Many of the problems in the hip hop community are due to the generational gap and lack of understanding the figurative chasm between them creates. Many people see the older sects as dated, and irrelevant at this point. 50 says O.G. simply stands for old goat, I on the other hand feel relieved that two certified O.G, hip hop greats decided to come back and save hip hop and black tevelsion from themselves.
KRS ONE, Kid Capri, and a music exec Atonn Muhammed, the president and CEO of the SSM Music Group, have been working on launching a TV channel for the past year or so. Its called The Real hip hop Network and will portray hip hop in a fair and balanced light, something the game has been missing since...well I suppose its never had it. The channel is going to be all encompassing from what I understand. You can tell KRS and Capri feel much like the readers and authors of this blog, and to some extent our still torn in regards to what the channels official platform will be. Sure I'd love to see a lesser known artists on tv, Or shows with more substance than Rap City (as it is today not circa 90's-'01) 106 and park, and MTV's sucker free. but at the sametime whether we like to admit it or not, we all like hearing some Three six, Game, Jeezy or any of the other masogonistic artists of the day. Thats just part of what hip hop is. Parts of it are grimey, violent, sexist but that is not compulsary of the art form. which is why this station is such a great idea. Rap fans are hypocrital by nature, much more so than any other music fans. We listen to it all and love it for what its worth, we bump our heads while talkin shit about the artist, we say it's dead then go buy the new releases that week. Hypocrasy is what we do, and its what we do best.
Whether its Deloris Tucker, Don Imus, or your grand parents, I dont think one hip hop enthusiast has not had that one particular annoying ass conversation. you know the one where you try and defend the music you love, but its hard because obviously they are ignorant to all the music that doesnt fit into the categories of gangsta rap, southern gangsta rap, east coast gangsta rap, and strip club music? As frustrating as this conversation can be, can you really blame them? whose fault is it? The consumer? The radio and television programmers? I think we all play a role. again the hypocrasy of rap and human nature for that matter applies here. KRS-ONE and Capri contend although they won't encourage it, you will hear some ho's and bitches's and nigga's on their channel just like the others, that as we all know is just part of the game and always will be. KRS obviously is still in touch with the side of him that said "Roxanne Shante is only good for steady F%@%'n" However it WILL NOT be a 24/7 thing like with B.E.T and MTV, but B.E.T especially.
Not to get on some racial ish but allow me to get on my 400 year old soap box for a minute. B.E.T was started by a black man, and he got rich off it. So rich that he was able to buy an NBA team and basically name it after himself. B.E.T is not owned by black folks anymore, but its programmed by black people, and a black woman at that. Do I like it when people like Imus desribe women that look like my mother or sister as nappy headed hoes? no, infact I hate it. Do I like it when people feel they can say certain things because snoop said it or cuz nelly slid his black card down some girls ass? no. But it pisses me off even more when B.E.T, which last time I checked stands for Black Entertainment Television portrays black women as hoes, and black males as thugs 22 out of 24 hours a day, and has done so for years now. Much of life is about accountability, you cannot do what B.E.T has done, then call foul when its become acceptable socially. Then again im sure NO ONE got what ever prejudicde thoughts they may have reinforced afterwatching the last season of College Hill...don't even get me started.
My only problem with the channel, is that its going to be a premium joint. It will cost you extra through whatever cable service picks it up. In my opinion the monetary component of the equation spells death for the fledgling network before it even hits the ground running. If you can remember MTV2 started out the same way and eventually ended up being on generic cable. I doubt it, but hopefully this new network will meet the same fate. Its needed, its necessary, and long over due.
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2 comments:
Nice post man, I didn't get around to reading the whole thing until just now.
"but at the sametime whether we like to admit it or not, we all like hearing some Three six, Game, Jeezy or any of the other masogonistic artists of the day. Thats just part of what hip hop is. Parts of it are grimey, violent, sexist but that is not compulsary of the art form. which is why this station is such a great idea."
True. If this station proves to be commercially viable then hopefully it will change the way videos are made and rap is marketed... or at least hopefully it will make a dent. Someone like Russell Simmons should really get involved to help with the marketing aspects. It seems doomed if it costs extra dough.
In my opinion, the bottom line is that American culture loves to see black people act like fools, that's why it's so meaningful when someone like Little Brother calls rap a 'minsrel show.' Rap today reflects American culture more than it shapes it, but there's still a chance to reform it through the success of projects like this.
The simple fact that a post like this, which draws attention to the negativity of rap, got no attention, is exactly what keeps it going. Even hiphop heads don't want to address the serious issues around rap. I appreciated your words though.
It is delightful
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