Ok what the hell took y’all so long to post this? Complexndope and I were speaking about this on another one of the posts that had to do with T.I (I think it was the one where he was leaving Christian A.).U shoulda been on this one since they showed Part One of the special… i’m just too tired to comment on it but I loved how they all showed their points and made it a significant factor that they get the msg out to ALL of America and not just black ppl or just adults…

toodz

Well said Keeke, TMOE, Richard, Baliey, THE ONE, and many others

I think there are alot of people out there who are misinformed about this topic or are just uneducated. I just don’t understand how anyone in their right mind can say that hip-hop does not have a negative influence on people. I’m 20 years old and I go to college and I recently worked as a tutor but now work at a community center and I know firsthand what these young black kids are talking about and doing. These young black girls look at these music videos and think its cute to dance like a slut and dress like one. Young black boys think its cool if they dress like a thug and some of them who even come from affluent families think that its cool to sell drugs and carry guns around because rappers do it and think that at the end of the day if they do it too, then it’ll make them look tough.

These rap videos promote ignorance and misogny - black kids think its cool to talk like some uneducated loser because they think that if you appear smart, then it means that you’re acting white. So a lot of these kids talk in ebonics or slang and spit out the n word like its nothing. How frustrating it is to see 12 year old boys talk about how they’re gonna “fuck that nigga up” or shoot somebody over nothing. And then you have boys who call other girls their ages bitches and hoes because some girl doesn’t wanna be their girlfriend. (Trust me I always call them out when I do hear them say that). These boys hear their favorite rapper say those demeaning words all the time - on the radio and on tv - so how could it be wrong? And these videos teach black girls at a very young age that they have to act sexual if they want a boy’s attention and that they have to dance like a slut and give into their temptations if they want a guy to like them.

And it doesn’t matter how strict some of their parents are: the kids can behave well-mannered when their at home but once those kids leave their house and go to school or to the courtyard, then you really see their true colors. And BET is apart of the problem. The only time black children see people of their skin color on tv is on BET. There are only a few television shows that include a black person or any other minority in the cast. Even that, theres ALWAYS just one black person or one hispanic person on these television shows. You never see black people on television unless its on BET or TVONE reruns of Living Single, In the House, New York Undercover, etc… How can you tell young black people that they shouldn’t watch BET, when its the only time that they can see black people of their skin color on tv all day and everyday? The only time they see prosperous successful black people on television, is on BET or on sports channels. Thats why so many of them think that the only way they could make it is if they become a rapper or an basketball player, or a NFL player. Lets face it BET represents black people and its a poor representation of us.

What people see on BET, is what people think of black people as a whole. Because of the negative images that are associated with hip-hop, people all over the world are going to continue to think that if they see a black guy on the street, then he is going to rob them or shoot them. Call them ignorant for thinking that but its not their fault if they do think that.. Not only that, but I’m tired of the whole world thinking that all that black women can offer is a lap dance and a “good time.”

ABOUT RAPPERS DEGRADING BLACK WOMEN AND MAKIN THEM LOOK LIKE HOES:

1. THEY ARENT DOING GREAT THINGS FOR THE IMAGE OF BLACK MEN (THEMSELVES) EITHER. I HATE HOW THE WHITE MEDIA LABELS OUR BLACK MEN AS PIMPS AND DRUG DEALERS AND CRIMINALS. SURELY THE NEGATIVE STEREOTPYES OF BLACK MEN ARE JUST AS DAMAGING TO SOCIETY AS THE NEGATIVE IMAGES OF BLACK WOMEN. MALE OR FEMALE, WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. BLACK WOMEN MIGHT SHAKE THEIR ASSES IN VIDEOS, BUT THE COON STEREOTYPE OF BLACK MALES IS ALSO BEING PURPORTED.

2. BLACK WOMEN ARE NOT HELD AT GUNPOINT TO BECOME VIDEO HOES. THEY DO IT BY CHOICE–SO U CANT JUST ASSUME THAT THEYRE IN THEIR SITUATION CAUSE SHE WAS FORCED BY BLACK MEN TO DANCE HALF-NAKED IN SOME STUPID VIDEOS. PC LIBERAL FEMINISTS SAY THIS SAME THING ABOUT WOMEN IN THE PORNO INDUSTRY BUT GUESS WHO MADE THAT DECISION TO DO SEXUAL ACTS ON CAMERA—THE WOMEN THEMSELVES. I, AS A BLACK WOMAN, DONT WANNA BLAME EVERYTHING ON BLACK MEN OR EVEN WHITE PEOPLE IN GENERAL. VIDEO HOES ARE DAMAGING THEIR OWN IMAGES AND ARE DOING THE SAME TO OTHER BLACK WOMEN.

I think hiphop does have a lot of influence on our youth but hiphop along is not the only problem. What about television, and some of the shows they are showing for all of America to see. We need to make our kids realize that it’s okay to listen to music but look up to people that really make a difference like doctors, teachers, and people of that status who are not in the lime light. And BET has some of the stupidest shows on TV so they really need to step their game up since they are portraying BLACK ENTERTAINMENT.

And as far as disrespcting females, I’m a female and I feel that a lot of females disrespect themselves to stoop to certain levels to even get in a video; so why don’t they do other things for themselves besides stand up half naked in a video; which a lot of them are doing for little or no money.

i don’t think the rappers made any valid point. i respect them for coming on there, but they made no valid points. nelly made a few but tried to blame everyone else and he needed to take responsibility for tip drill, TI ried to blame everything on the household, some I agree but others didn’t make any sense. Bet needs to stop playing these dumb ass videos. I agree with the Professors, Public Speakers at least they made sense. waste of my time!!!!

AND CONTINUING ON MY SECOND POINT–I REMEMBER SOMEONE WHO APPEARED ON DEF COMEDY JAM DURING THE 90′S SAID THIS–HE SAID THAT SOME CHICKS WOULD GET OFFENDED IF ANOTHER WOMAN CALLS THEM A BITCH OR A HOE, BUT IF SNOOP DOGG SAID IT, THEY BE WORSHIPPING HIS ASS AND SHIT! VIDEO HOES GET TREATED LIKE BITCHES CAUSE THEY DONT RESPECT THEMSELVES.

This discussion or roundtable rather should have been done about 10-12 years ago,why is it happening now? What these artist are doing is nothing new! The only diffrence is that rap music is a huge money maker right now so it’s in the forefront.Why are people so up in arms about in now when the ho’s, bitches, and the glorification of violence and sex have been running rampant in rap music since the early 90’s

Thanks guys.

I hate that they get these people on these shows who feel that just because they study hip hop, they know everything, you cant study hip hop, hip hop is a feeling, a culture, an understanding. to say that rappers are expected to be rolemodels is bull, because these are the same cats who raised themselves in the streets, or by gang members who were the only family they knew. some rappers got in the industry very young, and most were rapping before they got signed, and what they were rapping about, cars and guns, and their life, is what got them the record deal. everybody cant be a common and a nas. yes that all well and good, but i believe that sometimes people dont see that, and need to realize that. i have so much more to say, i need to go on oprah or BET with something like this and speak.

I just think that there is more than one influence in all life. Not only do flowers need water to grow, it needs the sun, and not only does it need the sun, it needs nuturing…I said all that to say that people are the same. There’s going to be more than one influence in your life, and it’s up to you to decipher what’s going to make you grow because unlike a flower, it can’t take care of itself. Kids are smarter than what everone is making them out to be. I was a kid when I was first exposed to vulgar hip hop like NWA and Luke…I heard it, my parents didn’t talk to me about it–hip hop wasn’t the first time I heard that language. I didn’t let it shape my mind into thinking that I am what they were saying???? I saw music for what it was, it’s not my parent, or my God. It was a sound, a beat, a thing. Could it have influenced me? Sure if I let it…but it didn’t. People need to stop acting like kids are so mindless that they can’t tell the difference between this, that or the other. Sure everyone doesn’t have parents, but everyone that didn’t doesn’t attribute their lives to music and if they did then ok. But Nelly, Snoop, Pac, or whoever never gave me anything but a dope sound to bob my head to because that’s all that I accepted it to be to me

Instead of rapping about tip drills Nelly shoulda been rap about bone marrow- for real - maybe because of his status that would have been more effective publicity….

The title “Hip-Hop vs. America” sounds kind of terroristic, lol. Maybe it was a subliminal message regarding the stance America has always taken and will continue to take against the “hip-hoppers” (blacks and hispanics). The program, in my opinion, was a microcosm of the dialogue that occurs when black people try to discuss serious issues amongst each other. There was alot of impassioned rhetoric and alot of good questions asked, but no one answered anything because no one could. No one could because black people have the enormous issue of having to overcome racism and oppression and at the same time feeling as if they shouldn’t offend the white man when they speak about those issues. That’s why everyone was so frustrated. Due to the fact that no one wants to offend the caucasians, all serious black dialogue quickly devolves into name-calling and arguments between men vs. women and old vs. young because we have to “start with ourselves”. We do have to start and end with ourselves but in real discourse about the problems in the black community, the caucasians will ahve to be addressed. Simple as that. Even within the hip hop vs. America guidelines, the real battle shaped up as the civil rights movement generation vs. the post-crack epidemic generation and the sanctimonious sisters versus the manipulative, misogynistic, exploitative young black man, lol.

From what portions of the show I saw, people like Michael Eric Dyson represent everything that’s wrong with so-called black leadership in America.The man has mastered the art of saying absolutely nothing in the midst of all his phony, polysyllabic, male feminist, pimp talk bluster. Did anyone in the studio or viewing audience really even understand what the hell the man was talking about? When he spoke, people either laughed or they got confounded and looked quizzically at each other. That’s obviously why the white man allows men like him and Cornel West to teach at some of these colleges, i.e. Georgetown University. They deal with metaphysics, pseudo-philosophy, idealism, contrived Afro-centricity, and political correctness. Don’t forget the glasses either, lol, they always have to wear glasses so that people can think that they’re intelligent. As soon as real solutions get broached, the inner coon in those men will come out, guranteed. There’s a conflict of interests because they get their power and prestige from white America so they will not bite the hand that feeds them.

I applaud Nelly’s courage for coming on the show, knowing that he was going to get castigated like he was. He was impassioned in how he spoke and that almost made up for the fact that he had little foundation to what he stood for. T.I. should be great in “American Gangster” if the acting and posturing that he did on this program was any indicator. The man contradicted himself when he claimed that rappers speak about the realities in the black community but then acknowledged that if they made videos depicting the upstanding or just average aspects of the black community, BET and MTV would reject the video. So the man basically acknowledged that these rappers are the real bitches and hos because they’re getting sent out on the stroll by the music and television executives. The program’s producers would’ve been just as fine having Nelly square off vs. Stanley Crouch one on one. Those were the only two people on the panel who really had a purpose to being there as opposed to seeking a television appearance. Crouch makes decent points but he’s one of those blacks from the 50’s and 60’s that’s too proud to acknowledge that the civil rights movement wasn’t effective.

As for Melyssa Ford and the other sisters, they really mocked themselves and each other. She kills me with that, “I was paying for my college tuition. I’m not like these new girls.”, spiel. She set the standard for whoredom in these rap videos and all she has to show for it is a cocaine habit and periodic television appearances. I wonder if anyone will ever have a show with all the prominent female rappers and take them to task for the images that they propagate. If they do, it would eventually become another black male bashfest any damn way, lol.

I believe music is vital to life, so to think music does’nt affect people is foolish. Music is a language spoken by every person on the face of this earth. Black people birthed Hip Hop and it changed the world - literally. I once was in a remote african villiage and heard Jay-Z on the radio- Hip Hop has transcended every race and nation. Unfortunately in it’s birth place , America - it has been raped of it’s truth . Like they said on the show, in places like France, Japan, London people are still passionate about the true essense of Hip Hop.
My point is Music is more than just vibrations in the air- it is spiritual, it’s can change emotions and feelings. It affects people whether these rappers/artists know it or not. Do i believe elements of Hip Hop have damaged the reputation of Black America?- Definately.
Do i believe that Hip Hop is destroying American society? -Hell No.
Do i believe in freedom of speech and espression? -YES !

But i feel everyone has to take responsibilty for what we put out there. And we as women need to stop

Ya’ll say parents need to watch their kids but you got some parents who work two jobs to put food on the table and don’t have time to watch their kids all da time. Some kids are in the position where they have to watch themselves. Not only that bet have uncut like its damn porn channel knowing kids can wake up in the middle of the night, especially Friday when its no school the next day, and watch uncut with the tv low while their mom are sleep. There’s also boys with no father so they gonna look up to rappers, and we all know a single mom cant teach a boy to be a man.

Like I said, everything has an influence-it’s up to you to let it. People have their own mind, they just have to use it.

WHAT A WASTE OF AIRTIME? BET SUCKS AND BLOWZ…
nelly t.i. and mike Jones…the main ones feedin garbage to the youth with all that ice this, ho B8tch that..N8gga I got this you aint got that kind of bullshh.. neither of them artist are real…if they truly mean what they say they wouldnt be feedin the young black youth garabge azz music thats self destructive…their music would be a bit more polictical and wise….not commercial gimmick azz popcorn hiphop…rhymes thats just meant to sell instead of rhymes that can used to help created a positive change..I can most certainly give *two middle fangaz* about what that video cluck has to say…and then tha braod has the audacity to say she wants be a rolemodel for young girls? What she meant to say was for young and upcomin video hoz? BET is so damn backwardz its pathetic that station can go to hell…im so disappointed at BET AND THEY LAME AZZ SHOWS.

ASHELy…my sistah you are dead wrong…I know plenty of hardworkin single moms who have raised their sons better than any man could have…yes its a good thing to have a family..and thats why sex shouldnt be overrated and abused…And please do not make up excuses for tired parents who say they dont have time to raise their kids…because my mom worked her azz off and went to school but she also made sure I was taken care of first and she has done a damn great job in raisin me…and trust me theres many other moms out here that work hard azz hell but still make time to raise their kids the right way…so ma open up your eyes a bit wider…

BUMBA I *cosign*

I agree with number 5 on Nelly

Preach Judah! lol… and for LacLady I agree with you to a certain extent but I do think Ashley was right too…

I was raised by a single mother and I don’t mind saying that I think that I turned out pretty well. She instilled morals and values in me and basically raised me and my brother in a christian household. But the thing is, its still very difficult for young boys to grow up in this world without a healthy father figure in their lives. As much as my mom trys to continually instill values in all of us, I do see my little brother hanging out with the wrong crowd and he actually thinks that theres nothing wrong with calling a woman a bitch. Even though that word was never once used in our household, I’m not stupid, I know where he got it from. I see those kids trying to imitate those rappers, trying to talk like them and dress like them.

A woman can teach their son on how to be respectful to other people but its not the same when its not coming from a male figure that he could connect with on a one-to-one level. Psychologists say the most important relationship a boy could ever have is with his father. And lets face it, since many fathers are not living in the household, boys are going to keep looking up to these rappers because they don’t have any other successful black man in their life to look up to. Statistics keep showing that black men who don’t have a father in their lives, are more likely to do drugs, drop out of school, get into gangs, or even father a child. Moms can do their best, but again, I have to say that its been proven that the strongest and most important relationship that a child will ever have, the one that will have the most impact, is with their same-sex parent - the mother to daughter relationship and then the father to son relationship.

Thats why its important for the daddies to be around for their son, to teach them how a man is suppose to act. Unfortunately, it looks like young boys are looking up to these rappers for guidance into trying to find out what a man is suppose to look like.

Rappers need to face the fact…THEY ARE ROLE MODELS…hell, everyone is a role model to someone, that’s just the way it is!..I’m a teacher and the other day I heard two of my “academically challenged” students break down the meaning of lil wayne’s verse in his latest song… I was shocked these students are barely passing and they were able to understand everything he was saying…I’m with them for 180 days, they have never met lil wayne and they care more about what he says than I do! So, I hope they realize that they do have an influence!!!!

Hip hop has nothing to do with ignorant parents letting their children run wild while they fill their noses with cocaine.

People say that it is the parents responsibility to raise the kids. In most black communities, 70 percent plus of black kids are born into single parent homes. Parents work more and are home less. What parents?

If people thought about the situations kids deal with in many Black communities, they’d voluntarily limit raunchy booty aand trap music.

@KENNY …WOW .. “should he start havin bunch of fat bitches in them, i personally think these women in hip hop videos are how beautiful black women should look like.” ME BEING A FAT GURL IM SHOCKED TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT … THOSE WOMEN IN THESE VIDEOS ARE PRETTY BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT ALL BLK WOMEN SHOULD LOOK LIKE …YOU SOUNDED VERY IGNORANT WITH THAT STATEMENT … NOW IM NOT SPEAKIN ON IT CAUSE IMA FAT GIRL BUT BECAUSE IM A BLACK WOMAN AND I KNOW IM BEAUTIFUL ..ANYWAYS ABOUT THA SHOWS .. I LIKED IT THEY WERE SPEAKIN SOME TRUTH EVEN SUPERHEAD WAS SHES ON PART 3 ON BET.COM/ONBLAST…..I WENT AND WATCHED IT LAST NIGHT…I FEEL LIKE U ANYONE GOT BEEF WITH HIP HOP DONT LISTEN TO IT .. IT DONT DEFINE ME NONE OF THA SHIT THEY SAYIN IN THEY SONGS …IM NOT THA BITCH OR THA HOE THEY TALKIN BOUT SO IT DONT OFFEND ME ITS MUSIC TO ME THATS IT THATS ALL .. I MEAN SOME STUFF THEY PUT OUT I ASK WHY AND WHO GAVE THEM A RECORD DEAL BUT OTHER THAN THAT THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT … THATSWHAT THEY GET PAID TO DO ENTERTAIN ME…

Please remember the women in the videos always have a choice in what they do and how far to go. Dont always blame the Rappers for the videos. u can be a video model and do it tastefully. no further.

Sorry the TipDrill issue and it being upset by Spelman girls is just as dumb for two reasons.These women be up in the club shaking their ass to these song so it makes no point to me.It makes it invalid.and I agree with Hdizzle.And Lil Kim,Eve and Trina are just as nasty.When Eve came on BET Rap City acting like she was some angel I thought she has some nerve.

BET - know exactly who their demo ifor every show… they know they have babies watching 106 & Park and they still market soft porn to kids.

There is nothing wroing with some of those videos as adult ent but why not play them at night, why not be more strict about what is on 106 & park.

Is their payola on BET? I just don’t think all of those videos are really votes on by those kids.

Parents - stop being lazy and get off the couch and use your pin # to block certain channels in your family. My best friend has satellite and she blocks several channels in hrr family room and her kids room… her adn her husband get EVERYTHING on satellite….. but her kids don’rt. Too many irresponsible parents out there. Call your cable /satellite company!!!!

Record Labels - Start signing and PROMOTING more artisit like Lupe, Alicia, Chrisette, Erykah, Jill Scott, Kanye, Lauryn Hill, and Usher…stop promoting GHETTO culture Kelly Rowland,,, you were rich by the time you were a teenager!!

RADIO - the payola system is not working, radio one is still losing money!! Think outside of the box and start playing more artisit from independent labels like Teedra Moses who are more relevant and talented… you might actully be more successful.

BET is one of the least watched national cable channnel according to latest reports that cover cable tv. Radio One is losing profit on hip hop stations…. this is all because of payola!!

Way to getting one step closer to solving an issue, bring all the problem makers, and criticizers together, & lets have them speak their mind. U guyz, we r going in full circle here. This shit will never be solved, we’ll just keep having discussion panels, but i still see the same old music videos on BET and MTV Jams, so………….

#49 you are so right! I am an African-American femaile (30-ish) and grew up on real hip hop and I have seen the change! I listen to all listen to some of the rap they were referring to, but I know that doesnt define me as a person. It has never influenced my decisions because I understood it was “fantasty” and I was taught to resect myself. If more parents (black and white) stopped relying on the tv to raise their children it wouldnt be an issue! It is not these entertainers responsibilty to raise our children! Just like Nelly and TI stated the record companies, media outlets, and the consumers wouldnt buy the product if it didnt have mass appeal. You cant fault or blame the entertainers for “doing their job” and appealing to the masses! Its time for parents to step up, and take control of their children! Its also time for people to stop blaming the rappers for the women who CHOOSE to be half naked in the videos! They are grown ass women who decided to do that! If anything,. thee needs to be a panel to stop them from degrading themselves!

Co-sign on #5.

@127

THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS IN THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY SLAVE OWNERS, AND IT ALSO CONSIDERED BLACKS 3/4 OF A PERSON. IF ANYBODY OR THING IS HYPOCRITICAL IT IS THE CONSTITUTION.

Why did the old jerks who started all this crap and nonsense act like they were scared to open their mouths???? I know I would be if I went all out to destroy other peoples’ million dollar careers!!! And A-hole Oprah who started all the crap and is behind it wasn’t even on the podium. She’s running scared too.

YEAH, OPRAH STARTED ALL THIS CRAP. SHE EVEN ASKED THAT OTHER TALK SHOW HOST NOT HAVE RAPPERS ON THEIR PROGRAMS AND THAT THEIR CONTRACTS BE CANCELLED. NOW HER SCARY AZZ IS HIDING BEHIND AL, AND THOSE OTHER OLD FOOLS. SHE’S BEHIND ALL THIS ANTI-SAGGING STUPIDITY TO GET BLACK BOYS LOCKED UP FOR FASHION TOO. NOW HER SCARY AZZ IS TRYING TO DISASSOCIATE HERSELF. SHE STARTED ALL OF IT WHEN SHE GOT JEALOUS OF 3 6 MAFIA FOR WINNING THE ACADEMY AWARD AND SHE DIDN’T FOR THE COLOR PURPLE. THE PRAISE HOGG WAS HOPPING MAD ABOUT THAT.

i couldnt turn the channel, each individual made several valid points. and i love how professional t.i.

Well, I think its easy to blame the rappers for the down fall of the black community but lets face it, there are so many other factors out there and we can not hold one party responsible. Music videos are meant to entertain not to teach, that’s what are parents, pastors, and teachers used to do. We have the freedom of speech and we can not limit that to people other than rappers. We have a choice whether or not to buy the music, to tune into BET and as parents we have a choice of what we will and will not allow our kids to watch. Its amazes me how we can find so much fault in the rappers and publicize all the negative, but how often to we hear about the positive things they do. How often did we hear about Nelly’s foundation? Like it was said, they could be living the life to make the money or telling you about there experiences. Which would you rather have. Music has been the only outlet for alot of troubled youth. If you ban what they can and cannot say it will only cause more trouble. Parents are not spending enough time with the kids to find out about what they are watching, who they are hanging with and what they know or don’t know. That’s not the rappers fault. Some of our pastors are not willing to speak on issues hurting our black communities out of fear and that’s not the rappers fault. Some of our teachers view their job as another day at work and not instrumental part of a childs future, others are afraid of correcting kids because parents are more likely to be upset and want to fight than supportive and appreciative. That’s not the rappers fault. These women make a choice to be in these videos, they are not forced. Some of them make it a career to be in every rappers video, its a choice. Put more books in your childs room, more child hood games instead of all the fighting and shooting playstations games, play more games with your kids and dont subscribe to cable. Stop shifting blame on others. Rappers can not control what we as parents allow in our homes, cars and kids possessions and should not have too. Kids are not allowed to be kids anymore, not allowed to go outside and play, ride bikes, jump rope all they want to do is sit in front of a tv, computer and playstation. You control that. We have to be positive role models for our kids and bring them into the company of other positive people we want our kids to see.Its not a rapper/entertainers responsibility. Yeah you wonder if they think twice about the things they say but its there choice. We can’t take it away. It amazes me how offended we can get over a video but we won’t join our neighborhood watch programs, PTA’s, city councils. What’s degrading is not teaching these kids in schools, just passing them on to get them out of your schools, what’s degrading is not reporting the local drug dealer in front of your house selling to kids and their parents, what’s degrading is allowing our daughters to think that because their mothers, grandmothers were on welfare its okay and acceptable to be content being on welfare, what’s degrading is knowing your child is mixed up with the wrong crowd and being to scared to but a belt on him or her or call the police when you know he’s committed a crime, what’s degrading is bringing all these men in and out of our children’s lives, what’s degrading is being so focused on the negative and not being open minded to others peoples ideas, thoughts and cultures, what’s degrading is continuing to find others to blame for our own down fall as a black community such as the “white man”, the system, the rappers and not taking responsibility for our own actions, not fighting the battle of black on black crime in our own communities, not trying to elimate the dependency of welfare in our communities, instead of talking about our brothers and sisters, why not pull them to the side and help them, give them a chance to work for your company..proud black business owner. Stop looking to for a place, person or thing to place blame and step up to be a part of the solution starting in your own home. Now if you aren’t registered to vote (excluding the convicted felons that can’t)then your word means nothing so stop complaining and stop commenting, if you haven’t joined your kids PTA then your word means nothing, if you haven’t reported or stood up against crimes in your own neighborhood, your word means nothing. Start close to home, then go world wide but eliminating the power of choice and right to free speach and expression is not the way to solve the crisis in the black community.

I think the most valid point regarding the view of black women was when the young lady on panel (don’t remember her name) made the point that America only see’s black women in one light, and that ass shaking, raunchy, “superhead” types b/c there are no other images of black women on TV. The only other time we see that, is on the CW lineup. Thats it. So America starts to believe what it see’s.

To LACLADY
OK I see you had to share your story yea what ever. Anyways my eyes are open. That’s your mom good for her. I have witness some single parents who are more at home than work. I’m not talking about watching their kids far as taking care of them. As you you know a mother busting her ass at two jobs is in my book is taking care of her kids putting food on the table and so on. I’m talking about not home enough far as seeing what their kids watching 24 hours. Then you got to look at some situations where kids parents are on drugs an taking care of themselves. It’s just so many situations out there that don’t even come from bad parenting. From kids living with their grandparents and you know they old ass can’t keep up with these fast ass kids. It does makes it harder with out a father figure. A young boy will rather look up to a rapper than maybe his uncle or somebody because rappers seem to get more of their attention. Lets be real here. Some boys be like o that nigga aint my daddy to someone in they fam oppose to them following what a rapper does. And sweetie I have been in situations as where I had to take care of myself and younger siblings, which I choose not to discuss… Beleve me their are alot of different situations out there u need to look at before coming at me…… Ya digg!!!!

Ashley,
I disagree. A single mom can teach a boy how to be a man. One thing for sure a real woman knows what type of values, morals and characteristics of a real man she wants by her side and all she has to do is instill those things into her son, be supportive, get involved with his school, sports and keep an open line of communication. We have to stop saying a child needs both parents. Yeah it would be great to have two parents in the home, but what we need to do is stop making excuses, stand on our own two feet, take ownership, work hard, be positive, be supportive and last but not least pray. If we keep making excuses nothing will change. As a single parent I know times get hard, situations seem unbareable at times but what keeps me going is the love for my child and wanting her to more out of life and also the love and respect I have for myself won’t allow me to do anything but work hard and be a loving parent. I lead by example. I want my child to see me a strong black, professional and independent black woman, who works hard to provide for her and her child while still finding time to reach out and help others in need. Hip Hop can’t teach her that and shouldn’t have to. Some things are a parents responsibility.

Look…

I only watched five minutes of this show and turned the channel. I’m so sick of this HIP-HOP vs. AMERICA bullshit, I don’t know what to do. So I simply solve that problem: I only support positive hip-hop which is mostly underground/independent. Best thing, the indie rap is better than the mainstream and I never grow tired of it. Fuck Nelly, Fuck T.I., Fuck MC Blah, Blah, Blah and Lil’ Wakkakakakaka…whatever. As a Black woman their music offends me, so I don’t waste my money on them nor do I support them. Sitting up and bitching about it won’t go anywhere. All America is doing is giving these young coonish rappers more ammunition top create more ignorant and degrading music. I don’t care if they are in it for the money, they need to become MEN and grow up, invest their money and represent the good Black men much longing for. The mainstream rap industry is sleazy and money-hungry, therefore, I’ll support those underpaid, yet extremely talented indie rappers. =)

Toodles.

@ #10

You had me until you said “Nelly”. Tell me how does he being a “party rapper” make him positive? Just because you like parties? As far as I’m concerned, HE is negative simply because he accepts the degradation of women. Period.

Sorry but I cannot put him and concious rap on the same fucking boat.

[...] who help to perpetuate negative and limited female images. Recently she appeared as a panelist on BET’s Hip Hop vs. America, which gave her an opportunity to address materialism and ask Nelly about the portrayal of women in [...]

i’m a black girl living in France (sorry for my english) and we listen a lot of hip hop there,whe are approximately 4 millions blacks in france mosty from Africa and french-carribean
black people in france have much respect for african-american culture ,we are admirative when we see powerful black leader…because you may not know but it’s not easy for blacks in europe, there is a lot of racism and discriminations
we have none strong black leaders,so imo hip hop culture has a responsability because much black girl in france/europe/africa want to look like the girls in these video,and black boys want to have 50 cent lifestyle
there were debates about hip hop’s portrayal of women here too, because what you tend to forget is that american hip hop influence many other country, not only your, so the negative image dont hurt just african-american women, but also damage black women image all over the world
I saw place where there is no black people,and the sad thing is that the only black girls they know are the girls who shake their ass in music video, people can be ignorant and think all black girl are like that
African-americans are known all over the world from these videos,rappers dont want to take their responsabilities but they have a huge mediatic exposure ,they could encourage healthy lifestyle even outside the U.S,but they are more interested at making money

I’m sick of the ignorance on this board. Just because a person has a right to mouth off doesn’t mean they should. Ignorance always seems to speak first and loudest and some of you need to learn how to write proper english. You can barely communicate and string together a proper sentence to communicate and yet you think it’s ok for people like Nelly to continue to place blame everywhere else but on himself. We all have choices in the way we want to see our community represented. Here is a fact. Nelly and a lot of rappers are entertainers. These people are also role models when and if it suits them. It’s not okay to stand up one minute and say you have the right to freedom of speech and the next say you’re only putting on an act to sell albums. Take some responsibility. I’m an african-american woman who has had the advantage of living outside of the US for many years now and I can tell you, the rest of the world does NOT see us as educated, talented, or even on par with other cultures especially white people. They assume we are the same bullshit stereotypes we ALLOW to be put out there about us. And the worst part is, they’re mimmicking it!!!! I see Lebanese boys who dress, talk, and act like inner city black boys from the ghetto. I see Maori girls getting weaves and fake nails to look like what they see in videos. And when they approach a real african american, they approach me with the same mentality as someone in a music video. Nevermind that I’m educated and am probably there to help improve the way their governments are treating them.

Wake up. It’s not cute or cool to look like a fucking idiot. If you want to voice an opinion fine but don’t talk or spell in broken english or abbreviated symbols. Grow the fuck up and realise what kind of image you are putting out there. You are NOT keeping anything REAL except the stereotype that black americans are ignorant, uneducated, violent, socially inept, and unable to raise a decent family unit.

We’ve been through too much shit as a people to let this crap continue and I am so sick of it. I’m sick of us and the shit we do to one another. I can’t call a lot of you brother or sister anymore because you are the same person who’d all me a bitch or a sell out for writing this. I want better for us. I want YOU to want better for yourselves. Change this industry today and we’re on our way to having a better tomorrow. And music isn’t the only industry that needs this help.

The topic is very controversial. People put it so high on a pedestal it sits up there with “important issues”. I agreed with a lot of points T.I. & Nelly made because they were valid. The one thing i really commended Nelly for was the comment about the structure of a home produces the type of people that are in society, not the music. N yes Nelly had begun to get really defensive when it came to his controversial video “TIP DRILL” but if puzzles me how Porn is one of the things “America” produces but porn itself isn’t on trial like his video is. SHYT YOU CAN FIND PORN ON A MA FUCKIN’ HBO CHANNEL!!!! PARENTS BLOCK YOUR TV’S.

I also loved T.I.’s comments….the part where he explained hip hop is like a mirrored image to life in ma hood and shyt. It was so tru you couldn’t despute it. I also like how he said his usage of “B’s, F’s, & H’s” was like an attention-getter for the less intelligent among us. BECAUSE IT IS TRU….T.I. CARRIES A MESSAGE IN EVERY ALBUM, TRUST ME I HAVE THEM ALL!!!

ONLY THING I CAN ARGUE WITH IS THE FACT THAT HIP HOP HAS SO MUCH POWER IT CAN DO ANYTHING. THEY CAN MAKE JUMPIN’ OFF BRIDGES SOUND APPEALING. SO PARENTS HAVE TO MONITOR WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE SEEING, OR HEARING UNTIL THEIR MINDS CAN DEVELOP MORE INHIBITIONS.

I felt like I had to get out here and hear the reaction to this special, and this site offers the place where the real communcation happens. No communication happened on the show…not between the panelists, anyway. Dr. Dyson didn’t really listen to TI, Nelly didn’t really answer Farai Chideya’s questions, etc. It was a string of words spewed at a series of closed minds. It was a bunch of talkin w/no one listening. No one, except all of you. No one, except all of us.

What I hear is the head and tail of the same coin. What I hear is Nelly argue for the freedom of choice in our society while simultaneously negating his own responsibility for his choice of representation in either his music or videos. What I hear is TI offering his evidence that he has written positivity in “other songs” on his album, but the only tracks that get picked up are the ones that promote this gangsta lifestyle. What I hear is the regurgitation of Hova’s Moment of Clarity–”I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them/so I got rich and gave back, to me that’s the win win”– while neglecting the concept that the legacy of that mindset will live on in that image long after what was given back has been spent.

What I still haven’t heard is one mainstream rapper deciding to make a choice. I’m looking for one lyricist to make the choice to put a socially conscious rhyme on the hottest beat on their record, not on that filler track for the album. I’m looking for one to choose to spit something of substance behind the sickest hook on their record, not that hookless run-on sentence that’s buried beneath the hottest single. The beat and the hook sell the record: that’s how it boils down. Until that yet unnnamed rapper decides to make that choice and put their mouth where their money is, the de facto result is all that’s left. And that leaves the rest of us without any choice whatsoever, aside from shunning the shlock that passes off as hip-hop.

[...] I’d love to see Bill Cosby go head-to-head on one of the Hip Hop vs. America debates on BET, where the actual rappers and people most affected by the conditions he so vividly describes could [...]

I think the topic was very inportent and hip-hop should not be blamed for anything people of america do.They do things out of their own will.Every body likes to point fingers but they dont never take responsibility for their own actions.

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yea hip hop vs america has to be one of many legendary shows of 2008, because every time i look at that show it makes more and more sense towards the influences that it has on people but if only they made a show for the United Kingdom because i believe that they should open the eyes of the younger generation over the United Kingdom.

im kind of half and half on this subject even though it is demeaning you really do not have to watch it we do have choices

I think its about time people have addressed such issues in the hip hop and black culture. We as women, it is up to us to take a stand in what we believe in and we as in black people is to stand up for our people and to make sure we stick together. I wanted to argue about hip hop and how they think of women for the longest….We have to make a chance….music have to change. This all started as a little seed then it grew into a huge plant and its getting wayyy out of hand. Every music video you see a woman has to be half naked and disrespected…I’m not saying that it was the rapper’s choice to put her in the video because it was up to her to be in it but the lyrics of the rapper was up to him. Rappers and even singers control what they write in their music and they are in control of their actions. Women are in control of what they do and how they present themselves. Women don’t have to do low things to get disrespected, we can just be on the street or in a store. And the things that go on t.v millions of young people are watching it and they take in what they see on t.v. So many boys trying to be thugs and so many girls are trying to be like the girls they see on t.v. Boys only like the girls if they look a certain way and girls are willing to give up their body and their respect for themselves for boys. Teen pregnacy is out of control in this lifetime and it doesn’t make no kind of sense. But young people take it what they see and they do it just to fit in. God didn’t put us women on earth to be disrespected by men. Adam wasn’t disrespectful to Eve. God put women and men on this earth for a reasonal purpose and the purpose was not for us females to shake our ass in videos or be sex icons for men or to be sliding down poles. He didn’t put men on earth to throw money at women or to date her because of her outer appearance. Me, as a female has been disrespected a couple of times. I had a boy tell me I had big breasts…I went home and cried because that was just the rudest thing someone could say to a female. I’m sure everyone wants a man who respects them for their mind, for their personality and for the affection they give him. And I think rappers think we blame all this on them but if you turn on the radio and hear a song its either about money, a girl havin a sexy body and the artist is lusting over her or about cars or girls with big asses….thats all u hear. Only about sex..even some singers have songs like that on the radio so its not just rappers. If it ain’t about sex half the time its doesn’t sell. Why do sex sell? Why do people want to hear every song about sex? Like Plies, all he talk about is sex and i still hear every girl saying they like Plies. Its like if I don’t look a certain way or dress a certain way he ain’t going to like me or if I don’t have sex with him he just going to run to another girl…and why would that other girl give it up? We as women are so much better than we are on t.v. or in real life. And I think the girls in the video and on them real it t.v shows have a choice to stand up and be a woman and say i don’t want to do this…girls on flavor flav and videos ain’t making us women look any better. Its makin us worse. Women even white women has always been lower than men. They say its a man world but women still have their say so in it. And women these days most of them like to be disrespected. They like money to be thrown at them and they like to have sex and they like to shake their butts for men….but why be so low with yourself? I listen to the music these days but that don’t mean I like what I hear cause I really don’t. So its not just men its some women too. Because how you carry yourself and how you present yourself thats how you going to get treated. If you show up at a party half naked of course you going to get disrespected. If you go fully dresesed then you will get respect. Thats with guys who wants a lady who presents herself well but other boys will be all over that other chick because she looks easy. I seen many girls just go to a talent show with these tight tight booty shorts on and tight shirts and they look trashy just some of the girls in the videos and on tv. The way black people think of themselves and the way men treat women and the way women treat themselves is going down hill. Black people way before this time worked to hard especially women to be treated and thought of like this. Men say women can’t do this and women can’t do that…women can do anything they want but most women choose to do the wrong thing. Even teenagers choose the wrong path. They choose to have sex to sell themselves out, to drop out of school and to have babies and to do drugs….boys choose to want those type of girls and to disrespect them. It doesn’t take a man to tell a women she has big boobs and fat ass. It takes a man to tell a woman shes beautiful on the inside and out and that shes a strong woman. Being half naked and shaking your ass in a video that is not being a strong woman. Working to provide for your family, havin respect for yourself and presenting yourself well thats being apart of a strong woman!!!!!!! We people who believe in changing the world and standing up for what we believe needs to be the bigger person and take a stand forreal. This is our chance! And this is real talk….

As black woman I feel that some dont use their voice. Why sit down. Get up and defend yourself. I dont see anything wrong with the video or the song. It wasnt I that was on there and I know that it isn’t me who he’s rapping about. Everybody wants to get all out of shape about tip drill. Ok, how old is that song and video? If that’s the way those women chose to present thereselves, that’s on them. Everyone has to assume responsibility. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion. What I dont understand is why do females get mad because they are only known as TV H@*$!!! It’s crazy. Didn’t nobody tell them to go on tv and show what their momma gave them they did it on their own. Don’t disrespect yourself like that and you want get the negative feed back. Just because you come up a certain way doesn’t mean you let that own you. Somewhere you have to say I dont want this and change it. I was brought up ruff but it made a woman out of me and nothing else. There always seem to be a cop out for reason’s why you do the things you do. It’s in your heart if it wasn’t you wouldn’t do the things you do. It’s like we are saying it’s ok to be W’s and betrayed as dogs because that’s what you chose to be. Why get mad at Nelly when he is calling how you see it. What about the woman that is looking for that ticket out, and she sees this celebrity or some baller and use him as her sercutiy. A man can only do and treat you the way you wanna be treated. What else is he suppose to do when your main concern is you so his is himself. What about the woman that sleep with so many man they dont know who the father of their child is and dog a man. Quit putting yourself out there and letting others put you down. Look at Melissa Ford. I mean what did she do that was so great besides being on video with her behind sticking out and disrespecting herself and dont like how she is talked about but what did she do to get where is at. Everybody has the chance to go to school. For those who thinks differently Im sorry, but somewhere take responsibility for your actions. Karen Steffans takes the cake she goes and sleeps with all these different man write a book and oh no it was just that I was looking for love and I believe what they were telling me. Whatever half of the men had/has wives it’s like she did just so she could write a book and get paid. Then she dedicates her book to her son wow and she is on the PTA!!!!! So at what cost are you willing to get paid. You have to love yourself enough to say no there are no shortcuts to life. You have to live it to it’s fullest. You might fall, but pick yourself back up and say Im got to keep it moving hard work pays off. Basically what Im saying you make your bed you lay in it and it’s simple as that. Some females have that mantality to be the way they are and you cant change that.