Russell Simmons calls emergency meeting for hip-hop
The “Godfather of Hip-Hop” and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) Chairman, Russell Simmons, has called for an emergency private meeting tomorrow to discuss the current state of hip-hop.
The heat is on once again for rappers, after US radio host Don Imus used the words “nappy-headed hoes” to describe members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.
Imus went on to mention the high number of rappers who use similar terms. Many are now calling the recent firing of Imus a double standard, as rappers have used the term for decades without consequence.
Simmons (also the founder of Phat Farm clothing) has now organized a meeting at the Manhattan home of music exec Lyor Cohen to discuss the future of hip-hop, and ways in which the genre can move forward in a positive direction.
Those expected to attend include Def Jam President Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Warner Music executive Kevin Liles.
We’re not sure how much will be achieved at the meeting, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
that’s a great move on russel’s part..hopefully some people will step up and pay attention.
Look…i’m a great hip hop fan, and to be true to ourselves we’re our greatest upset. Listen to wat we call music nowadays. Obscene language left-right- n centre.
If I can call my fellow black man a negga/nigga/negro/nicca wateva, why can’t my white friends or watever other race call us by the “n” word. What makes it coming out of my mouth more acceptable.
Hip hop/ Rap got no meaning and it’s a circle of verbal garbage, I for one have realized that and everyone is to be held responsible. From executives to artists. As a matter of fact we should change the genres name. It ain’t hip hop no more. Alot of times artists taint their image and defend their music wit the very famous..” I rap about my life n my struggles, that’s how i was raised”, ” I keep it gangsta”. Please….
4 sho a summit gotta be held. Big up to Russel. This hopefully is the beginning of a major change. And also…Imus can’t defend himself with such ridiculous claims even though they’re true. He shouldn’t have said such on the radio, i got no idea wat was going on through his mind.
But this was blown way outta proportion. It happens everywhere. Listen to your day to day conversations wit ur boys/girls. I bet there’s a whole lot of ” Man u see those B*****S, F**k those niggas, etc,etc..”
I don’t buy for one second this whole trauma effect. But some peeps feel different. I scope things from all angles.
Finally wit much luv n respect. Let’s keep hip hop on track. Like i said i luv this music and it’s a shame it’s got no meaning at present. Nevethaless ama walk it out at da club.
One luv!!
Snoop Dogg probly said the realest thing on the subject when asked why its ok for rappers to say ho but not Don Imus. He basically said that when rappers say ho, they are talking about a chick who is of permiscuous(sp?) morals. When Don Imus said it, he was talking about a team of clean, no-hoeish, upstanding and outstanding basketball players. That is true.
Hip-Hop needs no change. If it does, however, you better warn the youth that listen to it intently. There won’t be a problem throwing to the MTV crowd; they devour whatever is thrown at them. Just use that song about lip gloss as an example. But people who listen to it in the ghettos and bad parts of town etc., will just move to underground rappers like Soulja Boy and Shawty Lo. I kno this because all of the people who were on my driver’s ed bus at school fit that description, and thats what they did, already calling the mainstream music out there to “bubblegum”.
“i luv this music and it’s a shame it’s got no meaning at present. Nevethaless ama walk it out at da club.”
That IS the meaning in hip-hop. its party music, meant to get you excited and happy just wanna start snappin, joccin, and walkin it out.
I agree with the man above me…While their should be some more variety in the music…You can’t only blame the music but the record companies…Why are they never held accountable? ANd even if you change hip-hop this culture is straight sexist…But why is that never targetted?
Im going to agree and disagree with some of you. It is true that hip-hop is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago. People need to understand 1st that there is a difference between hip-hop and rap. A hip-hop artist today would be Kanye West or Talib Kweli and a rap artist today would be Young Jezzy or Young Joc. Hip hop artists actually have something to say that people can relate to and dont say the word nigga 50 times in one verse. Rappers today obviously dont have anything to say and they sell their records if the beat is good. Rap has killed hip-hop and even now rap is being killed off. 5 years from now, if this keeps up this wont be called hip-hop or rap. It’s just gonna be called club music. Lil mama did lip gloss and i almost turned away until i heard some other songs from her. I couldnt understand how she could put out lip gloss and have all these better songs on the side. It was probably the direction music was in (snap your finger/club garbage killing our music) that she chose to do that. Listen to the show me what you got remix on her myspace. She made that track hot again. An actual hip-hop song has been released a few weeks back and i never heard it on the radio–Classic (better than ive ever been) Kanye West, NaS, KRS-One and Rakim. That song has a point but garbage like diamonds on my damn chain gets airplay. Fabolous you fell off with that one. Hip hop needs this meeting yesterday.
i absolutely love rap music and the whole hip hop movement. i grew up listening to run dmc, rakim, nwa, beastie boys, etc. those rappers talked about actual everyday trials and tribulations as well as partying. nowadays damn near everything has to do with sex, guns and drugs. the media has a big hand in what becomes popular and how fast it sells. i still cant figure how or why Common ( the rapper) isnt at a Jay-Z status. He is a true lyricist. People now just want music with hot beats and catchy hooks i.e; “Chicken noodle soup”, “Walk it out”, “peanut butter jelly,” and the list goes on. its to the point now that the veterans are jumping on the bandwagon just to sell a record, but then again it is their job to keep money coming in to pay the bills. as for the language of rap and hip hop, i think that if these artists really sat back and looked at how they affect the world with their music then they wouldn’t use sexist and derogatory remarks just to get their point across. my kids listen to rap but i constantly have to break down the lyrics of some songs and if it has profanity in it i dont let them listen to it at all. it all falls back on the mentality of black people as a culture and how we have been and still are brainwashed into thinking that black women are nothing more than whores with horrible attitudes and that black men are lazy and dumb. to continue to put out music that does not uplift positively is dangerous and negligent. these artists are proud of their music right now, but i wonder if they’re going to be proud when hip hop is outlawed.
for the record rap is; rhythm and poetry (once again Common, Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Outkast, Ludacris, KRS-One, Nas,), hip hop is that crap Young Jeezy, UNK, Ying Yang Twins, MIMS, 50cent, Young Joc, and Diddy, does.
well i see where u guys are coming from but the thing is rappers can rap about all the things they rap about but now i think everybody is only doing that which brings no variety but rappers should also balance it out w/ stuff w/ meaning which rappers lack nowadays mainly because they wanna get a pay check or there just ignorant…rap outsells any other genre because its something different but if it all becomes the same which is happening right now who knows wat will happen to hip hop? maybe the end of it.
Hip hop is going in the wrong direction. We need to take a postive approach with music. I know this rapper in SC(Haum-D) that will one day change the direction of rap music. Nobody wants to listen to him or even give him a legitimate opporunity because his music is postive. If somebody would listen to his song “Hip hop is all we got” then you would know understand that “Hip Hop” is not dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One Love
got sick of eminem, 50 cent i’m into billy truong now
Candice
im sorry but some of the stuff u guys are sayin is worng but some of its right.. dont get me wrong but at the end of the day hip hop was goin to change whether it was this decade or the next it was going to happen. it has progressed and everyone has seen and heard the change. But what genre hasn’t changed?? R&B has changed, pop has changed so y is it such a biggie when hip hop changed. Its just like how fashion has changed, look at clothing from the 60s then to the 90s.. Celebs like maralyn manore their fashion was a little bit of cleavage but it was beauty.. now look at fashion, everything has to have cleavage otherwise it aint sexy.. soo hip hop has changed but its everyone’s opinion if its changed in a good way or a bad way…
lol