sound corny and I don't care.The last mainstream Hip Hop album, cd, or whatever, I bought was MC Hammer. It wasd cute, it was fun, and I still like" Can't Touch this"! I coudn't get into all the gangsterism. Does it has a place in the diaspora of free speech"? Unfortunately, yes. But, IT IS not the only black voice in the media. I challenge everone on this website to stop listening to what is churhned out as hip hop and demand decent music with decent lyrics! Stop cosuming the stuff that is currently being put out and demand better!

well, here Irma go again with the Black history of the day. Rap was used by the slaves in those fields to replace Black communication when the drums were taken away. the drums were taken because the MASTERS could not understand what the drums were saying therefor feared them as they did rap then and rap today!!!!. remember when Rap came out how the non Blacks feared it?!? at that time it was not done by Whites because they were in total shock of what in the hell was this in the first place? how the money changed this whole new music creation of the African-America. Now why was this not talked about on Black in America?

Try what is done in today's African-American Black movie classes. show a Black exploitation movie and all non Blacks get it. Show, "Do the right thing" and they have no Idea what is going on or what black people are even talking about.We do tend to use a different language in the Black community.

Now, what was that question about harm of Black 'created' music???? rap has been in America for what 400-500 years? Listen to those drums in the back ground of todays music and think......OK????? rap did not just get to be called VIOLENT and KILL Whitee,(smile)and keep on Rapping and Hip Hopping as just say this is the Black in America when you do it, with black pride and chang this to another name when they take this form from us!!!!

Oh, and one more very, very important thing about RAP. All of those Music artist that areaclled respectable and classics, well they never got paid for twritting their music or for their records.And, neither were they allowed to come in by the front door or stay in the place they entertained in or even eat there with their cast, friends, etc. Thank you Rapper for putting an end to this also!!! Thanks to the Rappers much like Cascus Clay they have cause all African-Americans in America or "Black in America" to get paid for their work! And, if anyone who reads this believe it is anti-Dr. King, please remember this quote from Dr. M.L.King. "No matter what I do, the White man is going to kill me any way" something else you will never see on a TV special about Dr. King's Black in America experience. It is to continue to uneducate us as a people. so, the next time you look a Rap, Hip-Hop take a look at those naked breast of African woman in movies from way back and remember that this was never accepted of White woman in America, then or now. have you ever seen the breast of African women on TV any time with them blacked out, Wake Up my people!