yay i’m first

Wow im mad i missed it thanks for keeping me on my toes

I think its a little late..but betta now than never.

All this is nothing but lip service. What are they going to do legilate rap lyrics? If they wanted to have a real debate about it then why not have the rappers that sue these lyrics? Why not ask the white women in the audience will they stop their kids from buying offensive rap cds since white kids buy the majority of rap music. Hell one of the most violent movies last year won a oscar for best picture (The Departed). Are they going to have a show on offensive movies,tv shows (don’t get me started on reality tv),and movies? I hate some of the crap that’s being put out today as rap music but I JUST DON’T BUY IT! This will accomplish nothing because it’s a lot of folks grandstanding and that’s all it is.

Oh damn.. I missed it. Thank you for the clip though.

We are responsible for our own houses. Rap artists, movie makers, and the like can put out what they wish. It is up to us to support their projects or turn away from them due to their imagery or lyrics.

Should rap artists be able to use certain phrases while others cannot? I don’t think so. I don’t think that double standard should be allowed. Because you’ll have the artist claim that it is part of what they know and/or much like the N-word that only black people can use it not while people. However, you’ll have a 16 year old kid who played no part in any violence towards the black community hearing these lyrics and think nothing of using the terms themselves. It must be wrong for all not some. Unless the artist wants to go so far as to put a disclaimer on the CD stating that any white fans who purchase their music must not repeat half the content on the CD then there is no way to state that the young white fans who support these artist cannot use these lyrics.

These terms are unacceptable for anyone. To have a woman called a hoe as naturally as they would be called a woman is degrading. We are the ones with the power.

I have a 10 year old son. He couldn’t tell you who the latest pop, hip hop, rock artists are. He has not been allowed to listen to the radio. He does not watch MTV or BET. He has only shown interest in the soundtracks that come along with his favorite movies. Luckily they have all been instrumentals. I am the one who decided that there was nothing on the radio that was worth listening to and due to the vulgar lyrics on most CDs I am the one who has not purchased any of the music. It is my money, my decision.

Stand up, people.

I watched both episodes. My mama always told me just b/c someone else does it doesn’t mean you should do it. Also, if you get caught don’t try to say, “well so and so did it and they didn’t get in trouble”. That is what Don Imus is trying to do.

*************However*************

I do agree with the response on the Oprah show that we can not hold “White” people to standards that we don’t hold ourselves. It should not be o.k. for US to allow videos and music to characterize us as being hoes and Bitches and get mad when someone else of a different race does it. Eveyone should be held accountable equally.

**********Also************

Let this not be a Oprah bashing post. She might be Oprah but she is entitled to her own opinion. She did not ask for us to hold her up like JESUS! She has a right to make mistakes and have her own opinion. Let’s stick with the real issues please.

I agree with MrsMcNeil06 that we need to hold ourselves accountable for our actions; however, this should include Oprah (and I’m not bashing). A few days before the Imus situation became national, I was watching the Oprah show and she referred to herself as a b*tch (either it was on the actual Oprah show or the ‘after the show’ on Oxygen).

I watched this yesterday. I’m not convinced these record lables are going to suggest these “poets” as Russell Simmons calls them change their music. And for Russell to call these people poets is beyond me. Most of the rap music these days is just garbage. Several of the guys on the panel said they’re speaking from the heart. That is totally BS!

Thanks for putting up this post. These are the type of articles I like to see on concreteloop, not the one’s about who’s wearing what or who looks hot/busted. Who fucking cares?

sorry, I meant ones

HOLD UP…..UM NAPPY/NAP IS A WORK THAT IS OF OLD ENGLISH /GERMAN DIALECT AS WELL AS WHORE/ HO’S ( ADD A LITTLE SCOTTISH ORGIN FOR THAT WORD…)
He must not know …or understand history..white folks at one point in time used words to define the difference between white and blacks… HE NEEDS HISTORY ONE ON ONE…..BED WENCH/WHORE/ HO…..HE CANT HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGIN IS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY…..WOW…..

I DONT THINK U SHOLD BAN HIP HOP AND IF YOUR BLACK AND THINK THIS SHOULD BE DONE UR SETTING HISTORY BACK A NOTCH…MUSIC NO MATTER HOW OFFENSIVE SOMEONE MAY TAKE IT IS A RIGHT ….THAT NO ONE CAN SNATCH AWAY..AND STARTING THERE…IS A WAY TO REESTABLISH BLACKS AS 1/4 OF A PERSON………

THIS IS THE PROBLEM NOW….PPLE DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE WHETHER ITS A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE FORM….AS LONG AS IT IS SWEPT UNDER THE RUG UNTIL A SPECIAL NATIONWIDE INCIDENT OCCURS THEN WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THIS PROBLEM…

AS A FORMER COLLEGIATE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE I’ve been a victim to pple say a lot of racist ish to me..U wouldnt be here it it wasnt for sports or affirmative action, or my coach saying ish like “Dont bound like ur jumping over the trash cans in the aisle of newark.” “run nigga run” And u know that i cant blame that on hip hop… I blame it on hatred and ignorance..Ppple are ignorant to what they dont know..
Don should still have his job…he just needs more black listeners someone to expose him to the fact that we have more in common then he thinks.

how about this ..lets blame the dixie chicks or country music for all the women killing their husbands/spouses…lets blame ozy for all the suicide and sadistic murders and serial killers out there..u cant…

Pple in entertainment put out what the majority wants to hear… Let me stop there b4 i push someones buttons besides i have work to do..

Just some food for thought…MY OPINION SOMETHING EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO

One more thing, if these Poets don’t want nobody else to degrade our sistas they shouldn’t do it. Just like with the N word. If they don’t want nobody to call us that they should stop using it in their music. Let’s face it, everybody, I mean everybody, black and whites alike are buying this music and they are singing the songs. So, if they hear somebody singing one of the songs don’t get mad when they call your sista a bytch or hoe and don’t go flying to the NAACP when you’re called a nigga.

That show was very interesting. I saw the first half of one and the second half of the other. I’m sure she will repeat it soon. It should have continued for one week, but hey it’s not my show.

nice
celebritysnap.com

Gosh Russell & Gayle are kinda rude. I know we all get heated over this topic but there should still be respectful & polite discussion/arguement. Due to my own personal issues with them I pay very little attention and have minimal respect for the Russell Simmons & Al Sharpton’s over this world. But as a woman I will say this, we must all acknowledge that these endless debates & discussions won’t go anywhere if we don’t accept the mutality of the problem. Black men AND women are reponsible, both in the mass media and the wider world. There are men who love and glamourize objectifying women and there are women who are prepared and even aspire to being objectified. In the rap scen you have men who loosely call women “hoes” yet you also have the Trina’s and Remy Ma’s of this world who freely talk about how good their pussy is or how well they give brain. I don’t hear those females being called out. Similarly there are the so called “video hoes” and such who make it their aim to be succesful doing that. I truly believe that SOME women have no right to even raise a fuss over the Don Imus issue because they themselves encourage this view of black women as “hoes” by pandering to the mysognistic demands of black men. Yet in the end it is ALL black women who get labelled hoes. SMH. Let us each take responsibility for our actions on both sides of the gender spectrum otherwise you end up with needlessly circular arguments (eg.on the Oprah show) which although highlighting the problem will ultimately get us nowhere. The problem is mainly encouraged by the mass media (whether shows like the Chapelle Show or music like 50 Cent) and unless eople withdraw their support for such media (which I very much doubt) then the problem will continue and you will have white folks thinking its ok to call a black woman a “hoe”. Put money in the pockets of the Snoop Doggs of this world rather than the Commons and your problem will continue as the media will follow whatever provides the most commercial game. Such a shame

*mutuality

sorry for the endless typos!

# 12 I bet he didn’t know where the word ho came from. That is all the more reason we need to stop using the terms ourselves. If you listen to the whole show, he’s mocking us for the terms we use. He is not the first one to say tings like this about female basketball players. Remember ” All those (bitches was bleeped) WNBA players look like dikes i dont care if you know one” was said by a black man on BET.

why are all the dudes on the show either high yellow or bald???? Oprah need to stop thinkin bout her white audience & get some real nappy headed borthers n sisters to talk about the issues that they know best about. Russell is agressive n rude. LOL at how Oprah does the lean wit it rock wit it one day then think she can come in for serious black discussion on the next day. you can’t be doin all that coonery n expect white folk to take u serious

I watched this episode yesterday, and I have to agree with the majority of what’s being expressed here:

ONE: We must take responsibility for what our kids are buying and listening to. We can’t censor rappers or any other artists or that matter.

TWO: We have to set the standards for how we’d like others to view us. If you buy into and use these denigrating and stereotypical terms, expect others (other cultures, races) to treat you as such. One young lady on the show shared an experience of traveling abroad (sorry , I forget which country)and was called a “ho”, because it was assumed that ho was a respectful term.

THREE: Russ really pushed the envelope by referring to all rappers as “poets”. That’s truly a matter of opinion. It is my understanding that any serious poet’s writings not only reflect what’s going on in society, but also brings about reflective thinking and positive change in society. I DO NOT FEEL THAT INFLUENCE IN MOST OF HIP HOP NOWADAYS. I also feel that Russ also deflected responsibility from the “poets”.

FOUR: For the most part, the young ladies group that Gail was moderating didn’t get nearly enough speaking time.

FIVE: The all male panel was clearly speaking out both sides of their necks, trying to have it both ways. It was sort of like listening to corporate doublespeak.

SIX: I APPLAUD 105.1 FM FOR TAKING THE FIRST BIG STEP OF REFUSING TO PLAY SONGS THAT EXPRESS EXCESSIVE DEGRADING LYRICS OR WHOSE VIDEOS REFLECT THESE NEGATIVE IMAGES.

It’s not that I’d like everything to be clean and pure - far from it. I like to get as down and dirty as the next guy, but when the overwhelming majority of this content is reaching our young via 106 & Park and TRL, and I have to go to family party and watch my 7 & 8 year old little ones dancing like they’re “on the pole”, and kids on the train saying n*gga this, n*gga that, and every other word coming out their mouths is n*gga, then I have to speak out.

@ 13

Its as if you read my mind girl. Thats how I always feel about these kind of issues. The Oprahs of this world, who don’t support the use of the N-word in musci, have a right to protest when a person uses it against them. But 50 Cent, Diddy, Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle etc have no right to complain if a suburban white kid comes up to them and says whats up my N………If you put it out there you will recevie.Its sad that although some people put that out there, we ALL end up receving it.

@ 19
SMH. You have a long way to go my dear sister. I will pray that the Lord intervenes and opens your eyes and permits the cloud of ignorance to fall from around you.

I was in the audience for this taoping and they did Monday’s show and Tuesday’s shw back to back, and there was some serious bullshit happening. Not from Oprah but the Producers inability to let younger people or the HIP HOP generation speak: for example:

WHY THE FUCK DID RUSSELL SIMMONS NOT GET REPRIMANDED OR ASKED ABOUT HOW HE GAVE EMINEM A PASS WHEN THAT OLD TAPE OF HIM DISSING BLACK WOMEN COME OUT? HOW COMES HE GETS TO MAKE ANOTHER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CD BUT IMUS GETS FIRED (DOUBLE STANDARD)

HOW COME RECORD EXECS CAN DICTATE A SONG AN ARTIST CAN HAVE ON THEIR CD AND TELL THE THEY NEED A MORE “POP FRIENDLY SONG” OR A MORE “GANGSTER” SONG BUT THESE A&R’S CANNOT SAY NO TO THE MISOGYNY IN RAP

NO RAP IS NOT TO BLAME BUT FOR FUCK SAKE HE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT OUR BLACK MEN DISS BALCK WOMEN ALL THE TIME - OF COURSE HE WAS INFLUENCED BY URBAN CULTURE

IF JAY Z SAYS DRINK CRISTAL PEOPLE DRINK IT, WHEN BIGGIE WORE VERSACE SHIRTS THEY WERE POPULAR WHEN RUN DMC SANG “MY ADIDAS” SALES WENT UP WHEN PUFY SANG “PASS THE COURVASIEUR” THE SALES INCREASED
SO RAPPERS ACTIONS DO AFFECT US AND IN TURN OTHER RACES

DO YOU GYS NO THAT THERE IS A CLUB IN LAS VEGAS THAT HAS FAKE MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE CEILING AND IS DROPPED ON THE CROWD WHEN THE SONG “MAKE OT RAIN” OR THE REMIX COMES ON? HOW BLIND AND HYPOCRITICAL ARE WE GOING TO BE?

D4L FBO, NELLY, SNOOP, AKON, EMINEM AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A BIG RESPONSIBILTY AND OWE WOMEN ESPECIALLY A BLACK WOMEN AN APOLOGY, BECAUSE WHEN BLACK WOMEN START BOYCOTING THEIR PROUCT BE IT CD’S RECORDS RING TONES OR CLOTHES, THEN THEIR RECORD COMPANIES WILL DROP THEM.

AND KEVIN LILES AND HIS WHOLE “GET TO KNOW US AS A PERSON” BULLSHIT…..

SHUT UP DUDE YOU ARE A CLOWN,SIMPLY BECAUSE HOW CAN WE GET TO KNOW SNOOP OR RKELLY OR FAT JOE, ALL OF THEM MARRIED WITH KIDS, IS THAT THE IMAGE THEY GIVE MILLIONS THROUGH THEIR MUSIC? EXACLTY YOU CLOWN

Why did IMUS lose his job yet Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z never lost their contracts for disrespecting women countless times?

Why is it that when a white person born and raised in poverty is racist or sexist there’s no excuse but once a black person born and raised in poverty uses “nigga, bitch, hoe” the excuses are slavery and poverty?

Why should I care who Puffy and Snoop are “inside” if they don’t show any sign to aspire for EVOLUTION and more MATURITY and don’t care to sell out their own community for money? They poison the community so I don’t care to know who they are. People like Russell Simmons get on my nerves, those rappers come from the hood? They were poor? Puffy and Snoop been out the hood for YEARS, eating caviar and drinking Moet, travelling THE WORLD, owning their own labels, so spare me the excuses. They don’t change cause they don’t wanna change.

Oprah was a child born and raised in poverty and did more change than those CLOWNS ever did. I’ve been poor to the point when the family spent days without electrictity when the bills couldn’t be paid, YET I went to school, got an education, got a job, started my business and I’m living comfortably now. DO YOU REALIZE THAT OUR PAST LEADERS AND ARTISTS LIVED IN WORST CONDITIONS AND HAD LESS OPTIONS THAN THOSE RAPPERS??? DID THEY USE POVERTY AS AN EXCUSE TO CALL WOMEN BITCHES AND HOES IN THEIR SONGS??

Excuse my french but FUCK THEIR EXCUSES : I DONT WANNA HEAR IT!!!!!!!!!!!

As long as people won’t TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE THEY ARE DOING instead of mastering in finding excuses, nothing is gonna change. The radio is responsible, the consumers are responsible, the magazines are responsible, the rappers are responsible, the labels forcing artists to fit certain standards are responsible, MUSIC channels like MTV and BET are responsible, the parents who allow this music in their homes are responsible, the excuse-makers ARE responsible.

I’ve been called a hoe for being a black woman, in AMERICA AND ABROAD, I’ve been physically violated for being a black woman, my intelligence has been questionned because I’m a black woman, I’ve been scorned for being a black woman, I’ve been considered less of a woman for being a black woman.

Haven’t we seen the low self-esteem our kids have with the Kiri Davis video YEARS AFTER the first doll test? Do you want things to get worse? How long are we gonna HELP perpetrate the pimp and hoe stereotypes?? Don’t those people realize that the worst damage it is doing to our community is that we end up stereotyping each other, degrading each other, despising each other?? Black men and black women don’t even trust each other anymore. Isn’t that a good enough reason for starting to MAKE A CHANGE??? BLACK PEOPLE STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES!! WE ARE DIGGING OUR OWN GRAVE!!!!!!!!!

OH YEAH JUST TO ADD…..

IN THE SONG “MAKE IT RAIN” AND THE REMIX, LIL WAYNE RAPS/SINGS THE LINE “I MAKE IT RAIN ON THESE HOS’?

FOR EVERY WOMAN IN AMERICA WHO SEES ANY MAN IN CLUB THROW MONEY UP (FROM THE DEBACLE AT THE ALL STAR WEEKEND - TO YOUR LOCAL STRIP CLUB - TO A REGULAR FRIDAY NIGHT OUT WITH YOUR GIRL) THIS WHAT THESE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU.

NEVER MIND IF THEY ARE BLACK AND HAVE COME FROM NOTHING AND NOW WANT TO BE SO IGNORANT THEY THROW THEIR MONEY AWAY AS A SHOW OF FAKE WEALTH, THEY ARE DEMEANING YOUR VERY EXISTENCE AND BEING AS A WOMAN.

@ 23. Chanté
—————————————————-

thank you THANK YOU THANK YOU TOO TRUE

Interesting….
When Kiri Davis ging to appear on Oprah’s Show ??

I hate the fact that people who dont even fool with Hip HOP are the biggest ones complaining about the content of it..On Oprah’s show she’s showing the so called “negative” videos by these others artists,and the only rapper she invites on the show is COMMON ?? He has NOTHING to do with the topic at hand..Why not invite 50,or nelly on the show ?? These fuckers dont care about changin Hip Hop,they just wanna bash it.The word “bitch” didnt start with rap music.And we cant act like there arent people on this earth that dont fit the description of a “hoe”..These women just wanna cry about something and its easy to blame the rappers..How bout talking to the women who do these videos..I didnt see Oprah bash superhead when she was on the show and she was the biggest hoe out there..If u dont really know shit about Hip Hop,who are u to speak about what needs to change in it ?? Them spelman women couldve sat down with nelly and had a discussion,but instead they just gonna tell him “we dont want u to come here” How is that gonna help the situation ?? These rappers are only gonna listen to people they respect.People that do the same things that they do..Pac was the most influential rapper ever,and even he used the word HOES,and BITCHES..But everbody loved PAC rght ? Things are only gonna change when the main Hip Hop artist start to turn things into the right direction,not cuz these people with sticks up their asses say it should change

@ #22

CO-SIGN!!!!

You just made me remember that awkward moment when Kevin was doing his best Keith Sweat, begging us to get to KNOW him and the other artists.

IT’S FUCKING ENTERTAINMENT AND ALL ILLUSION, HOW THE HELL DO YOU TO GET TO KNOW A CELEBRITY PERSONALLY? IS THERE ONE WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS THAT ISN’T REHEARSED OR WRITTEN UP BY SOME PUBLICIST? IS THERE A GET INTIMATE WITH YOUR FAVORITE IDOL DAY THAT I DON’T KNOW ABOUT?

AND FURTHERMORE, IN ADDITION TO #22′S LAST STATEMENT ABOUT CELEBS LIVING ONE WAY AND WRITING ANOTHER WAY, CELEBRITIES ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND I. THEIR DAILY LIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE RADICALLY DIFFERENT. MOST OF THEM DO NOT CONNECT TO THE NORMAL GOINGS ON THAT WE CONNECT WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS FAMOUS.

COME THE FUCKS ON!

Where are my asprins?…

# 21 i dont need yo prayers thank u very much. why they do these shows anyway if the true perpertrators arent being held responsible. How much y’all wanna bet that we aint gonna hear shit from Chris Rock, Dave Chapel, Snoop or Ludacris about this issue? They will keep they mouths shut n wait for the problem to go away becuz they know they responsible for it. I aint got no beef wid Common cuz he be making respectful music. But its Ludacris n his type who should be on the show. But then lets not forget that when he did cum on the show Oprah called him out for his lyrics n he had the nerve to start that whole issues with rappers being like fuck oprah. N some of y’all on this blog supported them. Now you see the damage that Oprah was talking about to Luda. Y’all support his sexist ass when he make songs like “shake ur money maker”. Many of y’all are hypocrites..as usual

I watched both episodes and must say that I agreed hold-heartedly with one person- a member of the audience. She was a school teacher and her statement was that we need to stop blaming the industry for our children’s failures. We need to start reflecting upon ourselves. Also, I feel that the question “why” needs to be asked a lot more. “Why” does the community choose to say these things and glorify the activity? “Why” does this music sell? “Why” do the artist choose to produce this type of art? I can tell you why. It starts with environment and home. It starts with education. I love Oprah to death but she tends to gloss over the fact that our neighborhoods still suffer. I’m from Philadelphia which now holds the highest murder rate in the country (I believe 111). These murders aren’t happening in upper class, White neighbors. They are happening within the poverty stricken ones. Why? Plain and simple…..lack of education. There is a lack of it coming from the home, school and community. Once we begin to acknowledge and then correct the root of the problem everything else will fall into place. Everything meaning music, business, politics, the Black Family home structure, etc. That’s all!!!

Lashonda,

You claim you do not need my prayers yet you are perfectly happy to use my arguments and examples (eg.Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle) in your own post whilst pretending you came up with it yourself. Don’t cast stones when you are ignorant. And believe me YOU ARE. Your strange behaviour will only make me pray even more for you, you are clearly a troubled individual.

Peace

I watched the show on April 17th, and I was disturbed by the dispostion on the faces of Russel Simmons and record executive Kevin Liles. To Russel Simmons, I am an African Black man, who has been living in the US since 1994, a good portion of my life, I was raised in Africa, and if there is one thing that I learned it is respect for women. Many, not all Africans are poor. Or live in very difficult conditions, you used the example(which i thought was an excuse) that poverty is a stage that gives these rappers, poets,the ok(we should accept)to call women, Hos and bitches and demean each other… This was NOT a good example. We Africans may not have much in terms of money, but we have respect, respect for our women, our mother’s and most importantly the source, we respect ourselves. It was difficult to accept that you did not come to the show on defense, I as a viewer thought you would come without all the frowning and dramatic expressions on the stage. Speaking over the host- a woman, making side comments- a lack of class or calm or control.

Kevin Liles came across as ” the intern” that has not learned to contain his emotion. If he had been PAYING ATTENTION, he would have not misunderstood the statement by the other gentleman. Education is fundamental, listening is so important. He was a true example of what SOME- Not all African American brothers get caught up in doing. Reacting before understanding the statement or situation. What a shame, that blackmen to this day an age had to be pushed to acknowledge the fact that there is a BIG PROLEM on both sides, being men in those influential positions to be a pathway of this kind of “expression” to get on the airwaves. It needs to stop, and stop now it must.

A lot of respect for the Attorney, very well spoken and very clear in his assessment of the situation. These are the people that we need to have directing this change. Common a respectable artist that was refreshing to watch.

This is an epidermic that has been silently growing, we could be at a major cross road, which direction should we take… it has to be one that we take together and commit to collectively in action and words

Oprah shows WAAYYYYY too many commericals! I mean, after Common spoke:
(commerial break)

after India.Irie spoke:
(commerial break)

after Kevin Liles spoke:
(commerial break)

after New York columnist spoke:
(commerial break)

after an audience member spoke:
(commerial break)

she actually cut Russell Simmons off for yet another:
(commerial break)

Dang O! Anyway, I saw both shows and love the way we spoke about demanding change from radio and record companies and even within ourselves. But I SERIOUSLY doubt any action will be taken.

A month from now, people will be like “Don Who?” but disrespect for black women will still exist. Women period have always been thought of as second class citizens-black women (especially) lower than that. It’s deplorable but what can be do?

Record companies will continue to allow or even pressure their artists to use derogatory terms because it SELLS!! The young generation buying these records and going to concerts WANT to hear this name-calling, voilent, and disrepectful type of music!! It’s called supply and demand.

Point blank - C.R.E.A.M.

Women can turn this whole rap mess on its ear. With no women in the videos, who the hell would watch and listen? Imagine if 50 cent opened the door to the ‘Candy Store’ and it was empty? End of video. I saw a documentary last year that said these young women rarely even get paid to appear in these videos. That means they can’t possibly be hos. Hos get paid. If these young women unionized, demanded 100K each to appear in a video at least we could respect them for being business women. The rappers would never pay though. End of videos. Just like that. Women have all the power we need. We just need to use it.

also, i just wanted to comment on the statement by Kevin Liles concerning Stanley Crouch when he said he was “offended” by the comments Mr. Crouch had made. What a hypocrite! He has made his career on the strength of music which degrades and insults women. Mr. Liles, Mr. Crouch has nothing to apologize to you for. These hip-hop music industry spokespersons have no legitimate argument and much to be ashamed about.

I say the show and I must say I was very disappionted with Oprah. A lot of her views are biased and while theymay be realistic “her world”, they are reality for everyday people.

1: It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children and monitor them so that they know what is exceptable and what is not.

2: It is our responsibility as woman to uphold a standard for ourselves and not let ourselves be disrespected. If we say know there would be no choice but to change.

3: It is our responsibility as a community to not become so complacent with things because they seem to be the norm. Ten years ago Bobby Brown sang Tenderoni, but the girl had on clothes, today Bobby Valentino sings In Those Jeans and the girl has on only jeans. No one held a gun to either of these girls head, they made to choice and decided the level of respect they wanted given to them.

I think that people need to understand that YOUR ALWAYS GOING TO OFFEND SOMEONE. some OLDER LADY DON’T LIKE BEING CALLED OLD….DO WE STOP USING THAT TERM.

THIS WHOLE IMMUS THING IS MISSING THE POINT. MUSIC IS MUSIC PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT….JUST BECAUSE SOME CALLS THEMSELVE FAT DOESN’T MEAN THE PERSON AT THE NEXT TABLE HAS THE RIGHT TO CALL THEM FAT. PERIOD… but black people who use hoes, nigga or whatever…are setting a bad example for a whole nation….COME ON….

let talk about the real issue…..racism and sexism in companies….harrasment in companies…police shooting whoever they want (BLACK OR WHITE)

I DON’T THINK BECAUSE REMY MA CALLES HERSELF A HOE…SOMETIMES….MEAN THAT I CAN’T GET MAD IF SOMEONE CALL ME A HOE JUST BECAUSE SHE USE THE SONG IN TERM

HER NAME IS REMY MA…MY ISN’T….SHE CAN CALL HERSELF WHAT SHE WANTS…SHE DOESN’T REPRESENT ALL OF BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA. PERIOD.

Real poets like Gil Scott Heron, Nikki G and the Last Poets are real artists who hold the black communities up. We need more modern day poets, writers and actors who represent us well. Listen to some of the comments blaming society etc wake up people, it start at home and that’s respect.

LMAO

this is SERIOUs…everybody wrote an essay!!!!

i’d just like to say that Don Imus didnt directly get fired because he said nappy headed hos comment. He got fired because the major companies that advertise on CBS and the other network he was affiliated with were pulling their advertisements because they didnt want to be associated with the whole issue and lose black consumers. If the advertising companies werent going to pull their funds, he wouldnt have been fired, he probably wouldve just been suspended. So for people to compare the lyrics of Jay Z or Snoop to his comment and say why didnt they lose their contracts is irrelevant to Imus getting fired- They are artists and they can say whatever they want because its an expression. Imus was working when he said his comment and that is unacceptable.

Also, when rappers refer to women as hoes, I’ve always assumed they are referring to the woman who act as hoes by sleeping around and all that. The only negative thing is that the term gets thrown around and ends up being used towards people who are not hoes but that doesnt mean artists should stop saying the term… it means people shouldnt be so ignorant as to repeat it or give them reason to call females one. Imus was referring to a collegiate basketball team. They are educated young women doing something positive with their lives so he had no right to call them hoes period regardless of if “everyone” else uses the term or not.

Well to me this IMUS thing was a big deal because of who he said it to…… not just what he said .. Now if he would have called the black girl that accused them boy of rape down in NC “a black nappy headed hoe” um sure nobody would have reported it or got mad … every body is acting surprise to hear him say that or … WoW this came from a white person in 2007 man imagin what these people say in the privacy of their own home joke or Innuendos … And we are talking about “Rappers” … what the hell …. at least they are speaking of their own reality but what about Movies … if you are going to go that route ….. the last thing I wanna say is this … I’ve been called worst in my life by people that don’t even speak enlish … isrelis and egyptians … and other nationalities in the middle east… man look I personally don’t like the guy but damn think of some of the stuff that you think or say about people … in your own right do we have the nerve to critcize … really think about some of the things that you think or say … TO YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY that’s never made it to a national audience … if I said half the stuff on tv that me and my wife talk about at home .. trust and believe I would be fired to… One more thing I am tired of people faking like …. they are not aware and wondering why this guy lost his JOB but JZ didn’t cause he said hoe … the same reason that every news caster was fiendin’ to use that phrase in context … Look man we worried about this and it’s people losing their life ..um telling you they greiving over here in VA

I have never heard “nappy headed hos” come out of any black person’s mouth…ever. I don’t know where this idiot gets his information from.

The whole issue in my opinion is a waste of time. If someone has no respect for you, wat do you care wat name they call you. We need to stop caring wat ppl think about us.
Rappers in the hip hop culture are blamed for degrading women because they put their thoughts to songs that become popular, but lets be real, all races of men degrade women, but most non-blacks don’t put their disdain in the words of a hit single. But does this make it right, hey… who cares, music is watever the artist wants to make it, if ur offended don’t listen or buy it. But look in this society hypocrisy is the best policy. You can change words, but if the mentality remains, then wat good is it. Figure out how to fix the mentality then the music will change itself. And from the observations i have made in my young life, only God can do that.

I missed this show, but judging from everyone’s comments and the (bland) wrap-up at oprah.com, I can say that there are many, many other artists that Oprah could have pulled on to address this issue. Now, I’m not saying those people couldn’t have been there, but why not invite your biggest critics? Like Ice Cube, Nelly, Luda, 50, and others, who can bring a different (and more relevant) perspective considering they are doing (or have done) more degrading music than Common. I love Common, but he SHOULD NOT have been the only rapper there. By doing that, you’ve already limited the conversation from the “rappers/entertainers” point of view and that doesn’t make for a well-rounded discussion. That being said, I can only hope that this “town hall” (FINALLY) opens the door for other shows on this issues and other issues involving the music industry in general.

Yes! We have video! Thanks Angel!

I agree with what most of you guys have stated and all I have to say is if we want to see change ladies, we have to start with ourselves. Our women need to stop appearing in videos shaking their butts half naked as if it’s cute, laughing and letting men disrespect them!

The Melyssa Fords and Buffy the Body’s of the world need to realize that when they appear in these videos and magazines they are not representing strong positive black women, but rather they are perpetuating the stereotype that black women should be objectified for their butts and breast and over all body shapes. That we should be thought of only for sexual pleasure and not for intelligence and strength.

I don’t think that any man should ever call a woman a ho, a slut, a bitch, or a whore especially not in a song, but we as women can not gain respect if we don’t demand it. I ask, how much respect can we ask for if their are those of us popping, shaking and laughing the disrespect off, deeming it acceptable? We condition the way people treat us and for every strong black woman in the world saying that she will not stand for this, there are at least 5 ignorant women who will oppose them and and defend the rappers and other artists and will simply call it entertainment!

It is hard to fight a war when the people who should be fighting with you are the main ones jumping ship! We ladies need to step up to the plate and stop allowing these men to think it’s okay to disrespect us by no longer disrespecting ourselves!

@#40 WHAAAT

You mean you’re not going to add your dissertation to the mix? LOL

All jokes aside though, it IS a hot-button issue.

the way i see it, a lot of rap artists glorify it-but theyre not holding a gun to our head. however i do feel that black women should be respected on a greater level than what we are perceived. yea theres some hoodrats and wuteva in the hood but all females in the hood are not necessarily gold diggers or hoes. but rap shouldnt be the only thing targetted because tv shows, movies, and rock music do the same thing. and parents cant monitor everything their kid is doin but monitoring what they do and say at home can have some affect. now a days rap is dancing music (uhm the franchise boys for example). so what if she wants to pop lock and drop it. its a dance. african music has dances that accentuates a womans figure-big deal

I dont blame Oprah for being pissed off, shes worked incredibly hard to promote a positive image of black women and she has done so successfully, whilst these silly rappers tear down the image shes worked so hard to exemplify.

.. thank you at Bill i said the same damn thing im hella pissed about that. I understand that this subject at hand is controverial as of now but why couldnt she have Kira on the show to tone things down a lil. No im not saying the issue at hand with Imus and the hip hop community isnt serious. Nonetheless I have the feeling that Oprah is in for making the black community look bad. She cant really relate to whats going on in our community but i think shes hella shady.. Oprah always has yellow tones *African American woman and males* express opinions but never the dark. The points made prior to mine I give a hella applause. For one blacks dont buy these rap albums for sales to hit the roof.. we buy bootlegs since the cost of an album is to much money. The rich white kids on the other hand have that cash and are able to buy the $24 dollar albums. haha at Oprah leaning and rocking days prior and talking about the negatives of “HIP HOP”. In my opinion i think Imus should of been suspended not fired none of these rappers nor singers get reprimanded for there provacative music.. its okay for R. Kelly to sleep with underaged females, Snoop can talk about blk woman dripping like water and tasting his candy, and Pretty Ricky SMH next!

I know I am going to get chewed out for this but so be it…..I AM SO OVER OPRAH!!!!!!! There is a huge disconnect going on in our community today between the old guard and the new and Oprah is becoming part of that problem and not part of the solution. The town hall panel to me just seemed as another venue to use hip-hop as a scape goat. We live in a world were value is placed on the material. You see it in ever avenue of entertainment and not just hip-hip. Oprah has her favorite things show and half of the things on there the average Joe can’t afford. I agree wholeheartedly with what the one teacher said (who Oprah was so rude to) It starts with parenting & education. People have the right to free speech….although what Imus said was degrading the constitution gave him a right to say it. Sure it’s degrading for rappers to call women hoes and bitches. But do we call people hoes and bitches because of hip hop? No. Do all black men call all black women bitches and hoes. No. Did hip hop create the word bitches and hoes. No. Oprah is too self-righteous to me….u feel that the youth in America are affected negatively by hip hop but you go to South Africa to build a school.

The problem with the old guard, Bill Cosby, Oprah, Harry Belafonte is that they want to point the finger and tell you what the problem is but they don’t want to tell you what the solution is. They distance & isolate themselves from the new guard which makes the new guard stick their middle finger up and keep doing what they are doing. Everytime someone said something negative about Hip-hop Oprah had this smile come across her face that made me angry. As soon as someone said something positive she cut them off or was disrespectful to them in some form. From this day forward I will no longer support Oprah or the things she does. I use to be a huge Oprah supporter but she really let me down with this “town hall” meeting.

@ 18 i remember him saying that too.. damn SMH

What Kevin and Russell were thinking during the O show…

WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT Y’ALL SAY!!! WE’RE RICH BIYATCH!!!!!!!!!!!! SHIT AIN’T CHANGIN!!! SHIT AIN’T CHANGIN!!!!!!

COINTELPRO: Counter Intelligence Program) was a program of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at investigating and disrupting dissident political organizations within the United States.

Methods:

1. “Infiltration: Agents and informers did not merely spy on political activists. Their main purpose was to discredit and disrupt. Their very presence served to undermine trust and scare off potential supporters. The FBI and police exploited this fear to smear genuine activists as agents.” [4]

2. “Psychological Warfare From the Outside: The FBI and police used myriad other “dirty tricks” to undermine progressive movements. They planted false media stories and published bogus leaflets and other publications in the name of targeted groups. They forged correspondence, sent anonymous letters, and made anonymous telephone calls. They spread misinformation about meetings and events, set up pseudo movement groups run by government agents, and manipulated or strong-armed parents, employers, landlords, school officials and others to cause trouble for activists.” [5]

3. “Harassment Through the Legal System: The FBI and police abused the legal system to harass dissidents and make them appear to be criminals. Officers of the law gave perjured testimony and presented fabricated evidence as a pretext for false arrests and wrongful imprisonment. They discriminatorily enforced tax laws and other government regulations and used conspicuous surveillance, ‘investigative’ interviews, and grand jury subpoenas in an effort to intimidate activists and silence their supporters.”

4. “Extralegal Force and Violence: The FBI and police threatened, instigated, and themselves conducted break-ins, vandalism, assaults, and beatings. The object was to frighten dissidents and disrupt their movements. In the case of radical Black and Puerto Rican activists (and later Native Americans), these attacks—including political assassinations—were so extensive, vicious, and calculated that they can accurately be termed a form of official ‘terrorism.’”. [6]

The FBI also conducted “black bag jobs”, warrantless surreptitious entries, against the targeted groups and their members.[7]

Supporters of the FBI argue that the Bureau was convinced that there was such a threat of domestic subversion posed by radical groups that extraordinary efforts were required to forestall violence and revolutionary insurgency. Hoover was willing to use false claims to attack his political enemies. In one memo he wrote: “Purpose of counterintelligence action is to disrupt the Black Panther Party and it is immaterial whether facts exist to substantiate the charge.”

In 1969 the FBI special agent in San Francisco wrote Hoover that his investigation of the Black Panther Party revealed that in his city, at least, the Black nationalists were primarily feeding breakfast to children. Hoover fired back a memo implying the career ambitions of the agent were directly related to his supplying evidence to support Hoover’s view that the BPP was “a violence prone organization seeking to overthrow the Government by revolutionary means”.

In one particularly controversial incident, civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo was killed in 1965 by a shot from a car in which four Ku Klux Klansmen were riding; one of the Klansmen was an FBI informant. Afterward, COINTELPRO spread false rumors that Liuzzo was a member of the Communist Party and had abandoned her children in order to have sexual relationships with African Americans involved in the civil rights movement.

@ 45, like i sed in my comment at 30, its not about Oprah not inviting the rappers who are realy objectifying women. Do you actually think that Luda, Nelly would turn up to the Oprah shows on an issue like this. What could they possibly say? How could they possibly defend themeselves. Your wrong in sayingt that Oprah should have got in other artists, I bet she would have loved to. But they wouldn’t dare turn up there.They’ll keep quiest for now while the storm blows then come back out in a couple weeks to “make it rain on these hoes”

These spellman bitches gon act like like they don’t buy rap music. u saw how exited they were when they heard rappers were comin to their school. i bet u if 50 or hov ask one these hoes to be in a vidoe shakin they ass they would do it.

leave hip hop alone. rappers talk about bitches they encounter.

Krytin Said:
.. thank you at Bill i said the same damn thing im hella pissed about that. I understand that this subject at hand is controverial as of now but why couldnt she have Kira on the show to tone things down a lil. No im not saying the issue at hand with Imus and the hip hop community isnt serious. Nonetheless I have the feeling that Oprah is in for making the black community look bad. She cant really relate to whats going on in our community but i think shes hella shady.. Oprah always has yellow tones *African American woman and males* express opinions but never the dark. The points made prior to mine I give a hella applause. For one blacks dont buy these rap albums for sales to hit the roof.. we buy bootlegs since the cost of an album is to much money. The rich white kids on the other hand have that cash and are able to buy the $24 dollar albums. haha at Oprah leaning and rocking days prior and talking about the negatives of “HIP HOP”. In my opinion i think Imus should of been suspended not fired none of these rappers nor singers get reprimanded for there provacative music.. its okay for R. Kelly to sleep with underaged females, Snoop can talk about blk woman dripping like water and tasting his candy, and Pretty Ricky SMH next!

Bill Said:

I agree & cosign 101%

I think that although these discussions are important, is it really necessary to have them on National TV ???

Oprah Winfrey has good intentions, (I hope) but does it benefit our community to “Air Our Dirty Laundry” publically ???

When Tavis Smilley has his Town Hall Dicussions, it is down expressly for “Our Community Only” and it’s held at a private location.

Do we really need to tell the world about our disagreements, and the dysfuntional attitudes of our Young Black Youth ?

I would MUCH rather see a show on the Positive Aspects of Our Community !

I would much rather see a show about Kiri Davis.

Peace

hold it you know damn well them girls havent been called hoes hahahaha BULLSHIT! I just dont believe it at all they heard someone call someone else a hoe preferably a DARK WOMAN.. and why did they cut my man Common off while expressing his opinion

@23–CHANTE PRRRRRRRREEAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCHHHH! AMEN! Girl I like you. You on the righteous path MY SISTAH!

People are missing the point and falling for the spin the media has put on this. As somebody said above, a racist old white man shooting off at the mouth has NOTHING to do with hip-hop. He has a history of saying racist and offensive things on that show. The issue is the media’s tolerance of such behavior, and why it took big-dollar sponsors yanking backing for them to act. That is the issue. Had they stayed put, Imus would not have lost his job. Shock jock culture is something the media and the public have built up for years. Yet, when things get out of control, everybody wants to cry foul and act offended. If people would not give these assholes a free pass, we would not be having this discussion. Negative attitudes toward women and use of the N-word existed long before hip-hop and would exist if hip-hop were to die. Don’t let these white folks fool ya’ll. Make the corporations be accountable for what they are allowing these rednecks to say and NOT spin this into an issue of how we conduct ourselves. We are not the issue. This is the same man who talked about “bug-chasing” gay men on his show and cracked all kinds of crude jokes. So he’ll say anything. I am all for free speech. But free speech comes with a price. If you say whatever the fuck comes into your head with no regard for how it sounds, you should be expected to deal with the consequences.

19 is right about all that leaning and rocking bullshit.

You simply cannot blame hip-hop or criticize hip-hop because of Don Imus. Regardless of hip-hop those comments still would’ve been made—especially the word jiggaboo. Sorry people, vulgar music will not vanish. The blues was called the “devil’s music” because it talked about sex, spells, bisexuality, murder—this mortified many people. Yes, the blues is more relevant than mainstream hip-hop, but this is where uninteresting music is right now. Yes, we can critique it, but calling a ban on it, or Imus’ using hip-hop as a scapegoat to why he made those comments is foolish. Once again, why don’t we focus on jiggaboo, which is a horrible, offensive Klan term that is much worse than nappy-headed hos. However, like I said, you can’t pass the buck with jiggaboo, so we all conveniently ignore it.

I agree with #31 it starts in the home first.

I agree with some of #35 the only thing I disagree with is you do have BROKE hoes. Not all hoes get PAID some end up broke and wet if you get what I mean.

As for Oprah and her opinions on HIP-HOP culture and the degrading of women I disagree.

These women are GROWN and they make their own choices concerning their lifestyles. Just because people might not agree with their choices it’s still theirs. If these women want to use what they got to get what they want that’s own them.

I tell you what you better use it before you lost it.

I am a woman and the lyrics don’t offend me because they are not talking about me. People have to face it their are women in this world like that. And that’s their right to be that way.

I don’t want no one is this world deciding what I can play in my car, my PC, or radio. How do Oprah know what’s being said if she’s not listening to it. Next time when you want opinions from women concerning this matter ask the women who are in the videos ask the women who listen to the music and see what they have to say.

I’m a GROWN ASS WOMAN and I don’t need no one censoring my RIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s a link to a column published today on Salon.com entitled “IS RAP RACIST?”

It includes extended commentary from:

Nelson George
Greg Tate
Joan Morgan
Michael Eric Dyson
Margo Jefferson
Bakari Kitwana
Juan Williams

I would have like to have seen a few of these people on yesterday’s panel….

http://www.salon.com/ent/...007/04/18/rap_roundtable/

on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 8:51 am

41. Angie said:
——————————————————————————–

i’d just like to say that Don Imus didnt directly get fired because he said nappy headed hos comment. He got fired because the major companies that advertise on CBS and the other network he was affiliated with were pulling their advertisements because they didnt want to be associated with the whole issue and lose black consumers. If the advertising companies werent going to pull their funds, he wouldnt have been fired, he probably wouldve just been suspended. So for people to compare the lyrics of Jay Z or Snoop to his comment and say why didnt they lose their contracts is irrelevant to Imus getting fired- They are artists and they can say whatever they want because its an expression. Imus was working when he said his comment and that is unacceptable.

Also, when rappers refer to women as hoes, I’ve always assumed they are referring to the woman who act as hoes by sleeping around and all that. The only negative thing is that the term gets thrown around and ends up being used towards people who are not hoes but that doesnt mean artists should stop saying the term… it means people shouldnt be so ignorant as to repeat it or give them reason to call females one. Imus was referring to a collegiate basketball team. They are educated young women doing something positive with their lives so he had no right to call them hoes period regardless of if “everyone” else uses the term or not.

——————————————————————————–
Bill Said:
I Like your POV

You made a very valid argument & your points are clear and concise.

Truth be told, there ARE woman that act like “Bitches & Hoes”.

If that wasn’t a fact, then the music would’t sell or be a sore point.

Should Rappers have the right to report on what goes on in the Neighborhood ???
Yes, they do have that right…It’s in the Constitution.
In this country, We have Freedom of Speech.

The Issue is that Young Black People listen to Rap Music and start to repeat the words that they hear…

Rap Music sells
Controversy Sells
Sex Sells..

Is it right….Absolutly NOT !
But here we are….We have a serious issue of disrespect towards each other in our community which allows our people to sell drugs to each other, without any thought of the buyers Health and Well Being.
We have a serious issue of disrespect towards each other in our community which allows us to call each other out of their names.

Peace

@ 61 lemme give you a breakdown of some of the key things you said which make people like you the problem due to your refusal to hold that mirror up and look inwards. I am in no way judging you because I myself have supported artists who objectify and demean women. Yet we must all open our eyes and not pretend that as a race we don’t have issues we need to address. Your attitude is very much its them not us. But when i heard Don Imus say “those are some nappy headed hoes” I instantly thought its US not them. What he said sounded to me like he had heard it from some form of black media ie. the Dave Chappelle type of shows etc. Your post was filled with a lot of denial 61. And I quote:

“We are not the issue”

“the spin the media has put on this”

“NOT spin this into an issue of how we conduct ourselves”

“NOTHING to do with hip-hop”

Move on from that tired old argument my sister and start accepting some of the harsh truth

I want to first say “nappy” is not something we (black people) ever called ourselves. As a race we always took pride in the texture of our hair (corn rows, cane rows and dreads). I hate to say it but “nappy” “nigga” “jiggaboo” and every other denegrating word that refers to the african community is the the white man’s words. What we have done is try to desensitize ourselves to the hurt that it dredges up by using it ourselves. We have tried to make it less painful to hear. However, when it comes out of the mouth of a white man… we don’t think of rappers we think of slavery. This is what it comes down to…. as much as we say it…WHITE PEOPLE CANNOT SAY IT!!! AND WE DON’T HAVE TO JUSTIFY WHY NOT…THEY JUST CANNOT SAY IT!!!!

# 4 I totally agree with you……

i’m really starting to dislike Russell Simmons in particular..he along with P Diddy, and Jay Z are a big part of the problem.

all those at the top of the game * including beyonce .. are not doing a damn thing to help.. they act like its non existant.

thank god for the neo-soul artist… common i love, mos def, india, and the rest.

BAN the N word!!!

Ok some of you are saying, don’t blame the rappers, monitor your childrens radio/tv intake, blah blah blah. But what what about when a non-black child comes up toy your child and says, “what’s up my nigga?”
Or your non-black coworker makes a comments like “whuddup pimp? What’s your response to that? I know we have some modern day coons that would just laugh it off, further perpetuating that that’s all right. Rap, especially negative gansta rap, does influence people everyday. Remember when Snoop used to say “fa shizzle my nizzle” which IMO translates to “for sure my nigga.”
Next thing you know you were hearing that in commercials, seeing it in ads, etc. And non-black people thought it was so cool. NOT.
The problem I have with rappers, is that they are on a platform for the world to see. The SHIT that comes out of their mouths has a negative impact on black persons whether you believe it or not. When one of “us” does something, we all get generalized for it. Do you realize that their are people who have little to no contact with black people and when they listen to rap, or watch shows like Flavor of Love(coonery that I myself shouldn’t have watched), they assume that’s what we all act like?
I have been stopped listening to rap now for years. Not to say I don’y bounce to a good beat, but they won’t get my dollar/support. Like I’ve said before, you don’t see white artists exploiting their women or talking about killing a cracker.
LISTEN to “our” rappers lyrics. Disregard for their own women and have no regard for the next BLACK MAN”S LIFE. Like my friend told me, its’ so easy for black people to hurt their own because we don’t value our own lives.

GOD! When will people realize that peepz like Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles are not the voice of black America. I can think of so many more worthy people who could have come and spoken on our behalf. Those two men acted in a way that was rude, disrespectful and plain ignorant (specially Kevin). I was embarassed to watch them even speak.

Russell was a trip! He kept going past the fact that rap is degrading and how much of an impact rap has on our community. When you walk down the street, you dont see people dressed like country singers or rock stars…they’re dressed like rappers with big hats, and big clothes, and saggy pants, and chains. He was trying to vicariously go off on Oprah, but Oprah was very professional. These rappers are not poets! Reguardless if they were talking about hoes and the streets, are true poet, you could tell that in his music. Nas does it, Tupac has done it in his songs, but most of these rappers arnt poetic at all! They are just being negative and disrespectful. Rappers need to be responsible for their songs. Kevin Lyles and Simmons were trying to walk around the subject. They know this is their livelyhood, so they’re not gonna argue against it.

Oprah is a damn sell out. She doesn’t like young black men just like the rest of America. How the hell did this white mans actions get pointed to hip hop. It’s like he is out of the loop hole now. Now it’s our fault because he said something out of context. OOOhhh, lets talk about hip hop and how BAD it is now. Screw them white people and Oprah too. Cuz, we all know who her audience is.

tut tut Ami Jane aka Ice Cube, u r the issue and that screw them white folks attitude is what sets us back. we develop from within then we tackle others