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MUSIC SCENE
‘Gangsta Rap: Menace To Society,
Or Message To Society
Since rap blew up all across
this nation, leaving its urban
roots and finding its way into
suburbia, rap has been criticis
ed, dissed, dismissed, blasted,
dissected, commercialized, bast
ardized and plagiarized. Most of
all though, rap has survived,
and even in the face of all those
who would like to see rap disap
pear, rap has diverged, flourish
ed, and emerged as the single
most important art form to bum rush this nation’s youth since
rock-n-roll.
With rappers like Snoop Doggy Dog debuting at number
one, and rap albums regularly going gold and platinum, the
almighty dollar has again proven that it doesn’t really matter
what is thought about the product; if it will sell, sell it. Sell
all of it.
Like rap itself, Gangsta Rap has found its niche in a society
that has always glorified violence. In an era where cartoons
are violent, comic books are bloodier and more violent than
ever, movie studios are seemingly in competition to see who
can deliver the most senseless, over-the-top-violence, why
should today’s music tastes be any different? In a nation
founded on, supported by, and known for violence, why
shouldn’t our most popular music be violent as well? Why?
Because as with all things in this country, the root of the pro
blem is never addressed.
Music has always been a reflection of the society from where
it came. Like Public Enemy’s Chuck D said, rap is black peo
ple’s CNN. Unfortunately, ain’t no good news cornin’ out the
hood. These songs tell a story. These songs narrate life as these
brothers see it. These songs are truth, ugly as it may be Not
only is it unconstitutional to attempt to ban this, or any other
music form, it is irresponsible and a knee-jerk reaction to an
incredibly complex and deep-rooted problem. Besides, bann
ing anything only makes that something seem dangerous, ex
citing, and therefore more desirable.
There is now a voice given to the oppressed and “down-
pressed” youth of our nation. Blacks have long complained
of their lack of a voice with which to express their discontent.
Gangsta Rap provides an avenue of expression which blacks
have never had, closing off that avenue would be like putting
a lid on a pot of boiling water, eventually that water will boil
ever, and you’ll have a much bigger mess than you started with.
Imagine now, how an entire group of disenfranchised, disillu
sioned, and vilified youth would feel if told to shut-up. Scary.
This nation is founded on and steeped in the tradition of
“gang-sterism”. From the European thieves who “discovered”
and stole this land from the native Americans, to the radical
reactionaries of the 1700’s who bogarted America from the
British, to the wild west heroes like Jessie James, to the
ZEBRA VOL. 2 ISSUE 8
mythologized gangsters like A1 Capone, to war mongers like
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, right up to imperialists like Ronald
Reagan, this country loves its gangsters.
Take heed, Gangsta Rap is not the problem, Gangsta Rap
gives voice to the problem. Gangsta Rap is only a marker for
the disease, not the disease itself.
Finally, someone is telling it like it is, but not just any so
meone, our people are schooling our people on our problems,
and those in charge don’t like it. Someone, somewhere, doesn’t
want you to hear certain things about what’s going on in your
neighborhoods. Be warned y’all, this is another part of the
plan. The brainwash continues, but we can’t, we shouldn’t,
and we won’t get fooled again.
Thumbs up to brother Trevor David King for revealing this
story behind the story, as Dick Gregory says, “information
and networking is the key to our survival.” Peace.
TOP TEN SINGLES
1. GROOVE THANG - ZHANE
2. I’M READY - TEVIN CAMPBELL
3. GIN & JUICE - SNOOP DOGGY DOG
4. BUMP N’GRIND - R. KELLY
5. WHATTA MAN - SALT-N-PEPA
6. I’M OUTSTANDING - SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
7. PLAYER’S BALL - OUTKAST
8. IT’S ALL GOOD - HAMMER
9. U SEND ME SWINGIN’ - MINT CONDITION
10. DUNKIE BUTT - 12 GAUGE
TOP TEN GOSPEL
1. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN - MISSISSIPPI MASS
CHOIR
2. STAND STILL - SHIRLEY CEASAR
3. THROUGH GOD’S EYES - MILTON BRUNSON/
THOMPSON COMMUNITY CHOIR
4. KIRK FRANKLIN & THE FAMILY - KIRK
FRANKLIN & FAMILY
5. LIVE IN MEMPHIS - THE CANTON SPIRITUALS
6. A HOLY GHOST TAKE-OVER - RICKY
DILLARD/NEW GENERATION CHORALE
7. IN REVIVAL - THE PILGRIM JUBILEES
8. WHAT A TIME - RUBY TERRY
9. LILLY IN THE VALLEY - JOHN P. KEY
10. NOTHING CAN BE BETTER - LUTHER
BARNES/RED BUD GOSPEL CHOIR
By Lee King
VICTOR ROBINSON
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