Yes, I do believe that Don Imus and his buddies should have their old asses kicked, but, I'm more concerned about the "black" American "leaders" (Jesse, Sharpton), "black" TV/talk-radio personalities, etc. saying "dumb" shit like Hip-Hop is the reason for Imus using the term "Nappy-headed hos", etc., etc.While driving my seed to school earlier this week I heard Steve Harvey, a very intelligent brother whom I admire, say, while addressing the "Imus-issue", that the Hip-Hop community has to stop disrespecting our women by calling them bitches, hos and the like.
This INTELLIGENT point of view is not to address the erroneous assumption that Hip Hop is responsible for terms like "nigger", "bitch" and "Nappy-headed hos" being in the American vocabulary, Davey D (www.daveyd.com) has already written a MUST READ article entitled "Is Hip Hop Really the Blame for this Don Imus Thing?, dispelling this baseless idea.
The purpose of this article is to say that, yes, there are rappers who use such terms as bitch and or nigger in their recordings, but, for every rapper that uses these terms their are 10 who don't! I'm asking the question, why is it that all ten of the rappers we hear on mainstream radio, and see on mainstream video, ironically, those who use such language? And why is the view represented by these "TEN" rappers made to be the view of the HIP-HOP COMMUNITY?
I challenge Steve Harvey, Michael Baisden, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Don Imus and any one else on radio and/or television who subscribes to the idea that Hip Hop is to blame, to take these 10 names (Little Brother, Wise Intelligent, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Public Enemy, Brother J, NYOIL, Talib Kweli, The Coup, or Paris) to the program directors of the stations that you work for and ask them why are we NOT playing ANY rappers with messages that oppose the nigger, bitch, gangster ideology that dominates mainstream music media outlets including but not limited to Radio and Video?
It was BET who unashamedly told us that Little Brother was "too intelligent" for BET's target market? The target market of "Black Entertainment Television" is, as far as I understand it to be, the BLACK community? So, in the opinion of BET, the black community is not "intelligent" enough to understand the views of a group of young black males who decided to go to college while pursuing their careers as rap artists simultaneously? But, the black community is ignorant enough to understand the story of a stripper named "Diamond" who dances at "The Players Club" to pay for her collegiate education, a movie where "bitch" and "ho" is the primary dialogue (This movie gets as much rotation as Young Jeezy on BET)?
It was from white America that we get the word "Nigger", it is from white America that we also get the term "Nappy-headed wench." All of these terms have been kept alive by Hollywood in movies like "Mandingo", "Drum" and or "Farewell Uncle Tom." But, today you're telling me that black rappers taught old ass Don Imus these words? Don Imus' old ass got these words from his father's father; not Hip-Hop!
Hip-Hop is not responsible for the diffusion of negative portrayals of Black people in America, Hollywood, the Music Industry, Major Radio/Video Broadcast Stations have been, and continue to control the images responsible for shaping the attitudes and lifestyles of Americans for decades now. If, the major outlets for Hip-Hop art are not controlled by the "Hip Hop Community" well then the Hip Hop community does not decide what does or does not get played, and therefore, cannot be responsible!
Thus, we have TEN rappers signed to and in rotation at any and all of the aforementioned Major Corporations and all of them represent the same view of the black male in America; the drug-dealer/gangster/convict turned rapper. Never do we hear those views that represent the anti-thesis to this destructive image; views that are in great abundance in every "hood."
I challenge Steve Harvey, Michael Baisden, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, etc., ad infinite, to demand that the media corporations who write your checks balance their radio/video play-lists by adding 10 rappers into the rotation whose views are uplifting and motivate black youth toward positive attitudes and lifestyles. Until you find the fucking balls to challenge this MACHINE, your views on the symptoms created by the MACHINE are NOT welcome!
Failure to confront the root causes of the problems we face as a people is really the true FAILURE!
Please pick up the book…….
“The Name Negro It's Origin And Evil Use”…by Richard B. Moore
PROPER
EDUCATION
ALWAYS
COUNTERS
EXPLOITATION
WISE INTELLIGENT
For more information about Wise Intelligent and Intelligent Muzik please contact Born Free at bornfree9@hotmail.com / 484-478-1378
www.myspace.com/wiseintelligent
IT’S NO LONGER SMART TO BE DUMB!
Here goes a very very very small list of rappers and albums that they either totally refused to play or criminally marginalized on commercial radio…
Food and Liquor…………..Lupe Fiasco……….2006
Blue Collar………………Rhymefest……..2006
Blessed be the Poor? The UnMixtape…………Wise Intelligent………..2006
Like Water For Chocolate…………..Common…….2000
Electric Circus………….Common…………2004
Amethyst Rock Star…………Saul Williams……….2001
Saul Williams……………Saul Williams………..2005
Sonic Jihad….by Paris……..2003
Heroes of the Harvest………..Arrested Development…….2002
Among the Trees……………Arrested Development……….2004
Since the Last Time…………..Arrested Development…….2006
Rebirth of a Nation…Public Enemy 2006
New Whirl Odor…Public Enemy 2005
Revolverlution…Public Enemy 2002
There’s a Poison Going On…Public Enemy 1999-2000
Enters the Colossus………Mr. Lif…………..2000
Emergency Rations………Mr. Lif…………2002
I Phantom…………..Mr. Lif………………2003
Mo' Mega…………..Mr. Lif……………..2006
Mind over Matter………Zion I……….2000
Break a Dawn…………Zion I………….2006
Almost Famous…………Living Legends………2001
Creative Differences………….Living Legends……….2004
Classic………..Living Legends…………2005
Dead Prez Presents M-1: Confidential…2006
Can't Sell Dope Forever by Dead Prez / Outlaws…2006
Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape, Vol. 1…by Dead Prez…2002
Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape, Vol. 2: Get Free or Die Tryin'…by Dead Prez…2003
RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta…by Dead Prez…2004
Let’s Get Free…by Dead Prez…2000
The Leak Edition, Vol. 1…………John Robinson……….2005
The Leak Edition, Vol. 2……….John Robinson………..2006
Coming Forth By Day: The Book of the Dead…………Scienz of Life………..2000
Blaxploitation Sessions………….Scienz of Life……………2006
Exodus into Unheard Rhythms…………..by OH NO………….2006
Black Star…Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli)…2000-01
Black on Both Sides…by Mos Def…2002
The New Danger…by Mos Def…2004
True Magic…by Mos Def…2006
Reflection Eternal/Train of Thought…Talib Kweli…2002
Quality….Talib Kweli…..2003
The Beautiful Struggle…Talib Kweli…2004
Right About Now……..Talib Kweli…..2005
Liberation…………Talib Kweli/Madlib…………2007
Things Fall Apart….The Roots…….1999-2000
Phrenology……The Roots……2002
Game Theory……The Roots….2006
The Sneak Attack………KRS ONE………….2001
Spiritual Minded……..KRS ONE………….2002
Prophets Vs. Profits……….KRS ONE……..2003
Kristyles……………….KRS ONE………….2003
Keep Right……………….KRS ONE………2004
Life……………………..KRS ONE…………2006
Exit………..K-OS…………..2002
Joyful Rebellion…………K-OS………….2004
Atlantis: Hymns for Disco………K-OS……..2006
Break Glass…………. Polyrhythm Addicts……..2007
Quality Control……….Jurassic 5….2000
Power in Numbers……..Jurassic 5…..2002
Feedback…………Jurassic 5………2006
Nia…………Blackalicious………2000
Blazing Arrow…….Blackalicious…….2002
The Craft……….Blackalicious…….2005
Later That Day...Lyrics Born……….2003
Same !@#$ Different Day…….Lyrics Born………2005
Attack of the Attacking Things………Jean Grae……..2002
The Bootleg Of The Bootleg EP……….Jean Grae…….2003
This Week……Jean Grae…………2004
The Listening………Little Brother……….2003
The Minstrel Show……..Little Brother………2005
Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition……….Murs……….2004
Murray's Revenge…………..Murs……………2006
Donuts……….J Dilla…………2006
The Shining……….J Dilla……….2006
Music, Magic, Myth……….The Last Emperor………2003
Internal Affairs……….Pharohe Monch……….1999-2000
Revolutionary, Vol. 1………..Immortal Technique……..2000
Revolutionary, Vol. 2…………..Immortal Technique………2005
Fire in the Hole………..Brand Nubian……….2004
The 5% Album…………Lord Jamar……2006
Experience & Education………Sadat X………..2005
Black October……….Sadat X…………2006
Self Destruction………I Self Divine………..2005
Reprogram……..The Boom Bap Project…….2005
Operation: Doomsday……….MF DOOM………2001
Vaudeville Villain………….MF DOOM………2003
3rd Eye Vision…………….Heiroglyphics……….2001
Full Circle……………Heiroglyphics………….2003
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump…………..De La Soul…………2000
AOI: Bionix……………..De La Soul…………….2001
The Grind Date…………….De La Soul…………….2004
A Long Hot Summer………..Masta Ace……………..2004
Mirror Music…………..Woodsworth………….2004
The Platform……………Dilated Peoples………….2000
Expansion Team………….. Dilated Peoples………….2001
Neighborhood Watch………… Dilated Peoples………2004
20/20…………….. Dilated Peoples………….2006
Party Music………The Coup…………2001
Pick a Bigger Weapon………..The Coup………2006
Blue Scholars………….Blue Scholars………….2004
Prointelpro…… The Dope Poet Society…………..2007
Stay Human …. Michael Franti…………..2001
Songs From the Front Porch: An Acoustic Collection…………..Michael Franti………..2004
Everyone Deserves Music………….Michael Franti……..2003
American Me……C L Smooth…………..2006
Is Clueless……….Pigeon John……….2002
Pigeon John Is Dating Your Sister…………….Pigeon John………….2003
...And The Summertime Pool Party……….Pigeon John………..2006
...As Iron Sharpens Iron………. The Procussions………..2003
5 Sparrows for 2 Cents…………..The Procussions……..2006
The Healing……………..Strange Fruit Project………2006
Starr Status…………Kenn Starr……………..2006
I Do What I Do…………….Kev Brown……………2006
Trinity (Past, Present and Future)………….Slum Village……….2002
Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)………..Slum Village…….2004
Slum Village…………..Slum Village……………..2005
Balance………….Akrobatik…………2003
Body of the Life Force………….Afu-Ra………..2000
Life Force Radio……………Afu-Ra………….2002
State of the Arts…………….Afu-Ra…………..2005
Black Dialogue……………..The Perceptionists………..2005
The Lost Freestyle Files…………Supernatural………..2003
S.P.I.T…………………….Supernatural………….2005
Temptations………………..Freestyle Fellowship…………2001
To Whom It May Concern……………Freestyle Fellowship……….2002
Accepted Eclectic……………… Aceyalone……………2001
P.A.I.N.T………………….. Abstract Rude…………….2001
Making Tracks……………….Abstract Rude………….2002
Making More Tracks…………..Abstract Rude……………..2004
Coup de Theatre………. Haiku d'Etat………….2003
Haiku d'Etat……………. Haiku d'Etat………………2004
PLEASE ADD ON AND RE-POST!
ALSO PLEASE SEND THIS TO Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden...WE WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND BUILD!
2 comments:
Imus was a talk show radio icon for over 30 years, DOING THE SAME DAMN THING. The difference this time is that he FINALLY hurt the POCKETS with his comments (Major advertisers such as Proctor and Gamble and a bunch others pulled their ads from his show).With such a dent in revenue, CBS couldn't possibly make sense of keeping him on board. Let me remind you that he's been on the air for over 30 years!!!
What we need to do is to encourage stopping the slander in our own homes and communities. If we have the top 5 hip hop songs containing the same crap that Imus says, what makes HIM wrong for saying it? When you think about it, he does have a point. The major labels and distributors give deals to the people making music like this, and make money from selling it to other people with even less than intelligent mentality. Thus the music conglomerates get a win win situation; they get to perpetuate the propaganda about blacks being dumb and ignorant, while they make HUGE profits off these same dumb and ignorant blacks.
Yes it's a perpetual cycle that's spinning outta control at this point, so when will the chain be broken? Maybe when we stop feeding into the BS and get down with other forms of hip hop that represents the masses of black folk (http://coolehigh.com, aight so it's a shameless plug). I'm not saying that there shouldn't be room or a voice for so-called thugs and gangster rap, but just open your minds to what else that's out there. Remember we're a people of multiple hues.
Peace and Blessings,
Coole High
Wise Intelligent:
I can appreciate everything that you are stating, I really do, but once again what more is it going to take before us as a people will begin to realize that this "rap game" is not all that it is cracked up to be. While these rappers are living the so called "american dream", their music is contributing to violence and the white people who are mostly the head of these record labels are making the majority of the money. Think about it--most of the music sounds the same. How many songs can a person make about the number of women they slept with, how good they are in bed, how much money they make, the number of cars they have and drive and rims on them,the houses that they supposedly have? The music all sounds the same and our young people are buying into the stereotype that rapping is the way to go or that playing sports is the way to go. I am not knocking people who uses sports to get ahead, but how about getting an education and using that to better our community? This is not to say that rap is the culprit because it used to be that this art form was supposed to light and fun and gives us a chance to party. Now the music is laced with negativity and it is affecting the next generation of young men and women. When I was a teenager (I am proud to say, I am 31 years old), I am guilty of listening to Snoop and Dr. Dre, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and Rakim, but I would not listen to those same people because I have listened closely to their lyrics and learned that their music is advocating violence, sex and drug use.
Wise Intelligent, if you have ever listened to Michael Baisden as I do, you will know that he does play some rap music--not the gangsta rap, but positive rap music and the fun rap music. He has had people like Talib Kweli, Common, Arrested Development, Mos Def, and KRS one on his show. This also goes for Steve Harvey in the Morning. He has them on because they bring a positive message and they are considered "grown peoples" music. As for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, while they may never ever understand the "rap game" in its current state, lets remember that when the light and fun party rap music first started being played, no one was protesting the content of the music. As for Oprah, she has and will do what she has done for years--do her own thing. She is one of the few blacks who can write their own ticket and this includes having anyone she wants on her show. She does not have to have anyone on her show that she does not want to. What these rappers need to remember is that she is richer than all of them put together.
The rap of today can no longer be classified as hip hop. With names like Tech 9, Smif and Wesson, how can you expect to be taken seriously. I would love to ask these rappers questions like:
-Is all you want to be known for is pushing songs that advocate sex, violence and drugs.
-When you die on your tombstone it will have the year you were born and the year you died with a dash in the middle, what do you want your dash to represent?
Nevertheless, what Imus said was unquestionably one of the worst things I have ever heard (my cousin played on their team until she graduated last year) just as what Michael Richards stated. But honestly why are we attacking them for what they have said when we are attacking each other with same words. It does not matter who says the word, it is not good for anyone to use that type of derogatory language to describe a person.
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