Author Topic: Problems facing the black community  (Read 4033 times)

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Offline Nemesis6

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Problems facing the black community
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saDgAPCZNmY

It might be a nutty towards the end, but I think it's an overall positive message since the hoodlum culture, and most of the rap of today, are bad influences. I know they said the same thing about Rock & Roll back in the 80s, but within the rap genre, I don't really see any diversity, message-wise. For example, look at the whole "beef" thing rap has going on. Along with that, the retarded "East coast, west coast" thing that they shoot each other over, too. On this particular subject, I'm quite fond of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV2XBNl5604

But most frustrating of all is seeing teenagers over here in Europe dressing and trying to act like rappers and doing the whole limping thing. I know many people struggle to find their identity and their true selves, but damn, many people pick the wrong idol!

Am I being too black and white about this? I've pondered this for a long damn time, and I'm having trouble seeing the hoodlum/rap/gangster sub-culture as being anything but a negative influence.

Disclaimer: I'm white, and I don't have any black friends. I also know that there are actual masterpieces within rap, Immortal Technique - Dance With the Devil coming to mind.

 

Offline The E

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Re: Problems facing the black community
No, I'd say you're too white about this. I do not know much about the english/american rap scene beyond stereotypes, however I do know that the german rap scene is far more diverse than that. I have trouble imagining that it's any different in english or american rap.
If I'm just aching this can't go on
I came from chasing dreams to feel alone
There must be changes, miss to feel strong
I really need lifе to touch me
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Offline General Battuta

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Re: Problems facing the black community
A lot of rap is pretty incisive social commentary. Of course a lot of it is also trash, but hey, Sturgeon.

I think we get a lot of valuable insight into what it's like to be part of an underprivileged minority from songs like CHOCOLATE RAAAAAAAAAAIN

 

Offline Bobboau

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Re: Problems facing the black community
no, you are white, you are not allowed to criticize brown people because you are solely responsible for any problems they have.
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Offline General Battuta

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Re: Problems facing the black community
no, you are white, you are not allowed to criticize brown people because you are solely responsible for any problems they have.


 

Offline Dilmah G

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Re: Problems facing the black community
Nemesis6,

You should try looking at some American East-Coast rap, as well as artists like R.A. the Rugged Man and Immortal Technique. Both of them are interesting, intelligent guys who don't rap as often about cars, money and babes as other rappers.

The problem with rap, and with many genres of music, is that the so called 'mainstream' artists give the genre a bad name. Now when rappers like 'fiddy and the whole G-Unit crew get up there, they rap about hoes, money, and guns, in that order. But it isn't hugely representative of what rap is. If you listen to kids in your area rapping, you can tell the younger blokes apart because they'll imitate what they see on MTV and sound like they've been lifted from Southside Jamaica Queens. You can tell the real guys by what they rap about, often hilariously subverting the stereotype, rapping about how they don't have money, can't recall a good girlfriend and the fact their car got broken into the week before. Or at least that's the way it is in my area.

For people who live that lower-class lifestyle (as opposed to the rising occurrence of rich kids stooping down thinking it's cool), rap *can* be a dickwaving tool, but it's not usually. It's a form of expression/storytelling medium and a way to pass time. And the only times you'll ever see dickwaving is when A) the rapper is from the West Coast, or B) it's two guys ever famously 'freestyle rap battling'. :P

 

Offline Topgun

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Re: Problems facing the black community
Rap is not the problem in itself. its the "gangsta" culture that's the problem.

 

Offline Nemesis6

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Re: Problems facing the black community
With my limited bandwidth(333 megabytes per day), I'll have to hold off on the music, having gone through a bit of Immortal Technique and Rugged Man's stuff on Youtube. Who knew there would be rap about the Vietnam war?(Just had a listen to Uncommon Valor) Now that is some interesting stuff. How come I've heard about Eminem but not this guy? Doesn't seem fair.

I guess you have to look deeper within this genre to see the real stuff, which, coincidentally, is not widely recognized. Didn't know about the West/East side thing either.

 

Offline Mars

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Re: Problems facing the black community
I don't think you can say the "gansta" culture is limited to East coast or West coast. Biggy Smalls obviously came from the East, and he was pretty ghetto.

 

Offline Dilmah G

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Re: Problems facing the black community
With my limited bandwidth(333 megabytes per day), I'll have to hold off on the music, having gone through a bit of Immortal Technique and Rugged Man's stuff on Youtube. Who knew there would be rap about the Vietnam war?(Just had a listen to Uncommon Valor) Now that is some interesting stuff. How come I've heard about Eminem but not this guy? Doesn't seem fair.

I guess you have to look deeper within this genre to see the real stuff, which, coincidentally, is not widely recognized. Didn't know about the West/East side thing either.
Heh, that's my favourite song you're talking about there Nemesis. :P I was going to list Jedi Mind Tricks as well but they're a little different to RA and IT.

And I agree, these guys need more praise. Although over here JMT and the associated Army of the Pharaohs have got a lot more exposure very recently. Not sure what it's due to.

And most people outside of the US don't know about the East side west side thing. Generally though, the East Coast produces more guys like Immortal Tech and Rugged Man (though I think RA is from New York), and the West is home to a lot of rappers who produce 'party songs'.

Rap is not the problem in itself. its the "gangsta" culture that's the problem.
I agree.

 

Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Problems facing the black community
unfortunately, as far as 80% of the world is concerned, those two are the same.  especially among the kids who partake in said culture.
I like to stare at the sun.

 

Offline Flipside

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Re: Problems facing the black community
The problem is that if you are young and black and don't want to perform the music that record companies want you to perform (i.e. What they percieve as 'Young Black Music') then it is incredibly hard to get yourself recognised. Media companies don't give a **** how it's percieved, the more shock, the more sales, that's all they care about, and if that has a knockback effect on Black communities, what do they care?

  

Offline Klaustrophobia

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Re: Problems facing the black community
but if people didn't listen to it and idolize it, record companies wouldn't push it.
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Offline watsisname

Re: Problems facing the black community
There is good rap, there is bad rap, and then there is weird rap :lol:
In my world of sleepers, everything will be erased.
I'll be your religion, your only endless ideal.
Slowly we crawl in the dark.
Swallowed by the seductive night.

 

Offline Rodo

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Re: Problems facing the black community
Never understood the problems with US citizens and their treatment towards black fellows, seriously speaking US people seem to be more sensitive about this than people from other parts of the world.

Might be related to some of the country's historical events, but I'm too lazy to dig on that.
el hombre vicio...

 

Offline Topgun

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Re: Problems facing the black community
bad rap

more bad rap

REALLY BAD RAP

 :ick:

I don't know any rap in english thats any good, so how about this?
not really rap I know but its what I like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v65am-GFBpk


 

Offline Rodo

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Re: Problems facing the black community
So none of you got kids dancing to the rhythms of rap music?

Rap here's not that common, but we've got cumbia for that....UGGGHHH.
el hombre vicio...

 

Offline Flipside

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Re: Problems facing the black community
but if people didn't listen to it and idolize it, record companies wouldn't push it.

If there's only bread available, you eat bread. If a form of music involving guns and '*****es' is the only easily available form of music that represents your culture, you start to believe that is the choice of the culture, not the white collar execs of the Record companies. It's a question of a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way, they aren't singing about how they live, they are trying to live what they heard sung about.

 

Offline Topgun

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Re: Problems facing the black community
but if people didn't listen to it and idolize it, record companies wouldn't push it.

If there's only bread available, you eat bread. If a form of music involving guns and '*****es' is the only easily available form of music that represents your culture, you start to believe that is the choice of the culture, not the white collar execs of the Record companies. It's a question of a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way, they aren't singing about how they live, they are trying to live what they heard sung about.
Pretty much this. That and kids are being told that to be successful they have to be gangsters.
also cumbia = fail, salsa = win.

 

Offline Mongoose

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Re: Problems facing the black community
My kind of rap :p