I wont say much, but what i will say is that i dont like the way “ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE ATTACKING HIP HOP”. Its a MASS area of different music and if they dont like it. dont listen to it. PERIOD!.

Funny Thing Is i What The One Thing Women Call each other on a daily basis.. when they are mad or not mad.
“I Hate That Bi*** or i cant stand that h**.

Cmon Now… Really. :-/

i have a question for the spellman women. when you are at the club in the atl,nyc ,,etc should they call you a queen when your breast and butt are all out excepting drinks in the vip are you still a classy women. How about when you leave the club with a different dude every week your child in one room and you two in the next, no your a princess. how about when you got 3 babies at home and you still strippin. Or when the dj say thers a video shoot for down town you put on your heels and off you go, No we should respect you but you dont respect yourself

I know Russell tries to sound like an intelligent man, but I can’t get over his lisp. He got on my goddamn nerves talking over everybody and shit, especially Oprah. Who in the hell does he think he is. Its funny because, the only man who got his point across articulantly was Common.

#8- Get it together…. O said she was ACTING like a real bitch on a particular day because of something that had happened in her life (I believe the decision to put her dog down) so stop taking shit out of context.

#6…YES!!! THIS IS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED AND WELL PUT TOGETHER COMMENT I HAVE HEARD YET…GO HEAD BOO!! WE ALL NEED TO READ #6 AND BE A LITTLE MORE LIKE THAT. PROPS TO YOU.

SEABREEZE said:

“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.

Bill Said:

There is actually a genre of Music called “White Supremist Hate Music” or “Neo Nazi Music”, that is created by white youth in Hate groups.

The music glorifies and speaks of hatred towards Blacks, Jews & Gays.

The Money generated from this type of music is used to generate income for these Hate Groups to exsist (e.g Klu Klux Klan).

Good Morning SeaBreeze !!

I missed it. Anyway, I don’t understand it when people say “we” should clean up our house first due to the fact that- it is always going to be something with “white” to make them not to like us. For example, In 1955, there was a young boy, 12 or so, from Chicago called Emmett Till, lynched, head busted open all kinds of things. For allegedly- talking to a “white” woman. For all we know he could have been asking for directions- for he was not in his home state. His pants were NOT sagging low. He did NOT have 15 gold chains on his neck. His hat was not turned backwards. AND THERE WAS NO RAP MUSIC AT THAT TIME! What were the excuse- if you will- for him to have been treated the way- that he was??????? The fact of the matter is is that -’white people ice…has ALWAYS been alittle colder’. In temperment towards us, in language and in actions!!!!
I am glad to say that I do not have any friends outside of my race. Yes- I have a B.A./ M.S.- that has nothing to do with it. If I did, I don’t think that we could have an open discussion about it (this topic) if it arose.
There are some great books, I think people should check out:

1. Anything by ERIC DYSON
2. The Black Mosiah by Albert Cleage Jr.
3. The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter Woodson
4. When Africa Awakes by Hubert Harrison
5. The Assasination of the Black Male Image by Earl Huchinson

In the words of the French Philosopher Voltaire- I disagree with what you say, but will fight to the death your right to say it.

This panel was not appropriate for the subject matter as Common (the lone rapper) NO LONGER uses derogatory lyrics but check his track record, homie was a big homophobe when he was Common Sense.

That aside, we allowed that man to grow as we obviously have to do with some of these other ‘poets.’

The panel should have consisited of Snoop, Diddy, Game, Luke, Too Short, Jay, R. Kelly, etc. who actually use such terms.

But O didn’t want that battle baby!

I, too, think the show aired out a lot but resolved nothing. The people on that stage ultimately don’t get the last say oftentimes.

At the end of the day, with fame and attention comes responsibility. How willl you use your voice?

I agree #45, she should have brought other rappers..

lol @ #40

#37..thats true

It dosen’t matter who it was that said it..the fact that he disrespected them..it does not matter if her was black or white or whatever…he should not have made those comments about those girls. Its just draws up a lot of controversy because he is “white”

Good Morning Bill! Bill yes we know about white supremacisty music, but do you hera that on the radio? Is it used in the backdrop for a Ford comemrcial? Or maybe for a softdrink, etc. And even though it’s hate music, they damn sure aren’t talking about murdering their own. They want “us” and Jews dead.

#30 with all do respect, If women stop shaking their money makers then Luda wouldn’t have material to do these songs.

COMMON is BEAUTIFUL!
He is THE quintessential shining example of Black Manhood.
I LOVE That MAN!

And I ain’t going off on HBCU’S but I live in Atlanta and those Spelman chicks needs to drop the haughtiness. University Homes, Vine City, English Avenue and Ashby are all low income BLACK neighborhoods surrounding Clark, Spelman etc and I want to know what they are doing to mold Black America’s youth? The only time they can be bothered with poor blacks is when they need community service. They KNOW they need to keep it real.

on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 10:07 am

85. SEABREEZE said:
——————————————————————————–

Good Morning Bill! Bill yes we know about white supremacisty music, but do you hera that on the radio? Is it used in the backdrop for a Ford comemrcial? Or maybe for a softdrink, etc. And even though it’s hate music, they damn sure aren’t talking about murdering their own. They want “us” and Jews dead.

Bill Said:

God Morning Love.
You have a VERY Valid Point.
I agree with you !

@ #79 HOOD_SHIT

#8- Get it together…. O said she was ACTING like a real bitch on a particular day because of something that had happened in her life (I believe the decision to put her dog down) so stop taking shit out of context.

_____________________________________________________

LOL! You soundin’ like my father an’ shyt!

thank you #77 see im sitting here watching the video like there lying there asses off and they know damn well they like that kind of music i know i do but i agree that its wrong in some ways. PEOPLE just think what would happen if the rikay music changed lol clubs wouldnt be hot any more.Oprah pissed me the hell off when she cut that black woman off..the first woman who came to the mic hit the nail right on the head but guess who snapped her neck like she had a disease OPRAH..no offense but all the people on he panel were talking out of context. Kevin wtf think before you speak.. im mad the excellent celebs Maya picked for the panal werent on there.

I actually like what Common said about the present Rap Artist Mindset.

Common said that we would be able to offer correction is it’s done in a loving manner.

Snoop was pretty upset when Don Imus made his comments.

Maybe that Incident will cause Snoop to considerwhat part his music played in this entire episode.

If Snoop has daughters, one day his daughter WILL grow up, and he will change his attitude and about women.

People have the ability to change if you handle them and correct them in a loving and compassionate manner.

Everyone deserves a second chance
Anyone has the ability to Change

Peace

THIS DISCUSSION IS MORE THAN THIS BLOG BUT AS FAR I AM CONCERNED I AM NOT A BITCH OR A HOE BECAUSE I DON’T ANSWER TO THOSE NAMES.
I KNOW WOMEN WHO HAVE CALLED OTHER WOMEN BITCHES AND HOES BUT GET MAD WHEN A GUY DOES IT JUST LIKE SOME BLACK PEOPLE ARE GETTING MAD AT DON IMUS. SHOULD HE HAVE SAID IT? NO. HOWEVER, AS A BLACK WOMAN I DO LISTEN TO RAP BUT I NEVER TAKE WHAT THE RAPPERS SAY AS INSULTING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ME. YES I DO BELIEVE THESE RAPPERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED PLENTY OF BITCHES AND PLENTY OF HOES IN THEIR DAY.
IF SNOOP SAYS PIMPS UP HOES DOWN AND YOU STAY DOWN THEN HE’S TALKING TO YOU.
IF LIL WAYNE SAYS MAKE IT RAIN ON THESE HOES AND YOU’RE WET THEN YOU ARE THE HOE.
SO NO, I DON’T BLAME HIP HOP OR RAP. NOW IF A RANDOM DUDE ON THE STREET WAS LIKE HEY BITCH, DON’T TURN AROUND. IF YOU KNOW U AIN’T A HOE U AIN’T A HOE. PEOPLE ARE SO FUNNY THAT IT’S REALLY NOT.
WHAT I WOULD’VE LIKE TO SEEN ON THE OPRAH SPECIAL WAS SOME OF THE RAPPERS THAT USE THOSE LYRICS BUT INSTEAD WE GET COMMON AND INDIA ARIE. COME ON!
I AM A BLACK WOMAN A PROFESSIONAL BLACK WOMAN WHO LOVES HERSELF LOVES HER CULTURE AND LOVES RAP MUSIC.

* Jesse Jackson is a fool too he called New York a hymie state.. so i guess we have the worst canidates to speak for the blk community.. JESSE and SHARPE

a HYMIETOWN

#50 the rappers arent the one doing it. It is the women that are degrading themselves. (please etch this in stone)

@97, no disrespect or anything, but take the women out of the videos, now what?

And Bill that ignorant fool Snoop does have a daughter. He doesn’t care.

#52 you caught it too, how rude Oprah was to that teacher.

70. only1, you’re correct in pointing out the main people behind the issue. Unfortunately, Jay, Russell, Kevin Liles, Diddy, Snoop, 50 and Beyonce’ are the ones making the bis money! So, you can’t tell them anything! Russell and Kevin were fighting for their lifes on Oprah!

Common tries to keep his rap clean, but he knows how much the negative rap means to his career and he’s guilty by association! Mos Def tries to keep his poetry clean, but he host a poetic show that allows anything! Neither one makes the kind of money that the sellouts like 50 and Snoop make!

White people will buy black smut and sellouts, but they won’t buy anything else from blacks! Young white males buy 86% of the hip-hop rap and old white women put Oprah where she is today!

From day one Oprah has made her living by male bashing courting gays! She was willing to talk about her own sexual abuse and she became the mouth piece for white women who’d been molested by their fathers! Oprah even gave Rosie O’Donald her own show!

Male bashing is really not much different than Snoop serving as the mouth piece for desperate people who feel they’re shut out of the system! Both stans are the products of neglect and abuse! And, both stans pay very well!

So, the real problem are those people who provide the market for the sellouts! The teen pregnancy, drug abuse, gangs and marginalization of women in the black community is more tied to the poverty than the hip-hop culture, because our children are not the ones who provide the demand! All the negative conditions were there long before hip-hop! And, it has only gotten worst since Oprah’s been hosting “give away shows” and “my vacation with Gayle”.

I think a lot of what’s being said can be summed up by the “Golden Rule.” Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you don’t want to be disrespected and such, then don’t do it either…I never realized how that *little rule* could be such a real truth.

I wanted to say that the spellman girls are pretending to be do goody goody and they say they don’t listen to rap music but they go to clubs were they are (called ho’s) this doesn’t add up the clubs that have men that call women ho’s play rap music too they need to stop lying they are all listening to rap music!!!!!!

@Bill , your so right .. i feel its all embarrassing! all of our dirty laundry is been aired so the white world can laugh and feel sorry for us!

Some of you are in here saying black women call each other bitch and hoe all the time! SO WHAT! If you have a family/friend pet name and someone you don’t even know starts calling you by that name does that make it cool? HEll no! Am I guilty of using the word nigga(working on just saying negro) HELL YES! But do I want non-black people thinking they can call me that as well, ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you heard two Jews jokingly calling each other kike, do you think that would make it ok for you to say it? Try it at your job matter-of-fact and see they don’t fire that ass by sundown! My Jewish coworker thinks he can use the word nigga around me because his black friends allow him too. I had to check his ass twice about that and guess what, the first thing he said was “why cuz I’m not black?” Let me had’ve used a jewish slur to greet him with, I’d be collecting my unemployment as we speak!

Everyone is in that room are sellouts, Oprah, Russell, Stanley Crouch, K. Liles. Not one person was brave enough to point out the real reason why this is happening in Hip hop music. That the real puppetmaster is white corp. america. And just like everything in this world its about the bottomline. They will always find a some poor brotha that can’t hustle but can write a bar or 2. Give hime loads of money, he makes a hit single about some dumb sh*t, and the circle keeps going. We are just pawns in a bigger game. White american will continue having there feet on our necks tell we wake up and break the foot off. They are just pitting Rich black folk vs. Poor Black poor. Just Brilliant.

HOW ABOUT WE BOYCOTT REGGAE MUSIC..
1. they talk about killing gays
2. woman dance in sexually explicit positions
making it seems a okay for lil Nana to dance the DUTTY WINE
…

THE TRUTH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphlmGlbqBc

It’s frustrating for People to continually argue about what wrong with our community without offering a solution or substitute.

Would you listen to Clean Rap, AND support it (Common, Mos Def) ?

Would you watch a video that DIDN’T have half naked woman in it
* In Particular, any Video that Beyonce makes would be off limit. In my opinion, Beyonce does show woman in avery good light (Freakum Dress, Bootylichous)

Would you go to the club and ONLY listen (and dance) to music that didn’t have overt sexual references or sngs that demean woman ?

Will you educate you Sons to RESPECT woman ?

Will you educate your daughters to behave themselves and act like young ladies ?

What will YOU do (as a individual) to make a change ?

Peace

I have read several of the comments and I would like to address #33 James (only briefly). I have had the opportunity to meet and mingle with a lot of guys from Africa (Nigeria, Lagos, Ghana etc.) and I have to agree to disagree with you on some things. I am not sure how old you are, but you seem to be pretty intelligent. You stated that you came from Africa in 1994 and you were taught to respect women. Were you a bit taken back when you arrived in America to see women being disrespected? Well, the point that I am trying to make is this. From the various conversations that I have had with African men/women, education, morals, values, discipline and respect for their women is not an option, it is a way of life. Whereas, in America, black men and women have the fear of the MAN in them and are influenced by their way of life. I have always been taught that you become a product of your environment. The fact of the matter is, black society has assimilated to white culture and we are too stupid to see that. I was born in Louisiana where my great grandmother was raised on a plantation. It sickened me as a little girl and even more so now that I am an adult that she would tell us how wonderful the white children were and how horrible we were because we were too dark (a curse), and was still afraid of white people until the day she died. During slavery there was a time called the “seasoning process” in which the slave master would rape pregnant women and cut out their fetus in front of her husband to put fear in him. MASTER didn’t have to ask, he could just take it anytime he wanted to. That itself violated everything that our people were taught and broke strong black men down to little weak boys. Now these weak little boys want to play monkey see, monkey do. The first music/videos that were shown exploiting women and displaying ignorant behavior were rock videos made by white folks. Shortly thereafter, the slave was so impressed by his master that he wanted to do the same thing.

As a strong black women, I do not understand for the life of me why women feel the need to undress in front of the entire world. A man worth having would rather recognize you for your class and not your azz. I am not taking up for rap artist but, what woman of God would let a man put a dog chain around her neck and walk her around half naked displaying her goods to the world? Why would a woman stoop to such levels as Superhead to be seen on tv? What type of affect does she think this will have on her son when he is old enough to understand how his mom got the nickname Superhead? Women need to stand up and take responsibility for their actions. Stop getting half naked and expect for a man to want what everybody else done had. Leave something to the imagination. Rappers call these type of women ho’s because that is what they are representing. Everyone knows that when you go to a jewelry store to purchase a nice diamond or pearl that the stuff on display is just eye candy and the real deal is kept in the back, in a vault for the most elite buyers. Stop putting yourself on display and represent who you are. A Beautiful Black Queen

I apologize for rambling. I never blog…

As for Imus, his statement was totally out of order because he was addressing a group of teenage girls playing basketball and none of which displayed any ho like behavior. Why didn’t he call the white girls on the team out of their name be it that they are all on the same team? I have not witness any rapper go as far as insulting teenage girls of any race just because they felt compelled to say something ignorant.

As for Oprah, she is not the person to address issues in a public forum in regards to the hip hop community or everyday black issues. She probably has good intentions but she has been white washed and like to put herself on a pedestal and air out the dirty laundry of her sisters and brothers. Oprah was once what everyone would call a ho. However, she called it being very PROMISCUOUS when she became pregnant early on in life. She has swept that under the rug and is pretending like she is infallible when she is not.

88. Decysive ~ That was a big step that the Spelman women took when they told Nelly to keep steppin! The women on the Oprah show were not the main players to cancel the Nelly show, but the standard was set and it made “black national” news! These women were just brought in to be mouthpieces like Jesse and Al!

While I agree that they probably only get involved when its convenient, I do respect college students who spend their time in class and in the library studying. They can give back when they get something!

KayKay ~ One will plant, another will water, but God gives the increase! And, its not what goes in that defiles!

I wonder what the Nation of Islam has to say…(Louis Frarrakan). Honestly, I am tired of Sharpton.

First of all……we live in america and anybody who has lived in this country more than 18 months knows that america is a sexist society. Entertainment in America consist of SEX, MONEY, and VIOLENCE. Why would anyone expect HipHop not to be infected by these same American ideals. No matter what the next level of HipHop music will be you will always have a percentage of individuals somewhere making music that will offend another. My problem with the current state of HipHop is the media’s narrow view of HipHop. The individuals who critized the art form on Oprah yesterday, have obviously never heard of PHAROAH MONCHE, GZA, MF DOOM, KRS-ONE, TALIB KWELI, SHABAAM SADEEQ, MADLIB, AFU-RA…….HELL EVEN WILL SMITH, THIS LIST GOES ON!!!!!!! Because if they were cognizant of these POETS, they would realize how ignorant it is to say we are a prison culture and would have chosen their words a little more carefully.

Like every other culture, HipHop has its flaws, except the flaws of other cultures are usually not embraced internationally. Real HipHop is out there but what it needs is a platform which should be RADIO. Think about how much HipHop music is produced and distributed on a regular basis yet how much of the same garbage is redundantly recycled hour after hour on radio which then spills over into video once the song has had enough spins on radio. Radio has allowed the voice of a few to become the voice of many. LOL…..and then they wonder why millions are switching over to satellite radio.

This is a beautiful time in HipHop because we are learning how to mold a culture as we go. Now we have a billion dollar platform to stand on and a voice that can be heard internationally. That coupled with the fact that the community is tired of useless and irrelevent speech being the representative of a people who are already stereotyped just because of the color of their skin, means that if we truly to control and responsibilty for our culture, we would have the power to inform, educate and even possibly choose the next president. We are the future and it is imperative that we let the world know it. Shit just ask Japan……..I love HipHop!!!!!!

@106 Kyrsten, being a person of Jamaican descent, that music is coming out of a country where that is the norm. I’m not saying that makes it right, but that’s the truth. Reggae music doesn’t bash gays really. It’s the dancehall music artists, Beenie, Bounty, Ele, etc. that promotes violence agianst gays/lesbians. Never the less, danehall music, while you do hear the most popular songs that crossover, i.e dutty wine, this isn’t music that is mainstream for the USA. majority of the people in this country can’t even understand what thet are saying, so I don’t think your statement counts. No disrespect.

Kay Said:

@Bill , your so right .. i feel its all embarrassing! all of our dirty laundry is been aired so the white world can laugh and feel sorry for us!

blackbutterfly said:
——————————————————————————–
“The first music/videos that were shown exploiting women and displaying ignorant behavior were rock videos made by white folks. Shortly thereafter, the slave was so impressed by his master that he wanted to do the same thing”

As a strong black women, I do not understand for the life of me why women feel the need to undress in front of the entire world. A man worth having would rather recognize you for your class and not your azz. I am not taking up for rap artist but, what woman of God would let a man put a dog chain around her neck and walk her around half naked displaying her goods to the world? Why would a woman stoop to such levels as Superhead to be seen on tv? What type of affect does she think this will have on her son when he is old enough to understand how his mom got the nickname Superhead? Women need to stand up and take responsibility for their actions. Stop getting half naked and expect for a man to want what everybody else done had. Leave something to the imagination. Rappers call these type of women ho’s because that is what they are representing. Everyone knows that when you go to a jewelry store to purchase a nice diamond or pearl that the stuff on display is just eye candy and the real deal is kept in the back, in a vault for the most elite buyers. Stop putting yourself on display and represent who you are. A Beautiful Black Queen

As for Oprah, she is not the person to address issues in a public forum in regards to the hip hop community or everyday black issues. She probably has good intentions but she has been white washed and like to put herself on a pedestal and air out the dirty laundry of her sisters and brothers. Oprah was once what everyone would call a ho. However, she called it being very PROMISCUOUS when she became pregnant early on in life. She has swept that under the rug and is pretending like she is infallible when she is not.

Bill Said:
Cosign 101 %

Although Oprah does do a lot of good,
it really wasn’t necessary to discuss this particular topic in Public.

White People already think we are crazy,out of control baffons.

Do you know how may White People watch Oprah, and take what she has to say as Gospel.

I’m realy disgusted that she choose this topic to discuss in PUBLIC on NATIONAL (International) TV.

Oprah is all about Ratings

Peace

#52 I agree oprah was really disrespectful to that teacher, because the the truth is older blacks do not want to except the blame for not properly nurturing us, their children, their biggest investment and this is the effect of not parenting. But we will not address the real issue spare the rod spoil the child. perfect example how many watched roots this week with thier children opposed to watching moniq charm school. be responsible it starts at home

103. SEABREEZE, you did the right thing by checking his ass! He probably made friends with a black person just for that purpose! How we address each other depends on the relationship we have with each other! You call yo lady words like, baby and boo, but that don’t give every Tom, Dick and Imus the right to call her his baby or boo! See my point? You have it like that, he doesn’t!

108. blackbutterfly, I just read a portion of your comments with post #33, and if I’m not mistaken, the African men are no better with their women and in fact, I would say that they’re worst! Please don’t get me started, because I know some ish about things that African men do to their women; things that American men would never do! So, lets just move on before we get into the dirty waters!

#44 I agree.

My sister does videos(she’s been in Kayne West, 50 and Snoop vids). Some might think that a person like her is making things worse but she is NOT the image that you see on T.V. She’s been married for five years to a good man, and when she’s not on the road working she is at home, working in her garden doing arts and crafts or doing volunteer tutoring for Spanish students. Its just a paycheck to her not a lifestyle.

110. samech said: “…I wonder what the Nation of Islam has to say…(Louis Frarrakan). Honestly, I am tired of Sharpton.”

======================================================

Louis Farrakan: “It all the fault of the white devil!” lol!

The nation os Islam treat women like bond slaves!

Jesse and Al are doing just fine!

@compton and katrika
i’m not sure where you two are from but from my experience i have heard a GREAT NUMBER OF BLACKS WHO USED THE WORD NAPPY. black ppl use it all the time. and katrika, you say that we are proud of the texture of our hair but black ppl are the most critical about their hair. they think that unless you are some mixed girl with long hair, you don’t have “good hair”.

as a general statement, i want to say that this complete show was utter bs. hardly anyone said anything of importance. i heard a few great comments (kevin liles WAS NOT in the mix of great commentators). as much as i love common, he did not say anything important. most of what i heard was “let’s make change” “let’s love each other” blah blah blah. i’m as frustrated as the Spellman girls.

personally, i don’t think hip-hop will change. the masses are too stupid to buy conscious hip hop. snoop dog, Lil’ Jon and other asinine acts will always sell more than the commons, lupes, talibs, etc. of the world. the general public does not know aby better. until people get more educated in this country, this is the state we will continue to be in. we could say that it is the parenting but come on now. there are several things that are affecting the situation. it’s parenting, it’s rap, it’s our whole entire culture. go to France. most of their hip hop deals with social issues (of course you have some idiots who think they should talk about bling bling like American rappers but as a whole French rappers are different). British rappers are different as well. we’re the only ones rapping about leaning with it and rocking with it, chicken noodle souping it. we are also in the forefront of disrespecting ppl in our music. we need to stop this. i’ve stopped listening to disrespectful hip hop and hopefully more ppl continue this trend.

I love how these Spellman chicks protested Nelly’s video when he came to their school to set up a bone marrow drive.

Nelly has done more for the community than any of those chicks combined. They need to stop craving attention.

@116- thanks MEATLOAF

On a whole this is some media “Bullsh!t” and I’m tired of it. People want to blame “HIP HOP” for the langauge that being used in it. When the fact of the matter is RAP is a piece of the culture of hip hop didn’t start off that way. Furthurmore all the negative images being pushed in front of us is just a small portion of rap in itself. The these major companies that are behind these artist are promoting that more than anything else. Sex and Violence sells as media is putting a spin trying to blame hip hop when it’s the enteratainment industry in general that to blame.
I guess those violent images of people being shot and killed in movies and rock roll which was big before hip hop projecting negative images of women aren’t to blame either right.

We definitely have some accountability for the music we listen to and create but the powers that be control that so RAP can’t take all the blame. If people don’t remember what’s mainstream now used to be underground and it’s at the top of the charts now. Who’s the blame the creators or the facilitators.

Most of these rappers that you talking crazy about have organization give a lot back to the community but that will never be promoted will it…
Women, if you have an issue with it. Stop buying it.. Rappers only speak about images they see the only reason rap is getting the blame is because it’s out selling every other form of music world wide.

People really need to be accountable for there actions. The only reason IMUS got fired was because the sponsors backed out. He could pop up on internet radio and be even bigger than he was with CBS. Let’s knock off the CRAP.. Rap is being put on blast now because of that “Pass the buck” mentality of who’s to blame IMUS doesn’t even play rap on his radio show…
Women you need to stop. Every night I go out your shaking you behinds to the stuff. So it is what it is… Entertainment it’s all a ploy to tear at rap music on a whole it’s hard being at the top. These people who talk about rap in a bad light some of them have angle’s you just have to see where there coming from.

Let’s not forget C.Delores Tucker who basically wanted her own record label but tried to use the censoring of hip hop as a front.

Also some people don’t have a right to speak HIP HOP because they are outta touch.. You can’t speak on stuff you don’t know about. It’s pretty much generational I grew up in the HIP HOP generation.. I don’t expect anyone from the B.BOP generation to understand me so I feel they have a right to speak on HIP HOP…

People need to look at themselves before they get on the HIGH HORSE..

and i have to add, why are ppl on this board saying that the spellman girls “know damn well that they listen to this music” or “you don’t respect yourselves and we should respect you?” who the hell are you? do you know these girls? is it hard for you to believe that not all black women are alike? i know many black girls who would never listen to hip hop or dance to it b/c they can’t stand it. i also know many black girls (i’m one of them) who either don’t go to clubs or when they do go, dress like classy women. this is the problem right here. you see a bunch of black girls and you have already made up your mind about them and then you wonder how white people can judge blacks. YOU JUST DID IT so stop complaining about how the white man judges blacks when you have the nerve to say these girls probably shake their asses in the clubs.

and stop putting down oprah and saying that she hates black men. yes, her target audience is white but if you were intelligent you would realize that whites own this country. in order to be successful, the white man must be on your side. you can disagree if you’d like but it’s the truth. oprah caters to white people but look at what she does with her money. it ALL goes back to blacks. she went to S. Africa and built a beautiful school for a group of intelligent girls who may someday become leaders. she helps out her black people yet you all still complain about her and call her a sell-out. no wonder why she had to go all the way to Africa to build that school. she gets no love from her own country.

Cultural capitalists pimp their cukture…they sell themselves for money and profit…they could care less about anything other than exploitation for the sake of financial profit and even these kinds of discussion are seen by them as nothing more than publicity…publicity to increase their sales

All the people on that panel were saying that rappers were modern day poets and speaking about the truths and problems that we face in our communities. I am so sick of hearing that as an excuse as to why we are so callous and disrespectful. When N.W.A. was saying F the police it was because the cops weren’t doing their job and they were doing more harm than good. Now when rappers say F the police they’re boasting and bragging that they now have enough money and power to do whatever they want and the police can’t really stop them(…ahem…Robert Kelly). Let’s be real most rappers who are talking about all the ho’s they get now or all the drugs they sold to get to where they are etc. aren’t trying to change, they say they’ll never change in their songs. We don’t always want to be positive sometimes I want to hear a song tellin a bitch to “get out the way” or “shut up” but regardless it still is what it is so lets not try to say its a catalyst for change when we all know it’s not.So as long as Nelly can call me a tipdrill Imus can call me a nappy headed ho. Don’t fire him cause he did what he’s paid to do (…be controversial) fire him when his ratings go down because we won’t tolerate it any longer.

Bill, one of the speakers on the Oprah said, “its time for us to air our dirty laundry”! So, why should we be embarrassed when Jerry Springer and Maury Miller’s been airing it for 20 years!

Embarrasment is usually the flip side of something that you’re proud of! Well, pride goes befor a fall! I was not embarrased because its clear to me that white people play a big role in this mess! Even bigger than the role of blacks who have a history of being systematically dismantled by whites and by ourselves!

I am glad that finally, people are standing up to Oprah, even though Russell is not my hero! And, Kevin didn’t let “ashy lips” get away with referring to him and his colleagues as clowns! He and the other big brother looked more like clowns to me!

We can’t keep throwing our dirty laundry in the closet and sweeping it under the rug because we’re too proud to suffer the embarrasment of airing it out in public! Jesus was stripped like a slave and led through the streets like a theif, so what do you and I have to lose?

Don’t be embarrased!

^^^^ New Yorker, PREACH! CO-SIGN 100%!

I had seen it.I just wanted to hit the TV.I don’t think hip-hop is responsible.Racism and degrading woman been on for years.But like someone said don’t point the finger, and most of you are pointing.If you so concern about it, don’t talk about it, do something.Words are nothing against action.Thats why I kind of don’t care about this topic because all we do is talking about it.I see more woman call woman hoes, and its evident on this.Take the woman who was supposely carrying Jayz child, there was a whole lot bitch and hoe in less than two sentences!You can’t sit here and tell me that woman are part of the problem to because we are.I know I done something about it I even told people on the blog that using bitches and hoes is not going to solve anything an if I see the same person,because most likely I know than Im gonna call your ass out,your part of the problem.

It was wrong of that man to call them brothers clowns though, that wasn’t making anything right.

@122..I couldn’t help but feel you were generalizing ALL black women. FYI, I don’t shake my ass in the club period! And I DON’T listen to any rap music. And we black people don’t make up the mojority of record sales, WHITE people do.
And so what if Delores Tucker wanted a record label, does that mean she was going to use it to sign and promote gangsta rap music/garbage?
I agree with you and the fact that it is bigger than hip hop, but we’re talking about “OUR” community here. What other race in the entertainment industry plays out themself like rap artists do? I mean, not saying you, but the way some of you are talking, yall acting like racism don’t even exist! You didn’t hear Imus say thos nappy and stringy headed ho’s!!!! DING DONG! When you look at this team, the first thing you see is the majority, which are black females. Look, I’m not trying to be Sista Souljah, but how many times have white people in the public eye thought it was ok to make a disparaging remark to/about blacks/minorities? We can’t do that crap. Miss Jones can talk shit about the Tsunami, but let her even attempt to mock a tragedy that affected mostly white people. They will roast that ass quick! Bill O’Reily will see to that.
No disrespect, just stating my opinion.

@Bill , i support your words

It just saddens me to see us constantly disgraced. its unfair.

i don’t wanna preach but the church has been talking about this for years.

i am from England and i have to generally live amongst white people, i don’t want any pity ! but i feel tired and restless constantly trying to prove non-white wronge when the media display us as fools.

we as black people are smart.. its about time we assist one another.

@123-New Yorker I so COSIGN!

@ blackbutterfly
your comment was highly insensitive. oprah was raped by her unlce and friends of the family and last time i checked, raped women aren’t hos. that is why she got pregnant as i recall and even if she had gotten pregnant by someone who didn’t rape her, you will never understand what she went through unless you went through it yourself so don’t ever call a raped woman a ho

And I might add, The Spelman girls talking about going to clubs, and they are in Atlanta and I’ve been to a few a them.You listening to hip-hop/snap while you in the club.They think they listening to jazz and dancing like they crunk?They got to be kidding me.Not all music is going to be good.Like my mom use to say if you don’t like don’t bother it.It didn’t get me because I’m like you going to the club to dance and you sitting here complaining.Because everybody know thats where most of the music be in with those kinds of words.

A lot of the people these women target as being disrespectful are out there making actual physical and financial contributions to their community. Doing far more good than any of them are with their little attention craving antics.

For example, Nelly. That man has done an insane amount of good for the people and the global community its shocking that all that goes out the window cus he said a couple of words.

#93 I am totally with you.

correction* prove whites

@133 exactly.People act like they don’t have hearts.A lot of rapppers do a lot of things for the youth like I heard Imus has a ranch for the poor kids which includes black girls and boys.Now see everybody wants to point the blame.Its on everybody.Its like nobody sees the good in people-especially rappers.Rappers are not role models,I mean they set an example,but not everything they going to do is good, so why waste your time thinking they are because this is no perfect world.

i thought oprah didn’t allow rappers on her show…

108. blackbutterfly said: “…I do not understand for the life of me why women feel the need to undress in front of the entire world.”

======================================================

Well, I can explain it to you in one word: “Benjamins”!

You can find women and men to do anything you want for money! And unfortunately, that’s never gonna change! Snoop don’t only use black women in his videos! White women will pill their clothes for the loot too! Its not just a black “art form”! If fact, white women are the ones who trail blazed the way for porn and bondage!

So, you make a good point, but you must broaden it to understand the gravity of the task! The mind set won’t change unless all women clean it up! I know some white women who will put on black face and run butt naked through the school yard at recess!

#52 YOU ARE SO ON POINT!!!!!! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT NOTICED WHEN THE TEACHER MADE HER POINT OPRAH WAS RUDE.WHY NOT HAVE THE LUDAS THE 50CENTS AND JAY Z ON BEING THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MAKES THIS TYPE OF MUSIC BUT I HAVE TO AGRRE WITH THE SCHOOL TEACHER IT’S STARTS AT HOME.

MY ONLY ISSUE WITH THIS WHOLE THING IS THAT THEY COMPARING WHAT IMUS SAID TO THOSE GIRLS TO WHAT RAPPERS SAY.

I’M NOT SAYING THAT THESE RAPPERS ARE RIGHT BUT WHEN THEY SAY THOSE VULGER THINGS THEIR NOT SAYING IT TO ANY PARTICULAR PERSON.

IMUS ON THE OTHERHAND POINT OUT THAT THOSE GIRLS WERE NAPPY HEADED HOES.

YOU FEEL ME?

we need to juss stop blaming each other and come together and say we not gonna do this anymore. women are just as responsible as men a person can only do as much as you allow them to do. Yeah we have oprah and others to look up to but the women young kids see are the half naked women in videos. You don’t have to go to college to be like melissa ford its easy money to stand there half nude rather than going out and being like oprah it took hers yrs to get to a bill. melissa made a mill off one video. men have so many role models to look up to but they also have jeezy and jay-z u don’t have to go to college to be like them they sold drugs so why not I. Everybody wanna get rich quick nobody wants to work anymore even those who go to college drop out or don’t use they degree. I was getting a little upset with those girls from spellman b/c they are putting all the blame on men when alot of girls in videos do them for free ecspecially the ones that came on BET uncut. Buffie the body was found on the internet no one put a gun to her head. But men can’t be in the songs talkin about gold diggin ho’s and all this stuff when u out trickin in the strip club. women want good men men want good women. if we all set a standard for ourselves we wouldn’t have these discussion.

JUST A THOUGHT…….IMUS WAS FIRED FROM CBS BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS HE COULD’VE JEPARDIZED. HOWEVER…….CBS IS OWNED BY VIACOM…..WHICH OWNS BET….WHICH OWNS MTV AND VH-1….WHO PROJECT THE SAME IDEALS THAT EVERYONE IS DISCUSSING HERE.. VIACOM AND NBC-UNIVERSAL, WHICH OWNS UMG….WHICH OWNS INTERSCOPE(BY THE WAY, INTERSCOPE HAS THE RADIO ON LOCK) WHICH OWNS AFTERMATH, SHADY, G- UNIT, ISLAND DEF JAM, DISTURBING THE PEACE, CASH MONEY, TERROR SQUAD….THE LIST GOES ON……NBC-UNIVERSAL AS WELL AS VIACOM WHICH COMBINED CONTROLS 98% OF THE IMAGES YOU BUY, SEE, HEAR, IS OWN BY GENERAL ELECTRIC AND THE CEO IS A 53 YEAR OLD CAUCASIAN OF GERMAN DECENT…….THE RAPPERS ARE JUST WORMS ON A VERY LONG HOOK. THESE IMAGES OF THE CULTURE ARE RUN BY WHITE COLLARS THAT KNOW NOTHING OF THE CULTURE. IT HAS BECOME BIGGER THAN THE CULTURE. THIS IS WHY REAL MC’S DON’T PUT ON THAT BLACK FACE PAINT AND GO TAP DANCE FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. THEY STAY INDEPENDENT……SUPPORT INDEPENDENT HIPHOP

Take their contracts, limit their exposure but trust me. You will still have a high rate of minority drop out, high rate of teenage pregnancy, and a high rate of males in prison. That panel made it but those are kids left behind by the educational system and poor parenting. teach your daughter to be a teacher and she will look down on stripping. support your child academically then he will put down the ball and become a doctor until then they wiil wan to be rappers and ballers

Haven’t read all the comments but when the girl from Spelmen said….(adlibbing) men in the club don’t deferentiate us from those hoes…..what really was she trying to say….anybody, anybody….

109. Meatloaf said:

88. Decysive ~ That was a big step that the Spelman women took when they told Nelly to keep steppin! The women on the Oprah show were not the main players to cancel the Nelly show, but the standard was set and it made “black national” news! These women were just brought in to be mouthpieces like Jesse and Al!

While I agree that they probably only get involved when its convenient, I do respect college students who spend their time in class and in the library studying. They can give back when they get something!
____________________________________________________

I respect your opinion but I’m going to have to say that’s a cop out. If these women can blame rappers for not leading by example, then they should atleast hold themselves to that same standard. And with the Nelly thing, yes, he should’ve been boycotted. However, they are defending who allowed herself to be sexually objectified. The fact that the female was a willing participant in the act NULLIFIES their whole argument.

America needs to find another scapegoat because as raunchy and classless as Hip Hop is, I will defend it from being persecuted as the root of all evil. I’m tired of hearing what rappers get away with saying. Rap music is just a reflection of what’s going on in America.

Misogyny will go on forever and ever regardless of whether it’s spit on sixteen bars or not. While Lady O is jumping on Blacks for standing against Imus, but not holding ourselves to the same standards, the same could be said for her stance against Hip-Hop. Women (and yes, I am a female) need to take responsibility for the fact that if wouldn’t allow men degrade us or stand for degradation, misogyny wouldn’t be as excused as it is. And if this a valid discussion about misogyny, how come Hugh Heffner isn’t there, or that guy from the “Girls Gone Wild” franchise? Why are they not being held accountable?

I hope this comment does not get lost in between all the others because this is a subject and dialogue our community needs to face. I saw both shows (twice actually) and I do feel that the issue was danced around on part two.

We can say all day long that the rappers shouldn’t say this or that and they have a responsibility. But truth be told, they only make whats in demand. If we, the consumers, stop buying and boycott or local radio stations that play the derogatory rap (not all rap), they I guarantee record execs will stop telling these artists to make this music. Where was Cathy Hughes on the show? She’s a BLACK WOMAN and the head of Radio One. She’s just as responsible as the record company’s, and rappers themselves.

And as for the videos, get off the rappers’ backs about the naked girls in the videos. We, as women have to say NO and teach and educate our young women on self respect. As long as there are girls lined up to be in videos, rappers and producers will continue to “employ” them.

I think it all starts with the women consumers. If we stop buying the music, do not allow our children to buy the music, and boycott radio, then everything else will fall into place and then we will be able to confrot the undelying problems with our community. But it all starts with US, not THEM.

In my opinion….I feel that if you don’t like message in Rap music…don’t waste your money, time or saliva on it.

As for these demeaning words towards the black community….comming from the black community….thats bullshit!

The word Nigga was given to African Americans by White people….the only problem was that instead of Black people being ashamed of it…they embraced it.

“Oh I’m nigga? Is that right? Okay so I’mma be a nigga….yo nigga, whats good? Thats my nigga right there!”

Nappy came from white folks too! Because it’s another demeaning word that was used to put down black people.
Some people embrace the word…some don’t! “Oh my hair is nappy to you? Fine, fuck you if you don’t like it…thats how god made me!”

Now for the word hoe…thats not African American Vernacular, it’s American Vernacular…it was a word used and created by both Black and White people! It’s an ugly word period. Nobody should use it against anybody! Period…

If Done Anus knew that already…the meanings these words held…why did he use it in a joke?

Simple…he is a Jack Ass! He is a grown ass man that knew what he was doing and being that he was white, he thought he could get away with it! He wouldn’t be sorry if he wouldn’t have been threatened to get fired!!!! So as for his apology!
Bullshit, I’m done with this Motherfucker can we move on? Please?

AS for Oprah…I’m mad I missed it! My Boo Boo Common was there….Damn night school!!!!!

im very opinionated on this…

we cant not blame hip-hop for everything….men call woman bitches/hoes because woman call woman bitches and hoes and that woman panel is really reallllly one sided thats why i got upset watchin this shit for the past 2 days

off subject too but we cant also blame crime on hip-hop too, its just delivery, if they gonna blame hip-hop, blame rock too

okay i dont listen to rap unless it’s on radio sometimes because it’s cencored, i dont want to listen to women be preffered to as a bitch or hoe, or listen to nigga this, nigga that, i’m gon shoot you, skeet,skeet. w.e mostly whenever in my school when i see someone listening to rap it’s usually some white kid who thinks they’re mad gangsta or some lame kids who think they are gangbangers. in result we end up having italian kids callin themselves niggas and irish kids, i swear some kids need some whoopass.
ne ways, so not everything needs to be blamed on the black community.

That’s a valid point LaShonda and I agree that the very artists I mentioned in my previous post might not have come. Yet, the issue or point of Oprah’s “town meeting” was to spark action. When she decided to do these shows to sorta “open the door” for conversation, I would have hoped that she would have been more aggressive with this age-old subject. Again, my issue is this: I just don’t see how you can advance the topic without the very people who keep the misogynistic cycle moving forward? And don’t get me wrong, I just don’t think the Ludas and 50s of the world should’ve been there. I think (real) movers & shakers from “Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group — who control about 70% of the world music market, and about 80% of the United States music market” should have been there too. But hopefully, this won’t be the end. Hopefully, O might give other rappers a platform. A platform that, I believe through reading various media stories, they are willing to take in order to defend themselves (which I don’t think they have to do, but the world needs to know that YOU (America) created us. (Oh wait, except for 50 cent who said: “ I couldn’t care less about Oprah or her show” and “I am actually better off having friction with her.”

Moving on.

I finally watched all six of the YouTube videos and I must say, although I’m glad she had the show, it just seems like blah, blah, blah. Folks interrupting folks, commercial break after commercial break, and I’m left wondering, have we really accomplished anything? We know censorship is not going to work. Canceling the contracts of various artists isn’t going to work. I’m almost willing to go out on a limp and say that nothing is going to change/make an artist stop saying b-this, ho-that, because that is their right. There’s so so so many different sides of Hip Hop and who am I to say “those rappers” can’t say that. Shoot, that’s what they’re a product of. If you change the environment/society, then maybe “those rappers” might not have a need to rap like that. (But we all know that society’s ills aren’t going to go away so easily. That’s a bigger problem and folks would rather go after the product of the problem rather than the problems themselves: poverty, joblessness, homelessness, drugs, low wages for entry-level jobs, crime, etc.) Besides those little things called Parental Advisory Labels protect “those rappers”. Like #64 mentioned, “the lyrics don’t offend me because they are not talking about me. People have to face it [there] are women in this world like that. And that’s their right to be that way”. And I agree wholeheartedly.

We as (mature) adults have the responsibility to ensure that our children know who they are. That music/artists DO NOT define them. That b-this, h-that has a place, but it is NOT considered acceptable language in various situations of life. Besides O herself has said she listens to hip hop: “From People.com: Earlier this month on a New York radio show, Winfrey, 52, responded to charges of her anti-hip-hop bias. Speaking to DJ Ed Lover, she said: “I listen to some hip-hop. You know, I’ve been accused of not liking hip-hop, and that’s just not true. I got a little 50 (Cent) on my iPod. I really do. Love In Da Club. … Love that, and you know, love Jay-Z, love Kanye (West), love Mary J. (Blige).”

So, I do believe that her criticism comes with love, I just hope that this doesn’t turn into a call for more censorship…. Okay, let me stop. Because this issue is an age-old one and nothing is gonna change it. I mean, just because music/videos are created, doesn’t mean you have to listen/watch. And if you DO listen/watch (and you’re an mature adult), then so be it. That’s your right. That’s the (ironic) beauty of being a citizen of this land of the free.