The Associated Press reports this morning that “Prisons and jails added more than 42,000 inmates last year, the largest increase since 2000.” Predictably, almost six out of every 10 prisoners was a minority. That might explain Jason Whitlock’s recent obsession with what he calls “prison culture” seeping out into the mainstream.
The Star’s Web site will charge you for official access to the screed he wrote after Don Imus’ “nappy-headed ho” comment. But it’s been reproduced on a few blogs, and this commentary at AOL Sports is another example of Whitlock’s “thinking” on this issue – that pop culture is the real threat. Money quote: “Prison culture is winning. It has corrupted a form of music that once gave us great joy and/or offered inspiration. Prison culture -- with its BET and MTV videos, popular movies, acceptance in the mainstream media and false gods -- Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg -- has perverted the American dream for black youth.”
Call me crazy, but I sorta think it’s the fact that so many of his brothers are in prison might be the real “prison culture” problem. Here’s the weird twist in this morning’s AP story: “Eight states had declines, led by Missouri (down 2.9 percent).” I wonder whether Whitlock is so jumpy about prison culture because he subconsciously senses that more Missourians are actually out of prison and could be walking down the very same streets as he does! I ain’t no psychiatrist; I’m just sayin’.
Anyway, for some of the most beautiful writing about what people are listening to on the radio these days, I’ve been reading Kansas City writer Danny Alexander’s blog. A sweet little sample: “Much is made of a certain stereotype of the roles women play in today’s rap videos, but it’s surprising how rare such even debatable examples show up. What’s most common -- when the women aren’t rapping or singing themselves -- prevalent everywhere from rappers like Crime Mob, Remy Ma, Eve, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim and 702, to, of course, the hip hop flavored R&B of Mya, Rihanna, Fantasia, Kelly Roland, Ciara, and alternating videos of almost everything on Beyonce’s current video release -- are images of proud strong women of all ages and body types exhibiting the latest dance moves and looking like they are more than enjoying the still relatively young tradition of celebrating black feminine beauty.” Read more over at Take ‘Em As They Come. – C.J. Janovy
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D.A. I'm not saying these artists don't get the airplay on t.v. and radio, they are just not as influential as their numbers might lead you to beleive. Turn to your local R&B/Soul station, and almost all of them have a "hot 8 at 8" or some sort of countdown show, Monday through Friday. THOSE are the songs that kids are REALLY listening to, you can tell because they called in and voted for them, and a lot of those songs aren't songs that would be played on the normal playlist. Those are the songs that Jason Whitlock is talking about. Aside from Beyonce, you're not going to find the other 9 artists you listed that often on these countdown shows. You are going to hear a lot more 50 cent, young Dro, and a bunch of "Drop Pop and Lock it" or similiar song. The point is, even though you are absolutely correct when you say there are plenty of images around of young black women looking confident and proud in their videos, there are still too many songs to the contrary. These "minority" of songs that are overtly sexual, violent, and degrading, have more influence than these songs/artists do, and they shouldn't be acceptable. If Bruce Springsteen or Paul McCartney were to write and perform a song like one of these, there would be a public outcry, because these people are held to higher standards and their audiences wouldn't accept it. What if Michael Buble wrote a song like "Move bitch get out the way" or one like the new Akon song, where the chorus is about him wanting to fuck a stripper? His audience would shit a brick, and rightfully so. What J Whitlock and others are saying is it's time to say these kinds of songs are unacceptable, and hold rap artists to the same standard as other musicians, especially since their songs seem to find their way to an extremely impressionable market.
J-Heezy--
To single out Remy Ma, Rihanna and 702 from my much longer list doesn't make ME look out of touch. I clock my BET as well as most media outlets anyone is listening to. You might check the 20 or so R&B and rap charts that apply, or just turn on a radio or watch an hour or two of videos in a row and see if most of the people I mentioned don't show up.
Besides, any individual artist is not the point. If I were to redo it, I would probably leave 702 off the list--good call--but that doesn't get at the big stuff.
That's not a list of my favorites or "politically correct" alternatives. It's just an average playlist. The other 9 artists are huge.
Danny
I disagree with Rodney "Butt" Munch too, that Neo Natzi stuff is so out of style.
I totally disagree with C.J. Janovy. There's a lot of merit to what Jason Whitlock is saying, no matter how wrong he is about a lot of other things or what personality problems he may have. When it comes to this part of the country, life imitates art, especially amongst black kids. A lot of people who grew up in the middle of this city and spent their lives going to KCMO school distric schools will tell you that BET and MTV have TONS of influence on not just black kids, but urban kids in general. Danny Alexander's article was "pretty" but probably not too in touch with today's young black culture. Want proof? Find about 100 black kids, ages 14 to about 22. Find out how many of them are listening to Remy Ma, Rihanna, or 702. You won't find many. Especially 702. I haven't heard about that group since the early part of this decade, and they weren't that popular then either. Turn on BET and see how many rappers are blinging with a plain white tea draping down to their knees and shorts so long they look like capris hanging off their asses. Then go to a KCMO or KCK high school this fall and see how many kids will be wearing the exact same goofy ass uniform. Then ponder if there's a connection.
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