Who said that about the villages I'd like to talk to this guy and give him a piece of my mind. I live in a city not village. If the most influencial person in your child's life, is a person that they have never even met..... that's your fault. Someone who does not come into contact with your children has more influence than you do..... that's your fault. Hip-hop artists don't pay any bills in your house. They don't employ you. They can't tutor you children if they need help. They don't buy your children's clothes. They don't feed your kids. You do. You employ them. If you con't know how to say no to your children for their own good. The result is your fault. Period.

Patricia Butts Fighting every day to raise my kids in a safe environment. I listen to the panel talk about “our community” I have nothing but love for all of you, however, living in a suburb of the ghetto and by that I mean I keep moving my kids around so that the street violence doesn’t catch up with them. I have to say as a professor of the streets, I have done a triple blind study of what makes black people act, and react the way we do. I do not believe it is hip hop or naked woman, The glorification of the ole mighty dollar. The power of the dollar has caused us to sell our children, disrespect our parents, and lets not forget sell our body’s and for what. We have lost our R-E-S-P-E-C-T for our selves! One thing I can say we listen to hip hop and my children know that it is entertainment and not reality!

personally i dont think its the rappers fault thats my thought on this.i feel that young black women has a choice to be seen only as sex objects and they dont have respect for their self and if they dont have that who will give them respect when they dont show or give them self respect,but to me i dont think its a huge deal not saying its not a issue but for some reason some white people and a few black people do but when all these white girls doing  pron  and girls go wild and stuff but thats not a big deal and there are teenager doing but it's okay that's what makes me mad i feel that its the desiners,stylest,and the people who comes up with the concept of the video and the public.and i say that because the designersis the one who makes the cothles then the styles shows it to the people who's making the video then they put the video chicks in them and these are guys so what u think.

 

I am very much a realist and believe in being fair and honest no matter the cost or consequence. So I honestly think that the issue is much bigger than hip hop vs. america! As a people, we have to consciously and collectively decide to be positive in all aspects of our lives and to get ourselves out of that mindset that just because we started off a certain way, that we cant grow and overcome that! I think that not only is it unfair to point that finger at any one group of people (i.e rappers or video girls) but it is also pointless!! It CHANGES nothing!! I realize that the way we are portrayed in music videos and movies may not always be in a positive way, but each person ultimately is responsible for their own actions. Music may have the power to influence but it in no way has the power to control! In my opinion, we all play an equal role in changing the way that we view ourselves and the way that other people view us. I think that if we ALL adopt the mindset that we are going to represent ourselves in a way that we can be proud of and represent ourselves positively then we essentially change ourselves!! So now it wont matter that nelly has the tip drill video because i choose to represent myself positively regardless! So I choose not to partake in behavior simular to what I see on tv. BUT on the flip side, when the rappers decide to represent themselves in a positive light AT ALL COSTS then it will reflect in their music as well. I am reminded of this interview that I watched with Chamillionaire. He told the journalist that he has decided not to use profanity or the N word in any of his lyrics and when asked why, he says (paraphrase) during one of his concerts, after asking the audience to sing along, he glances at the audience and realizes that most of his audience was white, and that he was essentially opening the door for them to not only use those words but feel as though it's OK to use them. So he saw himself as a contributor to the problem and not a problem solver! To me this is the classic example of choosing to take a stand for positivity, knowing that your career, finances, and future are all at stake! He chose to do something positive, to promote change in his community, no matter how small, above his own personal gain. He took the road less traveled by, and I think that if we as a black people would be that willing to change, it will make ALL the DIFFERENCE!! So in conclusion, I think that we are all responsible for the way that we are viewed by others and ourselves! We have to make up in our minds that our self respect as a people is way more important than MONEY, FAME, A MAN, WHATEVER! When we make that decision personally, then it doesnt matter what everyone else does. But the awesome thing about that though is if we ALL make that decision and we ALL act on those decisions, WE ALL BECOME BETTER PEOPLE!!

Each person has the power to help evoke change. It is OUR responsibility to do whatever it is that WE can do to change OUR community! Every little bit helps. Even if its just talking to the kids at your local high school or volunteering and doing motivational speaking to those who are willing to lend an ear, its something. We have to change the mentality of ourselves and our youth if we are going to change our positions in society. The problems that face our community are far deeply rooted into the spirits of us and our forefathers. Part of what is happening now is the successful poisoning of the mind that the White man has done to us since the beginning of time. Generation after generations of Black people have been taught to glorify materialistic things and hate themselves and their worth. Even if you go back to those Blacks who honestly thought that the closer they were to White, the better they were, you can see the self-hatred that has been bestowed upon us. These beliefs, practices, and teachings have been passed down to the generation which is before us now. Yes part of the issue is that we have far too many people living in poverty with no hope and no belief that the things that we who are fortunate talk about is obtainable by them. And the other problem is that too many of our Black people, especially those in positions of power, disassociate themselves with the Black community. They have bought into the lie that the Whiter you are the better you are, the more you have the more you are "accepted", the more you try to disassociate yourself from the community in which many of us are a product of the more you are praised by the White man. WAKE UP PEOPLE! We need to let our brothers and sisters know that even though they may be the first to complete high school or the first to try to go to college that these things are possible for even them, even though it was never possible for those before them in their family and community. We need to look into the minds of our children and see why they think and act the way they do, then work to build their self-esteem and self-assurance. We need to exercise our power as the "talented tenth" that W.E.B. DuBois talks about. WE CANNOT BLAME HIP HOP! We have to blame ourselves. And as parents, as children and as a community we have failed ourselves. Only we can take care of us, because only we know how. "Out of sight, out of mind" does not change the reality that the majority of our community is living in. If we silence the artist, the problem is still there. The artist is simply the messenger of the realities that so many are not comfortable hearing and seeing. If you don't like the depiction of Black America, instead of trying to blame the hip hop community for it, look within yourselves to take some of that blame and change it! Not exposing an issue does not make it disappear. Black folks, we need to put ourselves in check and correct our own problems. Be blessed and keep the faith...

To start out first I want 2 give much praise and respect to Jeff Johnson because whether people believe it or not he is the epitome of what a real black man is and I still believe that we have some of those men out here in the world today but they just have not seen it in themselves. Our society focuses on what a man can do for you and financially and how much he can satisfy you but what about a man that can satisfy you mentally and emotionally. I am a young woman that is about to graduate from college with two degrees and I have came encounter with all types of guys. But I can honestly say that there are some real good brothers out here but they just want to feed into the image of what a man is. And what I mean by that is there are some brothers out here that want to do right by women but the way our society is trained 2 perceive thing is that men that show women respect and do treat women with the love and concern that we should be given they are thought of as punks and not real men.. Why? just because his loyalty, love, respect and honesty lies in one women? That is so crazy to me. But as women we should learn our true worth. We should love ourselves more to know that we deserve so much better than *** that some men give us. We should love ourselves more to know that we should not put ourself at risk for no man. And I mean at risk by condoning a man to sleep with you when you know that he is sleeping with another woman. That is to dangerous now a days. AIDS is killing us rapidly and in some ways we are letting it. I am a young woman so I know what is going on out here in the young black community and young women are letting this happen. We should value ourselves more and show that we deserve more and then maybe the men will do the same.

My name is Ralph Brown and I am a professional football player who would love to engage in conversation with some of these gentlemen on your panel.. I speak with my teammates everyday about educating themselves about business, politics and anything else they may have an interest in. What I have learned is that African Americans are the only race that still make fun of you if you make good grades and if you speak well, and if you were raised in an affluent neighborhood by 2 parents. we are the only race that excepts ignorance as being cool. The one thing that white people stripped from us many years ago (books, knowledge) is the one thing that we still have a hard time embracing.. We do not value ourselves so when we do get money we buy things like jewelry to put on our body to make ourselves feel "VALUABLE". Before this age of rappers and athletes becoming instant millionaires the one thing that was synonymous with riches was intelligence. Now we feel that we do not have to study or go to school to be rich.. and now everyones goal in the black community is to be rich but not be educated because you get more praise from others having money than being smart.

Why don't you guys have men like me on the pannel.Because every subject that is brought up I fell like it is about me. A real brother that have to make real choices in life like should I feed my family or put gas in my car to go to work today.The bottom line is no matter how much you guys talk none of the people on the pannel are realy struggling to make a living. And probley want help anybody who's trying to make it, make it. So please put some real people on the pannel then you will have something to discuss.

I can feel you on that one bruh! The only person, I felt, that was being real was David Banner. I can't place myself in the shoes of a blackwoman, as far as always being propositioned for sex and things of that nature, but todays young balckwomen can't keep blaming blackmen for their choices. Young women today have many options to choose from. There are more blackwomen in college than blackmen and as a result more of them are getting hiring paying jobs and positions. If they so choose they don't have to work because they can always have the option of having a man provide for them. Like you said, choosing to feed your family vs. putting gas in you car to go to work,a decision that you as a parent have to make with the other parent. Hip Hop doesn't make that choice for you and neither should anybody else. Because the obvious answer would be to get some gas to get to work to get money in order to put food on the table in the first place. Imagine being a professional driver and having the state suspend your license for being behind in child support or something of that nature. How can you get to work and even if you did would you be able to still have that driving job? No! Thus, no money and no feeding or supporting yur family or kids. Real dicisions that affect you and yours should be made by you and yours. Otherwise, the T.V.,state,Hip Hop and anybody else are making decisions for your family and your right most of them could care less about helping someone who's trying to make it. There only concerned about keeping their jobs to get money to feed their family and support their kids.

Why the hell is black or white seen as so divisive? I'm descended from freaking Pilgrims which means that my ancestors were annihilating Native people who they perceived as different like over 350 years ago. Even later than that we've exacted prejudice on all different kinds of people. It's completely horrifying to me...but what the hell am I going to do but respect everyone I meet as a lesson from my ancestors...you have no idea what you're doing, e.g. wiping out a culture. I'm a huge fan of hip-hop, probably more reggae, but definitely hip-hop and I remember 1994 listening to "*55* Ain't *73* But *58* and Tricks" and recognizing the misognynistic message but not feeling like it applied to me. I don't know, I mean I definitely prefer music that isn't cruel - especially some killer old school like Ultramegnetic MC's...but all I'm trying to convey is that the world is far more divisive and rich with history than black vs white...and one phenomenal way that can be expressed is through music...I'm in no way proud of how my history looks, but I feel ok about the future since I learned that random acts of genetics don't define people, it's their actions. It's a lot more effort to go from a horrible environment to a positive one, but it's amazing to have the power to choose. Having been in different places in the world, it is one thing respected about the US - you can come from anything and work your way toward being successful. And this was at a time that I was nearly ashamed to be American...these students reminded me that in US you can make mistakes and still move forward. In some other cultures either your birthright or your missteps dictate your future. Here we can make many mistakes and come from anything and still achieve. This totally wasn't about hip-hop, which is absolutely wrong because I love it...but I was really inspired to write after what I saw tonight because seriously, my ancestors were horrible to people - not black people necessarily - but different people...and for me I guess life is a little more complex than physical differences. However, I do a lot of my volunteer work in a city and it never fails to amaze me what the ratio of white vs non-white is in a school that has crappy teachers and peeling tile. Wtf? Haven't we gotten past that yet? Apparently not, but fortunately there are some amazing entertainers out there that enable a diverse audience to commune.

So I've watched more of the show and I think it rocks that the panel recognizes the entrepreneurship that has come out of hip-hop. Clearly it can go either way but it proves that effort can be rewarded. Talib had an amazing point when he basically said that an entity like Rawkus couldn't have existed without the pomp and circumstance that was and is Snoop Dogg. No matter who you are - imagine your life without NWA's influence. It's like imagining your life without or the Large Professor...or the Biz...or a little bit of Scholly D...I don't want to live in that world. As far as the discussion about men being there for you - seriously - my thought to myself is that no kid deserves to deal with my struggle. I have seen the impact of youth pregnancy and as much as I attempt to help the children impacted by this (CASA), I see it time and time again - not that people have kids and induct them into their race - more that they convey the concept that no matter what, you'll be ok. I had some bs childhood that involved addiction more than poverty (although electricity could sometimes be an issue) and probably one of the reasons I would never perpetuate that life is because I had outside (especially) the media showing me that not everyone dealt with abuse or whatever. The idea that hip-hop, which has been a part of my life since kids had ghetto boxes and refrigerator cardboard taped togehter is influencing amazing young women to settle for a sub-standard life is horrifying. While I enjoy Opio and his general enjoyment of life - there are amazing young women who don't have the Cosby's to apire to when they're considering whether or not to close their legs (David Banner's opinion) or in my opinion go for it but a trifecta of hormonal, barrier and spermicida protection is a way better way to enjoy it. Seriously, you might think of a kid as a companion for life, yeah I was totally going to quantify a "good life" in my post but then I realized - that is totally subjective - my outlook is that right now, no innocent child needs to deal with my crap. David Banner is totally describing his college audience as made up of a lot of white women...ha ha check out New England - it's such bs here that a crowd for Hiero is predominantly peach...yo, not even tan...still listening to David Banner - still thinking that one of the only reasonss I wouldn't make an innocent kid re-live my history is due to the images I had on tv and in magazines. I knew what a family could be even though I didn't have it and now I'm considering the impact of popular hip-hop, with which I'm frankly less familiar, on kids who have a crap life. I saw a lawyer and a doctore manage 5 kids and made a decision, then later I heard the Souls of Mischief or whatever...turns out that once your impression of the world is formed, it's less malleable (probably why I still rock Snoop Dogg) then when you've dealt with some bs. Anyhow, I just wanted to express my opinion that, as a woman having a degree in entrepreneurship, hip hop has offered an exceptional opportunity to either anyone with talent or to anyone who is savvy enough to recognize talent and capitalize on it.

this is not about race. this is not about *73*. i think that people need to really need to grasp morals in their lives. if you love your wife. love her. if you love your friends then you better just do whatever to defend them. i hear *73* about the white man. everyone has every opportunity now. you can make anything of yourself and im sick of this bitching about not being able to. you arent suppressed. you have every right to do the right thing. It is your choice to do that. People really just need to learn values. Family and friends. They are the only thing you need. You are capable of everything. You can turn something awful into something amazing. Just make it happen. Whatever is in your power. Make it happen. Now a days you can do whatever your heart desires. You just really need to go for it. If you dont then you are bound to meet your maker. I respect everyone. But if I am going to sit here and listen to how the white man ruined *73* then you are wrong. You have just as many opportunities as anyone does. Make it happen. Thats all I am sayin. Do work. Get *73* done. Do *73* for yourself because no one is going to do it for you.

Our youth need to see positive role models in their communities.  It has to start somewhere.  They need to see that SCHOOL is the way out.  Being smart is not just for white people or corny people.  (by the way........you do not have to be smart to succeed in college.....just determined!  I beleive that MOST average people COULD do well in college with encouragement and pay for it like most folks......student loans)  I love hip-hop and must admit that even when the lyrics are questionable, if the beat is hot, I will listen.  But what about the school aged kids that don't have an adult around or willing to explain things and guide them?  In those cases (which are numerous) does D. Banner have any responsibility?  ( I like him, but I think he needs anger management......listening is an important part of communication!)  The reality is that the way out of the hood for most kids is not by glamourizing an unrealistic lifestyle that benefits from degrading US.  It is in most cases......going to college.....bottom line.  I don't dispute that some folks will make it out without that, but the majority will not.  That can not be disputed. I am glad that this discussion is going on as I have to deal with my own level of resposibility as far as supporting music that exploits women and promotes immorality.  Hey, at least I'm honest.....I do love hip-hop.  Good luck!

That sentiment rocks - I'm rocking out to Deltron 3030 and Del didn't get handed anything...well maybe talent :)