Irresponsibility Sexism and Violence

I love rap. I’ve been listening to it since I was 9 (my first rap song was “I need Love” by LL Cool J – so very cool). There was a time when rap, in general, meant something; when it bore an important social message (injustice, segregation, human relations etc) and in a language free of filthy words (during the 70’s and 80’s).

But then came the 90’s...

Suddenly most rap equals to the F word; to killing people; to “the chronic”; to gangs; to women bashing and to defying the authorities.

The F word is horrible (I do not mean “Fornicate”, I am talking about its ghastly cousin). Is there really the need to include it in songs? I wonder if these rappers know that the usage of foul language not only is vulgar but also denotes lack of intelligence and culture; for instead of saying F*** this and F*** that, they could enhance their message through the use of words that actually mean something (there are a lot of ways to protest without being coarse).

I bet they’d sell more CD’s if they’d obliterate this dreadful word off their repertoire; because people wouldn’t get lost in vulgarity and would actually pay attention to the message at hand.

Rap seems to romanticise gangs and incite people to violence. Being in a gang is not the same as belonging to the Cosa Nostra; and if the latter can be awful (with all its codes of honour to protect families), now imagine what’s like to belong to a gang (where honour seems to be ignored and not intended to protect families – a gang is based on violence for violence and by violence) – it is not romantic, it is not cool.

The lyrics, in rap music, often embellish the act of smoking weed. This is irresponsible. Smoking weed may lead to the consumption of hard drugs and abuse of other substances; which in turn will lead to depravation...

Speaking of putrefaction...let’s discuss women bashing. One must really be doped up and drunk to bash women; to objectify a being that represents the generation of life, love, nurture, generosity, strength, resilience and power. The Rap Industry must be all smoking crack not to realise that bashing women is the same as bashing its own mothers, sisters, wives, cousins, nieces, daughters and so forth. No money, in the world, justifies this. Now, it is known that some women perpetuate this behavioural vulgarity and to them I say: you are a damn woman; where’s your dignity?

The police, around the world, make a lot of mistakes (it abuses its position of power); nevertheless it is a figure of authority that needs to be respected (if they mess up, there are ways to get them).

Some say that most rappers represent the stereotype of not having had a daddy around, which depleted them of the capacity to deal and respect authority – Nonsense! Plenty of people didn’t have a father around and they chose to walk on the right path...towards a healthy and successful life.

Kids listen to rap and they like it. If they are fortunate enough to have a parent around all the time (like I did) to explain them that the contents of those songs are not a role model at all; great. But if they are not fortunate enough (like most kids today) then these children are being subjected to the Rap Industry’s irresponsibility, sexism and violence.

Image: Borrowed from Youth In Control