Seriously?!seriously?
I was sitting down to my PC and I opened Internet Explorer. I saw a headline I couldn't believe. With all the crap going around with Imus, Michael Richards, and those DJs in New York with the Chinese restaurant thing, I guess it was inevitable.
Russell Simmons has decided to take it upon himself to clean up rap music. That's right. One of the men behind Def Jam records has stated that the words bitch, ho and nigger should be dropped from the hip hop lexicon.
Seriously.
The world is becoming too paranoid. We live in trepidation of saying anything offensive to anyone. And celebrity at any moment could be called out to answer for an off-the-cuff remark that, ten years ago, wouldn't have raised an eyebrow on anyone.
Imagine a movie like Blazing Saddles being made today. It would be fought against from the moment of its inception. But, to any lover of comedies it is recognized as a classic.
I digress.
It's true that hip hop is offensive. It's vulgar and crude. But that is part of what makes it what it is. Chris Rock is right in that it's getting harder and harder to defend hip hop lyrics, but we don't need to look at the stars of today to see examples of profanity. Acts that have been recognized as influential and essential to the hip hop movement have also had their share of niggers, bitches and hos in their lyrics.
Where would Public Enemy be without songs like "Anti-Nigger Machine" and "I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Nigga"? Though these songs may not be their most well-known, they are two of there more politically profound.
Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, NWA. you have to admit these names reign at the top of a list of prolific artists that changed and revolutionized hip hop. They all contain examples of these words that Russell Simmons has deemed to be inappropriate.
But, let's take it back further. Back to the beginnings of rap in America. Back to The Last Poets these guys are responsible (some claim) for the creation of rap and hip hop. They were some of the first to get out there and do rhythmic poetry. Eventually people like Grand Master Flash came out with the music and the two merged to form what we know today. The Last Poets were a revolutionary voice for African-Americans. There message may have been just as strong without nigger in it, but If you do read the poem "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" I think you'll agree that it wouldn't have quite the same impact if it were cleaned up.
I don't think the problem is the use of the words, it's the manner in which they're used. Is the message hateful? Is it Mel Gibson ranting on a certain race and blaming it? Is it Michael Richards trying to shock the audience into laughter? Is it Chris Rock firing the word off like it's nothing?
Is it the message or the word that's the problem.?
The word doesn't breed racism and hate. It's not like removing it from our lexicon is going to solve the racial problems of America. Just like removing Bitch isn't going to be a huge step forward for equal rights. The problems will still be there. Things will be just as problematic. The only thing that will change will be the words used in the argument.
So, people like Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons need to step back and look at what the real issue is. Language only has the power it is given. If we do not make these words have power then we do not have a problem with them. By giving these words such a great amount of power recently the community that is rallying against them is in fact giving them the power they are trying to take away.
If no one reacts, no one will care.
Marilyn Manson doesn't scare anyone anymore because no one cares about what he does. Howard Stern isn't such a controversial Dj anymore because people stopped reacting to him. A personal example is someone pointing out my height. I don't care if they do. It doesn't bother me. It's a fact. If I were to be bothered then what they say would suddenly hold the power to hurt, but I pay no heed and let it slide and really, it's not a big deal
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