'How the rap industry is destroying the black community'

[bigted]

How the rap music industry is destroying the black community

By Noah B. Stephens

The Hustle

Willie Lynch in his 1712 letter to fellow slave owners detailed a

foolproof method for controlling slaves. He encouraged slave owners to

divide blacks against each other at every opportunity and using every

imaginable dichotomy: light against dark, fine haired against coarse,

old against young, man against woman, even tall against short.

Additionally, Lynch urged slave owners to condition slaves to fear,

distrust, and envy each other. He predicted that if his method was

used correctly, successive generations of blacks people would impose

this self-defeating, divisive indoctrination on themselves

for "hundreds of years, maybe thousands."

Three hundred years later, I watch BET and wonder if Willie Lynch

was a prophet.

Black rappers, record label executives, and black-owned or operated

television and radio stations and magazines actively participate in

creating and disseminating images of materialism, misogyny, and

criminality that divide and destabilize the black community. These

images divide the same as Lynch\'s method: materialism inspires envy,

misogyny inspires distrust, and criminality inspires fear. The

destructive imagery of songs like DMX's "What these *****es Want

(from a *****)" is explained well enough by the song's title.

Why do blacks in the music industry churn out divisive, denigrating

imagery? It's profitable. White people buy it and buy it a lot

(According to the record sales tracking organization SoundScan, 71

percent of rap music consumers are white). Social critics often ask

why is rap so vile. They should ask why are whites so interested in

vile rap. Why do they buy Ludacris instead of Talib Kweli?

Black buffoonery sells well because it reaffirms popular racist

notions about who black people are. Selling this imagery has made a

few dozen black music moguls rich. But at what cost to the rest of us?

The Imagery Through the miracle of mass media, blacks in the rap

music industry distribute divisive imagery far more efficiently than

any slave owner could have hoped. The airwaves and newsstands

overflow with Lynch-like indoctrination.

In your average, high rotation rap video: Black women are reduced to

half-naked, gyrating, mute video décor slithering around a rented

mansion or luxury car (It's also noteworthy that they are almost

always light-skinned with long hair âEUR" further enforcing divisive

Eurocentric ideas about color and hair). Meanwhile, the ex-dope-

dealer-turned-rapper of the moment mean mugs and rhymes about how

he "don't love these hoes, " or about the wide assortment of designer

fashions he owns (because "real *****s" wear clothes designed by

white men in Paris).

Some dismiss these images as harmless entertainment or argue these

images cannot influence the strong-minded or undermine the work of

decent parenting. Consider this:

· Imagery's power to influence behavior is proven fact. It is the

idea upon which the multi-billion dollar advertising industry is

based. If you are exposed to 45 advertisements touting the deep

cleaning power of Tide you are more likely to buy Tide simply because

that is the brand with which you are most familiar. If you see or

hear something enough it will take root in your subconscious. It will

influence behavior.

Even the strong-minded can be affected by imagery if only

subconsciously. I am a grown, fairly strong-minded man. But after two

or three sexually charged rap videos I always develop the

inexplicable urge to call long lost female "friends" whom really

don't like. Hmm.

Unfortunately, many of our homes do not have strong parents. Even

in homes where strong parents are present, they often cannot guard

their children's impressionable minds against this corrosive imagery

because they are too busy putting food on the table. If this imagery

affects grown ups, imagine how these images affect toddlers, school-

age children, pre-teens and teenagers who do not have the life

experience to put into perspective these absurd caricatures of black

life.

The Affect Being inundated by these images affects our

relationships with each other in the following ways:

A· Young black boys learn to distrust young black women âEUR\" they are

mostly gold diggers and hoes. They only want your money, make sure

you get sex in return.

B· Young black girls learn to distrust young black men" they only

want your "big tits and your matching ass," so make sure they pay

you for it.

C· Our poor learn they are worthless compared to the

car-cost-as-much-as-a-house, necklace-cost-as-much-as-a-car rich"

just stare and wallow in your poor worthlessness (or better yet, rob

that fool).

D· The dark-skinned learn they are not as desirable as their light-

skinned counterparts.

E· The old learn that the young are disrespectful, tattooed thugs

home on parole don't lend them money or rent your apartments to

them; they're criminals. Don't offer them guidance, just avoid eye

contact with them and pray to Sweet Jesus they don't shoot you.

Envy. Distrust. Fear. Woman against man. Light against dark. Old

against young. Blacks imposing self-defeating, divisive ideas on

other blacks. Lynch's plan to control black people is being acted

out; projected 24 hours a day by the most wide-reaching mass media in

history.

It's no wonder we don't support black businesses. It's no wonder we

find it increasingly more difficult to sustain romantic

relationships. It's no wonder black men are afraid of showing any

emotions besides anger and disregard lest they be seen as a target.

It's no wonder our elders are willing to write off an entire

generation of young potential; a generation in desperate need of

guidance.

Three hundred years after Lynch's letter, rap is the most dynamic,

influential music in modern history, music that has the potential to

affect immense change for the better. Instead, for the sake of

entertaining whites, blacks willfully project images that corrupt our

children and our relationships with each other.

The Reason Blacks in the rap music industry are manipulated by same

good ole American greed that seduced black overseers in the slave

industry. We're happy to malign each other for an extra helping of

cornbread. A handful of blacks in the music business prosper, while

rap music is the preeminent source of imagery that destabilizes tens

of millions in the black community.

The community destabilizing, divisive imagery of rap music is

allowed and encouraged because it helps keep the black community

poor. Social science suggests a link between broken homes (spurred by

male/female mutual distrust) and cycles of crime and poverty.

The materialistic imagery of hip-hop further encourages poverty by

advocating financial irresponsibility. Instead of celebrating

commodities that build wealth (stocks, property, savings),

materialistic imagery lauds items that depreciate (cars, jewelry,

clothes). Materialistic envy encourages the poor to live beyond their

means. To floss like their favorite rapper, the poor buy clothes and

lease cars they can't afford digging themselves deeper in debt

while keeping the appearance of wealth (how many

of us know grown men who drive Cadillac trucks, but live with their

mother).

It would seem in the best interest of any society to eliminate

poverty and the unemployment, underemployment, crime, and high rate

of single parent households associated with it. In truth, there is an

economic need for poverty. Someone has to flip burgers, wash cars,

clean toilets, and fill prisons. The only question is who will fill

the underclass.

In both deliberate and subtle ways blacks have been selected to

fill the underclass using the same divisive indoctrination advocated

in the Lynch letter. As slaves, blacks were this country\'s most

economically and socially depressed underclass. A century and a half

after slavery's end, black people are still disproportionately

represented in America's underclass.

The Solution

This essay is not a condemnation of all hip-hop. A large segment of

hip-hop is thoughtful, insightful and inspiring. Rather, the

intention is to raise consciousness of an indoctrination campaign

that is helping divide and control the black community. It's to

inspire blacks in the music industry to consider the role they play

in this campaign and the role they can play in

stopping it.

Black rappers, magazine editors, programming directors, and station

owners must recognize that when we promote imagery that destabilizes

the black community we fulfill Lynch's prophecy. Profitable as

promoting that imagery may be, at some point we must decide what is

most important: material wealth or spiritual well being.

In her brilliant book Salvation Black People and Love bell hooks

writes, "Loving blackness is more important than gaining access to

material privilege." From the day we arrived on America's shores,

we've been taught to hate our blackness. In doing so, we were divided

and easily controlled. Blacks overseers cracked the whip on other

blacks because they hated blackness. If you hate blackness today, you

are willing to poison black minds for a Cadillac truck. Obviously,

financial stability greatly improves quality of life. But financial

stability must be sought in light of communal

and personal responsibility and with full understanding that wealth

does not guarantee happiness. In fact, as the late Notorious BIG

noted, more money often brings more problems. In the final analysis,

no amount of material wealth can replace the spiritual peace found in

love for yourself and your community.

Renouncing destabilizing imagery does not necessarily mean it must

be replaced by inane positivity. Positivity is not necessarily true.

Realistically truthful images of black life should become commonplace

in hip-hop.

Single parent households, poverty, and going away to prison are a

reality in black life. So are marriages, tree-lined communities with

manicured lawns, and going away to college. The beauty, love, and joy

in our lives should be a part of our art. We can't harp on gloom,

anger, and overt sexuality because it sells to white people.

One of hip-hop's most enduring mantras is "keeping it real." A

rapper will scream, "I don't love these hos" in the name of keeping

it real. But that same rapper has a wife and three kids at home. You

love at least one ho. If you are going to make songs about scandalous

women, make as many or more songs about the wife you love. Otherwise,

there\'s nothing real about you.

We have to redefine what it means to keep it real. For example, sex

is a part of black life and all life on earth. Completely barring

sexuality from hip-hop would make hip-hop unrealistic. The challenge

is to deal realistically and responsibly with the potentially

destabilizing imagery of sex, wealth, and crime.

Cee-lo's "Closet Freak" is a song and video concept that handles

sexual imagery responsibly. In the first line of "Closet Freak" Cee-

lo acknowledge that sex is a natural urge indulged by "everybody

that\'s grown." With this line alone, Cee-lo sets the stage for a

responsible, realistic discussion of

sex.

Responsible because Cee-lo frames sex as an activity to be enjoyed

by adults. Responsible because every single woman in the video

for "Closet Freak" is fully clothed. Realistic because Cee-lo

describes sex as a desire shared by all people. This is important

because blacks are stigmatized for enjoying the most basic and

necessary comforts in life.

When we enjoy a cool, juicy fruit on a hot day we're "watermelon

eatin' coons." When we enjoy sitting in front of our homes on a

summer day we're "porch monkeys." Similarly, black sexuality has long

been a stigmatized taboo. Songs like "Closet Freak" deconstruct

divisive stigmas and responsibly portray black life. That's keeping

it real.

Ultimately, we will determine what hip-hop becomes. Hip-hop is an

art form so deeply rooted in the black experience that no other group

can authentically replicate it. We exclusively create and sustain it.

If black rappers stop making denigrating songs, denigrating songs

will stop being played. If black program directors choose to ban

videos and songs with destabilizing imagery, they will not be played.

If black magazine and newspaper editors do cover stories on acts

like Cee-lo, Mos Def, Common, Blackalicious, and dead prez our

children are less likely to be influenced by rappers who glorify

criminality, greed, and misogyny. If rap consumers demand responsible

hip-hop artists receive their due publicity in magazines and airtime

on radio and television, they will. If rap consumers buy CDs and

attend concerts by responsible hip-hop artists,

responsible hip-hop will thrive.

If blacks in the music industry continue to be manipulated by

greed, Lynch 's prophesy will be fulfilled.

To view the Willie Lynch document:

http://www.uky.edu/StudentOrgs/AWARE/archives/lynch.html

[mfuqua23]

This is a lot to read and analyze. I'll share my view after school.

[Schnazz]

Interesting read, a lot of good points, though I have several problems with it. First, "They should ask why are whites so interested in vile rap." The article makes the point that black folks make music to entertain white folks. While it's true that many white folks listen to rap (and R&B), it doesn't follow that it is white folks who are perpetuating the current trends in hip-hop. If that where the case then the growth in white hip-hop fans would be directly correlated to the growth in gangster rap, however rappers from Run-DMC to JJ/FP and all between have predated gangster rap and had a large white following. Additionally, this imagery that's being sent out affects everyone, white folks included. As the article points out, white kids listen to a lot of rap, as such, they're exposed to this imagery. So white kids should, and do, grow up hearing the same sales pitch and are effected just as much.

The inclusion of imagery of power, wealth, and sex is not limited hip-hop. Nor is it any great mystery as to why it sells so well. The sexual drive is a powerful drive and scantily clad individuals can evoke powerful emotions in people. This power of sex is no recent phenomenon, it goes back as far as people do. The concept of power and wealth (a modern form of power) is also an old concept and plays into equally basic needs and wants. Do you want to grow up not knowing if you can feed your own children, let alone feed yourself? Do you want to live in an area where violence is a daily experience for you? No, you want security. Cars and jewelry or nothing more than a way to display that you have security, a security that is appealing to everyone.

The division between black and white (and ignoring other races) on this issue is a false division. All races have members that live in poverty, all races have members that come from broken homes, all races have members that are in prison. If you want to go about lowering the number of kids going through hardships, don't limit yourself to a single race, all children deserve a good upbringing.

I have to limit my views to the US, since I can't speak to how it is in other countries, but if you want to get into the cause of poverty, black poverty in particular, you need to move beyond culture war. The US economy is set up to divide the haves and the have nots. The single biggest indicator of how financially successful you will be in life is how financially successful your parents are. If you come from a lower class family, you're highly likely to grow up to be lower class. If you come from an upper class family, you're highly likely to grow up to be upper class. The reason is that we live in a very capitalist based society. If your parents have money, they can, and will, pay for you to go to a better school. They can, and will, live in an area with less violence. They can, and will, provide you with "every opportunity." This is why the vast majority of the poor stay poor and the rich stay rich. If you doubt, ask yourself this, why do people opt to spend money on good schools and live in safe neighborhoods if they don't get benefit from it? This system makes it tougher for poor kids to grow up to be wealthy, which leads to the poor staying poor. This is a major reason why poverty is greater for black folks than for white folks. Only a few generations ago, the social injustices where so extreme that if you're black, you had no options for escaping poverty. Damn near all black folks where poor, extremely poor. Even after several generations, this historical poverty continues, since wealth begets wealth and poverty begets poverty.

If you truly want this cycle to end, it's not a question of race, it's not a question of music, it's not a question of videos, it's a question safety. It's a question of education. The government needs to make sure that every street is safe, not just the ones in areas that can afford to spend more on police officers. The government needs to make sure that every school offers an outstanding education, not just the ones where the local folks donate large dollar amounts. Only when you offer everyone the same opportunities will you see equality.

[mfuqua23]

I really think you summed it up Schnazz. But that article seems to have little focus on safety and education. If you think about it, that's probably the exact two things used to cause this whole slavery ordeal.

The basic idea of the Lynch speech was to "lighten the work of the slave owners, and let the slaves themselves destroy one another".

A very strong example would be anything that shares similarities. Tupac for instance, was a young black brother who died young. Therefore, other young black brothers or any combination of the three felt they could die young also, in a certain sense. (Even tho we're all meant to die)

People that share in the owning of a computer. If one person tells of a virus or crashing that happened to them, then it will feel like it can happen to you too.

And that's where this idea of black hatred comes from. So make them hate the differences within one another. It seems more of a human nature thing. Boys VS Girls, and so many more.

Some people choose to dive deep into such things. Others do not. I can honestly say I'm down the line. I keep this is mind (which I quoted from the AWARE Web Site)

"it simply provides members with factual information and possible viewpoints, and allows each individual to walk away with her or his own perspective."

[bigted]

:word: This is definately about safety and education like Schnazz said there, there were problems in the black community before hip-hop was popular and even if hip-hop dies out there'll still be those problems still if those issues ain't adressed.

[bigted]

I think hip-hop needs to go back to being an artform again, even it becomes less commericialised, it's disgusting to see how watered down it's become after we had creative hip-hop artists in the golden era like Run-Dmc, LL Cool J, JJFP, Public Enemy, NWA, and MC Hammer selling millions of records with their own unique styles, and now it's all turned into disposable music from fools like 50 Cent, Nelly, Ying Yan Twins, Mike Jones, Bow Wow, etc. that're sellouts to the black community. It's a sad thing that we go from JJFP winning the 1st rap grammy ushering the artistry to the masses to Nelly and Eminem winning grammies for gimmicks embarassing the rap community and having white conservatives think that all rappers are thugs but there's a whole crop of positive rappers not being promoted so nobody knows that except hip-hop heads. There was gangsta rappers like NWA dominating the rap charts but there was balance so people saw that not all rappers were gangsters so rap was credible but now with all of these fake gangstas dominating the charts, rap doesn't have much credility since it looks disposable. None of those disposable rappers like Nelly to win Grammies or even be nominated for that matter but it's like all their albums would be in consideration more than a Nas or Public Enemy album that was artistically crafted, hopefully Will winning that AMA last week could bring hope that more talented artists in the rap community could win awards instead of the disposable acts.

Edited December 1, 2005 by bigted