The headline of AP article that ran in the Sunday edition of the Star declares "Legislature to see proposal to condemn gangsta rap"
Here's how it begins:
The Legislature could make an unusual statement about popular culture this year and criticize gangsta rap for profanity-laced language and what critics consider messages that demean women and promote violence.Rep. Peggy Mast, an Emporia Republican, plans to introduce a resolution condemning gangsta rap after legislators begin their annual session Monday. She's doing so at the urging of Sonny Scroggins, a Topeka activist who has long liked rap — he names 50 Cent as a favorite — but is tired of the language rappers use.
Just look at that shit. You know when Emporian Republican women begin falling under the influence of fellows with names like Sonny Scroggins, sophisticated and measured thinking will not ensue.
Later in the article, this Scroggins guy gets a bit of focus:
But Scroggins said he's concerned that lyrics demean women, and he objects to their repeated use of some terms — the "b," ''h," and "n'' words, as he puts it. Both he and Mast fear that repetition plants its messages in young minds."Everybody wants to be a hootchie mama now," Scroggins said. "You know, young kids think they've got to cuss and say all of that."
I searched for Scroggins online and found this on the LJ World site:
Watch out, hootchie mamas, Sonny Scroggins is armed with FREEDOM.
Men like Scroggins take note: If you're going to say something like "Everybody wants to be a hootchie mama now" to a reporter, then you should expect to see it in print. And you should expect people to laugh your stupid Zorro-hat-wearing ass out the door.
The bigger problem, of course, is Kansas embarrassing us all by opening its corn-filled mouth to decry an element of pop culture that appeals strongly to young people. Will we ever see a headline come out of Topeka that says: "Kansas legislature to support positive hip-hop after-school programs"? Of course not. Instead, the world sees a bunch of cynical old fogies farting up to the podium to complain about Too Short. Fuck off.
Perhaps our state leaders could devote some time to researching the music that's being made right now in Top City, as Topeka's lively group of local MCs refer to the place. Here's a dancefloor rocker for all you chumps who think there are no verbal machine-gunners out there among the sunflowers and conservative wingnuts.
Str8jakkett: "Shake It Off" MP3, from the brand-new album Mood Swings.
Here are a few links for further listening: Str8jakkett, 11 Third Records, Lil Dizzy, Young Cam, Lil Casper ... the list goes on, bitches.
Showing 1-20 of 20
When looking for a hotel in hyderabad, I got lost by the beauty of the city. It is not clear where to find a place to stay with so many attractions around.
Aye what did that mean when you had my name up there im just asking because im trynna make it out of topeka with my music and with positive lyrics for kid's too and adults so i just want to know.
PRESENTS!
Welcome to VFVC and OFFE live ON THE AIR!
SPECIAL VETERANS DAY BROADCAST!
Your Host; Gene and Jere
November 11, 2008
Happy Veterans Day to our brothers and sisters, of the Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guards
that have stood together to protect this Great Country!
Thank you for sharing this day!
We must send a clear message to all
State and U.S. Representatives! The Veterans and the Citizens of this Nation are in CHARGE!
Now monitor those that have been ELECTED! If we are to have a strong GOVERNMENT!!!
By the people and for the people!
Call in at: 1877 213-4329 and let�s talk!
If you have a voice let it be heard tonight on Welcome to VFVC live on the air!
Let�s
FIRE FOR EFFECT!
A Special Guest
Sonny Scroggins
You can contact Sonny at: 785-232-3761, 785-845-6148, if you have any questions.
I Challenge my Generation to Inspire Future Generations.
Yours in Christ, Sonny Scroggins
Subject: Bias Busters of Kansas Veteran Day Ceremony In
Honor of Major Raymond C. Christian
A Veteran to be Honored
Major Raymond C. Christian,
ARSIC-K
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE PHOENIX VII
CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Major R.C. Christian, Title; Elder C.O.G.I.C. Director as of June 10th
Writer; Hall of Fame, Poet Notable, and Personality Ambassador of Poetry Published Author; Motivational Speaker Ex-Marine Visionary Humanitarian Websites for more info: WWW.Poetry.com www.authorhouse.com www.lakenetnwi.org
�The greatest thing in this world is love, some places you have to see for yourself in order to understand the help others need.�
AFGHANISTAN Contact: ChristianSirRCCCapt@msn.com
In honor to those who are serving the United States of America it is a tribute for us to acknowledge one of our own. Major Raymond C. Christian is from Gary , Indiana by way of Canton , Mississippi . He is currently serving his country in the Kabul , Afghanistan ; he is attached to ARSIC-K 2-101 out of New York . Major Christian is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma . He received his military commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army by participating in the Collegiate ROTC Program graduating in May of 1990. He would later graduate from the Infantry Officers Basic Course to retain his rank. �Serving my country is a great contribution to all those who will follow.� Major Christian also served in the United States Marines prior to becoming an Army Officer he has received several honors and appreciation from Commanding Generals and Battalion Commanders. His highest officer of service so-far has been serving as the �Commandant� at Fort Benjamin Harrison, in Indianapolis , Indiana . Raymond Christian title is Major; he is a field grade officer currently serving a tour in Kabul , Afghanistan . When asked how he feels about being away from family and friends he stated, � As a military Officer sworn to protect and defend America from all foreign and domestic enemies it is an honor to serve, it is what I have been trained to do.� An officer must be versatile in his various job capacities and must understand the importance of leadership.
While working as a Public Affairs Officer it is most important that I am able to bring to the minds of the soldiers who do not have the opportunity to go outside the safety zones (the wire) and into the heart of danger, (risking my life to get good stories). As the PAO of ARSIC-K I have been on many missions and written several stories, �Why We Must Never Forget�, �A Breach of Security�, Afghan Women and their Cultural Differences� and more. It is also my duty to bring to the American publics as a writer what they are not able to see I am currently working on a book about Afghanistan , a nation that has been under siege and devastated by war for the past 30 years.
Major Christian has written several books one being most controversial concerning his life titled �It Still Exists Today A True Story of Racism in the United States Postal Service� The Story Oklahoma did not Want Told. This first book is being looked at for a possible movie deal. His second book is based on women, titled �Women Tell What Men Should Know� which unveils how women truly feel about being called B�.s and sluts in these rappers music. Major Christian has assisted with writing a resolution bill to abolish gangsta rap and its negative remarks toward women.
Major Raymond C. Christian has several books coming out in 2009. He is has stated the contracts have already been signed. A spiritual book of poems titled �Poems of Spiritual Praise� the other books shall be coming. �Pray for the soldiers who have loss their life, pray for those who will be returning home jobless, pray for the blessing of the United States of America . Poems Major Christian would like for you to read, �Be It Ever So Humble� and � Afghanistan .�
Press Release
To: All Americans
From: Sonny Scroggins, Bias Busters of Kansas
Subject:Kansas Capitol Grassroot Barrack Obama Inaugural Committee/Bias Busters of Kansas Meeting, Fwd: 44TH PRESIDENT: Operation USA Party
Topeka, Kansas............Yes We Can Planning Rally will be held Every Tuesday @ 7:00am & 7:00pm at the Historic Downtown McDonalds, 1100 Kansas Ave., until January 13, 2008. Family, friends and the public are invited to participate by word, song, prayer Scripture, or fellowship of the Human Race
The goals of the committee are to secure, a National Holiday in Honor of the 44th President (Barack Obama) on November 4; to organize celebrations around the Inaugural, and celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abe Lincoln! On January 20, 2009, 7:30am we will serve Obama Cake at the Historic Downtown McDonalds,1100 Kansas Avenue, and a Inaugural Celebration is schedule for 8;00PM until 12:00am AT THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RAMADA INN. The True Trumpet of God Jubilee Dancer will perform, A Voter Registration Drive will be conducted!?!
Obama has Kansas & OK ties! I Challenge my Generation to Inspire Future Generations. Yours in Christ, Sonny Scroggins
Subject: FW: 44TH PRESIDENT
PRESENTS!
Welcome to VFVC and OFFE live ON THE AIR!
SPECIAL VETERANS DAY BROADCAST!
Your Host; Gene and Jere
November 11, 2008
Happy Veterans Day to our brothers and sisters, of the Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guards
that have stood together to protect this Great Country!
Thank you for sharing this day!
We must send a clear message to all
State and U.S. Representatives! The Veterans and the Citizens of this Nation are in CHARGE!
Now monitor those that have been ELECTED! If we are to have a strong GOVERNMENT!!!
By the people and for the people!
Call in at: 1877 213-4329 and let�s talk!
If you have a voice let it be heard tonight on Welcome to VFVC live on the air!
Let�s
FIRE FOR EFFECT!
A Special Guest
Sonny Scroggins
You can contact Sonny at: 785-232-3761, 785-845-6148, if you have any questions.
I Challenge my Generation to Inspire Future Generations.
Yours in Christ, Sonny Scroggins
Subject: Bias Busters of Kansas Veteran Day Ceremony In
Honor of Major Raymond C. Christian
A Veteran to be Honored
Major Raymond C. Christian,
ARSIC-K
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE PHOENIX VII
CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Major R.C. Christian, Title; Elder C.O.G.I.C. Director as of June 10th
Writer; Hall of Fame, Poet Notable, and Personality Ambassador of Poetry Published Author; Motivational Speaker Ex-Marine Visionary Humanitarian Websites for more info: WWW.Poetry.com www.authorhouse.com www.lakenetnwi.org
�The greatest thing in this world is love, some places you have to see for yourself in order to understand the help others need.�
AFGHANISTAN Contact: ChristianSirRCCCapt@msn.com
In honor to those who are serving the United States of America it is a tribute for us to acknowledge one of our own. Major Raymond C. Christian is from Gary , Indiana by way of Canton , Mississippi . He is currently serving his country in the Kabul , Afghanistan ; he is attached to ARSIC-K 2-101 out of New York . Major Christian is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma . He received his military commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army by participating in the Collegiate ROTC Program graduating in May of 1990. He would later graduate from the Infantry Officers Basic Course to retain his rank. �Serving my country is a great contribution to all those who will follow.� Major Christian also served in the United States Marines prior to becoming an Army Officer he has received several honors and appreciation from Commanding Generals and Battalion Commanders. His highest officer of service so-far has been serving as the �Commandant� at Fort Benjamin Harrison, in Indianapolis , Indiana . Raymond Christian title is Major; he is a field grade officer currently serving a tour in Kabul , Afghanistan . When asked how he feels about being away from family and friends he stated, � As a military Officer sworn to protect and defend America from all foreign and domestic enemies it is an honor to serve, it is what I have been trained to do.� An officer must be versatile in his various job capacities and must understand the importance of leadership.
While working as a Public Affairs Officer it is most important that I am able to bring to the minds of the soldiers who do not have the opportunity to go outside the safety zones (the wire) and into the heart of danger, (risking my life to get good stories). As the PAO of ARSIC-K I have been on many missions and written several stories, �Why We Must Never Forget�, �A Breach of Security�, Afghan Women and their Cultural Differences� and more. It is also my duty to bring to the American publics as a writer what they are not able to see I am currently working on a book about Afghanistan , a nation that has been under siege and devastated by war for the past 30 years.
Major Christian has written several books one being most controversial concerning his life titled �It Still Exists Today A True Story of Racism in the United States Postal Service� The Story Oklahoma did not Want Told. This first book is being looked at for a possible movie deal. His second book is based on women, titled �Women Tell What Men Should Know� which unveils how women truly feel about being called B�.s and sluts in these rappers music. Major Christian has assisted with writing a resolution bill to abolish gangsta rap and its negative remarks toward women.
Major Raymond C. Christian has several books coming out in 2009. He is has stated the contracts have already been signed. A spiritual book of poems titled �Poems of Spiritual Praise� the other books shall be coming. �Pray for the soldiers who have loss their life, pray for those who will be returning home jobless, pray for the blessing of the United States of America . Poems Major Christian would like for you to read, �Be It Ever So Humble� and � Afghanistan .�
Press Release
To: All Americans
From: Sonny Scroggins, Bias Busters of Kansas
Subject:Kansas Capitol Grassroot Barrack Obama Inaugural Committee/Bias Busters of Kansas Meeting, Fwd: 44TH PRESIDENT: Operation USA Party
Topeka, Kansas............Yes We Can Planning Rally will be held Every Tuesday @ 7:00am & 7:00pm at the Historic Downtown McDonalds, 1100 Kansas Ave., until January 13, 2008. Family, friends and the public are invited to participate by word, song, prayer Scripture, or fellowship of the Human Race
The goals of the committee are to secure, a National Holiday in Honor of the 44th President (Barack Obama) on November 4; to organize celebrations around the Inaugural, and celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abe Lincoln! On January 20, 2009, 7:30am we will serve Obama Cake at the Historic Downtown McDonalds,1100 Kansas Avenue, and a Inaugural Celebration is schedule for 8;00PM until 12:00am AT THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RAMADA INN. The True Trumpet of God Jubilee Dancer will perform, A Voter Registration Drive will be conducted!?!
Obama has Kansas & OK ties! I Challenge my Generation to Inspire Future Generations. Yours in Christ, Sonny Scroggins
Subject: FW: 44TH PRESIDENT
The Obama Swirl Cake
A cake you will never forget
The flavor is one sufficient to describe everyone�s President what a joy. what a joy;
He said to tastes of him and gave of himself to people all over the world a mix of a cake;
The ingredients was poured into a bowl, you know the Constitutional bowl;
The Great Melting Pot of America, a pot filled with people from all over the world;
Different nationalities, cultures, religions, genders and beliefs, I need to mix this as one;
No one can be left out of this mixing bowl in a White House built for all;
The greatest campaign team in the history of America was stirred at a high degree;
Not at Princeton, Yale or Chicago School of Law but in Harvard he made it you see;
The bowl is still mixing and its not slowing down as it circles and swipes about;
Meeting people in very high places and leaving them with no reasonable doubt;
The Queen of Talk Shows Oprah Winfrey stepped out and stirred the mix even better;
Michelle was there with encouragement in hand and sound prayer to support her man;
What flavor will the cake turn out to be the mighty powers were now all in;
Mixed by the best chef�s delicacies with two little tasters at hand;
Malia had the spoon and Sasha had the bowl in support of dad a great man;
They gave the chef the final okay saying the mix is yummy so please do not change;
This will be the best cake ever in the White House there is nothing you need to add;
Heaven has opened and poured out a blessing that God baked as long as he could;
A cake prepared for the world to eat and I am certain every slice will be good;
What a preparation period, going back to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. you see;
I have a dream of a great cake that will taste so good it will carry all Americans through;
Just believe in the dream and keep the vision going I promise it all will come true;
Just keep rolling the doe and stir the mix, Lord what a great cake he is going to fix;
There is a start and finish to everything the bowl, the mix and the batter;
In the beginning God joined the two together, mother, Ann Dunham and father Barack;
What a pair brought before God in heaven a cake was being made of so many flavors;
Before the foundation of the earth it was already done, Barack Obama had already won;
Before Obama was formed in the womb the seed was blessed, the victory was complete;
God had already ordained him a profit before the nation;
Testers will try your cake and understand the delight of your many flavors;
Not Black or White, Jewish or Greek even Hebrew I must add but a flavor all can enjoy;
This cake could no longer wait, Obama put in human form and made for the entire world;
And since there are so many flavors to this cake we will call it �The Obama Swirl.�
Writen by; Raymond C. Christian (Hall of Fame Poet)
Date: November 14, 2008
Place: Camp Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan
Reason: To let the world know that we all are filled
with many flavors, only our bloodline
is the same. In the beginning were Adam and Eve,
cultural differences were all created by man. Let us
cut this cake together and please enjoy your dessert.
November 14, 2008
Press Release
Exploratory Obama Day Committee Meeting 11/15/2008 9:00 AM 10:30 AM Langston Hughes Room 205, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
To Paraphrase Former President Ronald Reagan: "A person once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must.....be undaunted when the going gets tough."
Subject: Kansas Capitol Grassroots Barack Obama Inaugural Committee/Bias Busters of Kansas Meeting, Fwd: 44TH PRESIDENT: Operation USA Party,
Topeka, Kansas............Yes We Can Planning Rally will be held Every Saturday@ 9:00am until February 28, 2009. Family, friends and the public are invited to participate by word, song, prayer, Scripture, or fellowship of the Human Race.
The goals of the committee are to secure a National Holiday in Honor of the 44th President (Barack Obama) annually on November 4 and/or the first Tuesday in November; to organize celebrations around the Inaugural, nullification of & discussions on the Voters Rights Act of 1965, celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abe Lincoln and increase American Participation in the Electoral Process!
1.20.09, Noon...Kansas Prayer &
Praise Inaugural Obama Swearing In Ceremony will be hosted by Bias Busters of Kansas in the Historic Downtown Topeka Ramada Inn, and coincide with the Washington, D.C. Ceremony!
On January 20, 2009, Bias Busters will serve Obama Cake at the Historic Ramada Inn, 420 SE 6th Avenue: Prayer Service at Noon, and an Inaugural Celebration is schedule for 8:00PM until 12:00am, special guest include: Artist Will.I.Am, he attended Obama's victory speech in Chicago Tuesday night, then went to the studio and recorded a song in his honor!
The True Trumpet of God Jubilee Dancer will perform, A Voter Registration Drive will be conducted!
Obama has Kansas ties, Kansas Dunham/Payne Family Values: His mother was born at Fort Leavenworth during World War II and her father was a native of El Dorado, Kansas and has family ties in Sapulpa, Okla. SARAH OBAMA his Grandmother lives in Kenya
If you have questions, comments and/or concerns: For more information call Committee Members: Sonny & Susan Scroggins, (785) 232-3761, 845-6148, biasbustersofkansas@yahoo.com; Marcus Jack, (785) 221-2472, samejack2001@yahoo.com, Linda Winkler,( 785) 232-8635, 438-9537, Kevin Scroggins, hubba2gzus@yahoo.com, (785) 408-4550 after 9:00pm; Henrietta Newman, (785) 357-0390, henriettanewman@att.net, Susan Daniel, (785) 477-1287, susan-daniel@hotmail.com
Exploratory Obama Day Committee Meeting 11/15/2008 9:00 AM 10:30 AM Langston Hughes Room 205, Topeka & Shawnee County Library
I Challenge my Generation to Inspire Future Generations.
Yours in Christ, Sonny Scroggins
Music is a global language, it has got no language or group. Banning any sort of music is a real shame whatever the reason is. Let rap come back soon in Kanas.
=========================
Jack
Kansas Treatment Centers
June 2, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
To: John Hanna, Bureau Chief, Kansas Associated PRESS
From: Stop the Violence Memorial Tree Dedication Committee
Subject: David Patrick Owen
Topeka, Ks.... June 13, 2008 @ 8:00 p.m., the Stop the Violence Memorial Tree Dedication Committee, of which David was a member, will host a candlelight vigil Memorial Dedication in honor of David Owen. The vigil/tree dedication will be held at the Old Homeless Camp, where David was torched on N.E. River Road, not far from where David�s body was found. This Special Memorial is sponsored inpart by the Black Star Project under the Leadership of The Honorable Phillip Jackson
As I write this press release, I remember how I came to meet David. In the 1970�s and 1980�s, as a member of the Coalition for the Homeless, I would spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning somtimes at the Kansas State Capitol dressed in a Santa Claus suit to call attention to the plight of the homeless. Because of my ministry advocating for the working poor and the disenfranchised, decades later David introduced himself to me and ask about my Christmas ritual. When I saw him again, he would ask a myriad of questions about this cause and that cause. Although I cannot take any credit for the humane and worthy cause he dedicated his life to, I am honored to have made his acquaintance. His unselfish act to eradicate homelessness was a noble one.
In remembrance of David, the National Coalition against Homelessness and Biasbusters of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma request the city to rename the old homeless camp area in his honor. He deserves a memorial because of his dedication to the homeless; a cause that many of us would not consider because of fear, cowardice or man�s inhumanity to man.
"The Lord told me to take care of my people, meant me to do it just as long as I live, and so I do what he told me".
David, We love you and miss you. God Bless You! We know you are in heaven still watching over the homeless and silently urging them to call their families and reconnect.
Guest Speaker Murder Survivor Kim Millan, Activist Tom Lessman, Pastor Juanita Jackson, Biasbusters of Missouri will give remarks. Patrick Vakharia, owner of the Red Carpet Inn and Suites, etc will supply the candles and ribbons.
The public is invited to attend & participate the memorial.
For more information, call Sonny Scroggins @ 785-232-3761 or 845-6148.
Sincerely,
C. E. "Sonny" Scroggins
President and Founder, Bias Busters of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma
To read this article, please visit:
http://cjonline.com/stories/07...
Police identify dead man as missing lobbyist for homeless.
A body found near the Kansas River was that of a convicted sex offender who became a
lobbyist for the homeless, Topeka police said Wednesday.
The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/...
(c) 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
A Poem
Thank You, David Owen
"Killed In Action"
With love, always with love David would ask from his heart,
The Homeless People, "Why don�t you just go home, and reconnect with your families.
David did know from the start,
That the people he was concerned about, probably knew going home was their least
option.
David literally put into practiced his compassion and concern for humanity for his
fellow man or woman and children.
David knew he was mocked and ridiculed by those far more fortunate and who were in
a position of a lot more power to make real changes in people lives, but did nothing
but
listen while they prepare to leave his presence.
Yes, David Owen was mocked, laughed at, and the but of jokes from the high and
mighty in the community.
Just like Jesus was.
And Jesus received David.
And David Owen still will not rest, not even in Heaven even now, that he is truly
home, to prepare a place of forgiveness of the person or persons who tried, but will
never Silence the call of precious compassion , who was a Christ-like example
And now, David walks along the golden banks of River Heaven.
David Owen gave his own life, so that the awareness of other people strife, would
receive a better reception from those, who should be ashamed of their apathy and
indifference.
Thank you, David.
*By Aaron Glenn, United States of America Ambassador of Poetry
These comments are in addition to the the lst blogs titled Condemnation of Gangsta Rap sent from Sonny Scroggins on 1/26/2008.
January 26, 2008
Condemnation of Gangsta Rap
James 3:5: Power in the tongue
WHAT ABOUT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT'S CONDEMNATION OF GANGSTA RAP???
The Connecticut Resolution condemning gangsta rap has been in existence for nearly a year and the Chicken Little Complex was hastily presupposed. So the sky won't fall when the state of Kansas passes the resolution.
As far as the Pitch Newspaper & Wichita Eagle Editorial Blog,just like Representative Mast and myself, your newspapers do not speak for the state of Kansas. If you checked your records, I have a history of defending the 1st Amendment rights of blacks, whites or anyone who felt they were wronged.
Sonny
January 22, 2008
Condemnation of Gangsta Rap
I am interested in seeing the development of a training tool for adults to learn the meaning of gangsta rap and its ill-effects on society. Two books written on gangsta rap are �Snatched from the Fire� by Jessica James and Raymond Christian�s �Women Tell What Men Should Know". The goal is to persuade the other forty-nine states to pass a resolution condemning gangsta rap because of its offensive lyrics and the harm it does to the psyche of our young people. Personally, I enjoy listening to this type of rap, but I do not enjoy hearing young women, mothers etc. being referred to in a negative way. As a matter of fact, I enjoy listening to the �clean version� of T�Pain and Flo-Rider�s song �Get Low�.
While visiting my grandson in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the idea to protest the words contained in gangsta rap began. The original idea was to challenge anyone who had ever used the "N" word to come out and demonstrate against its use. Eventually, the challenge developed into something more when Don Imus made his disrespectful remarks about the Rutgers women�s basketball team. One day I heard Rev. Al Sharpton calling for the firing of Don Imus because he used racist and misogynistic comments about the women's basketball team. I believe the civil rights struggle has been on hold since the 9/11 tragedy. Thanks to Mr. Imus, the opportunity to bring the struggle of gender, race, and color, the use of the "N" word and unflattering depictions of women in rap and videos back to the forefront where such inequalities are in the forefront of everyone�s mind.
The situation confuses many people because whites and other non-blacks are not supposed to use certain words when referring to black women and men because they are not black. But a black person can refer to their women as ho's, sluts, the "B" word and use the "N" word unchallenged, which is ridiculous and a double standard. There needs to be an overall standard when it comes to the use of those words by whites, blacks, etc. The music needs to be cleaned up and made safe for listening by my grandchildren, yours and others. One requirement of a universal standard is that this musical genre should not disrespect anyone and not cause shame on an entire generation.
A desired outcome is for rappers to clean up their music by removing misogynistic lyrics while maintaining artistic freedom with said songs. The challenge is an International one, but with input from the public, the reduction in demand of this type of music and political input from our legislators we can succeed.
There are several purposes of the campaign:
1. To bring awareness to the misogynistic, sexist and racist lyrics of gangsta rap.
2. For women to take a stand against the negative depictions of them in rap, movies, stand-up comedy, etc. To challenge others and their organizations to get involved.
3. To have women speak with their children and other impressionable relatives on the dangers of perpetuating such stereotypes in song.
4. To require our politicians to take a stand on the issue without infringing on the first Amendment rights of those in the entertainment industry.
P. S. I will release, the 2nd page of the Honorable Professor Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr. Email's Gangsta Rap Response, next week! (see Below)
There is a great documentary out there that documents a lot of what went on. It is called "Hip-hop-Beyond Beats and Rhymes". To me, the images have changed little since I was a kid. I grew up watching black males process their hair and adopt the Ike Turner/James Brown look. That was a negative image. You were a "pimp" and you drove a Cadillac. The motivations were the same as gangsta rap is today.
No movie is more sacred to young teens than "Scarface", a bad remake of the story about Al Capone. The message was to "get rich quick or die trying". But it was only valid in the bad community. Outside the black community, none of it mattered.
To justify slavery , white males separated the slaves into two parts, the mind and the body. The mind belonged to the white male. Black males were brute force, not supposed to think. They were given hypersexuality to insure they created more slaves. Black women were degraded to a means to that end. Children without fathers is nothing new. It goes back to slavery. Single households and broken homes are not new, they also go back to slavery. Slaveowners could rip a family apart. Black males could be separated from their children. Black women were sex objects for the pleasure of white males.
So, when you look at a gangsta rap video on BET, you are seeing something that is rooted in slavery. Black males are super-sexed, black females exist as sex objects who ae there to seduce them and give them "jewels". The materialism there is valid only in the ghetto. They don't dress that way in the Hamptons or on Wall Street.
My generation rebelled against the Pimp mentality. We decided not to hang on the streets and drink alcohol, but to go to college. Rather than burn our hair with lye to straighten it to look white, we adopted afros and afro-centric thinking. When we started showing up on campus, the mainstream got nervous. Now we would be competing for the same jobs as their kids.
Their first line of defense was drugs. They flooded the community with drugs. Gangs sprouted up to control the drugs. Still , they could not stop the momemtum. Going back to Africa, meant we concentrated on the beat. Rap and hip-hop are based on the beat and improvisation. The first rap recordings were protests against the conditions or making fun of the teen lifestyle. The competitions between DJ's and MC were friendly and of no consequence. Then the drug dealers and the gangbangers got into the act. They could only go so far. The gatekeepers for all black music still remains to be white males in suits in corporate offices.
They decided to resurrect the old slavery based images. They took away the "mind" and focused again on the "body". I saw middle class kids come into the studio and told their raps were not "hard-core" enough. They wanted more violence, cursing and sex talk. They knew that sex sells. That pornography is the largest industry in America. They also saw how to market it to white teens who were fascinated by a lifestyle of living with death and defying it. Seventy to eighty percent of gangsta rap is sold to white teens.
The black kids only imitate the images because they have no alternatives that get them "stain". Going to college will only get you laughed at.
The music of black folks has always been the most important thing to us since Africa. As our music goes, so do we. With control of the music outside our community, there is no reason for chains on us anymore.
Even the churches have become materialistic. We used to make fun of Reverend Ike and his prayer cloths. Not you have even white evangelical preachers talking about "prosperity gospels". All the mega-churches are based on prosperity preachers. The kids hear the same message as they do in gangsta rap. That is, if you drive an Escalade with $10K rims, you have made it. They hear negative messages about schools that teach evolution and don't allow school prayer. The drug addict, at least gets drugs. The churches take your money in tithes and give you nothing but promises. Instead of gold chains and grilles, the preachers have $500 suits and pimp the old ladies out of the SS money.
In the meantime, white males look at it all and smile. They have returned us to the only state of mind they are comfortable with. With slogans like "snitches get stitches" they insure that their despots will stay in control just like they do in the foreign countries they have pimped for resources like oil.
They will not let the positive messages be heard. They do not want us to be afro-centric and proud of our African heritage. Instead of the Pimp model , we now have the "50 cent" model. Yet they are one and the same.
I watch the local charlatans. posing as record producers, pimp the dreams of kids who dream of being rappers. They sell them same false hopes the pimps of the 50's did . They are the leeches that rival the Christian preachers for stealing our dreams, hope and energy. Islam did offer an alternative until it was hijacked by Wahaabi nutcases. But the real salvation does not lie in any of Man's religions. It is still in the music. But now even jazz and blues have been taken from the community and co-opted to control us.
Black folks are in the worst condition since slavery. As the economy worsens, that will become more evident. We have the most to lose.
We have still not made the break-throughs we need to make. We have the money, but not the wealth. We have no media outlets like other ethnic groups have. We have no major multi-national corporations. We are not organized and recognizing our common goals.
What does gangsta rap say to all this. Nothing. It says " I got mine , you get yours" . All the images are negative and slave based. It is hyper-sexed and based on brute force. The competition has become violent but only upon each other. No more, "kill the police" like the old school rappers said. Now, it is pay the police off to keep the drugs flowing. You can spend $10K on some rims, but not put it in a mutual fund or start a business.
And that sad part is that at some point, almost everyone you know is for sale. Some for so cheap , that it is embarrasing. Even the threat of losing a job you hate is the cost. The difference is that there is no auctioneer selling us off on Wall Street. We accept our enslavement. We believe we have no choice. Either we become the pseudo outlaws of gangsta rap or we have no shot at anything but a meager existence.
Tell your kids, they have been bamboozled. Don't preach to them about the church and Jesus because that too has become a lie. You must take them back to Egypt and to Timbuktu. Talk about Barack Obama and his family in Kenya. Teach them that they were the first to believe in one God. That they are the descendants of Abraham and Moses. That Jesus looked like them.
I guarantee most of them will say they aspire to be rappers or in the NBA or NFL. Teach them that those figures are greater slaves than they are. as the book says "60 Million Dollar Slaves". Tell them that out of all the rappers , not one of them has a record company.... only record labels that are at the mercy of the five record companies left. That there are no black movie studios, not black TV network or satellite network. That there is no black radio corporation in all the major black markets. Tell them that most of the rappers they hear come from middle class homes not the streets. And that the streets are a dead end for anyone who thinks they are anything but a way to insure the prisons stay full.
Tell them the only way drug dealers get health care or a pension is if they have a job at Wal-Marts. That when they are shot , we pay for their care. When they are in jail, we pay for their upkeep. So they are still invisible in the system. Still somebody's "lady" in lockup.
Tell them to make their parents accountable for raising them. Getting an iPod or a cell phone is not the same as spending quality time with them. That if their parents do not stress an education, they want them to fail and be ignorant.
And the preachers. Tell them to stop talking about someone, Jesus, that they do not know.
Jesus never took up a collection or had a building where he had to pay rent or a mortgage. Tell them to stop saying rap is wrong unless they offer an alternative like after-school programs or tutoring. Unless they sponsor and support businesses in the community. Or nursing homes or have their conventions in hotel they own.
50 cent sold his meager share in his vitamin water. Rappers have sold off their clothing lines. They can't hang with the Big Boys. They are no Warren Buffet or Bill Gates.
How many NBA or NFL franchises do we own? How many sneaker and boot manufacturers do we own? How many white T-shirt and doo-rap companies do we own? How many stores that sell all that garbage do we own? Do we own North Face or Timberland? How many jewelries do we own that sell us all the gold we display?
And where does the money come from? How many black folks have jobs in the private sector , not the public sector? Where does the drug money comes from? Who brings the drugs into our community?
How many "thongs" do we manufacture? How much Blistex and mouth sprays? How many Black and Mild companies do we own, how many tobacco companies? How many Chinese food outlets do we own? How many of them do we supply with rice?
The parallels to slavery in 1860 and 2008 are striking. We need to understand why. We have allowed our culture to be used as a tool against us. Others are getting rich off our misery. And it is misery. How many of us are at peace with our condition in life at this point? How many feel we are better off than we were in 1965?
Look at the media . Where are the voices of sanity? We know about Britney and Tom Cruise , but not about the black folks that are trying to make a difference. They have a stake at selling us the okey-doke. Who consumes the drugs and the malt liquor? Who is without health care? Who needed the sub-prime mortgages? Who is dying in the war in Iraq? Who is in the prisons at a cost of $60K a year to taxpayers?
Who has to sell their homes and move South when they retire? Who has to live with the gangs and the violence? Whose grandparents have to care for the kids while the Mom is in rehab or dead and the father is in prison? Who has the most kids in Special Ed because of their environment and abuses of their parents?
You only see the worst of us in the media, never the kids who go to college and are successful like Baraka Obama was. They want us to buy into the "body" mentality... the slave in the field , working till they drop always under control and docile. Let them hear Lil Wayne and they are content .. they will flip those burgers, stay in the house with Mom and hit that party on the weekend.
"We may hate bin Laden, but bin Laden would hate gangsta rap. Hitler would hate gangsta rap."
Are you fucking kidding me?
1/19.2008
King Holiday Legacy: Mast/scroggins Initiatory
Response to Blog from Jason Tremble: http://blogs.cjonline.com/inde...
Mr. Tremble,
From your Emails, it seems no matter what I say in response to your comments it won't satisfy you. Obviously you want me to concede that the lyrics denigrating women is good as it represents "art". You are barking up the wrong tree if that is what you expect. As far as no harm is done to those underrepresented and underserved, look around you, read the newspapers, look at crime statistics, whatever, but get in touch with reality. It is true that all of society's ills cannot be blamed on the influence of that type of music, but it can be very influential to the listeners thought processes.
About your challenge, I perceive it as a waste of time because you have your views and I have mine and we both believe very strongly about them. The prize mentioned for the winner is a moot issue, because I perform community service everyday and have been for the last thirty plus years in Kansas and across the world. "I have always tried to inspire & challenge my generation and future generations.". Quote from the late Coretta Scott King and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. 04/24/2002, about my community involvement, " I hope the love that binds your family and dear ones will return to you all of the joy you have given to so many."
So, no I do not accept your challenge, you can label me whatever you want, because you cannot have what you want. You cannot dictate to me what I should feel or think, nor I you. Sure, thousands of people are for gangsta rap, but there are just as many people against some of the words in the music too.
As far as respect, a person has to give respect to get it. You cannot have it both ways. The comments you made about Representative Mast and myself were uncalled for. But if it makes you feel better, then go ahead, but personal attacks are not necessary and won't get you anywhere. Concerning the information included in the blogs, any information written on the Internet is public domain. Because of the statements made by you about Peggy Mast and myself and the challenge made and given the fact that your web address and phone number is on the Internet, I do not see your reason for making an accusation about sending your Email to others is a big deal. You cannot have it both ways, that is keeping secret your Emails when you attack an honorable legislator and myself. Ms. Mast, myself and scores of others across America are only exercising our 1st Amendment Rights the same as you. I prefer to take the road less traveled, so if you need me to apologize for disclosing that information, then so be it.
Ms. Mast has more influence on the laws governing Kansas than you or I do, because that is the job she chose as a representative for Kansas. If you do not like the outcome concerning this genre, then do something about it.
Since you don't understand the concept behind the resolution condemning gangsta rap, you and I have nothing further to discuss. Do your homework and find out what the resolution entails, then maybe we can discuss the issue. We are debating the issue, but not in the format that you chose.
To learn more about this issue, please read the following response about the Mast/Scroggins Initiatory (Condemnation of Gangsta Rap), i.e; the "B****, H** and N*****" words from a mentor, friend and colleague:
Trimble's comments on Kansas Resolution condemning Gangsta Rap
This the typical defense of gangsta rap that I heard from Russell Simmons. I confronted him about it and he has since kept a low profile on the subject. It was stupid then, it is just as stupid now. Gangsta rap is musical "crack cocaine". It has nothing to do with free speech or black folks in general. It is a creation of white music moguls to appeal to white suburban kids. Black kids emulate it because they have been programmed to. It gives them some visibility they would not have. But that still does not mean it is not a Hollywood/Madison Ave cartoon caricature to sell sneakers , T-shirts, Escalades, worthless jewelry and guns.
I live in the NYC area. It all started here. I was there with the Sugarhill Gang. I was there at Def Jamm. I saw how it was written off as a fad by the labels until they found it be used to do what the KKK had not been able to do. It is closely aligned with drug use and the gangs that distribute and control the flow of drugs on the streets. There is a reason it is based on materialism and not spirituality.
They can tout the free speech and make the case that the church and the conservatives are against new forms of music that may conflict with church views, but the toxic effect on the black community is well documented.
Your friend , Zach Trimble , is just another wannabe who has copied what was already put there. He has to defend it. What serious historian on music would take the rap music scene in Kansas seriously? Who even cares what people in Kansas thinks when it comes to music? They are imitators, copies of what they heard and listened to. They wouldn't last five minutes in the streets of the South Bronx or other areas where the nager of the music was defined.
As a musician, I get to travel the World. No place on Earth is like NYC. And both of us come from the Midwest. When I go to places like Kansas or Mississippi, I notice the difference right away. Someone from Kansas speaking on rap music has no credibility with me.
I saw the beginnings of hip-hop with Afrika Bambatta and the Zulu Nation. It was a positive force. It was about an African identity. It was against drugs and the materialism. Then Russell Simmons helped prove, it could be marketed. I will never forget what I heard and saw during the early days of Def Jamm. I will never forget how the Establishment would not play the lyrics of Public Enemy , but it still became a million seller by words of mouth. I will not forget how they went after Sista Souljah for speaking out on the injustice and the racism. And how Russell eventually got what he wanted and sold us out.
Condemning gangsta rap is just the first step. We need to also look at the underlying economic conditions that keep us sharecroppers in America. We need to look at our lack of control over the images that are pumped into our community. How we are treated by Wall Street, Madison Avenue and Hollywood. Why we took sub-prime mortgages to buy cars and take cruises, but not create our own businesses.
I helped do the first videos. Most of that stuff you see is rented for that shoot, including the dancers. But for the average black kid on the streets, it is the only dream they are allowed to have. They live for those false images, given few alternatives.
It should be no surprise that many rap labels were financed by drug money. That many of the so-called moguls are former drug dealers and thugs. But behind them are the "suits". White males who control the real purse-strings and dictate what the music should be like. Jay Z, P Diddy and the rest are just "house Negroes". Overseers just like Russell was. They tried to get me to buy into it. Unlike Russell, I had a strong tie to the Struggle. I had ties to the music and the political struggle. Russell never met Miles or Mingus. He never marched or spoke out against injustice. He never lived on the streets , nor have most of the rappers kids listen to. Most are middle class kids who wouldn't last five minutes in the streets.
Would I debate your buddy? Yes, plane fare , hotel, transportation and meals were provided. But if Russell and Nelson George would not do it, I doubt he will fare well. He only knows what he read or heard.
I was there. There with Joe Robinson, with Russell Simmons and even with Nelson George when he has doubts about leaving Billboard and writing his first book. There when Rick Rubin was not there and when he was, I would throw him out of the studio. There when Russell came back from London after signing the Beastie Boys. There when Afrika Bambatta was the guru behind groups like Whodini. There when "Rappers Delight" went triple platinum and when it was first sent out in the mail to the DJ pools. There when Joe Robinson talked to Bobby Robinson and bought the contract of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
I see how the music has become as deadly as crack against our kids. I know why it degrades women and tells black men to discard their parental ties. Why it promotes prison culture to funnel our kids into the Prison Industrial Complex... not into Universities. Why education is seen as "white", not a way out of an endless cycle of debt.... forced consumerism, welfare 2007.
After I saw Russell on Oprah, I went to his first book signing. I read him the "riot act" about that same view that Mr. Trimble promotes. He sold us out. Mr. Trimble is just an innocent victim of the hype. Kept in ignorance about the reality. They will not release positive messages. They tried to squash Kanye West. Poor Lauren Hill went koo-koo. They don't want black kids to become political. They remember the sixties and the seventies of Black Power. They want us to have gangs and drugs. They want us to be dependent on the system and have no alternative. Gangsta rap has done what lynch mobs could not do. It has helped re-enslave us. Not picking cotton, but in endless cycles of debt and suffering that we pass along to the next generation.
Gangsta rap is a lie. There are no black gangsters. They are "gangstas" only within their World. They live to terrorize the people trying to do the right thing and steal their childrens hope and faith. We may hate bin Laden, but bin Laden would hate gangsta rap. Hitler would hate gangsta rap. It would be too toxic even for themand their own people. So why do we make excuses for it?
Get the Resolution passed and make it a national movement to re-examine the new chains placed on us by our own.
Signed,
The Professor
www.Juneteenth.us; www.19thofJune.com or www.njclc.com
1/19/2008
Mr.STR8JAKKETT,
Thanks for voicing your opinion about the condemnation of gangsta rap. I see that you expressed yourself very well(not). Surely your vocabulary contains more words than four letter ones? Your expression of discontent is true to form of gangsta rappers. Is your vocabulary so limited that you have to use cuss words rather than express your self in everday polite English?
As far as the silly a-- hat,that hat and the uniform is a representation of an authentic Civil War uniform of the 1st Kansas Colored Voluntary Infantry, who were the first blacks to fight for the north. He wears the uniform proudly, in spite of other people's opinion. These soldiers gave the supreme sacrifice so that you, I and others could have this dialogue without fear of reprisal. If you knew your history, you would know that. If you don't know, you better ask somebody!
Susan Scroggins, wife of Sonny Scroggins.
Please read on: Rappers on their best Behavior!
Nightclub Violence Sucks
Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 11:25:23 AM
By NADIA PFLAUM
http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward...
Forget banning smoking in bars and clubs.
Let�s ban trick-ass bitches.
Trick-ass bitches, as rappers might call them, were the reason that there was a fight Sunday night at Hip Hop and Hot Wings, a weekly gathering of DJs, rappers and scenesters that had been filling a little bar called the Peanut to capacity at 9th and Broadway for nearly four years now without incident.
A bar fight might not sound like a big deal to most, but at the Peanut, it�s different. Those of us who have been attending regularly have always seen the Peanut as a safe haven for the old-school and underground music we love, but we knew that it was a fragile arrangement.
When fights and, God forbid, shootings break out at other clubs, hip-hop gets the rap. People blame the music for attracting the �wrong crowd� or encouraging violence and misogyny. People blamed hip-hop for the first homicide of the year, at the River Market club Skybox, even though they�d changed their format to salsa dancing not long before the killing. Salsa dancing, for fuck�s sake.
So those of us who became Peanut regulars understood that if anything ever went down � like a fight, which, you know, tends to happen when people drink, and people at the Peanut do drink � it could mean be the end of our favorite hangout spot.
And so a trust was built. The regulars at the Peanut became like family, and the family was ever-expanding. It sounds almost stupidly idyllic, the way that people of all shapes and sizes and colors and tastes found a common ground at Hip Hop and Hotwings.
http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward...
Until some trick-ass bitches came and fucked it all up last night.
It was probably near midnight upstairs at the Peanut, and a rhyme cypher had formed in front of the DJ booth. I think it probably formed because Gunn Jakc (see second photo above), whom I�ve interviewed for this paper before, was making a rare appearance at the Peanut and someone earlier had challenged him to freestyle for them. So a cluster of dudes were passing the microphone amongst each other and rhyming off the cuff to the beats the DJs Mythik and Dublow were spinning.
Lou Rip, part of the hip-hop groups the Soul Servers and the Bluez Brothers, was officiating, for the very reason that open-mics sometimes get sticky. Rappers might diss each other in their rhymes, get their feelings hurt, or hog the microphone, and problems escalate. So Lou was doling out the microphone according to whose turn it was. But some dude slapped the microphone out of another dude�s hand, that guy threw a punch, and it was on.
A Wild-West style barroom brawl, as someone would later describe it on Hiphopkc.com, ensued -- over a microphone. It�s embarrassing to even type the words.
I recognized three of the guys fighting because they�d spoken to me earlier in the night. Perfectly nice people. One had told me that this was their first visit ever to Hip-Hop and Hot Wings. A few hours and a few drinks later, and they were up on some guy in the center of the bar, kicking and punching while guys I have come to know and love tried to get in between and break things up. In the middle of this high-school-style melee, one of the three dudes doubled over and started throwing up. Some chick they�d come in with grabbed him by the waist and tried to help him towards the stairs. It might have been funny if it weren�t so pathetic.
�Get the fuck out of here and don�t ever come back!� I heard myself screaming. The chick looked at me and said, �What, bitch?� She had a broken bottle in her hand. If a friend of mine who hails from a rough neighborhood in Virginia hadn�t stepped between us and backed her off, I would have been fighting too, and been no better than the rest of them.
The fight seemed to last a long time. It would break up briefly and then someone would look at someone crazy again and it would start all over. As in any fight, there was the crying girl, screaming, �Just stop it!�
It wasn�t as though anyone was hurt badly. One guy ended up with blood on his face, but otherwise, the worst injuries were probably sustained by some rapper�s favorite dunks.
What was hurt, though, was the Peanut�s near-spotless reputation. The place where hip-hop heads could come hang out without incident � where problems just don�t happen � well, we can�t really say that anymore.
About 15minutes after all the fighters had been ushered outside and were headed to their respective vehicles, screaming �bitch!� into the night, the cops arrived. I tried to explain to one officer that the people who started the trouble weren�t regulars, had never hung out at the Peanut before. He looked at me like I just said my name was Jenny Tequilapants. He didn�t care that Hip-Hop and Hot Wings had defied the sad pattern of hip-hop events for so many years. He was just ready to write up a �tavern disturbance� report for Regulated Industries and chalk it up to a bunch of gangstas who shouldn�t have a place to converge in large numbers.
When I went to retrieve my debit card from the Peanut Monday afternoon � nobody was gonna run my tab in the middle of that wrestling match � Randy, the bartender, came around the bar and gave me a hug. I needed it.
I know there are enough good people out there to make up for all the ones who want to ruin good things like our Sunday nights at the Peanut, and I hope the owner of the Peanut doesn�t put an end to this good thing because of a few trick-ass bitches.
We just have to keep the peace.
http://blogs.cjonline.com/inde...
Mr. Scroggins, we need to talk.
Mr. Scroggins, I�m disappointed that the day Topeka made national news for rap, it wasn�t a story on one of the many lyrical and vocal artists that call Kansas home. The rap scene in Kansas may be as out of the public view as the Underground Railroad, but it�s long-running and most of the track was laid down in Topcity, home to some of the Midwest�s most talented emcees.
Artists like DVS Mindz and Mean Mugg Records virtually created the Kansas rap landscape and they did it in your hometown of Topeka. They have toiled for years to gain their due recognition for their home and their craft. And marching behind them is a veritable army of local artists. And despite their collective talent and accomplishments, it is the ill-conceived resolution condemning "gangsta rap" that has achieved national attention. They�ve spent two decades representing Topeka and through their music and you and Representative Mast have undermined much of their work with a few words.
The Supreme Court struggled for years to provide a legal definition of obscenity and the one settled upon is far from adequate, so why do you and Representative Peggy Mast (R-Emporia) believe you have the ability to even define gangsta rap, much less condemn it or pass judgement upon it?
For myself, gangsta rap is best defined by Gwendolyn Brooks� "Seven at the Golden Shovel/The Pool Players," published in 1960:
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
It�s a succinct and insightful poem, but hardly what one could call a precise description, however I believe it captures the essence and appeal of gangsta rap. Rappers serve as the street�s historians, story-tellers and poets. Is society really surprised that after generation of America�s children have grown up in concrete jungles, surrounded by poverty and violence, that the voices of the street are telling the world what happens there? The poem and themes predate rap because rap is not the problem.
Do you believe the Kansas Legislature should condemn Brian De Palma, Oliver Stone and Al Pacino? The impact Scarface has had on rap culture is undeniable. 25 years later references to Tony Montana are almost a pre-requisite to any album that the Kansas Legislature would consider "gangsta rap." I think you and I both see past color, so do you see any essential difference between Easy E and Toby Keith? I don�t. Even their hairstyles are similair. Are you going to condemn Country music as well?
Shakespeare�s plays were fuller than Falstaff�s ale mug with dark subjects, and I�m not talking about Othello. Sex. Violence. Betrayal. Racism. Insanity. And these topics were underscored by a wealth of rich, if sometimes unsavory, language. Villains such as Iago represent the worst in men and even the virtuous and valiant protagonists are clad in tarnished armor. And Shakespeare is regarded by many as the best playwright, poet and writer in the history of the English language.
"Gangsta rap" has an audience for the same reason Shakespeare has stayed relevant for hundreds of years: People relate to the stories that are being told. That�s why 2pac has sold millions of albums years after his death.
However, I don�t want to encourage Representative Mast�s irresponsible behavior any further, so I will change the subject from Shakespeare before the Kansas Legislature condemns Will as well.
Besides being disappointed, I�m also confused. What do you and the Kansas Legislature hope to gain from this resolution? What will it improve? Who benefits? Will it in any way improve the environment and issues that give rise to the language and themes that you object to in "gangsta rap?" Why is an advocate and activist backing something which will cause more harm to his community than good?
I would like to make a suggestion. Why don�t you and Representative Mast propose a resolution that praises Hillcrest Community Center for providing a free recording studio to the children of Topeka who wish to create and record their own music? I doubt the AP would report on it, but if the resolution gets even one kid off the streets and in the studio expressing themself in a positive, creative way then it will have done far more good for Topeka and Kansas than your current endeavor.
But if you will not accept my suggestion, please accept my challenge to a debate. I�m willing to conduct it anywhere in Topeka: Here on the blog, in the Capital-Journal, at the Capitol or the Prize Package parking lot.
If I sound passionate about the issue, it�s because I am. On the 14th I was on the phone all day setting up a song featuring the members of DVS Mindz - STR8JAKKETT, Killa The Hun, D.L. and D.O.P.E along with Evil Loc and Kaze Jesus . As influential and pioneering as these Topeka rap artists are, they have never appeared on the same song before.
To make this event even more exceptional, it will be the first time all four emcees of DVS Mindz have appeared on the same song in 7 years. And the kicker? The song is going to be about Topeka. To me, that is the real story of January 14th, 2007.
Sincerely,
Zach Trimble
---------------
Thanks for the shout-out to STR8JAKKETT and Topcity, Jason. Send me an email or give me a call if you are interested in this story.
Z
I agree, why slam 'Kansas' it was not the state of Kansas that really is tying to do that- its some idiots who got voted by some idiots- it sucks that Kansas has become so one dimensional- the anti-evolution anti-rap state comes again..
I agree we have alot of great music here now, things are a changin...
DefendMacLethal
Jason, with all due respect, "Kansas" didn't do anything...one moronic representative (from Emporia, no less) came up with a bit of media-whoring grandstanding.
I'm not saying that this retarded bit of business won't be taken up and most likely passed by some of the other morons in KS gov't, but Kansans as a whole didn't really have much to do with this, and some of us like us some thug action...I'm listening to MOP right now.
like
dislike
