"Rap music is hurting the young...defend it Russell"

Ever since Russell Simmons released his, now best selling book, Do You! He has attended several talk shows to promote the book, to name a few: O’Reilly Factor, Real Time with Bill Maher and Anderson Cooper 360. However, it’s quite clear that no one he talks to gives a rat’s ass about his book. Every conversation he has quickly becomes a conversation surrounding Russell Simmons recently released statement that “bitch,” “hoe,” and “nigga” should be banned from the radio. The conversation, without fail, then becomes Russell Simmons having to defending rap music against a somewhat ornery host. If you have seen one of the interviews I am refereeing to, then you have seen them all. Almost all the questions are the exact same, and his responses are well thought out and predetermined.

First off, I do not envy Russell Simmons. Though he is extremely rich, and I too would like to be extremely rich, no one man should be asked to defend rap music (unless that man is super). The underlying problem with all the interviews, is an extreme lack of knowledge on the part of the host. (Analogy: Though I do not necessarily agree with our position in Iraq, am I going to grill the secretary of defense on the war. NO! Quite simply because I don’t know what the hell I am talking about--other then what I see on the news.) So, the interviewer, who doesn’t know hip-hop from hopscotch, is reflecting entirely on the rap music that is displayed on MTV, BET and “the radio.” This is an extremely small portion of hip-hop, and if I can be frank, some of the worst that hip-hop has to offer.

With that being said, does the blame not fall on: MTV, BET and “the radio.” Doesn’t the main problem have to do more with the executives who control media, then with rappers and musicians? They (media companies) are making a ton of money, at a cost to our society, by pushing certain types music… simply because sex, violence and drugs sell. Rappers can make the most violent and ridiculous music in the world, but if it doesn’t get on the TV or radio, chances are it will not have a noticeable impact on anything. So let me point a giant finger at, not the rappers, but TV and Radio… I hate you. You pollute this country with trash and filth… Stop It! (Sorry, I got a little heated while writing this)

Ludacris thanks Bill O'Reilly and Oprah

Ludacris won the 2007 grammy for best rap album… though I enjoyed Release Therapy, I do not think that it should have even been nominated for best rap album, but that’s another story… what I want to talk about is how Ludacris thanked Bill O’Reilly and Oprah, and why.

Ludacris apparently thanked Oprah because the show he was on for “crash,” was edited. And also she supposedly doesn’t like rap/ hip-hop music... here is the problem, if anyone has beef with Oprah, they got beef with me… I don’t know anything about the show that was edited, but I am sure she has people to do edit the show for her (because she is too busy giving money away and saving peoples lives) and doubt she purposely edited something special out of the show to insult someone…. And does Oprah (or anyone else) have to like rap music, NO. No one “has” to like any kind of music. I don’t like country music and I doubt you could convince me why I should. You generally like the music you grew up listening to, and I doubt Oprah grew up listening to hip-hop. I actually know she didn't, cause rap wasn't really even around then.

Then you have Bill (the cocksman) O’Reilly. You will have to search long and hard to find someone who likes Bill less then myself, but to feed my anger for him and out of shook and disgust I occasionally watch his show. It is no secret that Bill doesn't like rap music, and has on more then one occation personally called out a several rappers, including ludacris. Last night he addressed Ludacris’s acceptance speech and rap music, specifically the profanity in rap music. Listening to Mr. Bill actually speak about hip-hop music made me realize one important thing.... He has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. Bill is so detached from reality and youth culture that he honestly and simply doesn’t understand what he is talking about. He brought two other people on the show, with a similar lack of knowledge, to agree with him and further justify his opinions.

It got me thinking, Bill isn’t special. Bill represents thousands of older men and women in the US that want an easy answer for all problems, and blame Rap and Hip-Hop music for the problems surrounding the youth culture. However, the problem is with Fox, and Rupert Murdoch, because they gave him a show and soap box to rant and rave from. At home Bill can be as stupid and harmless as possible, but on TV he is dangerous.