Why is this the first time anything has been mentioned about Hip-Hop music and it’s negativity? Did it really take some white guy calling a group of women “Nappy headed ho’s” for people to realize the words existed? Or is this another case of Bandwagonomics, where if one person says they’re offended, the general public will all follow suit? While I don’t approve of what Imus had to say, he should have had the freedom to say it. Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? Since when did that become contorted into “Freedom of what we think you can say” ? Regardless of what I think though, this world is so hell-bent on political correctness lately, I probably couldn’t make a KFC joke without getting the stinkeye.(And I’m black)
Speaking of, what exactly is the radio trying to further censor? The FCC is already breathing down everyones necks at the mere mention of an obscene reference so much you can almost hear Funkmaster Flex sweating bullets through your speaker. They’ve already barred the following words for years on most stations: “Ass, Bitch, Gun, Fuck, Shit, Ho’s, and the mother of all cringe-words, “Nigga/er”. Who else are they trying to appease? It can’t be Hip-Hop’s real fanbase, as we never buy edited versions.
They’re trying to appease the irresponsible mothers and fathers of those who think that their child will hear something, and attempt to do it him/herself. When I grew up, my mother made it very clear to me that what I heard/saw was just music. Fast forward to current times, where parents want to lay blame on everyone but themselves for little Jimmy wanting to be a “Thug”.
The most comedic thing about this whole situation is the cycle that it seems to be following. When my parents where growing up, they experienced the same kind of backlash from the media/radio that Hip-Hop is getting now. Old-time parents weren’t feeling Disco or Punk too heavy, and many songs’ content had to be altered to be played on formal radio, if it was played at all. The kids that listened to some of this music where considered the scourge of society, and “rebels”. Sound familiar?
One thing people need to know is that when you attempt to deprive people of something (which in this case is authenticity in music) they will get it by any means, even if that means going to another source. If the radio keeps attempting to confine Hip-Hop, its fans can and will listen to it elsewhere. Why do you think XM/Internet radio is so big these days?
Another thing that isn’t helping our case are tools like Russell Simmons (whom you’d think would have more respect for the culture) flip flopping back and forth like a damned seal, trying to please everyone instead of being real. One week he’s all for Hip-Hop, saying: “It’s an artform from the ground up, and the people that do it are poets, you can’t confine them”, to the next week where he says: “I think we should start instituting standards and limits on Hip-Hop”. Mean what you say, and say what you mean, Russell. You’re not helping very much by playing both sides of the field. Sharpton needs to take a powder as well, as I seriously doubt he even knows what Hip-Hop culture is.
In essence, what I’m saying is, that you cannot put a limit on creativity, just to satisfy the desires of people who don’t understand our music/don’t want to take the proper measures to assure the right message is conveyed. They’re cutting off their nose to spite their faces. I live by a simple rule, and I think some people should too- “If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it”.
COMMENTS
this article hit the problem right on the head.
Even though I have serious issues about the art form being censored. I could give 2 shits about radio. Your article states that radio and Hip-Hop once went hand-in-hand, that statement is about as off base as I can stand. I remember the art form being pushed to the back, to the hours and timeslots that were best suited for being forgotten and it was only after advertisers wanted to access the younger genarations dollars that Hip-Hop given a chance.
But what is on the radio these days isn't a true reflection of Hip Hop. it only protrays what DJ's THINK is hot. What DJ these days even tries to play something new.
I called into Hot97 (Home of FunkFlex) and requested The Roots. That was on April 29 .. I stopped listening 4 days later.
There is not a freedom of speech on the radio. This is just a movement to take back the in-roads Hip-Hop has made already. How many radio stations label themselves as Rap/Hip-Hop stations. Don't confuse that with "Urban Music"
Wake Up .. Pls
I can care less about the radio.They play garbage 24/7.
yo have yall read Saul Williams piece called "open letter to Oparah Winfrey"?
man EVERYBODY needs to read that joint. it's crazy!
MAN OLD ASS PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE AND STOP FUCKIN WITH
HIP-HOP!!!!!
ITS NOT A PHASE!!!!
ITS NOT A FAD!!!!!!
HIP HOP IS A WAY OF LIFE IN OUR GENERATION AND IF STUPID
KIDS WANNA IMMITATE A HOOD LIFE, THAN YALL HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT!!!!! ITS NOT OUR FAULT WE WERENT SHLTERED GROWING UP!!!!!!!
ITS JUST MUSIC PEOPLE!!!!
IF U DONT LIKE HIPHOP DONT FUCKING LISEN TO IT YOU BITCHES
It' very interesting how serious this censorship problem is in the USA. I'm from Germany and 2 years ago we didn't even have a real censorship. Today we got this "Gangstarap" in Germany, too, although there are no real Gangsters in Germany and now the politicians try to censor many records and songs. Just because we have many youths who don't have a job or graduation and they are criminal and they try to blame it on Hip-Hop and its bad influence. But they don't understand that it's just a reflection of our youth and these kids who are like that aren't like that because of Hip-Hop but because of our society and the try to express all that through Hip-Hop. I mean if this language of the Hip-Hop Community is so bad why do you try change it by banning it, everybody should know that banning something never makes it go away it just makes it more popular. I got to agree it's just music and our way of living so let us live the way we want because we let everybody else live the way they want to.
question for Belve about 5 hours ago.
did they play the roots for you? thats fucked up if they didnt. man one time when i called up the radio station in baltimore, i asked if they could play some of big L's music as a tribute, because it was on the day he died,and they said ok. i sat by the radio for like 5 hours and they aint play shit from him man. and i know they couldnt have forgotten, because one of the dj's on the radio was named big L. i guess they figured since it was around 8'oclock, only the 16 and under crowd were listenin to the radio.
the radio crew in baltimore are(is) hypocrites because like last summer, all these bloods and crips popped up from out of nowhere all over baltimore, and parents and older people were getting scared because their children were joining them. so the radio station said they would abandon any gang terminology on the airwaves. when a snoop song would play, like every other line was paused out.but soon as game came out wit one blood,and they figured this song was a hit, they gave it spins like 5 or 6 times an hour! radio has the power to cause an uprising against all this censorship, but they just fold under pressure like anyone else at a job that figures this is their only option for gettin paper.
yea everyone gettin it ryt y that pink bitch allowed expletives in her whack ass records ova here in UK ther bout one hiphop record on the radio every 3hours
This is when I get mad at the System when i see they try an take away my rights as a person. Most ppl that are against it don't listen to it. I don't know what type of music jackass like AlSharpton listen to but i don't try to censor their shit.
And another thing when the news media bring up rap artist name like Nelly,and 50 go on that show and defend what u do and what u stand for just don't have them calling your name out.
IF U DONT LIKE HIPHOP DONT FUCKING LISEN TO IT YOU BITCHES
co-sign^
FUCK THE RADIO all they play is garbage
Yeah Im a Hip Hop head but its funny how some old white guy says nappy headed hoes, and its the end of the World, but rappers can say all types of dumb shit..As long as a black man can call a black female a bitch,ho,slut,etc..talk about guns etc..No problem. Some black people want to blame everybody esle but themselves,its the radio stations,whitey,etc...Its black people along who create this garbage and feed it to our youth which gladly accepts it, white and black, Look at all the wannab thugs Hip Hop has created. Its sad but if your gonna get mad at ignorance get mad at ignorance of all colors, not just white.
They're never gonna censor Hip Hop. It's just a scare tactic. They wont really do it. I man seh so.
Chuck Chillout:"...you can't programm rapp, 'cause it's from the streets..."
Public Enemy - Greatest Misses [1992] - track-10 How to Kill a Radio Consultant (The DJ Chuck Chillout Mega Murder Boom)
The only reason why they attack the genre is for its expression, If you was a Underground artist, They wouldnt care shit about you.BUT when your making money and your expression real regarding real life , Then the shit turns into a point where thoose people try to say false facts. Like the jazz dude talkin bad about Hip Hop? , Dude been critisized for years for not being real jazz/blues artist, That dude was in the mix of War & didnt know how to play the instrument proper!!!., Hip Hop started all the way to africa in expression, From its aura of blues & jazz and all that stuff its a blessing of words, All the gimmics is just for money & fame and all that shit. Its like the early 90`s when Ice-T dropped "Cop Killer". Poleticans dissing genre/song and talkin reckless, When at the real truth there was Cop`s doing violence not just in L.A but other places. Uses of words and shit, Dudes wanna talk about the word "Faggot" is racist?, That aint racist a dude that is homosexuel oriented is misplaced and disturbed.Thats not his fault because he was born that way at the end of the day, However forms of expression exceed from negativity because life aint PG Sweet, Form`s of Positivity is when youve acomplishd goal. When you`s broke you cant talk about a life you dont live, That dont make no sence.Another thing when 2Pac was saying "Bitch" word, Poletican bitch went on puttin im negative light, However noticedly the only thing she wanted was record label & power, Which indicates that thoose people really is leeches.The hate the real freedom of expression, Just as much as a dictator woldnt like a person standing up for his people saying the truth.Thats ultimate power of the pen!, For reel to reel Hip Hop will never die its a culture & a way of life & living.
Church 101 props too PAIRAPHRASE for doin the editorial aint many Real Hip Hop sites sticking up for the genre
Radio is a joke these days...they run too many commerical ads, too many host's talking about stupid shit and play the same 4 songs over and over till the point where you hear the song the next year and hate it. It's cool to have a variety but they damn near kill every song they play. Majority of cd's I've bought in the last few years I have to skip all the radio played songs cuz im sick of em.
And b4 sum copys mah text tellin me "im missing the point" cuz im not the point is quite obvious...I'm jus saying who cares about the radio? The rap stations here only play r&b most the time and put bitch ass punk rock too. If I wanna bump I play a cd or mp3 or sum shit. I hope they take rap off public radio then ppl dont gotta bitch about it bein played. Go howard stern style, stay on sat. radio and pay for it.
these corprate niggas thinkin hhip hop da first kinda music to cuss and likes to get fucked up i knw alot of rock grps love dat yayo ive dun it wit some rock artist
and i repeat!!!!!!!!
MAN OLD ASS PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE AND STOP FUCKIN WITH
HIP-HOP!!!!!
ITS NOT A PHASE!!!!
ITS NOT A FAD!!!!!!
HIP HOP IS A WAY OF LIFE IN OUR GENERATION AND IF STUPID
KIDS WANNA IMMITATE A HOOD LIFE, THAN YALL HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT!!!!! ITS NOT OUR FAULT WE WERENT SHLTERED GROWING UP!!!!!!!
ITS JUST MUSIC PEOPLE!!!!
All radio stations arent bad. I stay in Va and 103 jamz Plays mainstream commercial ass music during the day but at night they get down wit dat real hip hop(mixtapes, freestyles, classic shit ,etc.) We did have an all rap station 92.1(not the 1 in Richmond)but its gone now. I guess it has 2 do with da work of the FCC. Also, wut about punk rock. Half of them are gothic and worship the devil and they send over-the-top negative messages and i dont here shit about them. Do any of yall remember when Canada said all rappers with criminal backrounds will be under servailance and maybe even banned from the country. Dats bullshit. What about rock??!!??!!
I personally find that the root of the problem stems to the fact that our present day society set the values that are now being scapegoated through Hip-Hop. It is generally accepted for men to be sexually promiscuous, in fact it's revered. On the other hand if women are also sexually promiscuous, then they are considered lesser, AND THAT INCLUDES WOMEN THINKING SO TOO. I see a lot of hypocrisy, but I find no merit in going after Hip-Hop for the faults in society, can one really be a sinner if they were raised in sin, in this country, I guess so, hence the genocide of the indegenous people. "Let the Lord judge the Criminals"-2pac
Jah's blessings-
D
I been listening for rap for over 24 years. What is masquerading as music is nothing more than background music for criminals. These cats spend more time recounting their crimes, sexual encounters and cars than anything else. Its crap. And its been crap for a long time coming. I wish my generation never gave NWA a pass. Maybe this bullshit posing as music wouldnt be going on.
The worst thing is that rap now speaks of the "streets". Let me school you kids to something. The streets are the grandmothers that raised you, the fathers that abandoned you, the school playgrounds you played in, the churchs that got you to come to vacation bible school each summer, the lady down the street that sold "ice cups". The dope game is NOT the streets. The dope game is NOT the hood. The hood are people that work at UPS, the barbershop, and open up hydrants for kids to play. STOP letting criminals hijack Hip-Hop!!!
If Hip-Hop isn't Dead, I intend on Killing.
~ Elder
look what you started cool herc
My niggas I understand everything your saying and that is one of the reasons why I started my own radio show called The Come Up Show, playing nothing but the sickest music you never hear on the radio check it out. http://uwo.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2261480488
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 1 (BANANAS HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0m0uyzmthlw
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 2 (POLITICAL/CONSCIOUS HOUR/ KNOWLEDGE HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?amf3zmqfqne
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 3 (CHILLIN/LAIDBACK HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ciwonmmmzdt
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 4 (R&B HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?a4uydqoqknz
the reason they censor any music is cuz of the people who listin to it its cuz of the stuck up white parents from the suberbs who want little tommy to grow up "wholesome" when they are mostly alcholics or pill junkies i hate those ppl so much they mess things up 4 evey1 with ther stupid ass complaints they should shut up and raise there children instead of tryin to let tv and radio do it them complain to hip hop when that dosent work
YO ONLINE DOT, FUCK YOU!, FUCK THE RADIO, FUCK MTV AND FUCK YOUR LONG ASS COMMENT, OH MY FUCK WHO IS REALLY GONA READ THAT, GO SMOKE ANOTHER ROCK BOY, rapgod, u speakin on that real dawg, CHEDO, fuck your ass talkin bout sick music on the radio, only think sick on the radio is ur mom fuckin, and thats thee SICKEST shit ive ever heard
The world's FUCKED up!
Fuck the radio,If you ask me i wouldn't give two fucks if they just stoped playing hip hop on the radio all around the board.Reason why is! If they take hip hop off the radio that would be one way for them to stop putting blame on hip hop for almost everything thats went down hill. Artist are still going to makemoney no matter what they try to do to hip hop. Me myself i don't listen to the radio because i don't want to hear about how they feel.Radio is too much in the way now it needs to go back to how it was in the early 80s and some.Back then there job was to play the music and give away some free tickets thats it.There wasn't all this bullshit like it is now,Now we have all these morning shows an shit trying to be down with hip hop to much and alot of them that are doing the talking wasn't even playing the music way back. Like in New York back in the early 80s there was only two stations playing hip hop and that was WBLS,and Kiss FM that was when RED was doing that friday night shows.And then we had that other channel that was for the underground music which was 89.1 they would play all artist that was underground and they came on only twice a week friday at 2 and sunday afternoon. Back then the Disc Jok was only talking long enough to give you some insite on what was coming up next,and what Mc was going to be on the show.But now these disc Joks are fucking up everything and that is what i think the problem is.To many disc joks want to be the stars so they start talking shit about other artist to get there name out there more but they will only get the same pay.And all these disc joks trying to make hip hop music need to stop fucking up the music along with alot of other niggas like Basketball,Boxers ya'digg.If your a Boxer stay there don't try and knock niggas out on on saturday night fights and on monday threw friday your making hip hop come on it don't work good hip hop isn't something people can just do because they have a name somewhere...
all the media do is scrutinise hip hop they advertse rok music dance muisc etc but they feel that hip hop is a no go area.people fear the hood and the hood then strengthens.Radio can do wat they like but it won't change nothing it will just strengthen peoples love for it so in my opinion i would say that radio can fcuk messin wit hiphop
www.TheUrbanBlock.Com
You Hear Hip-Hop, We Live Hip-Hop
www.TheUrbanBlock.Com/forum
Sign Up Today.
The write up was straight to the point. The lack of parental upbringing is part of our kids problem. and the fact that the Govt has this thing about when a child feels like he/she is getting whooped, should call 911 and make a report. No parent wants to go to Jail so they dont whoop their kids like they are supposed to, so the kids turn out bad. Thats part of the problem
Hey Yall I came across this Rapper "Boom Jay" on Myspace am feeling his music all in all
check it out yourselves.
www.myspace.com/boomboomjay
FACT OF THE MATTER IS...
PEOPLE DON'T JUST CURSE IN RAP SONGS.
I'VE HEARD ROCK, POP, ALTERNATIVE, EVEN JAZZ CURSES.
THE PROBLEM IS, HIP HOP IS THE MOST POPULAR GENRE OF MUSIC.
THAT AIN'T HIP HOP'S FAULT. PEOPLE BUY WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.
IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR PROFANE LANGUAGE IT WOULDN'T BE BOUGHT, NUFF SAID.
THE PROBLEM NOW IS, MORE AND MORE BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL OFF HIPHOP AND
NO LONGER IS A BLACK DOMINATED GENRE CONTROLLED BUY NON-BLACK PEOPLE. DON'T GET ME
WRONG, I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD SON AND I'M SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT HE HEARS; BUT LET'S NOT
BE HIPPORCITICAL PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA CURSE EVEN IF HIP HOP DOESN'T. VIOLENCE IS
BAD IN SCHOOLS TOO, BUT THEY AIN'T TALKIN' ABOUT HOLLYWOOD CHANGING IT'S WAY OF
MAKING MOVIES. I KNOW THAT IT ALL STARTS AT HOME. AND IF MORE PEOPLE STOP CURSING
THEN LESS AND LESS HIP HIP ARTISTS WILL CURSE.
man, this make me mad cuz in hip hop we talk about real stuff and some people cant deal wit the reality, and second of all if you dont like hip hop, dont turn to a hip hop station then get mad when you hear somethin u dont like in it,thats like bien scared of heights then gettin on a roller coaster.and besides rock music is tellin people to sell they souls to the devil and that make hip hop sound like gospel.
Um, personally I don't think n e one should ban what is being said on the radio! Hip Hop is a form of expression and a way of life! just because people dont agree or think what u say is appropiate that may have been the environment you grew up in all your life. People dont understand that people dish out what they know and u cant tell nobody how to put their art of lyrics or works into a way to fit into the public. A bitch is something u see everyday in the real world. A hoe is something u see in the everyday world so why cant it be said in the world? If hip hop has to ban words then Rock artists and metal music reggae music and all genre's of music should be banned from usage of those words too
Oh and Fuck The Radio!
This show I did on May 3, 2007, don't let the date make you think the music is old because the music is ahead of its time. I consider it a classic episode in my opinion from the start to the end of the whole show I came correct as usual.
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 1 (BANANAS HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?e99mjih9mix
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 2 (CONCEPT/CONSCIOUS/ KNOWLEDGE HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?4mijdxnslkl
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 3 (CHILLIN/LAIDBACK HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1szv5nyxmuc
THE COME UP SHOW HOUR 4 (R&B HOUR)
http://www.mediafire.com/?4zkxet9vjuj
thecomeupshow@yahoo.ca
i guess the WHITE PPL Want them like that or there kids might lerne that kinda shit face it in there life time they lerned it
this article is for real."if y'all dont like hip hop, stay the fuck away from hip hop." if its bad for your health, consume other shit like fifty's vitamin water.
The reason why iz cuz Hiphop iz black owned the only rapper thy don't censor iz Eminem
MAyNE...THiSZ SHiT DUMB ASZ FUCK^. iF PE0PlE iSZ S0 W0RRiED `B0UT DEy KiDSZ RAPPiN THiSZ SHiT..WiT AlL DEM SWEAR W0RDSZ && WATN0T...RiP DEy EARSZ 0UT..HAHAHA DEy G0N` liSTEN REGARDlESSZ...D0 WAT yA D0 && FAll DA FUKQ^ BAKQ^ WiT All THiSZ "HiP H0P/RAP" iSZ BAD N0N SENSE..GET A FUCK^N liFE...HAHAHA
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