RSS“He Did it Too”
I’m amazed at the finger pointing that goes on in America. I’m talking about the “why blame me, he did it too” attitude that persist in politics, the media, business and throughout society.
Of late, the rap community has adopted this stance. Ever since the infamous Don Imus fiasco, rappers have been pointing the finger at movies and television to defend against the onslaught of criticism by mainstream media, which has blamed rap music for much of the violence and misogynism in American society.
Recently, rapper Nelly continued the trend, trying to justify his uncensored video “Tip Drill,” in which he swipes a credit card through the crack of a women’s ass.
According to Nelly:
“You look at Essence magazine, and they wouldn’t put a rapper on the cover. They wouldn’t put Nelly on the cover of Essence. Why? I don’t know. Would I like to do it? Of course I would. Why not? You wouldn’t put me on the cover because of the ‘Tip Drill’ video … that’s probably your main focus. But yet still, you put Halle Berry on the cover. She’s had a 15-minute sex scene with some white guy in front of a couch … I mean you can’t tell me that ‘Tip Drill’ was worse than watching that sex scene between Billy Bob (Thornton) and Halle Berry. You can’t tell me that. That was longer than four or five minutes. You feel what I’m sayin’?”
Nelly, I’m a fan of yours. I think you’re an innovative artist and a style maven, but let’s be real. We both know rap music is not the cause of societies ills, but is does contribute. Young people watch your videos and they’re influenced by your lyrics, style and your actions. Regardless of if you want to admit it or not, you’re sending a message.
I’m not attacking hip-hop or Nelly. I’m of the hip-hop world. In fact, I’m what you might call a hip-hop head. But one thing I do know is that being critical of ones self is about improvement. Nelly, me and you both are from communities where the real issues that rappers talk about in their music are ever present,. So we both know first hand the improvements that need to occur in the hood.
When I hear rappers allude to America as being violent and sexist, I cringe. American is not violent and sexist—people in America are violent and sexist. We as individuals determine what our culture looks like. Taking responsibility is about empowering ourselves to create change.
Nelly, lets rap. If you trying to create change we can work together. Holla.
7 Comments, Comment or Ping
Latice
Play on playa!!!! Yeah, it’s right to be a “HIP-HOP HEAD” in the hip-hop community when it’s “JUST THAT”…..diggin the vibe and not putting entire lives and substance behind the lyrics. I came before you and Snoop Dogg’s first album (CD now…lol) was so dehumanizing to females…(or so they said) but I was bumpin it righteously like the anthem it was at the time. It’s soooooooooooo difficult to be judgemental without being hypocrital——— simply because hip-hop is a culture……OUR culture!!!!!!! “IT IS WHAT IT IS” as one of my best friends says to me all the time. If Eminem swiped a card up up a big vuluptuous ass there would be cause for outburst—when we do it….honestly “IT IS WHAT IT IS”. We can’t stop the revolutiion of hip-hop, and honestly, who the fuck would want to????? This has been our means of dialogue and communication within our own inner sanctum for so long that I think it would kill our society - not only ours, but every single endorser of products, music, recognition, brand wear, labels, businesses, goodness—-please stop me!!!!! - this is how we vent!!!! As we evolve—the music and the lyrics and the videos will too. So the better question is this: Whose gonna SET IT OFF in the hip-hop world making us non- violent and non-sexist, and still radio play????? JUST CURIOUS
[Reply]
Q.
i hear you loud and clear.. it seems like everyone is taking Ques from one another.. now if anything, that might be the American way of doing things.. we’re still a nation of followers, with a minority of leaders.. but i can write a blog about that.. maybe another time..
it’s our lack of intelligence that bothers me on a lot of the issues, such as the one you’re speaking to.. we’re quick to shift the blame when we don’t have to.. Nelly could simply say it’s his right to be able to express himself as an artist, but he’s not educated on how to do that.. same with the Imus situation.. what killed me the most is how he placed blame on hip-hop, but dude doesn’t even listen to hip-hop.. you catch that? he’s placing blame on something he’s not truly influenced by.. unless Imus is coming out saying that he is catching versions of Tip Drill on YouTube or watching BET Uncut or something, then he can’t even use that lame ass excuse..
i’ve never even seen Tip Drill, but i’ll do a search on it now.. i remember going overseas and seeing for the first time that most of our rappers have alternative versions of their videos.. Em, 50, all of them.. x-rated versions.. they play them over there all of the time.. no one is appalled or anything like that.. it’s just a video for them.. but their culture and society is different.. i just think we need to educate ourselves on being true to ourselves instead of following trends..
i’m just sayin’..
[Reply]
PB&J
it’s silly that many celebreties make excuses that they’re not responsible for the behavior of the young generation. the truth is that they have so much power over the youth. of course, parenting is as crucial as these celebreties. it all begins and ends somewhere.
[Reply]
DEEP BLU SEE
We look around and what do we see? a member of a gang that named itself “Makavelli” after the Shakur album. People kill each other over this shit!!!! We’re inspired by people like Tupac because we face the same kind of difficulties — when are we going to stop adversity with adversity?
[Reply]
Entreprenulius
I’m late on this reply, as I’m just catching it now, but I can tell you this…
WE NEED TO BROADEN THE SPECTRUM!! Hip hop is a reflection of the lives we live. No one is constantly profane, constantly negative, or constantly. We constantly have an “average” state that balances between our negative urges and positive attributes. Some days you feel like saying “nice ass” and other days you feel like letting a woman know how she inspires you to be a man just with her smile. What we need is for more artists who want to speak a positive message or at least shed light to that side of themselves to man/woman up.
Better yet…what we need is DISTRIBUTION - in a time when the music industry is most vulnerable - we have the opportunity to revolutionize the music industry through the internet and CREATE our own airplay - radio is being phased out - and the internet is fast becoming the dominant medium.
Let’s get on our game, and play this game of capitalism
That’s my word!
-BTP
[Reply]
TROUBLman
You aint neva lied. We premiering TROUBL Radio next month. We want to share real artist and real topics with the world.
We”ll be streaming live on the Web. Let people know.I’ll have updates real soon.
[Reply]
yomamababy
listen hear don’t none of ya’ll know what your talking about and if you really paid any attention you would know that thats not really even his body the person that did this all they didi was cut and paste his head on that body it’s not really him and all that ya’ll said you should take it back because it’s not true about him so get your damn facts straight anyways pay attention before you cosighn on anything and look for evidence or advice for the idiot whom may have made that damn picture about nelly and said those things about him also
p.s. yall is some stupid ass mother fuckers too!!!!!
[Reply]
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