Klan Music

Hip Hop has risen to the forefront as the primary representation of the youth. Its origins are deeply rooted in the rebellious nature born of the African American struggle. Prior to the commercialized beginnings brought forth by the nation wide craze over "Rapper's Delight", Hip Hop music was being expressed by young pioneers on street corners, in alleyways, and parks in the heart of New York City. They spoke of hardships, oppression, and depression. They were like local news reporters broadcasting a story that American society failed to acknowledge or change. You feared their rat infested projects, their corners flooded with drugs, and their streets overwhelmed with crime and violence. No matter how harsh, horrifying, or intimidating these tales were, we believed them, they were real. But nothing can ever stay the same and Hip Hop is no exception. It is now suffering the same fate of every other form of creativity spawned from the African American diaspora.

It's hard to listen to commercialized rap music these days. At times I have to ask myself am I even listening to music. Artists that claim to put their heart and soul in their "music" are instead selling their integrity for the almighty dollar. Let me set the record straight--I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH BROTHAS GETTIN MONEY. Most of these cats grew up in conditions that rival the third world. But there is a place where you have to draw the line. When these young brothas sign their names on the dotted line of these billions dollar record companies headed by blood thirsty executives, they lose all creative control and artistic integrity. Turn on the radio, or to a music video channel (if you can find one) and just count how many times you hear references to murdering "niggas". Rappers are more eloquent and witty when it comes to dispatching of Negroes than our forefathers ever dreamed of. They degrade women to the point where the word "bitch" has now become an household name for females. I'm guilty of it, I've used the word when talking about women in my life that I have nothing but admiration for with no ill intent in my words. This is no longer about rebellion or or rising up from the ashes, this is about poison and mind control.

A few years ago a friend a mine showed me a bunch of Nazi, Hill Billie, Cracker, Skin head racists websites. He was unaware that there was still this much hate prevalent in modern society(I slapped him in the back of his head for being so naive, but i digress). I remember noticing some of the hate music on the sites and laughing until my stomach turned at the pure ignorance of it all. But then I listened to the lyrics more closely and I realized that it was no different than the music I listened to every day. The only aberration was that they used the word "nigger" as opposed to "nigga". I thought to myself, why do they even bother wasting their energy recording these songs when they could just purchase the latest hip hop CD?(They probably just don't want to give a nigger--- oh, sorry, a "nigga" a dime). They wouldn't have to change a word, they could even sing right along with the murder music and still satisfy their nigger bashing mantras for the day.

Hip Hop has its back against the wall; it is approaching a critical point in its life span where it could wither away into ignorance or rise to the occasion and unite generations with its power. I don't want to continue to be critical nor continue to waste my time and energy paying attention to those who perpetuate degradation. My father used a great analogy for the current state of the music I've come to love and abhor at the same time. We're all on a sinking ship, and either you can stay at the bottom of the deck hanging out and playing games while the boat sinks into nothingness, or you can help get the life boats out and preserve the lives of anyone willing to leave the extravagant ship behind and be saved. I don't know about yall, but I can't swim.