Gangsta Rap

Today I read some of the most foolish stuff I have seen in years. 50 Cent has said "I don't like people who don't like me ... that statement changes my perception of Alicia Keys totally. It's just not really a bright comment,”

OK bright comment; let’s look at what this controversy is really about.

Alicia Keys made a statement that Gangsta Rap was a ploy to convince Black people to kill each other. She is completely right in her statement but DUMMY 50 Cent thinks that she has disrespected him.

Here’s a little known fact, the first rap group to identify themselves as “gangster’s” was the Beastie Boys (strange how that was never an issue). Gangsta Rap came about as an offshoot of the anti governmental, socio-political rap created by East coast Boogie Down Productions and West Coast NWA. Very few people today recognize that rappers in the 80’s were talking about killing the police because they were killing Black people without justification within the Black neighborhoods. The concept of the strong Black male being a threat to the constant police state that was and is found within the Black communities was something that the government both regional and national did not want. What transpired was music that Black & White American and International teens understood and bought in massive quantities, completely upsetting major record labels and governmental agencies.

To change this movement first the government fought the artists that made the music both on the street and within the media. FBI Assistant Director, Milt Ahlerich, strongly expressing law enforcement's resentment of NWA’s Fuck The Police published a public letter condemning the music. Gangsta rap made Capitol Hill and Senate investigations started, while certain members of Congress wives began placing pressure on major record labels to change the lyrical content.

What I witnessed next was the change in the major label marketing and promotion to put more emphasis on music that carried lyrics of promoting homophobia, violence, profanity, promiscuity, misogyny, rape, street gangs, drive-by shooting, vandalism, thievery, drug use, racism, and materialism. The message that Black communities were under siege by the police and other governmental agencies was completely lost to the teen generation. Radio was coerced into playing the music that the major labels wanted played, not the music that the communities wanted via massive promotions, marketing dollars and payola.

Media manipulation has become an art and no where in the world is it more prevalent than within the United States. So media started promoting homophobia, violence, profanity, promiscuity, misogyny, rape, street gangs, drive-by shooting, vandalism, thievery, drug use, racism, and materialism. There was a chance that this circle of media manipulation would cease within the African American communities, but along came BET and the minds of young African Americans and eventually teens around the world were presented videos promoting homophobia, violence, profanity, promiscuity, misogyny, rape, street gangs, drive-by shooting, vandalism, thievery, drug use, racism, and materialism.

50 Cent is a businessman unfortunately his core business promotes homophobia, violence, profanity, promiscuity, misogyny, rape, street gangs, drive-by shooting, vandalism, thievery, drug use, racism, and materialism.

Tim Winter. President of the Parents Television Council, conducted a study in partnership with the Enough is Enough Campaign. This study has shown that daytime music video programming on BET and MTV bombarded teen viewers with sexual, violent, profane or obscene images once every 38 seconds. "BET and MTV are assaulting children with content that is full of sexually charged images, explicit language, portrayals of violence, drug use, drug sales and other illegal activity," said Winter. "Not only that, but we discovered that some offensive words aired only in muted form in December 2007, but as recent as March 2008, these same words were not muted.”

Gangsta rappers often defend themselves by claiming that they are describing the reality of inner-city life, and that they are only adopting a character, like an actor playing a role, which behaves in ways that they may not necessarily endorse. At least this is what they say when you place them in a room with REAL gangsters. The illusion of power, wealth and control is a factor that many so called Gangsta Rappers desire and flaunt. The reality of power, wealth and control lies within world corporations and governments.

Alicia Keys, keep on saying the truth, regardless to how the media spins it intelligent people know what’s REALLY happening. 50 Cent add me to the list of people who don’t like you or what you stand for.