Send Feedback

viga12

One of my favorite rappers in the world is Vigalantee out of Kansas City, KS.  Vigalantee has hot music, of course, but that’s the easy part.   What I like about Vigalantee is that in addition to producing good music, he understands that music always has a message.   With that message is the broader opportunity to have a significant impact on the minds of everyone listening at the time.   Vigalantee is a respected leader in his community and has created the “Nojangle Movement,” which is designed around motivating black people to give up the bojangling that some of us feel we need to do in order to get ahead.

Music affects our subconscious minds in ways that are simply magical.  Songs have been written to inspire revolutions, break-ups, drug use, murder and a plethora of other life-changing activities.   The more times the listener hears the song, the more they are affected by the message. So, if the message is “Party party party let’s all get wasted,” this will literally lead to thousands more college students risking death from alcohol poisoning, rape, drunk driving and all the other side effects that come with getting wasted on a regular basis (I’m a professor, we see it every year on every campus).

So, what I would like for rappers to consider doing is the following:

1) Always ask yourself what message is being sent by a particular song: Are you telling the listener that killing is a good thing?  Are you inspiring them to become more promiscuous and do you think this affects the high HIV rates in the black community?  Are you telling them that having money makes you a better man?  If so, then would you still be just as good of a man without the money and do you feel that you’re better than other men because you have money in your pocket?  How much money do you really have anyway?  Most rappers I know are broke or very close to it.

2) Never underestimate the power you have to change the world: It’s OK to use your music to get ahead and “get your paper,” but why not show your real power by changing the world in a positive way?  Can you get other brothers out of the hood or prison by encouraging them to work as hard in the classroom as they do in the studio or the basketball court?  Artists like TI, Lil Wayne and others have a level of talent that effectively makes them pastors spreading their own version of the gospel.  If people buy into your message so readily, why minimize your impact by simply being a well-paid artist?  Muhammad Ali understood this best when he realized that all the millions of people watching him box might also be interested in hearing his political views.  That’s what made him truly great and not just another Michael Jordan.

3) Keep educating yourselves:  As Spiderman’s uncle once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”  When the world is listening to you, you can’t use that platform in a reckless fashion.  God has endowed you with the chance to either build or destroy in astonishing magnitude.  When you make a song that encourages black men to engage in illegal and unethical behavior, many of those men will be bumping your CD when the police car pulls them over.  Be better than what the world has taught you to be.  There’s nothing wrong with striving for greatness.

In Vigalantee’s latest album “A Second is a Lifetime,” he writes songs that serve as tributes to black women, brothers in the street, the power of knowledge and the mandate for men to be strong.  That’s how an artist uses his platform to take control of his destiny and shape the world around him.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Tags: Hip Hop, Rap Music, Rappers
Recommend to friends!
  • BlackPlanet
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • email

News One Links

 
  • http://www.blackplanet.com/_A_/ _A_

    One question I have. ARe these rappers a product of society or is society a product of these rappers? This headline is so comical. Although I agree rappers influence minds (that actually allow it to) the notion that these rappers have the type of reach to change the world is crazy to me. These people are owned and controlled. When you find yourself in that unfortunate position, its very rare that you have the ability to influence anything except what your handlers allow you to.

    Stop overstating these positions Mr. Watkins and please start telling us what three things International Bankers can do to improve society.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ford1935/ ford1935

    I feel the same it is not the music it is the words that makes it bad and is causing so much hate in the world the songs can help us bring the young people in to a bettere live style ,to much dying not enough living and it is all about a dollar bill, new clothes style ,new cars ,and using a young girl to make them look good,not enough time in school ,hearing someone say they will never be any good ,all lies,live is so good just stand still and know whom you are and be that man or woman who has a destiny,older people need to help young people not pull them down,forgive everyone in your past forget about the money they owe you, old things has past away God will do a new thing if you let him good jobs and a nice place to live nice car just do not listen to the wrong words in some of those songs,hear the words not before you hear the music,it is a good thing this rapper is doing and by the way I am a total woman Of God,I love everyone and I know God Loves You!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/vigalantee1/ vigalantee1

    your comment is comical take a look around, rap has change the world and open up many money streams and it has heavy influence on the youth have you check out the schools not everyone bo-jaangle my friend,we all play a role in changing the world including you. big ups boyce!
    this Rapper do try to make a difference check below!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jayevans20/ jayevans20

    @vigalantee1, today’s rappers are probably the most ignorant in hip hop history. Today’s rappers care about dances and screwing the most females. Not to many rappers are educating besides maybe Nas and to a lesser degree Jay Z, Common, and Kanye West. However, lets face it. Knowledge don’t and won’t sell records.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/vigalantee/ vigalantee

    I AGREE@JAYEVANS WITH YOUR STATEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO MAINSTREAM RAPPERS,BUT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT DO SPEAK ON RESPECT!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/TrUtH_HuRtZ_0924/ TrUtH_HuRtZ_0924

    Thanks for this article. Artists I believe get into the music industry, and might want to do something positive, like send a message to empower and educate young minds…but as jayevans20 states, “knowledge dont and wont sell records” and the ultimate goal for most ppl in the business is to make $$…and entertain. Not all rappers are artists, some just happen to have a way with words and be articulate and got discovered by chance.

    The real artists, like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Nas, Common, Raheem Devaughn, Lyfe Jennings; they have a message, like artists from back in the days; of love, hope, peace, or something thought provoking. Not just get up and shake it..these artists music makes you feel good, these artist are successful in their own right, but they’re not mainstream (meaning played on urban radio stations as much as I believe their talent alone should warrant)

    Its really funny how society has evolved, I remember a time when nudity and risque scenes weren’t allowed on tv, or only on certain channels at certain times late at night, when most kids should have been sleep. Now anything goes, anytime of the day, and on almost any channel.

    The music today is so filthy, meant to get the party started. Half the time you can’t listen to songs on the radio cause half the song bleeped out but ppl are becoming desensitized to the language. It can be a whole song, where all the ppl are referred to in a derogatory manner, or you dont even know what their saying and that be the #1 song, played over and over on the radio.

    As I like to say the music has been so “dumbed down” for the masses, all you hear is rapping about sex w/ every girl you can bed down, making and counting $$, reppin and dying for your hood, selling drugs or how many cars, diamonds or swag u have; that is what the music has brainwashed alot of young men into believing is cool. With the females its how sexy you have to be, how well u can drop it low, or how many men you can get to sponsor you, cause u a 5 star chick or the baddest b*tch. Like the author stated, why glorify this non realistic lifestyle young minds, as impressionable as our youth. All in the name of $$?

    The effects of the music have a snowballing type effect on all listenng, unless they are smart enough to realize this is just music, not my reality and half the time not that of those rapping about it. I use to listen to some of the music, but Im conscious or what I listen to cause I know the affects sound can have on the mind. I listen to the words of music but most ppl dont. Half the time they cant even understand what’s being said, but the beat and hook are catchy so everytime it comes on folks blasting it, kids around and all. I dont allow my lil one or other kids to listen to the music of today, when they with me, even if its a song I want to hear. A 4 or 5 yr old dont need to be singing “the neighbors know my name” or “ride”. There are too many age appropriate cds and songs to just let them listen to that. Then we wonder why our young sons or daughters are growing up way before their time. Know every song comes on the radio, but can’t count, read or tie their shoes. Kids are like sponges, soaking up everything around them. Same way they learn ABCs singing a song, is the same way they internalize the music adults listen to in their presence. You might think, oh its a child, they dont know what it means, but soon as they see the video and can put that with the words, they imitate what they see and the adults think its cute or funny.

    Its not all on these artists though, parents are the ones who need to step in and say, hey you not listening to that in my house and monitoring what your children watch and listen to, that should start early. Now they still might listen to it in other ppl presence, which you cant control, but some may choose not to, if they know you dont approve. Starts with raising your kids up to have some respect for themselves and see themselves as more than a “dopeboy or a hoodchick”; they are young women and men.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/GALarry/ GALarry

    On the surface I do agree with Watkins(which I rarely do), but still his stance comes from a secular humanist argument. Morality comes from within. Untilrappers, politicians, and so called civil rights leaders have a Damascus Road experience of their own, no amount of advice is going to do any good.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/natedogg265/ natedogg265

    You people are suppose to be the educated ones. If ever you live up to it, I’ll be back. Stop dumbing black folks down with stupid questions and asinine news.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/soulinexile/ soulinexile

    while the effort is noble the media barons are only interested in the ‘bojangles’ of the world…never heard of Vigilante..but I have heard of Immortal technique, who manages to address issues that are much more pressing in my mind…further, the whole industry is suffering from lower quality standards and homogeny, whos to blame? Clearly the media barons that perpetuate the stereotypes…then we have to look at the part of our community that support these images, theyre also responsible..so lets fix our house so we can fix the barons..IMO

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/soulinexile/ soulinexile

    secondly..I havent bought or listened to rap for over 20 years because of this..I started listening to rap during the Blowfly days (young cats go youtube) and was there for GMF, Kool herc, Love bug Starski etc…that was about the music and the party, later we added X clan, Public Enemy and Stetsasonic, which grew out of social angst of the 80s..sadly the generations after, were dumb down, ghettofied and coonified into what we have now..it mmay be these young guys need to rediscover the roots…bro Vigilante, the c**ulative effect of rap in the 2000 has very little social benefits and/or substative value..and that more than anything else is why ppl have tuned out…as I said, I was their when hip hop was born and now I dont buy, listen to or support the industry..and its sad really that Ive been forced to turn away my own child…again,IMO

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/phazex_female/ phazex_female

    Nope—never really got into “warmed over” music. Political Rap WAS the “pulse” of communication between BLACK people. What I still blast.

    Once it got convoluted and “dis”directed–I bounced.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mainevent719/ mainevent719
  • http://www.blackplanet.com/2Paclookinmofo/ 2Paclookinmofo

    The music, movies and activities are a reflection, sometimes exaggerated one, of the society that is making, listening, watching and doing them. It is a part of the psyche of the people or it would be rejected. A product of the environment and not always a good one. The conflict is…Who is deciding what is good or bad?

    Its an individual issue as it is a problem for society.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/scaredoflove2/ scaredoflove2

    Of course rap can be in a better place. First of all those who listen to it regardless of race have to STOP vouching and approving the bull s**t that rappers do and say it’s ok. You use drugs you use them stop acting like because of a rap career it’s ok to use drugs. Your ass need help get the help you need you. Stop buying cars and driving with no drivers license. If your ass can buy a 250,000 dollar car go get your dum ass a 44.00 license and then get mad because you get arrested and stop acting like police has it out for you. Your a dum ass and some need to stop approving f**ked up behavior. And them with the babies and baby mothers every where get some f**king morals and be different and maybe your be accepted a lot more then some of you are now.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Champ8905/ Champ8905

    AMMMMMEEENNN!!! preach brother!..Bout time somebody said it without compromising!.. people dont realize the affect that music has! First and foremost, music been around from the beginning of time, its part of our soul!..But dont forget that SATAN(lucifer) was a worship leader of music b4 he rebelled against God!..So of course he will use his craftiness and deception thru what he knows best..MUSIC!.. raqppers always thank God for they careers, but truth be told God dont have anything to do with such sinful activity!..u either use it for HIS glory, or satan is getting the glory out of it!..THE LOVE OF MONEY IS DEF THE ROOT TO ALL EVIL! people sell their souls for a peace of change!.. all this stuff dont last forever..so we give satan our souls for temporary pleasures dont cant go with us when we leave this earth! .. back to the music, LIFE AND DEATH IS IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE! use it wisely….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/motortongue/ motortongue

    Well let me see…I don’t keep up with these rappers not days because of this one, I don’t know what women made this one “How many licks it takes to eat a clit” Well this young lady in her car had two kids girls they were listening to this and it was loud as hell and I just wish a police car was by and these brothers..n****r this n****r that, my nine millie mil, me and my b***h??? You never hear this mess in the 80′s back then you heard singing and rapping now you just hear alley cat mess that belong in the damn toilet that is why I don’t let my son listen to this s**t for nothing if you call it rap now days, just me and I know I’m not alone on this one.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Aceman52/ Aceman52

    You have got to be kidding me. Newsone, is there NOTHING better going on that THIS is what you feature??? Ok fine. 95% of Rappers are concerned with one thing and one thing only: making money. They are going to rap about whatever makes them money. Cars, money, ‘bling’, women, that is what is hot so that is what they will talk about. Of course these artists will say the obligatory things like how they want to make the world a better place and how they want to help the youth succeed, but that is only because they cannot say, just keep buying my music.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Thomp22567/ Thomp22567

    The only thing I have to say is, if the illumnati is a part of it NO

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/infinite_question/ infinite_question

    i would compare rap artist to politicians (if it hasnt been done in the posts below), in that artist have to raise their worth before an album release, just like the politicians are scrambling now to raise money for election propaganda. politicains have corporate sponsors, just like rappers have endorsements from a variety of products. now all these politicians were not always taking bribes from corporations, just like some artists may not have been commercial their whole career. does this mean they still dont have a message? no, but there will be heavy commercials and shamless plugs of products, services, or ideas that may not be that beneficial to our cause as a whole.

    now im about to make a few chrisitans loose their religion. rappers arent the only public servants who have lost their way and their message, so have the clergy. if i see one more creflo dollar tell people the way to prosperity is too give him money; if i see one more preacher judge the congragation of sins he, himself is guilty of; if i see one more pastor get indicted by the irs for tax evasion; if i see one more sista give up her own thoughts for the ideology of a church that does not respect them enough to keep the women written books in the bible…i dont want to hear anymore critism of hip hop from the church, especially those who dont have a top 10 mc list without mos def, k west, nas, talib, common, ras kas, or pac.

    at the end of the day, true hip hop artists are journalist. like glenn beck, some bend the truth, some mislead their listeners, but its up to the consumer to starve the artist that chooses special intrests over the progression of our people. it shouldnt be the other way around.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CNoriega/ CNoriega

    Most mainstream rappers are sell outs and rather make money than inspire black youth.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/romon928/ romon928

    Why are rappers required to inspire people? RnB, pop, rock, and country artists don’t always inspire. It just entertainment. Do actors act for the love it. Did your doctor not charge the last time you went because he or she loves to heal people. No they do it for the money. That’s the purpose of their chosen job or career.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Zeru25/ Zeru25

    Rap cant make the world better but it can make the hood aware. And did doesnt do that anymore. Rap is mind poison. Well the s**t they listen to today is. Its infected with ignorance and if you like it you probably are infected too.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SC_doubleD66/ SC_doubleD66

    they siad rap change for the better i don’t see it they are still talking about
    the same things sex drugs and how hard they are in the street and to keep feeding that stuff into kids mind my make them that is what life is about

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/fem4u12/ fem4u12

    yes i do believe rapper, singer, songwriters, music producers, management in the music business can really make a difference. they can rap about whatever they want just make sure its about “somethings” that at least make since …real or good music suppose to come with a good melodies and lyrics..nowadays i do not know what these rappers are saying on their rap songs. new artist Drake i like him due to the fact his rap tells a story. if listen closed u will get it.Lil’wayne.. he freestyle i cant blame him he rap in the moment ..however he is feeling at that moment, so he is bless with a special talent that only God can give… thats my opinion…

    meemee

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SoularFlarez/ SoularFlarez

    hiphop has so much more potential but the people get what they ask for because even though alot of rappers aint talken bout s**t, people are still buying it.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Real_bumbleclot/ Real_bumbleclot

    I agree with Ramon928

    Its still rappers out there that deliver a message but the message one person gets can be different than what the next person gets. Example I listen to a lot of Trick Daddy, the average person might say that Trick Daddy only talk about sex and drugs, but they look over his songs like Amerikkka, Back in the days, Shawty wanna be, Strong blackwoman, Everyday Struggle etc… Everybody look at all of the negative in rap but not the positive, that’s why people put rap in one big catergory and separate the to in mainstream and underground. This garbage rap yal are talking bout is mainstream rap, you’ll never see me support mainstream rap and I don’t care who the rapper is. Underground rap music is still the voice of black folks.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/JaysWetGirl/ JaysWetGirl

    LMAO!! people actually answered this? this editor had nothing else educational to ask? OMG!! what has “black” society come to?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Pullin_On_Gravity309/ Pullin_On_Gravity309

    hell naw cuz if these fake mcs keepin rappin non sense hip hop will forever go in decline until somebody gets noticed and steps up.. oh I forgot thats me

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ChiTowne/ ChiTowne

    No rap can not help… Rap is the reason most of these white tee-shirt, droopy pants wearing fools are as dumb as they are. I am 49yrs old and when I was younger we hung out and kept our voices down because we understood people may be sleeping. So far my summer has been like this…

    I have had to get on these young fools for sitting on my car, on more than one occasion.

    About a month ago while driving on the expressway, my car was hit by a brick thrown by some Hispanics who (when the dust cleared) thought that I flipped them the bird. So they threw a brick and hit my car.

    Last Saturday, Me and my children where leaving a friends house and some young white tee shirt, droopy pants fools were sitting on my car and had their drinks on it. When I got to the car, they where off of it.
    I stated to them that, this is very disrespectful and that this is my car not there’s to be sitting on (I was pissed). As I was pulling off, one of them kicked my car. I put the car in park and got out to see if any damage was done. As I was walking to the back of my car, the same fool who kicked it lifted his shirt like he had a gun asking me why I am walking up on him.
    Take in consideration I was going to check out if any damage was done. I truly thought that he had a gun and I pulled out my knife and was about to stab him, because I thought he had a gun at first.

    I do blame rap adding to this stupidity… I blame the radio stations for glorifying gangster rap. I am not saying rap is solely responsible, but when you are telling people in song to “kill someone” or “F” this and “F” that.

    When rap first came out, it was fun to listen and dance to. Now it seems like the only msg is to do dumb stuff. And I am insulted by this article. This is like the chicken asking the fox not to eat him… Be for real!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/younghazelj/ younghazelj

    SoularFlarez and Real_bumbleclot are both correct. the messages that should be conveyed are being conveyed but the problem is it has been taken over to be run like it’s a corporation. so the person who’s got raw talented gets looked over for a guy who has the coolest gimmick. it’s not about paying the person who has the most powerful messages anymore, but about who has wordplay and can make a club hit. like Little Brother said “ain’t nothin wrong with dancin..but we we ain’t takin no chances”! there isn’t any other way to say it but MOST of the mainstream is sellout and give in. like Sha Stimali said “these dudes is playin dudes disguised as others dudes…they Robert Downey in tropic thunder” hopefully the eys of the next generation will open up

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/swizzycpt/ swizzycpt

    Well, I’d say that rappers could ‘help’ by NOT rapping….then again, kinda makes the entire issue ‘redundant’. Hip/hop, like television, radio etc is a tool which can be used for either good or bad.

    In the beginning, you had the RUN DMC’s, KRS-One’s and so on, trying to elevate levels of knowledge and deliver powerful messages. Today it’s all about trapping, bird flipping, stacking, guns, repping yo’ set blah, blah, blah. I really don’t see this trend changing for the better, EVER. Consumers have become so ‘dumbed down’ that anything that gets the heads nodding and foot tapping is ‘acceptable’.

    Wonder what the present world would be like, if hip/hop never came into being….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/PacificWest/ PacificWest

    Said it once & will continue to say it.

    I’m Black guy who is so sick & tired of these (so called artists) buffoonery negroes on the internet, radio & television.

    Just because you’re a millionaire doesn’t excuse you from acting buffoonish.
    If was left up to me many of these rap (crap) & hip hop artists would be somewhere mopping a floor.

    Personally, me being from the old school, i’m 43 years of age, i grew up listening to true talent, this stuff as they call music or entertainment their feeding the public, is just plain garbage.

    Shockingly, is that the people are buying it.

    Black folks be very clear that these buffoonish acts has set up back 40 years, though we have a Black President of the U.S. We wonder why other races don’t want to be nowhere around us because many of us act inhumane.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/AfricanSpeech/ AfricanSpeech

    1. Gag soulja boy, Lil Wayne, Lil John and anyone else with “Lil” in their stage names and stop them from making songs or albums for a start…

    2. Make listening to mainstream rap lame and for suckers

    3. Stop making rap music videos and making rappers who can’t rap pay fines for using curse words to hide their inability to say anything…

    4. Have any so-called new MC take a hip hop test and if they can’t name 10 amazing underground rappers who have been in the game, dissed on live rap video battles TV…

    More to come…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/AfricanSpeech/ AfricanSpeech

    Also, certain rappers will be asked to read books out loud on live radio or television to assess their reading level before being allowed near a studio or microphone… Or worse… On TV…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DarkOne916/ DarkOne916

    Firstly,

    Prior to posting any comments, please use spell check. At least copy and paste into Word before you look as ignorant as you aim to make these rappers look.

    Secondly, there is a difference between a rapper and an MC. Today’s Hip-Hop does not have a multitude of MCs. Unfortunately, there are many mediocre rappers. SoldierBoyTellem anyone? Half of these “artists” do not write their own lyrics nor do they creatively use samples in their music. Most of these producers are lazy and just hijack old beats from old songs, beef up the bass and give the track to a rapper to record over.

    Thirdly, realize that the consumption and appreciation of music and any other media has changed. The internet has revolutionized everything. Society as a whole has become a society of instant gratification. Hip Hop still reflects a fabric of society. Sadly it is reflecting the fabric of the very few (rich, at least to emulate them) rather than the fabric of the middle class, poor, and disenfranchised.

    Finally, you the consumer are the gatekeeper. Hip Hop is global, and just like anything that is widely accepted, it generates money, which means it increases or decreases the bottom lines of companies. So if you the consumer decide that you do not want to buy what the company is selling, then any company that wants to continue to generate profits, will change course. If you do not believe consumers have that kind of power, then you are in the dark. Disco died because people moved on, stopped buying disco records in droves and thus companies stopped investing in disco acts. Look at how the prominent inclusion of autotune is beginning to wane-thankfully. Bottomline, if you do not like it, do not buy it. Tell others not to buy it and give valid, viable reasons why. Rather than complain on these message boards, be proactive and cause an intelligent commotion; companies will listen it the commotion is big enough.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DarkOne916/ DarkOne916

    LOL,

    The last line in my comment has a grammatical error! Karma. SMH

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/HalfBreed1982/ HalfBreed1982

    sex, drugs, money, killing, and thinking taking someones girl, are glorified in rap music today. It all boils down to self esteem. guys will try to put fear in some1 whether its a female or male to gain self esteem. example: joining a gang is to fit in and be accepted, whether its to rob steal or take advantage of a woman and treat them like sh$t or be so quick to use a gun bcuz most are afraid or quickly jump some1 cuz they cant handle that 1 person themselves, etc… Is there a problem–obviously…And women severly have self esteem issues as well, willing to do just about anything just to get attention from any1: short skirt, booty shorts, cleavage out, promiscuous. They settle for less thinking its more. society is now dumb founded and its like the common sense in ppl is dramatically declining. “Cheap attention deserves cheap respect”, thats the way i see it–The way u conduct urself is the way ull be judged. Its like u are false advertising urself. If ur not a stripper, ho, prostitute, then why dress like 1?!? if ur not a thug, or gangster, why dress like 1. Conduct urself with respect and be true to urself externally and internally and stop settling for less and stop being influenced by these negative so call rappers, bcuz to me ur being brainwashed into degrading urself as a whole. Guys its ok to have a swag, but have an intellegent 1–and ladies its ok to look sexy but not provocative and degrading. Stop allowing guys to use u for sex and start taking advantage keeping respect for urself, ur way more valuable then how ur conducting urself to be, never settle for less…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Tupac_/ Tupac_

    TIRED OF THE SAME BORING SONG WITH NO INSPIRATION OR DESIRE TO LIGHT YOUR FIRE? THEN COME CHECK OUT MY MUSIC ON music.blackplanet.com/newrapartisttupac/
    myspace.com/newrapartisttupac

    Thanks and if you like my music be sure to join my fan club and add me as a friend.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Duvlek_Ahlleek/ Duvlek_Ahlleek

    how bout stop blame’n rappers and blame parents for not teaching their children betta.. .?

    for u grammatical people. . .

    How about we start encouraging parents to raise their children better and stop using rappers as an escape goat to get the blame for what people do. Sweep aroung your on door before sweeping around others.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/digg_it_up/ digg_it_up

    who cares about message?….its the rhythm that has always stimulated the human mind and brainwaves. we are not that advanced to deal with message…take the bible for example, we still arguing over that. if it has anything to do with the message we would all be rich because we have people writing books about getting rich all day and nobody got the message. a rhythm stimulates the mind which makes us happy which puts us in a good mood. words are only there to help us remember the rhythm. i have never followed anything those rappers rap about. i was doing them long time ago anyways before i was even listening to rap. peer pressure and curiousity is what makes people do the wrong stuff. it has to do with your upbringing. if anything this rap stuff only entertains my brain not influence it. thats my thesis statement and am sticking to it.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CaliFemme23/ CaliFemme23

    Why the heck are we looking to a phoney ass rapper to set standards and shape the world?

    The shaping and standards SHOULD come from HOME…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/HalfBreed1982/ HalfBreed1982

    it starts from ur home but it also ends with influence outside of home.. nuff said.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/digg_it_up/ digg_it_up

    just keep your children away from negative people and teach them how to deal with negative things and you can instill values in them that will guide them thru a lifetime.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CaliFemme23/ CaliFemme23

    HalfBreed1982, You’re right, BUT if you have the proper influence from home, NOTHING on the outside can make a difference in a negative way…

    I listened to all that ‘gangsta rap’ growing up…Have i robbed, killed, joined a gang, been a hoe etc…? Not at all…MY PARENTS instilled better than that….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/infinite_question/ infinite_question

    just three thing rappers can do , read, research, report. as long as this coonery is being consumed by the whites, artist will keep it commin.

    i will admit my hypocracy now; yes i listen to jay z, gucci mane, young geezy, and a host of artist with lil in the name. i also listen to talib, dead prez, common, nas, and k west. honestly, we all have a field and house n!gga in our dna. i have my house n!gga music and vise versa. when in the club, i dont want to hear no most def. when smoking out, i dont want to hear gucci mane.

    so i would say there should be enough room for both types, the problem i see is clear channel, bet, mtv, and vh1 for focusing the air time to promote the products, services, and ideas that will further the agenda of their corporate sponsors. artist should focus on INDEPENDENTLY create a brand name of their selves WITHOUT the jewish lawyers in our pockets. its happened with deathrown and the roc. farrakhan is right on point with the staement that there are NO wealthy blacks in america that do not have a JEW in their corner bleeding them dry.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/TMAC_35000/ TMAC_35000

    Rappers can’t do nothing but entertain me, and only a few can actually do that.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lifeiswutumakit/ Lifeiswutumakit

    What a way to promote this dude. I’m not mad at him at all. Ya’ll need to tune in to the underground anyway. The mainstream is pretty f*cking boring. If ya’ll think the mainstream is what hip-hop is all about, ya’ll got the game f*cked up.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/blackbizman2008/ blackbizman2008

    Kudos to this article’s author for promoting a positive rapper. Hip hop is one of the most influential phenomena in the world, and as such, anything that powerful will undoubtedly end up being manipulated for sinister purposes. Thus, the moneyed men behind the corrupt music industry hatched an idea to capitalize on hip hop’s influence while at the same time reinforcing the worst stereotypes about our people. I know this firsthand as I recall a west coast rap conference in 1989 that i participated in where there were many talented, positive acts, but a less talented (but still good) duo of rappers wearing gang attire won a deal from then CBS Records (now Sony). This pattern repeated itself as we know across the globe so that thuggin’, gang-bangin’, oversexualization of women, and other negative images has become a public relations nightmare for our people. So it’s time for the wise ones among us to retake the hip hop PR machine and make it promote better images of ourselves. We cannot afford the excessive negativity like other groups.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Toni_Anthony/ Toni_Anthony

    WALK OFF THE TALLEST BUILDING’S THEY CAN FIND? WALK INTO A POOL OF WATER UNTIL THEIR EMPTY HEAD’S ARE COVERED WITH WATER? WALK IN FRONT OF A SPEEDING TRAIN?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jazzpast/ jazzpast

    Three tings MC can do right now and forever:

    1) Love yourself, love your people, love your culture and never compromise with YT.

    2) Study all the artists before you from MCs, DJ, Beat Boxers, Bboys and Bgirls, and Graffiti artists. Then PAY HOMAGE TO THEM!

    3) Find you a team from lawyers, PR, Manager etc. that love HIP_HOP as much if not more than you do, a team that loves you and what your are about etc. Even if you stay independent like we do in the BAY AREA, you will get your money if you have the right people around you.

    xtra: If you want to make a real impact, and willing to die for the cause then STUDY PAC.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/single_409/ single_409

    I could listen to wasted 50 times a day but is that what I’m going to do? No, not when I rarely drink and have a two drink max when I go out, if I even drink then. People have choices and make them. Why is a recording artist responsible for what other people do? Its crazy!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/cutthashyt/ cutthashyt

    why should this stress b on the shoulders of the rapper. it wasnt the rappers who fukked tha world up..ask them shytt azz kkraxkaz ta peace the world up they fukked it up remember

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lfmickle11/ lfmickle11

    how bout they stop bein puppets and promoting the illing of their own people for starters.NWO is comin, its just a matter of time

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/trackfreek/ trackfreek

    Look we know music can move people.Just because I WON’tGO OUT& SHOOT someone cause I heard it in a record doesn’t mean the next person won’t.Make something positive.We can’t blame rappers but they still have a part in all this nonsense we see& hear about.Can’t tell me that some parts of their lives isn’t just about sex.drugs& violence day by day.Sotalk about that too.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sophinal40/ sophinal40

    dam this make me think about X-clan

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Kashi101/ Kashi101

    as if dumb azz rappers will listen to this

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jmb3330/ jmb3330

    well all these new school rappers can help out alot by stop making wack music and jumping off a cliff. 1) teach kids how to invest money and not blow on cars and chains..2) stop lying in there music about being a kingpen it seems like every other rapper is a boss that moves all types of weight…3)bring real hip hop back

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/PrinceNova1/ PrinceNova1

    The best things in life are free but like most human experiences we fail from the lack of understanding with respect to the bio-dynamics under which all function of life is structured

    All matter is tone and vibration filling space and time. The KEY to our SPIRIT is the ring of TRUTH

    No ye NOT that above and beyond Lucifer’s AUTHORITY in HEAVEN his primary responsibility in the most Holy place was to maintain the SPIRIT in HEAVEN through the precise application of tonal vibration. Which is to say he conducted the HEAVENLY CHOIRS Through the MANIPULATION of his vocal chords. 7 of them, he could harmonize with himself.

    by 2003, 78% of Hip Hop Revenue was remitted by white urban youth.

    If you really want to know the how why and where hit me up on blackplanet.com/PrinceNova1 and message your questions to me there.

    We can’t see the TREES for the FOREST. Hip Hop OUR NUBIAN BULLY PULPIT
    Just as the presidency is the BULLY PULPIT OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT

    I do not deal in the realm of conjecture or fantasy.

    get a clue

    MUSIC IS THE WEAPON OF THE FUTURE

    Scientifically speaking THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lanette101/ Lanette101

    Once again Dr. Boyce has hit the nail on the head! I love this article and agree with most comment post. You have spot lighted a real artist in which I will become a fellow listener! Thanks Doc!

  • http://symptomsoflowvitamind.blogspot.com/ Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D

    Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D…

    If you have been struggeling with sinus infections for a while you now how iritating it can be….

  • http://www.facebookofsex.adult-date.net/ enter your email

    online dating site comparison…

    we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want…

  • http://running.competitor.com/2010/09/features/tim-nelson-interview_13908 url

    best online dating…

    please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web…

  • http://www.jaguardelaciudad.com/archives/138 site

    online dating free…

    we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they arenโ€™t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out…

  • http://www.betainvites.com betainvites.com

    Beta invites…

    [..] free beta invites for all of your favorite communities, programs, games etc. [..]…

  • http://howtofightdepression.weebly.com/ herbal anxiety medication

    How To Fight Depression…

    Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You…

  • http://kinkysex.adultcrowd.com kinkysex

    free dating site…

    I simply desired to thank you very much once again. I’m not certain what I might have undertaken without those hints contributed by you over such a subject. It had become an absolute depressing circ**stance in my opinion, nevertheless witnessing the v…

  • http://tinyurl.com/afacebookofsex facebookofsex

    mobile dating…

    Hello, Neat post. There is a problem along with your web site in internet explorer, would test this๏ฟฝ IE nonetheless is the market chief and a large portion of other folks will omit your great writing due to this problem….

blog comments powered by Disqus
?>