NO: Jackson Long

This should not even be a discussion, but it is. To the point that rappers were face-to-face with congressmen last week in the nation’s capital, arguing over words that have been around far before rap music and graphic content that can be found throughout any metropolis in this country. The first amendment should have ended this discussion before it started, but I suppose the Constitution is not applicable when it comes to rap music.

The issues at hand during these hearings are far deeper than rap music and to say that Hip hop is responsible for them is ridiculous. The average street hustler is selling drugs because he needs to eat, not because his favorite rapper tells stories about dealing dope in some of his songs. Like rapper David Banner said in his testimony: “I by some stroke of the pen hip hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our community. Drugs, violence, sexism and the criminal element were here long before hip hop”.

Art imitates life, it is not the other way around. Bob Marley wrote “Pass The Dutchie” and numerous marijuana influenced songs because he liked to smoke it. I’m fairly confident when I say he didn’t write the songs first and then decided to smoke weed. Unfortunately this also applies to a lot of rappers who grew up in communities plagued with the debated issues, so that is what they are familiar with and what they write about. Rap becomes an easy scapegoat because it portrays a part of our country that is often considered taboo outside of its own community. Unless of course we’re talking about the negative affect that it has on the rest of us.

I am an avid listener of rap music and I admit that I don’t agree with everything rappers say. I don’t agree with calling women a “b***h” but if a rapper wants to say it then it is certainly his right to do so. Not the most chivalrous way of putting things, but according to the first amendment it’s still his right. Just because he says that, it doesn’t make me any more inclined to use the word with the opposite sex and I believe most people understand that. I listen to violent raps as well but this is not my reality. These represent tales of serious problems within our society and a good reason to stay in school and finish my degree.

Neither Congress nor censorship should control the pens of rap artists. The buyers are aware of the themes and material that rap music deals with and if this isn’t for you, like Mr. Banner said: “DON’T BUY THE ALBUM”.

YES: Alicia Johnson

A conversation that is recently coming up more and more is whether or not Hip-Hop should be censored. And I think it should. Before I get up on my soap box ranting on about how negative Hip- Hop has become. Let me point something out. I am a fan of Hip-Hop, I live Hip-Hop, I am a representative of Hip-Hop, but recently it has taken a turn to a place that doesn’t represent me; nor does it represent the artists that are the faces of Hip-Hop in the media today.

So back on my soap box I go… Recently, there was a hearing about this issue that drew Hip-Hop artists, congressmen, lawmakers and music industry executives together. The issue at hand is Hip-Hop and its lyrics of course. David Banner and Master P (rappers) were the face of the entire Hip- Hop culture. Originally the lyrics of Hip-Hop were revolutionary, they had meaning; a direct representation of the lives lived by the artist. Now Hip-Hop is full of studio gangsters (artist that rap portray a particular lifestyle that they don’t live), video hoes, expensive cars, gold teeth, phat chains, and explicit, degrading lyrics. “Sex sells” they say, but at what cost? Our Future?

I don’t want to go and get all “PC” (slang for politically correct, see what hip hop has done to me!), it’s not my style. But, being the eldest of 3 siblings, I see how the negative and degrading lyrics impact my 16 year old brother. Hip Hop has contributed to him thinking it’s un-cool to be smart and cool to pop ecstasy (Listen to the lyrics of any Hyphy song). Furthermore, it is also desensitizing women to accept being called derogatory words.

I believe in music being a form of expression, but I also feel is it the responsibility of the artist to make a good decision in the way he/she portrays themselves. There are a lot of artist, out there that rap about a world they don’t live in and a life they don’t lead. Music artist whether they like it or not make a difference; that being said, I feel there are some main stream artists that need to be more conscious about their lyrics. I don’t even see what the big deal is; most of the artists out there aren’t really saying anything anyway. For example, T-Pain, is it so hard for him not to come out with a song about getting drunk and dating strippers? Maybe so, because then he wouldn’t have a career.