Hip Hop and America

[El Sitherino]

Because he did that clever diddy about the pudding with the chocolate and the pyaoooow-eee.

[Rev7]

The proposed laws have nothing to do with race and everything to do with curtailing indecent exposure.

I know that in some schools that I have gone to you cannot wear baggy clothing, have your underwear showing, and most of all you have to have your shirt tucked in ALL the time! Mainly because baggy clothing can possibly be used to hide weapons. The schools that I am talking about happen to be located in Central Coast area of California. The population is mostly Hispanic. I moved from California to Washington State a little while back, and at the school that I am currently attending, you CAN have your shirt untucked, have more freedom with what you want to wear ( you can wear your clothes a little baggier) and the population happens to be mostly White. I have to tell you this most kids wore baggier clothing and got 'caught', so to say, and they were Hispanic, and the area that I currently dwell, people don't really wear baggy clothing. I think that it is more of the culture, so to say.

 

**NOTE** This is not made to be interpreted as a racial statement**END NOTE.

[*Don*]

The proposed laws have nothing to do with race and everything to do with curtailing indecent exposure.

 

Nah.

 

I live in Compton, California which includes a rich, upscale, neighborhood of Seaside Heights as well as the notorious ghettos.

 

I notice that certain laws, such as the curfews as well as the school dress code, seems only enforced in the lower class areas.

I have yet to see the kids from Seaside Heights get arrested for being out late or suspended for wearing baggy pants.

 

I admit, that Compton is only a small part of the world, but I'm sure that this happens all over.

[Corinthian]

I take it you spend most of your days hanging out at the police station, asking which neighborhood so and so is from?

[El Sitherino]

I take it you spend most of your days hanging out at the police station, asking which neighborhood so and so is from?

It's not that hard to tell who gets arrested more. :\

[lukeiamyourdad]

If you follow most musical entertainers' lifestyles, it looks real bad. Look at Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Brittney Spears(ugh it hurts so much to group them together) and tell me they are all great role models. Heck even Elvis wasn't that great of a role model. If you look at them individually, you can make the case that each genre is a bad influence.

 

 

QFE

 

I'm sick and tired of hearing the bull**** about how artists in other genres somehow behave better.

 

Remember the metal scene of the 80's? Sex, LOTS of drugs and dying quickly.

 

Grunge? Cobain liked heroin and he's a damn great artist. How many other ODed? Oh yeah, A LOT!

 

Maybe punk legend Sid Vicious was a nice role model too. Certainly was not a drug addict.

 

Hendrix, ODed at 27.

 

Joplin, ODed at 27.

 

Morrisson, ODed at 27.

 

Hell, even the Beatles took drugs.

 

Certainly great role models eh? Rock is full of great people who are so clean and pure...

[John Galt]

of course, all this talk of bad role models is based on the assumption that drugs are, indeed, bad in and of themselves.

[*Don*]

I take it you spend most of your days hanging out at the police station, asking which neighborhood so and so is from?

 

Nah. Truth be told, one can easily figure it out from school. Believe me, word of mouth travels faster than anything.

[MdKnightR]

Just for the record, and for those of you who haven't gotten to know me, I used to be a teacher. The high school dress code required shirts be tucked in and belts worn at the waist for both boys AND girls. Girls could not "show their thong" without consequences either. Dress code violations also happened to be the number one discipline referral in the school. And, guess what? I nailed just as many white kids as black for the offense, so don't tell me that it is racially motivated. Personally, I would love to see uniforms in every public school, but that is a topic that deserves its own thread.

 

It is about indecent exposure. Just because a fat lady wears a mini-bikini doesn't make it right. And if you think that walking down the street in your boxers won't get you a citation, I challenge you to try it here.

 

It is also about parenting and teaching kids what is right and wrong. There are many reasons I cite Bill Cosby, and it is not just because he is black. He is a highly successful person who also holds degrees in Education. He is a fellow teacher. His observations are astute and much of what he spoke about at that event is true. People need to take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their children and quit placing blame on others.

[lukeiamyourdad]

of course, all this talk of bad role models is based on the assumption that drugs are, indeed, bad in and of themselves.

 

 

Someone taking so much drugs he dies from it is a good role model?

 

Every accusation about rap being harmful bases itself on those characters being bad role models for kids. Rock musicians aren't much better.

 

The sad thing is how many rock fans, not the musicians (hey, Anthrax and Public Enemy and Run DMC and Aerosmith), hate rap out of jealousy (hip-hop was the "in" thing for much of the early 2000's or oout of...whatever the reason, it's not justified. They accuse it not only of not being music (heh, remember when rock was "just noise"?) but of being harmful because of the thug lifestyle and such. Yet, when you look at rockers and their live fast die hard style, it isn't much more glorious.

 

There's plenty of rappers who are extremely articulate and intelligent. There's plenty of rockstars who are the same. There's also plenty of idiots on both sides. Jimmy Hendrix isn't in any way a better role model then 50 cent.

 

Oh and by the way, for you people who never stepped in a neighborhood with a black majority, you don't need rap to get caught in the street violence. You were born in it to begin with.

[Tommycat]

Meh I am a musician. Played in a band for 10 years. I don't like most rap because a lot of it isn't very creative. That isn't to say it all isn't(hey I've heard a few good songs here and there), but then I am very open to listening to all kinds of music, even styles I hate. And honestly Aerosmith and Anthrax are the exception, not the rule. To me calling it rap with a C fits the majority of it. Of course I also feel that a majority of signed bands are just junk as well. I always recommend people go out and either make their own music, or find a local band that you enjoy.

 

As for Jimmy being a better role model than 50 Cent, Jimmy at least preached peace and love and getting along. Sure his lifestyle is not that great, but meh.

[MdKnightR]

Meh I am a musician. Played in a band for 10 years. I don't like most rap because a lot of it isn't very creative. That isn't to say it all isn't(hey I've heard a few good songs here and there), but then I am very open to listening to all kinds of music, even styles I hate. And honestly Aerosmith and Anthrax are the exception, not the rule. To me calling it rap with a C fits the majority of it. Of course I also feel that a majority of signed bands are just junk as well. I always recommend people go out and either make their own music, or find a local band that you enjoy.

 

As for Jimmy being a better role model than 50 Cent, Jimmy at least preached peace and love and getting along. Sure his lifestyle is not that great, but meh.

 

 

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