2006-08-07
Down With Hiphop
I have zero toleration for music and videos of this sort. I am certain the popularity of this garbage does not result from a conspiracy of rich guys seeking to create negative images of blacks. Instead, I am sad to conclude that black music consumers are getting what they want. I believe that this represents just one symptom of a larger problem in which black folks in 2006 are on average choosing to make poorer choices than other groups.
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4 comments:
http://www.local6.com/spotlight/9637946/detail.html
Children who listen to this music are much more likely to have sex. Will anybody remember this music in 30 years?
Crouch's post has nothing to do with hip hop music. He is talking about a television show on MTV.
I am not a fan of MTV, and I agree that it perpetuates all of the negative stereotypes that are plaguing America today. It is degrading to men and women of all races from its portrayal of women as objects and idiots; of black men as gangstas, pimps and hustlers; of white men as stupid, drunk frat boys. It basically ignores other ethnic groups. MTV has become the epitome of everything that is wrong with American culture.
I met Stanley Crouch on a plane about 14 years ago, and though he was an interesting and friendly gentlemen, I don't agree with his assessments of music at all. (This post has nothing to do with his assessment of music, but since Paul insulted hip hop, I'll continue the discussion.)
Crouch is a jazz purist. He finds nothing creatively redeeming about most pop, soul or r&b much less hip hop. He's a stodgy old curmudgeon when it comes to music, and his opinions should be read with this bias in mind.
First, hip hop has been around for almost 30 years, so it is safe to say, it is not a fad and isn't going away any time soon. Get over yourself on that.
Second, we know that Paul's musical tastes preclude listening to any music that was created after 1985, so he is another old curmudgeon, and we should take his views with a grain of salt as well.
A lot of hip hop is very creative, and there are many viable and worthy artists in the genre.
I do lament the lack of musicality in today's popular music, however, and this is pervasive in all genres from hip hop to rock to jazz and country. I blame this on the demise of school music programs over the past 20 years however, not on the rise of hip hop.
Unlike high school sports, music has been proven to improve academic achievement. Musical equipment is costly, however, and schools don't charge admission to band and choir concerts like they do to football games, so they aren't money-making ventures.
I also blame the lack of music and arts programs on the general decline of American society over the last two decades. That and what a friend of mine calls "the right-wing backlash" and others call the Republican revolution...
We mostly agree here, Nadir. If the populace had the good sense to put me in charge, schools would have no sports teams, but would require all students K-12 to spend 1 hour/day in class tackling a musical instrument.
I do not hate hiphop, or believe that it is a fad. I hate what has become of hiphop. On average, I consider it to be degrading junk.
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