I like everything about this article except “And we wonder why they make fun of us.” Fuck “them”. With that said what are “we” saying? That should have been the focus of this article, although great, it needs more insight. As a 32-year old black male you should ask yourself why there are 32-year old black females who are always single and why there are 32-year old black males falling out of responsibility from taking care of their mothers, wives, sisters and children. Not directing this towards you but its a very important question you should be asking yourself as well.

Good points, but those topics had nothing to do with this particular post. This one focused on the music industry. A blog about black men's responsibility wouldn't have fallen under the umbrella of this topic, but requires its own post, and has and will be covered in the future. Thank you Brother for your passion, we need more of that in our community.

well said. keep up the good writing

Tenicia I loved the article as well as the reply to Killings worth! I can't help feeling your name is familiar to me. Were you a fan of Let's 'talk on FB?

Sorry I meant the reply to Zaid Al-Hassan. Sorry Killingsworth.

Thanks CK I appreciate the support.

Thanks! I was/am, that's probably where you know the name from

Lol@it has nothing to do with this particular post. You must not listen to much rap

lol Zaid. One blog at a time…there's only so much I can say in 800 words or less

Very well written. I agree we are not headed in a direction that is in the best interest of us as a people. And music industry only adds fuel to the flames of ignorance that is washing over the black community. Though it definitely affects other races as well. Lastly I agree with your rebuttal to Zaid. This blog is not specifically about the moral decline in family structure and healthy relationships in the black community. Although it is about a problem -specifically music- that is one of the causes of the aforementioned condition of our people. You're looking for canned goods in the fresh produce aisle.

Thank you . Music has always been a very prevalent source of influence in the black community, and there were times when this was a good things, such as when music was a conscientious influence during the 70s and 80s. When it becomes a negative influence, such as the music of today, we have to draw a line somewhere and not let these trends define our existence as a people and shape the minds of our children. I'm extremely lucky that my children hate rap and hip hop…I used to be slightly concerned at their lack of urban savvy. Now I can only be grateful.

I would be interested to hear more about what people think about the “activism” inspired by these particular rappers. To me it feels like another example of how people are given (or accept) “style” in place of politics. By style, I mean the look, feel, sound, the gestures, etc. of resistance without any actual politics.

You mention Drake’s use of a Dead Prez sample, and I think you’re really pointing to something important here. Dead Prez is deeply political. Yet Drake (or his producer at least) samples them, maintaining the sound and style of Dead Prez but purging the politics. Reaching even further back historically, the “Free Wayne/Gucci/Boosie/Whoever” invokes the “Free Huey” cries of the Black Power Movement and the ongoing “Free Mumia” campaign. These “Free Misc. Rapper” campaigns are an adaptation of the style and rhetoric of militantism minus the political awareness and actual work.

A long history of politics and struggle in Black communities against real oppression then gets reduced to slogans and superficial stylistic gestures. It’s a safety valve for anger and frustration. The fans of these rappers can wear their t-shirts and rant about the social injustice that puts Black men in prison. It feels like politics, but it challenges nothing. Poor communities stay poor; bad schools stay bad; racism cops keep brutalizing people of color; and (most importantly) white record companies keep making money from selling harmful images of dangerous Black criminality.

Excellent points Sarah. Actual politics no longer play a role when black people make a stand. Today, it's all about appearance, even with most of our so-called black leaders. When something happens that they deem will garner enough media attention, they will show up, have a press conference, make a speech…but nothing will actually be DONE that wasn't simply for appearance sake. Entertainers will wear shirts promoting various causes, yet how many of them have given any of their time or their money to these causes? Talk is cheap, which is why we are still in the same state that we were always in…it's just in a prettier wrapper.

I'm so glad you pointed out the Drake reference, because as a fan of real hip hop and of Dead Prez, it literally pained me to hear any of their lyrics being used in such a bad, useless song. The song had nothing to do with anything political or important…Drake chose to use their words in his ridiculous song simply because he couldn't come up with lyrics of his own…they didn't even fit! That troubles me, because now an entire generation is going to hear “one thing about music when it hit you feel no pain” and automatically, they will say “oh that's Drake!”, with no clue what the words mean or who originally sang them. Really?! The music industry is today is not only brainwashing people, it is erasing our legacy of expression and solidarity through musical expression. When public enemy sang “Fight the Power”, a nation of people were inspired to become self empowered. Now, when a song comes on the radio, people are inspired to shake their ass or “do the dick slang”. I carry my mp3 player like a relic from the past, preserving what our music USED to be. I'm not saying there's no place for party music. I'm just saying, can we please have some balance here?

I think it’s a mark of our times. It’s not just music or Black politics. It’s pretty much everything. People of color, women, LGBTQI people, working class people – pretty much everyone who isn’t a rich, white man – are angry and tied of oppression and inequality. So, the mainstream gives us all some outlet for that anger. Something that is satisfying and maybe makes us feel like we’re engaging politically but actually changes nothing. It’s a release valve for all our pent up anger that works to leave the status quo intact. Imagine if all the “Free Wayne/Gucci/Boosie” people were paying attention to and as angry about the Oscar Grant trial? Well, that might have the potential to really disrupt our rampant consumerism. So, look! Something shiny! Wayne was arrested. Aren’t you outraged about the treatment Black men receive in the justice system? Well, do I have the t-shirt for you…

Like you said, Hip-hop has always had its problems (like anything) and there was a lot to critique, but at least it was speaking to someone’s experience. I mean, NWA wasn’t exactly progressive in terms of gender and sexuality. But, they gave a voice to the anger of young Black people in LA when no one else did. In theory, I don’t really have a problem with Wanye or Gucci or Boosie or Drake (though that doesn’t mean I want to listen to their music). My problem is that they are a very narrow and problematic representation of Black masculinity (and femininity too) that dominates the mainstream media and isn’t offset by any other representations. It’s bad enough that this is what people think it means to be Black… now it’s what it means to be political too?

Thanks for the post and for taking time to respond to my comment. I look forward to reading your future contributions!

Thanks!

In a few words of a t-shirt I want to make… Pop Killed Hip Hop. I cant stand to listen to it and would rather hear some Garth Brooks at this point. Yea I said it…

Apart from the cRap Game, Artists that can actually sing are using Autotune??? Even thats going down hill fast. Thats another subject in the decline of cultural music.

Hello, Ms. Tenicia, I just got finished reading your blog and it was about time a blog that confronts the truth among us. I made it a point to watch BET and actually listen to these artist. And after watching BET and listening to the CDs I just decide that its just a 21 century mistreail show of the 24/7 crude and vulgar and I have gotten really sick of this group as in all groups of rappers. I never turn to BET back on or put on the these radion that play that racial insult as music when I drive. We have some old music stations here and listen to them, because the music that they play is not an insult to my intelligence or me racially.
I just heard the news about Mr. Lil Boosie lock-down for murder, well thats the best place for him I bet after a few months he will find “Jesus” and try to get out as a Jack-leg preacher.
The thing that we have to be honest with is the fact is that Black entertainment is in reality just an over-rated “coon show.” And we as a people haven't confronted these artist as they provide the social insult to our community. We have a whole host of artist rappers that needs to be thrown under the jail just for their social backwardness.
For if “art” is the soul of a people and from what I heard and what I have seen we as a people don't have a future. Because we don't confront the backwardness that is imposed on our communties, I mean from Lil Wayne, Slim Thug, DMX, Little Kim, Biggie Smalls and a host of others.
But am glade that I had the chance to read your post that confronts these social misfits who rationalize their backwardness under “Freedom of Speech.”
But, I must thank you for calling it for what it is is justa backward “coon show.”
Thank you Ms Tenicia Brooks

Talk is cheap, which is why we are still in the same state that we were always in…it's just in a prettier wrapper.

Actually it's worse because Black households have been losing ground economically since the Reagan administration. The past decade was particularly bad.

R&B too. Rihanna sounds like Britney Spears. Granted, Britney was imitating the R&B singing style as a child so these trends feed off each other, but . . . for real . . . that was a strange moment with my car radio.

Just to clarify: I think Rihanna has a MUCH better singing voice than Britney, from everything I've heard. It was a stylistic thing.

That’s very thought-provoking read. I will pay more visits to your website very soon.