I would like to comment on what impala06 said about the ghetto. I do not agree, because the ghetto has always been low-income people struggling, while trying to look as though they are not. I do not believe nothing good comes out the ghetto. I believe if you have not struggled you will not appreciate when you get up.

GOOD SHOW!!!! We must all understand that each of us has a purpose. Right now rap is very redundant the content is about guns and drugs, pimps and *58*. What I keep hearing is that the rappers didnt make it this way and they arent controlling the industry. So that tells me they are still slaves to a system and money is their master. Because having women half naked in videos is demeaning, whether the woman is ok with it or not. The ones that set the standards are us, we cant wait for anyone else to set the standard. NO RAP IS NOT THE CAUSE OF ALL AMERICA'S PROBLEMS, but in my opinion it helps. Kids look up to rappers like they are sports stars. Who didnt want to be like Mike? I think rappers should take a hard look at what they've become and the influence they could have. The money is made, educate the youth about the things you would have loved to been educated about. I love hip hop it is the most creative and interesting art form that has ever existed. But right now it is just empty words.

Hip Hop is not the same as it was years ago. Since Hip-Hop has infratrated the white community, so those people in control are mad b/c their children are listening and expressing themselves through the art form that their parents have a disdain for because it bringing their children closer to the urban community. When Hip-Hop was conveying a positive message, society had a problem with that because black youth were standing up and be responsible. However, there has been a shift into what is out there. BET is part of the problem as well. Yes, they are a vehicle to enlighten us but they are falling short of this responsiblity. Our so-called leaders are not doing what is needed unless there is a camera around. Stand up. Our society is depicted in the art form. These messages and behaviors come from white folk. Stanley Crouch is and idiot and needs to shut up. These artist should take their money and buy land and fix up the hood and attitudes will change with the environment.

<BLOCKQUOTE><table width="85%"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>Blessedami2 wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4">GOOD SHOW!!!! We must all understand that each of us has a purpose. Right now rap is very redundant the content is about guns and drugs, pimps and *58*. What I keep hearing is that the rappers didnt make it this way and they arent controlling the industry. So that tells me they are still slaves to a system and money is their master. Because having women half naked in videos is demeaning, whether the woman is ok with it or not. The ones that set the standards are us, we cant wait for anyone else to set the standard. NO RAP IS NOT THE CAUSE OF ALL AMERICA'S PROBLEMS, but in my opinion it helps. Kids look up to rappers like they are sports stars. Who didnt want to be like Mike? I think rappers should take a hard look at what they've become and the influence they could have. The money is made, educate the youth about the things you would have loved to been educated about. I love hip hop it is the most creative and interesting art form that has ever existed. But right now it is just empty words.</td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

MY DESPERATE APPEAL TO THE WORLD OF HIP HOP & THE TOP DOGS, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY

In Part 2, Nelly said something along the lines of this...."life is about sacrifice....we gotta make sacrifice for the benefit of the next generation" And he is right....Now Nelly for the most part was a defender of hip hop and what it's become....Nelly's statement that he makes videos for different groups (children & adults) leads me to believe that some of these videos should be sold and only available in adult video stores...you know the ones marked with XXX on them?!

But for real HIP HOP artists, I understand that this is business and you gotta market your products on account of the demand and interest of the consumers.....However, as a member of the Black race, I plead with you, let's make some sacrifices to better our community. Yes parents should be monitoring the program their children watch on tv, but we all know that that isn't the way it is....parents are out working, trying to keep a roof over their heads.....Let's take accountability and make sacrifices and modeling good, positive examples that can cultivate a stronger, healthier, more successful Black community.

I have genuine love for hip hop and all the artists...but to all the MCs and Rappers, Producers, Media(especially BET) and others, we need your help! Black America needs your help.....

I feel that it is good that BET is having this conversation on national tv.  But lets keep it real and lets keep it *8*y.  HIP HOP artists are not totally at fault for what is going on America.  Who is at fault is cooperate America who is raping the industry.  Like TI said if artists decided to alter there videos they wouldnt get any air play.  Cooperate America wants these types of videos to sell their product and make their millions.  And also it should the responsibility of the family and how they teach their children self value and morals.  Music is going to always be music always and forever. 

Hey bet ,

 

I'm back and glad to see BET addressing the issue at hand. What not I'm happy is to see  the show basically been used to sell more commercials.The show is suppose to be used to enlighten the minds of our people but instead you basically doing the same thing the artists and corporate companies are doing, which is not properly informing our people when you cut the show at it's climax point for commercials.

There it is again that it is not the rappers fault. We must understand that rap is sold worldwide and the image that is being shown is not pretty. We're just shucking and jiving like "massa" likes. Yeah "Massa" gives us a place to stay and food to eat, but he has no respect for us. Because I dont even act like I respect myself. I know that all rappers dont portray these images beccause their are some inspirators out there, but we know they dont get play because white people love watching the crooked "*6*" and dumb "*6*" sells. Yeah its the parents job, but I believe its every man and woman's responspsibilty to impact our youth positively. especially if its more than 80% of youth that is paying attention to you and purchasing your music.

Ok I am definitely feeling as though BET should have hit me up to sit on the panel.

Many of the Rappers/Video Models are basically passing the buck. (And I'm definitely not stating all other parties involved don't have flaws on their views as well.)

It simply does not matter what career choice you choose (i.e. stripper, drug dealer, pimp, etc.), if THEY are contributing factors to negative influences of young audiences and YOU choose to entertain those careers PUBLICLY; then you are apart of the distribution of a negative product. Do not fool yourselves into believing there is no accountability in your career choice simply because you are the "slave". You are a slave by choice. We all have to make sacrifices for education, taking care of your children, yourself, or even other family members, however that DOES NOT justify what you do or have done. YOU are still held accountable for your actions and those you've exposed to them, young or old.

Save the crap about it starts at home! If you are LITERATE enough, then you must be aware the HOME is fighting against the HELL that is boldy placed within reach of people of all ages. Rap Videos are not limited to being exposed only on BET Uncut. There are numerous ways in which exposure can take place, therefore do not sit and attempt to deny the truths that lie in front of you to ease your conscience.

Be Black, Be Bold, But Do Not Be Blank.

You can lie to me, yourself and the world, but you cannot lie to God. ;)

Brutally Honest

 

Last night Nelly and T.I spoke of what's real and true, but The others on the panel gave a true response on some topics. But, in my 42 years, hip hop cannot make people do things they feel uncomfortable doing. Society has put a label on rap/hip hop and on minorities. As Mike Jones spoke about Strip clubs, they don't get protested and B.E.T did have the uncut show. But, like society B.E.T is acting on what society is doing. Music is what people see, feel and live. And I believe that people should express themselves with respect and dignity. Back when hip hop started, did you hear of someone acting out on LL Cool J music, or Grandmaster Flash; no. So, too me music isn't the blame. Society should take responsibility for labeling people. Slavery ended way before I was born, and if Society put labels on people, do you think they would try to enslave us?Like T.I said "most rappers speak on things they never done" , but yet they're making money. It's entertainment. Alot of children watch Dora the Explorer, and no child has taken upon themself to journey out of the country or yard. But for people to diss music is a joke. Look at all of the movies out, but yet no movie is on blast. To quote a friend of mine, "B.E.T is instigating the problem". Alot of people have agreed to Nelly, and T.I. Why not let them make the music and if so and so don't like it (the artist), they shouldn't buy it or listen to it.Did any one protes Marilyn Manson? Did anyone get mad when Ozzie Osborn ate the bat? The real question is why is society hating on minorities and their music? Is it because someone is telling the truth? Police corruption is everywhere and yes, someone will make a song about it.Why not mess with country music, they're sleeping with cousins, tractors, and they tell all in their songs. But, yet hip hop/rap is getting blasted. I had people talking about a country song called, "she thinks my tractor sexy", what's so sexy about a tractor? Is it the gas hole or the exhaust pipe? Music is music no matter where it comes from.And the question came up of exploiting women. Those females didn't have to do those videos. Just like men don't have to do them. Movies, t.v show, or music; they have any influence on children. The biggest influence are the parent/parents. It's up to the parents to teach the children. Children learn from their parents not music. And if a child feels that they are getting the education at home, they turn elsewhere. Doing the 70's and 80's hip hop was young, but the videos are almost the same as today. Look at Rump Shaker, look at some of LL Cool J's. So, why is it a problem now?Like T.I spoke about, if vidoes didn't have certain props, it wouldn't be shown. Alot of music is made everyday, but not all are shown on t.v. You either have to see it online or buy it. Hip hop is alive, just like Elvis. It will never die. They spoke of reality and fiction, so will they tell their children Santa Claus is reality or fiction? It all reflects on what you see or hear, it's up to you to believe. But, I like to ask questions. If Santa Claus was in any rap video, would society complain or will they just change the channel? Hip hop is not the only genre making sells, look at r&b; Keith Sweat was begging, R Kelly doing what he does best (not peeing on people), and the others. They are making videos and song about sex. But is society coming down on them? No. Country music about beer and drinking. But yet a rapper talk about blunts, guns and sex, they become the target of jugdemental. Why not judge all music? But, as T.I said, " The Bible speaks of not judging". In my words, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone". Oh well, we all have sins. So, let the music be made and let life be live to the fullest. Hate not on what you do, but how you do it.

I definitely don't think HIP HOP is to blame for America's problems... How could it we(african americans) make up for 1/5th of the population. What I don't get is how does BET take the high ground in these issues. If it weren't for UNCUT who would've seen TIP DRILL? At that time it was owned by an african american male (Bob Johnson) its now owned by Viacom. Why wasn't all of this an issue then? How much revenue did BET make from UNCUT, we'll never know, but trust it was hefty!  BET has a BLACKBUSTER movie night, why does Friday or Next Friday and Players' Club or Motives come on two to three times a week? Why aren't they showing movies like BELOVED or The Color Purple? Now, as far as women being degraded, my view is this, VIDEO MODEL is a job, the women do it to make money. Nobody is forcing these young ladies to go to video shoots. Everybody wants to say why aren't they portraying the women as intellectuals but how many videos have that much dialogue, if I'm making a video for a club track do u wanna see a woman a reading a book what does that have to do with the song? Don't get me wrong I do believe there are issues to discuss in HIP HOP other than money, cars and women. But who are we to say what a person should talk about? Bottomline is SEX sells and BET has made millions from it.  If Nelly had used women whom were HEALTHIER than the ones that were used, would it have made a difference there still would've been a audience for it.  I do agree that we could probably use less foul language,but, me myself, I use foul language daily and it's not because I'm ignorant or was raised wrong, it's how I grew up "in the hood". There are so many other issues I think BET could have a more positive affect on, I think that this is a waste of time, HIP HOP (RAP) came from the streets and that's where it will always stay. Keep in mind, this is how we talk on the street.  I just feel that its a little contradictory for BET to have this stand, when they should be discussing their role in the issue. Now, that I think about it BET was the only station that showed videos like TIP DRILL no other station that shows videos showed uncut videos. There were guns on the street right along with crack, cocaine, heroine, and marijuana, long before hip hop and let's be real where can you find all of those items? In an african american community, so what do expect us to talk about?  I've been on the block, I've done some things that weren't the right moves... But, on the block all u do is make money, and talk to and about women and what u are gonna do with that money... I've been in to HIP HOP since the early 80's and it really hasn't changed much at all, there were more conscious rappers/mc's but there was still songs like DOO DOO BROWN (2 Live CREW) LET'S GET BUCK NAKED AND F*** (ICE T) and many many more. This is not new people.    OK, I'll get off my soapbox now...  I will end with this, people raise your kids right, and I think our leaders need to chose ours battles more wisely... JENA 6 why wasn't it an issue until recently, Mychal Bell's been lockedup since DEC '06... I'm just sayin'...

 

God Bless

IkeKellz 

I am so proud of Nelly and T.I. Nelly was right what he said about the protest. They should have let him hold the forum for Lupus and Cancer. They were upset with the so-called negativity why not let him do something positive. Those same probably women sleep with men all the time and don't get anything from it. We need to get off our high horses. I don't like all the booty shaking but I turn it off and I talk to my kids which is something more of us need to do. And by the way all Beyonce does is shake her behind, do we need to have her up there too? And I'm sick of Black folks talking about the videos represent us as women. Nothing & no one defines me but JESUS. Who cares what White folks think. People are going to think negative about you if they want to anyway. Let's concern ourselves with things like the JENNA 6.

It would have been fair to have members from all over to have join the panel. it would have been entertaining and real. Consumers know and some should have been on the panel.

i would like to say... that..if you go back in time when we were slaves, white people would pay for slaves right? i feel like its black on black slavery...rappers are paying girls to be in there videos (and the girls need the money for whatever reason) do you guyz get what im saying? rappers pay them to be in a video just like how white ppl would pay for a slave to do work and the owner would pay that slave so i feel like the girls are being used as slaves in some video do you agree? also hip hop isnt just about girls, shooting, and whatever like they said some rap about other stuff like if you was a rapper you could rap about being the best rapper and no one can stop you you can put out like 5 albums explaing why you are the best and alot of rappers dont do that... most of them talk about stuff going on where they from and how they was grown up and what they use to do when they were young so if i was a rapper and if i was talking about my neighborhood and how ppl get shot and whatever then its true and some rappers dont even write true stuff they can have good lyrics but some rappers dont really mean it...and lyrics dont always have to be true but i think who ever raps abotu killing or w/e and they dont mean it then they shouldnt rap about it

Why are people even upset with Hip Hop being mindless entertainment? Sorry but entertainment was never meant to be meaningfull. If you want to learn something turn your TV off and read a book! You think white people are well represented on TV? As far as I can tell they are all a bunch of mindless idiots having fun... not that there's anything wrong with that. Really, think about it... do you need an affrican american Frazier? Frazier's a tool! The problem is not with entertainment it is with the serious media... african american pundits, newscasters, and analysts are what we need! Oh, wait most pundits, newscasters and analysts are tools too... If you want anything real.... then read a book already!