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CG ShopHip Hop & Rappers: In their defense. Written by Ty-Risha Jones |
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| Written by CG Girl |
| Friday, 09 October 2009 04:19 |
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Thank you to our East Coast Contributing Writer:Ty-Risha Jones We appreciate your interest in having your work published in Chica Girl Magazine. We are a magazine dedicated to publishing and recognizing young, new writers. However, at this time we are ONLY accepting material from writers who are willing to submit pro-bono. If your submission is approved and published in our magazine, you will have reason to be proud since your work will be read at the international level. Please email Jenina Hernandez at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you agree to our conditions. We hope to include your work in our magazine! We will credit your work with your full name if we select one of your submissions. THANK YOU! “Hip Hop & Rappers: In their defense” By: Ty-Risha Jones It's said to be an issue, when a rapper uses vulgar language or when the body of a "Black Woman" is exploited. It's said to be an issue when radio personalities, VJ's or TV hosts use stereotypical languages and/or expressions. But what about movies, television, comedic expressions, modeling and commercials? These are said to be a form of entertainment and expression. Will Smith says he's better than Eminem. The public, our elders' say that they respect him & hold him on a pedestal because he does not curse in his music. But what about "Will Smith" the actor? The explicit language in movies such as "Bad Boy I and II", "Independence Day", and "Hitch" is just as "shameful" as some rap lyrics. Nothing against Mr. Smith but, when do we focus in on the whole picture and not just part of it? Movies & TV have viewer ratings ex: G, Pg, Pg-13, R etc.. As does the musical aspect of entertainment. There are parental advisories, explicit and sexual content warnings. So why is one more so unacceptable than the other? When will we take a look at the businesses such as stores, radio stations, TV stations and the internet: who publicize and/or endorse this so called hazardous music? The same way that it is up to the parent to control what their child views on television, whether or not they allow their children to enter a movie, is in essence, the same responsibility that the parent has when it comes to their musical selections. The producers of movies and shows have fulfilled their duty, which is to properly label their work as does the music industry. Let's not be oblivious to other genres' of the world. "Rapper this, Rapper that". Are we falling deaf eared to the lyrical content of rock, punk rock, R&B, pop, metal, country, Latin, reggae, and reggae-ton? Whether white or black, there are innuendos of female exploitation, sexually explicit lyrics and in some cases, very graphic violent references. So how & why is it that rap and rappers are being singled out? These are the questions that need to be addressed. Yes children can easily download, purchase, listen to and/or watch music videos, but just as well they can sneak into the movies, download movies, watch a daytime television show, so on and so forth. This is how chain of responsibility goes. Artists, in most cases, write, record and perform their music. The venues okay the performance & handle the logistics of who gets' in to view the performance, radio stations decide what tracks will be played, producers of TV stations decide what videos are viewing appropriate, the store owners decide what albums their establishment will sell and support and whether or not they will I.D. customers before purchases take place, and PARENTS then have control over what they will allow their child to listen to, view and/or buy, as well as how they will enforce their rules and regulations. As you can plainly see, past properly rating the music, the responsibility of whom a persons' child idolizes and has access to doesn't solely let alone mostly rest on the artist. "If I never have or had access to methadone or a methadone dealer, It's not likely that I will become a methadone addict". |
