I just heard the news this morning confirming the I believe four cats involved. Its sickening how many of us shift responsibility of our actions to “hip-hop is the reason” or the classic “the devil made me/them do it.”

We gotta man-up and take responsibility.

And now look what has happened. The kids that allegedly committed this crime have been caught and what do you know - they have no relation to Taylor whatsoever. Taylor and his so-called “thugness” did not bring this on. Hip hop did not bring this on. It was simply crime itself and the issues that impact crime that brought this on.

But before any of that could be figured out, Whitlock had to go and stomp all over Taylor’s name and smear hip hop in the process. Mr. Whitlock - open mouth, insert foot. Shame on you.

May Sean Taylor rest in peace.

I agree, Aldridge’s editorial was good, I emailed him personally stating this.

We must all realize that the reason he keeps blaming hip-hop is because it brings angry readers and controversy to his newspaper - leading to advertisers for the paper and fatter pockets for Jason Whitlock.

Second, I agree with a lot of what Whitlock said. I agree that the modern day “thug culture” that celebrates murder, ignorance and incarceration is a major problem. And we need to find some way to communicate to our children that it’s not cool.

What I don’t agree with is Whitlock’s insistence on making “thug culture” synonymous with “hip-hop culture.” And that is where I agree with ScholarMan.

David Aldridge wrote a great piece on it, where he said the following:

“Sean Taylor, while no saint, was not a “thug.” He didn’t grow up in the ‘hood. He went to private schools before college. And even if he was a thug - whatever that is - or embraced that culture during one part of his life, that doesn’t mean he deserved to die in front of his child and fiancée, in his home, bothering no one.”

Read the rest of Aldridge’s article here. It’s on point!

PEACE