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Because they saw outside influences and were telling people to watch it.

That's part of it. But as the band got bigger, they started to do things differently.

Like the one skit with the KKK member thanking the black community for doing all their work for them.

And I didn't say there weren't outside influences, ever. I said that there are internal things that can be done to help improve the situation.

Rap/Hip-Hop didn't cause these problems, but is there anything doing MORE to help make sure the cycle repeats itself?

Disingenuous features that tell blacks "it's all your fault"? Nothing like laying the blame (inaccurately) squarely at one's feet to get a little self-hate going.

He put it in there for the very reason we are having a debate about it now. To be controversial and ingratiate his ESPN brethren.


He is a fraud.

Agreed on some level. I do think he is honestly outraged (in general), but he's become the most predictable writer out there. He forces it onto the pages.

I think this is the problem. If kids grow up listening to rap, it gets into their brains. It re-establishes a culture of stupidity, violence, and disrespect in the next generation.

I disagree, simply b/c I don't see gamers, or horror movie fanatics, or other comparable fans of a particular genre being into that genre's message or being stupid as a result of it.

And I didn't say there weren't outside influences, ever. I said that there are internal things that can be done to help improve the situation.

Oh, no doubt. Didn't think you were saying otherwise. PE was just quick to point out that, despite the outside influences, improvement still needed to be made from within instead of blaming the man.

And that KKK skit was bad, but it shows the attitude of within and how some people could care less about internal strife.

If you don't care, why should they?

Jason sounds to me like he caught the "self-hate" bug. But I digress.

Better than the ostrich bug

improvement still needed to be made from within instead of blaming the man.

That's has been my MAIN point overall- playing this blame game doesn't do a thing. Thinking critically, coming to some type of consensus, forming a plan and implementing is my course of action. Not banning rap music or demanding reparations.

Barnett in '08

Yes we urge to merge we live for the love
Of our people the hope that they get along
(Yeah, so we did a song)
Getting the point to our brothers and sisters
Who don't know the time (boyyyee, so we wrote a rhyme)
It's dead in your head, you know,
I'll drive to build And collect
ourselves with intellect,
come on To revolve to evolve to self respect
Cause we got to keep ourselves in check
Or else it's...

"The Ostrich Bug". NTFF.


I was actually perusing some ostrich images about an hour ago and was considering posting one out here again.

It is funny, as that's how I see some of you. Head in the sand. Unwilling to accept the fact that black people are concentrated in ghettos (maybe not by design, but certainly not by chance). And then blame the black people for not being able to revitalize these ghettos with nothing but "by the strength of their will".

In that case, why the hell did we invade Iraq? They should have freed themselves. Yet there we are. But there's no oil or strategic importance to the ghettos, so who cares? It's gonna implode one day, just watch.

I disagree, simply b/c I don't see gamers, or horror movie fanatics, or other comparable fans of a particular genre being into that genre's message or being stupid as a result of it.

Totally different.

We already know hip-hop/rap have a cultural influence (everyone agrees with that on some level). the question now is "how much".

Funny enough, aren't Britt and Garrett Reid great examples of this? They had every advantage imaginable, but they got caught up in trying to emulate a culture and doing things they believed were cool because of the music they listened to, no?

Unless they spent a few years growing up in the ghetto, I'm not sure where they got the idea that dealing, packing heat, and talking like hoodrats were the "cool" thing to do.

I remember an article a few years ago when Britt was probably 14 and there was a quote from him about picking up girls and he said "I got no rap. I'm not smooth.".

Now, this is just one off-the-wall situation, but it proves a point...the music establishes a code a conduct, language, etc. that are "cool". If you're living in that environment, I imagine it's even more enticing.

It is funny, as that's how I see some of you. Head in the sand. Unwilling to accept the fact that black people are concentrated in ghettos (maybe not by design, but certainly not by chance). And then blame the black people for not being able to revitalize these ghettos with nothing but "by the strength of their will".

In that case, why the hell did we invade Iraq? They should have freed themselves. Yet there we are. But there's no oil or strategic importance to the ghettos, so who cares? It's gonna implode one day, just watch.

I was looking at downtown properties just a couple weeks ago and trust me...there weren't many inviting smiles and "thank you"s for trying to invest in the community.

They had every advantage imaginable, but they got caught up in trying to emulate a culture and doing things they believed were cool because of the music they listened to, no?

I have no idea, honestly. I know he liked feeling powerful, b/c he said that, but I don't know if that's b/c of hip, or ego, or self esteem issues.

I remember an article a few years ago when Britt was probably 14 and there was a quote from him about picking up girls and he said "I got no rap. I'm not smooth.

That sounds more like "Swingers" than "Souljah Boy"

I have no idea, honestly. I know he liked feeling powerful, b/c he said that, but I don't know if that's b/c of hip, or ego, or self esteem issues.

If I had a gun to your head and you had to make one guess where they got the idea to sell drugs and pull guns on people in traffic, what would your guess be?

Obviously nothing is that simple, but let's not overcomplicate it either.

there weren't many inviting smiles and "thank you"s for trying to invest in the community.

You're lucky you didn't run into Rev. Al- you'd have been labeled a "Interloper" and been hunted down like Frankenstein's Monster.

"In that case, why the hell did we invade Iraq? They should have freed themselves. Yet there we are."


I have already publically stated my support for the deployment of troops in the Urban Crime Centers.

You're lucky you didn't run into Rev. Al- you'd have been labeled a "Interloper" and been hunted down like Frankenstein's Monster.

Tell me about it and talk about mixed messages.

The place sucks, but let's not make it better. It's all whitey's fault, but we don't need their help. We'll fix it ourselves, by doing nothing.

Awesome.

Hulk, I didn't mean to ignore your post directed at me a page or two back, things just kinda moved along. Basically, I will leave it at "I can sort of see your point in that regard". But I have to think Whitlock honestly believes most of what he writes.....


For the record, I DESPISE 80% of ESPN's programming, at least Sportscenter anyway. Chris Berman should be euthanized.


Nice ass-whipping you handed me in the FF league last week, BTW...

F-dallas- I'll offer you a deal.

You don't blame violence in the ghettos on rap music;

I won't blame Columbine and other mall, school, and McDonald's shootings on Marilyn Manson and the Cure.

Deal?

Tell me about it and talk about mixed messages.

I can't believe someone hasn't taken a few potshots at Al already. I'd volunteer, but I'm a pacifist, so there it is.

You can blame them on whatever you want to F_B. The total death toll in every incident you just mentioned, spanning over 10 or more years is less than 50 or so.


Philly alone is at, what, 300 and counting this year?

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