all rap listeners

Njiba · Veteran Member

all rap listeners

Mbili_Ku_Njanji · Member

Njiba you are right! First, I am proud to say that I did vote today! Njiba, you know Rap has taken a very big turn for the worst in message rendering. Rap has become commercial now, it is about how much money one can make in the game, and also talking about how much money one has. In other words are you going to sell records. If one goes back to the seeds of time, Rap had so much message. The KRS-One, Grand Masterflash, Public Enemy etc.That was how people fought oppression and vented their anger to the government, Rappers used to be the general people's spokesmen. These days the new rappers are scared to go after the government and voice people's feelings because they might not make money in the business in the long run. Eminem is true to the game. He also has some advantages to it too because he is white, he can get away with somethings that other black rappers cannot for instance showing his behind on the stage etc. If Janet shows a breast then it is a big problem. That is how society is now.

My point is, if it will take a whiteman to be a messanger without having to lose a whole lot and that can capture young black, white and other races' attention then let be it.

Now, one thing I want to know is, What does "Vote Or Die" stand for??? What the hell is that?

2 Words · Veteran Member

yup y'all r right. Unfortunately it seems like people arent ready to hear what TRUE BLACK ARTISTS have to say, thats why most of them remain underground. people would rather hear them talk about drugs, sex, women and bling... Oh well.. and its funny how Eminem made this new song/video and its gettin alot of plays, but what about the other artists that have been talkin about politics for the longest time???...oh wait, they are black so i guess they dont get noticed right? yup White America 4 ya

.2words

Njiba · Veteran Member

Mbili Ku njanji and 2words,

Thanks for the response guys , i wasnt too sure the subject would be received. You guys are right there have been a lot of black rappers but they cant even go gold, (Dead pres, rass kass even canabis at times) when they talk about the political situations here. Now vote or die is just some bull .. no im not hating but that slogan is ridiculous and the effort only scratches the surface. Did you guys know that MTV was reluctant to show the video? they only did it after so many people requested it, when they were sure they (MTV) have nothing to loose. As far as i am concerned MTV is just another part of the music industry which has sold out.

Njiba.

Observer · Member

Apart from Black Eyed Peas (Where is the love), black artists do not really care about politics because they feel that at the end of the day, their voice and vote doesnt count. The rap game has changed so much over the years whereby its not about anger anymore but rather everyone is flaunting about things they dont actually have. Now most black artists and communities are content about burying their heads in the ground like an Ostrich and pretend that things have changed. People are no longer willing to sacrifice their way of life (Like the Martin Luthers and Malcom X's) for justice, equality and complete assimilation. Now, as long as someone is living comfortably, they feel no need to go out and try to make a change. Compared to how America was before the civil rights movement days, most african americans feel they have now "made it," and yet they are still scrambling for crumbs from the white man's table, just like it is in Africa and everywhere else in the world.

-- Edited by Observer at 17:44, 2004-11-02

2 Words · Veteran Member

The only reason "where is the love" got as much play as it did is because of JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and oh ya he happens to be white! ..Go figure

Njiba · Veteran Member

Observer,

You have made a real point. I think the notion of helping out black communities has been lost. Some athletes, rappers and other entertainers still make contributions but look here assistance should be made to enable the community become self sufficient not just for the sake of making a contribution and then blowing alot of hype about it. More black people are going to vote this time arround, i hope this is the beginning of taking off the chains of feeling disenfranchised. Its funny though because most of the people i have met compalining about the government are actually black and yet they have a poor voting record. I think i will stop here because i think the subject matter of discussion is changing or maybe it has already changed.

Njiba.

matilda_888 · Newbie

quote:
Originally posted by: Mbili_Ku_Njanji
"Njiba you are right! First, I am proud to say that I did vote today! Njiba, you know Rap has taken a very big turn for the worst in message rendering. Rap has become commercial now, it is about how much money one can make in the game, and also talking about how much money one has. In other words are you going to sell records. If one goes back to the seeds of time, Rap had so much message. The KRS-One, Grand Masterflash, Public Enemy etc.That was how people fought oppression and vented their anger to the government, Rappers used to be the general people's spokesmen. These days the new rappers are scared to go after the government and voice people's feelings because they might not make money in the business in the long run. Eminem is true to the game. He also has some advantages to it too because he is white, he can get away with somethings that other black rappers cannot for instance showing his behind on the stage etc. If Janet shows a breast then it is a big problem. That is how society is now. My point is, if it will take a whiteman to be a messanger without having to lose a whole lot and that can capture young black, white and other races' attention then let be it. Now, one thing I want to know is, What does "Vote Or Die" stand for??? What the hell is that?"

I can answer that one for you. It means exercise your right to vote and get this guy out of office or die from the consequence of you not doing so and let bush and his administration kill us. If you're an american, you have no excuse, just do it.

And about the rap thing I totally agree with you. But I just want to add that there are a lot of rappers out there who do voice themselves politically, like Talib Kwali and Jadakiss. The thing is, you are taking a financial risk by doing so. And a lot of artists don't voice themselves not cause they don't care about politics but they don't take advantage position as a forum to voice their opinions outside of bling and what kind of car they drive. That goes for alot of things, AIDS, racism gender issues. But hey, not everyone is an advocate or should be one. I think a lot of them don't express themselves cause they don't know any better. Not to say that cause you're from the ghetto, you can't be a conscious rapper, but alot of them can't see past they're four blocks so to speak. ANd don't forget that rappers like Publick enemy,KRS-1 and Mos Def went to school so they're more inclined to challenge the things going on around them on a deeper level, and its reflected in their music.

_888

mamacita · Member

I may be going off an entirely different tangent but perhaps it should NOT be left to rappers to mount up major civic campaigns like VOTE OR DIE! It's no wonder the slogan doesn't make any sense. I personally think that the problem is bigger than who says what in the entertainment business, and why don't they...Suffice to say, the American Black community is LACKING leadership. I think the most prominent of Blacks that I have seen being extremely vocal about the elections has been Sean Combs!!! Am I the only one seeing something wrong with this scenario??

What African Americans need to do is OWN the problem. After all, long gone are the days of "Civil Right Movements". There are no Martin Luther Kings, no Jesse Jacksons (the man was fabulous in the 80's; no Rosa Parks...etc. Half of the African Americans I work with don't vote because they believe: "the politicians are NOT talking to them". Well, whether politicians are or are not, they still are going to make decisions for you, whether you like it or not, whether you agree with them or not. Black leadership that will stand up for issues pertaining to the black man (and I am NOT talking about AFFIRMATIVE ACTION here), but rather issues pertaining to how NASTY and run down most black neighborhoods are, jobs, EDUCATION, etc, etc. is NEEDED. Until that happens, then VOTE OR DIE will be the best thing we will see on the black end of the spectrum.

Just a side note: Ever noticed that most streets named after "Martin Luther King" are in the Ghetto??

Sungani · Veteran Member

forget rap, tiyeni tizingovera manganje ndi nyau basi. Why is that people see things along racial lines? We Malawians should refrain from such kind of thinking.

The Advocate · Newbie

quote:
Originally posted by: Sungani
"forget rap, tiyeni tizingovera manganje ndi nyau basi. Why is that people see things along racial lines? We Malawians should refrain from such kind of thinking."

he!he!he!

Njiba · Veteran Member

Manganje ndi nyau tizimveradi ( LOL ) koma dala, as an African i cannot refrain from thinking along racial lines. I think i should not be racist ( and i dont think i am) but i should be race concious at least because the concept of the global village, noble as it is, is to the disadvantage of people like me.... Africans. A few among the exploited are rewarded and the spotlight is placed on the awarded few ( the Jay z's, P.Diddy's or should i even say the African countries which the IMF has labelled as star performers ) for everyone to see how "good" a "system" is running. The media will rarely show you the gutters, they will rarely show you the high school drop outs who stay at their mother's homes at the age of 30 making " beats" hoping to hit the jackpot ( i live in the midwest and there are so many of these kind of people here). You will rarely see how ill planned attempts at privatisation in african countries has left its people distraught on TV. Coming to think of it, and this could be a leap, the rap industry is similar to global economics from an africans perspective, after all both are exploitive and a few of the powerfull in these systems have the African's interests at heart.

Now kukamba za nyau, do any of you guys have those songs on cassette or CD? Ndinakumana ndi mzungu wina wake and she doesnt even want to listen to Billy Kaunda or Lucius. Iyeyo akufuna Mang'anja amene. LOL

Njiba.