Comments on: BET’s ‘Hip-Hop vs. America’ Airs This Week

By: tiqua

tiqua — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:51:42 +0000

Well I think hip hop is going down hill in some ways. HIop hop is not what it used to be meaning music now is basically about having sex and selling drugs all for making a quick buck.lMusic went from real gutta talk like tupac and biggie to just what you can dance to like soulja boy. before tupac and biggie died they had set the standards and had eveyone trying to compete but since they passed music is mainly good beats. Now i give my ups to T.I, Nas, common, Jay z they all speak true shyt and its not bull shit when you listening to it.

By: Kala Nation

Kala Nation — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:35:02 +0000

My good sister most rappers are clowns and idiots and here for our amusement just like jim crow was now we have jim jones.Lil Wayne, common you cant tell me you dont expect to see an elephant,and a trappezze artist show up and do a stunt any time now.

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:26:48 +0000

Hip Hop doesn’t affect the culture…the culture affects hip hop. The guys that come outta the hood sing about what life is like there…THEY are the fruit of hood life, not the other way around. But, hip-hop does help perpetuate a cycle that’s gone on for years: namely here, the sexual exploitation and degredation of women.
Our answer is not in eliminating or censoring hip-hop, but in eliminating the mindset that gives birth to what hip hop glorifies. And that’s as daunting a task as eliminating materialism from suburban america.
Good luck with that.

Ryan

By: Markeya

Markeya — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:32:22 +0000

I watched this series and I also watched Oprah. I was really disappointed in how the hip hop artists did not have a chance to present their side of this issue. When I watched Oprah I was upset at the fact that a man (I forgot his name) addressed hip hop artist as being “clowns” and other jibber jaber. First of all I believe that Oprah and everyone who was against hip hop or whatever was looking at different issues. On Oprah’s show I didn’t think that Mr. Russell Simmons was not excusing the Hip Hop artist for calling women bitches and hoes he was looking at the fact that these women were called nappy-headed hoes. But I noticed on these two shows everytime a male hip hop artist wanted to speak they went to commercial. NOT FAIR IN MY OPINION. But I was taught from home you are what u answer to. I am not saying that it is right but I have enough common sense if I don’t like a song TURN THE CHANNEL!!!!! But one minute they want our AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN TO HAVE A VOICE BUT HOW CAN THEY WHEN THEY ARE BEING TOLD TO CHANGE THEIR MUSIC. CAN SOMEONE ANSWER THIS WHERE WAS TRINA, KHIA, JAKI O AND OTHER RAUNCHY FEMALES AT WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING. THEY SHOULD TALK TO THOSE FEMALE HIP HOP ARTISTS WHO ADDRESSES THEMSELVES AS BEING A FINE HO, BADDEST BITCH, ETC WHERE WERE THEY AT???? I DIDN’T SEE ANY THEM UP ON THAT STAGE!!!!!! To be honest we need to focus on the most important issues in the United States like ending poverty among African Americans, getting equal education for our African American children, etc. I GIVE PROPS TO THESE HIP HOP ARTIST, AT A POINT IN HISTORY OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN DID NOT HAVE A VOICE AND COULD NOT HAVE A VOICE. I am glad they are DOING WHAT THEY DO!!!!!!

ANOTHER THING STOP STEREOTYPING OUR RAPPERS AS BEING DUMB AND CLOWNS CCAUSE THEY ARE NOT!!!!!! THEY DO HAVE AN EDUCATION ALSO SO STOP ACTING SO STUCK UP ( TO ALL THOSE UPPITY ONES WHO SAY HIP HOP IS A BAD INFLUENCE)

Love
Markeya Shenell Fultz

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:53:58 +0000

I DVR’d Hip Hop vs America and I just watched #2 today. I think this should be a series. There is way too much to talk about and way too many people to talk to for this to be a one time discussion. With that said, there is something that was not discussed in great detail on Hip Hop vs. America: Individual Accountability…. Everything we do as individuals affects someone else. I, as a mother, have to be accountable for what I show my children. My children, as adults, eventually have to be accountable for what they put into their children. A scientist who knowingly produces or helps to produce a product that is slowly poisoning people is accountable. Hip Hop artists, or any individual in the media, have to be accountable for what they produce. A teacher knows that what she teaches will reach hundreds of children for the rest of their lives. Entertainers have to know that what they put out will affect millions of people for the rest of their lives. You know that what you put out will be received by many and it will affect them in one way or the other… That is a big responsibility and we give that to people who are really not mature enough to understand the effects. Please…. Everyone wants to point fingers… Look in the mirror…. If people were more accountable this world would be a better place. It isn’t the Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, or Rock that is poison to our children. It is what is coming out of it. You can not blame an object that has no soul or personality for creating any kind of problem. It is the individual who uses it that should be held accountable. Yes sex, drugs, pimpin, and violence sale in all entertainment. We, as consumers are accountable for that too. This problem isn’t going away easily… People keep wanting the government to intervene.. That never works… It will just create more problems. … Just think, if all of the slaves would have settled for what they were given, If Martin Luther King and all of the other civil rights leaders didn’t go against the grain, where would we be. You as an artist have been given a huge honor to be able to reach masses of people, women, and children. Do you really want everyone to see you as woman haters, murders, pimps, and ignorant N!@@#!… Most of you are better than that and I know that you have more to say… I don’t think there is anything wrong with telling your stories. How you got out of the game and were able to see that there are better things and more to life than that, but unfortunately that is not what you portray… You glorify sex, money, and power as a driving force of life. The black community has to also become accountable as individuals… Each person involved in the Hip Hop industry has to become accountable as individuals for their roll in this.. Someone has to start somewhere… There has to become a point where money and power do not over shadow morality, and integrity. I challenge Nelly, TI, and the rest of the rap artist to take a stand and not to conform. Take a stand for what is right!!!

By: Diamond & Ray Ray

Diamond & Ray Ray — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:30:01 +0000

First off everyone that is getting on hip hop needs to stop.Yea hip hop aint what it use to be but hey that was old generation this is new..We can create our own style but everyone is to busy critisizing to old.and to compare music to other things and to the artist that make it is not fair.Well all i kno is hip hop goin make it with the artist that are out now and my BABY Mookie jones and me and my sister!!!!So watch out hataz!!!!!Holla at ya diamondz iight

By: Dani09

Dani09 — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:51:45 +0000

First of all, Karla, you on point!! Second of all, Nelly, T.I., and Mike Jones need all props… because they really did go against the grain in doing what they did!!! But okay now on to make my point… I’m going to basically agree and elaborate on what Nelly and T.I. said… I feel like this Hip Hop can’t degrade a woman to any level she won’t stoop to… you are what you see yourself as and what you allow people to refer to you as!!! If somebody keep callin you Jamie and ya name isn’t Jamie they’ll stop callin you that, right?? So if females don’t want to be called Bitches and hoes STOP RESPONDING TO IT!!! DUH!!!
On another note there is a time for everything… since everybody was on this subject i’m speak on it too… Tip Drill was on Uncut at 3 in the morning… for everybody worried about the image this gives their child… if your child is up watchin uncut videos on BET.. you shouldn’t blame Hip Hip for makin it ~ you should blame yourself for not being a better parent… why your child is up at 3 in the mornin watchin uncut i don’t know but that was meant for adults it’s not like it was shown at 3:30 in the afternoon when ya kid is gettin home from school!!! Think about it…!!! and I guess this’ll be the last thing I speak on… T.I. thank you for sayin “you betta be glad i’m only up here sayin” because you rapping about making it not necessarily out but you moved up in the game shows to some drug dealer aspiring to be a rapper.. that its possible to beat the hustle!!! The streets are real and Y’ALL need to stop actin like it’s not!!!

By: Tanika

Tanika — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:39:10 +0000

It’s not fair how they’re are blaming Hip-hop as a whole. It’s not Hip-hop that’s offending them it’s rap, and that shouldn’t be that offensive it’s everyday life in some places. Instead of trying to sensor what is supposed to be “Freedom of Speech”, why not stop and try to find out what is influencing it. Maybe if the everyday living situations for some of the rappers of tomorrow were different then maybe rap could be considered more pleasant (who set the standard of pleasant I don’t know). As opposed to trying to put a sound cap on our expression of life, why not try to help? We found a way to release frustration and get paid LEGALLY, and ya’ll want to stop it? Which is only going to lead to more crimes due to the fact that a lot of young guys who thought rap my have been an source of income still have to feed themselves and their families. Also why is Hip-hop and rap under such scrutiny when rock songs are just as bad. There is a group called Nickelback that have a song called rockstar that basically glorifies being disrespectful and taking drugs why is that not also under fire. Don’t get me wrong I listen to rap, and some rock, and I actually like most of the songs that were on Bet’s House Panel’s chopping block and the rock song I just named, but I don’t think it’s fair that they try and crucify 1 form and not the other for the same or similar wrongs. It almost sounds like a recently televised misfourtune of 6 boys in the south.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:41:49 +0000

Mann to be honest I wish I could speak on this and really articulate how I feel but right now my head is trying to create and filter what I just heard and what I have read and experienced. Soo much to think about. I dont want to come off as sounding like a hypocrite b/c hey I watch those videos, I listen to the music, and when at the club I danced or tried to dance like the girls on those videos. Soo I am going think this over and come back.

lol a bunch of nothing. I know. just wait.

By: SteveTheBroadcastor

SteveTheBroadcastor — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:07:57 +0000

Its sad to see that a group of people can get together and discuss an issue as vital as the degradation of a whole generation but never reach the root of the problem. The whole issue of Hip Hop and it’s culture is that its representatives mold a defining reality and push it to a direction-less demographic. In other words, young people , at the most sensitive season of their lives in developing social character, are being influenced by a group of extortionists for the sake of money. Not only that but the subject matter being issued and glorified by these artists are attractive to the evil nature of a human being. Sex, money, drugs, and power are all pleasurable things but at the end leads to disease, debt, addictions, and death when used in the wrong content. In conclusion, if the really wanted to be real, they should have dealt with the issue of the inner desire of a man to lust after these things and what or Who can free us from these degrading passions! Why discredit Jesus’ church when He’s set billions of people free from the bondage of sin while other people choose to entice you with it to their own benefit.