NationStates Jolt Archive

Apparently the streak of rap that has become known as gangsta´rap seems to wallow in self-deprecating imagery of american negroes. Such artists depict in their videos black men always as drug tycoons parading in limos, drinking Cristal and surrounded by myriads of black hos...their behaviour in real life is even more disturbing, as they openly use their lyrics to convey threatening messages to their enemies in the music world...rabid feuds between rap artists seem always a short step away from escalating into something much more dangerous...this so-called "music artists" seem to be only to happy to pass to their young listeners the idea that such lyfestiles are perfectly acceptable, and shoud be actively pursued...doesn´t any of this ring true to you? Do gangsta´rappers indeed condone ratial stereotyping of blacks in their videos?

Word, homie. Some otha homie should hook ou up with some major bling-bling, dog.

I don't know, I never listen to it... it's not really THAT mainstream here as it is in America, apparently.

I think gangster rap can only be seen as a negative thing. There is now a tendency, especially among people I know, to think it is "cool" to emulate these people. The insidious mixture of slang and stupidity make it so unbearable. The tacky decadence of the wealthy rappers is, in my view, a reaction to the treatment of african-americans in the past. The whole thing has deep wounds running.

I agree. The level of irony from their behaviour is almost a complete joke, but it goes too far to be laughed at. Bluntly put, some gangsta rappers are no more than jive-ass hypocrites. In that sense, they're no better than the drug dealer, the pimp - or the wicked white man who earns his riches exploiting black communities.

Apparently the streak of rap that has become known as gangsta´rap seems to wallow in self-deprecating imagery of american negroes. Such artists depict in their videos black men always as drug tycoons parading in limos, drinking Cristal and surrounded by myriads of black hos...their behaviour in real life is even more disturbing, as they openly use their lyrics to convey threatening messages to their enemies in the music world...rabid feuds between rap artists seem always a short step away from escalating into something much more dangerous...this so-called "music artists" seem to be only to happy to pass to their young listeners the idea that such lyfestiles are perfectly acceptable, and shoud be actively pursued...doesn´t any of this ring true to you? Do gangsta´rappers indeed condone ratial stereotyping of blacks in their videos?
Short step away? The only reason it is currently as "peaceful" as it is is because of the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Though artists like 50 cent are fairly interested in starting up gang fights and getting more people shot. Maybe he just wants to go down in history, how well-known would either Tupac or Biggie be if they wern't dead?

Word, homie. Some otha homie should hook ou up with some major bling-bling, dog. *goes berserk*

But are gangsta´rappers oblivious to the fact that their videos openly purport ratial stereotypes of blacks?

I agree. The level of irony from their behaviour is almost a complete joke, but it goes too far to be laughed at. Bluntly put, some gangsta rappers are no more than jive-ass hypocrites. In that sense, they're no better than the drug dealer, the pimp - or the wicked white man who earns his riches exploiting black communities.

Lies! I manage to laugh at it just fine.

Ok, maybe I force out a snigger aswell. ;)

But are gangsta´rappers oblivious to the fact that their videos openly purport ratial stereotypes of blacks?
Yeah, really... I think there is an obvious streak in such music to promote a simple, irreverentious (beyond all artistic licence - in fact, not even meaning to be art, but rather to be excused as being artistic expression) attitude. That would be the source of racism, among other things - most notably, promiscuity.
They would have to be simple: they do come from a stereotyping society, beyond the stereotyping that America can't get enough of: I mean, that 50cent guy used to be a pimp - succesfull whoring should imply psychopathy, in its most pure sense (not being able to care about another, not really valuing life).
Also, they cater to a very un-problematic audience: no matter what the cliche may be, gangsta is the "force" that it is because of its succes in middle-class (along with whatever-class, but white) America. Proof? Well, was it always like that? Remember the more meaningful and varied hiphop of yesteryear?

Gangsta rap....-_-

But are gangsta´rappers oblivious to the fact that their videos openly purport ratial stereotypes of blacks?

Well, it wouldn't really matter anyway. Their lifestyle is what the music corporations want to portray as Authentic Black Culture™; these companies are willing to portray all blacks as stereotypical cariactures for the sole purpose of making money. Effectively, they are dehumanizing the black population by putting them in to these prepackaged stereotypes to sell more music.

These companies go a long way towards destroying the considerable contributions made by the black community to American music. In fact, the things they promote as being Authentic Black Culture™ are real problems that are ruining black communities and forcing them in to a position of second-class citizenship. This corporate racism is helping to undo the work of black leaders throughout history.

But are gangsta´rappers oblivious to the fact that their videos openly purport ratial stereotypes of blacks?

Evidently not, as irony is as a foreign tongue to such depraved specimens.

Evidently not, as irony is as a foreign tongue to such depraved specimens.
Even beyond that: I think that, even if they were to understand, it would be foreign to them. I do not think any of them would have set a social goal of any kind.

Even beyond that: I think that, even if they were to understand, it would be foreign to them. I do not think any of them would have set a social goal of any kind.

Well there is the irony - as they will profess themselves to merely "keeping it real", by adopting unwholesome behaviour that probably had nothing to do with where they really come from. There's is nothing real about these people or the faxed persona they aspire for at every opportunity.

Even beyond that: I think that, even if they were to understand, it would be foreign to them. I do not think any of them would have set a social goal of any kind.

I do somewhat wonder quite how on earth they propose to continue to live in the style that they become accustomed, subsequent to the conclusion of their depraved careers, since the debauched excess of Michael Tyson bears testament to the signal lack of prudence all such individuals possess.

Well there is the irony - as they will profess themselves to merely "keeping it real", by adopting unwholesome behaviour that probably had nothing to do with where they really come from. There's is nothing real about these people or the faxed persona they aspire for at every opportunity.
In a sense, you defined showmanship :) . But that aside, I think the danger might be that the society they live in is getting artificial and "brave new world"-esque (and that, at all its levels). The fake attitude is something that people understand and want to see. And the more fake, the better.
It goes much deeper beyond depravity (which is, at least, potentially excusable when it means to illustrate something).
I meant to say that, if irony was implied in relation to the American race "question", there is no hiphop goal of solving it anymore (still: race, in my opinion, is an unnatural issue - given as it masks points that adress society on other levels, such as poverty, and that it has no parallel in countries like Brazil). These people are cosy with prejudice.

I do somewhat wonder quite how on earth they propose to continue to live in the style that they become accustomed, subsequent to the conclusion of their depraved careers, since the debauched excess of Michael Tyson bears testament to the signal lack of prudence all such individuals possess. Debauched excess? He was a bloody criminal!
Is he still incarcerated?

Debauched excess? He was a bloody criminal!
Is he still incarcerated?

I was under the impression that he was dead....

Blingbling is meant as a "universal cure" (if race issues=poverty issues). It does do an unfortunate job in this respect: get to that level, and you're welcomed by the Establishment. The very same crooked logic beyond all American "solutions" to social problems: "we can pretend there is no problem, because we have divided society according to race - and it was docile in its response - and now we have succesfull fellas from each division".

I was under the impression that he was dead.... Um… don't think so…

I was under the impression that he was dead....
To briefly answer this: he just visited my country (Romania) and was welcomed as a star. Horrible things! He was in Italy previously, and got in trouble for forcing a girl to "join" him on his boat. Here, he had no problems when doing the same - he didn't need to force anyone, they all were already there.
And then, he headed for Odessa - claiming that Bruce Willis was expecting him over there. And Bruce was in the US or something...
So no, he's not dead. He's just pathetic.

Um… don't think so…

We can but hope, that was tupac.

Yeah, really... I think there is an obvious streak in such music to promote a simple, irreverentious (beyond all artistic licence - in fact, not even meaning to be art, but rather to be excused as being artistic expression) attitude. That would be the source of racism, among other things - most notably, promiscuity.
They would have to be simple: they do come from a stereotyping society, beyond the stereotyping that America can't get enough of: I mean, that 50cent guy used to be a pimp - succesfull whoring should imply psychopathy, in its most pure sense (not being able to care about another, not really valuing life).
Also, they cater to a very un-problematic audience: no matter what the cliche may be, gangsta is the "force" that it is because of its succes in middle-class (along with whatever-class, but white) America. Proof? Well, was it always like that? Remember the more meaningful and varied hiphop of yesteryear?
But surely this means then that we´ve not evolved even an inch since the minstrel shows in the 1930´s...
So, white middle-America takes solace form watching black men being to true to the most bigoted stereotypes of blaxks?

But surely this means then that we´ve not evolved even an inch since the minstrel shows in the 1930´s...
So, white middle-America takes solace form watching black men being to true to the most bigoted stereotypes of blaxks?

No, we find it immensely ironic and amusing actually.

No, we find it immensely ironic and amusing actually.
we, white middle-america? Ironic quite certainly...these people prefer to act out the stereotypes that the "Man" pinned on them than to take some responsobility for their lives and destinies for a change...

we, white middle-america? Ironic quite certainly...these people prefer to act out the stereotypes that the "Man" pinned on them than to take some responsobility for their lives and destinies for a change...

Well yes indeed

But surely this means then that we´ve not evolved even an inch since the minstrel shows in the 1930´s...
So, white middle-America takes solace form watching black men being to true to the most bigoted stereotypes of blaxks?
First of all, America sees races. It cannot help seeing them, whereas many other societies can look past them (by the way, I don't think that this is perpetuated by "affirmative action").
Secondly, middle America is praised for refusing notions that are percieved as "cosmopolitan" ("liberal" as an insult; the drive against organised labour; even the eternal "don't tread on me" attitude).
Thirdly, such views are meant to translate any other problem, through shifting of responsabilities. Which immediately generates new sorts of biases: if an individual is in a bad situation, it is his fault exclusively (the nasty implication of "the American dream"); however, if race is responsable for character, if it is a trait in itself, any problem can be "extended" to allow prejudice.

Gangsta rap....-_-
Gangsta rap gives people a bad impression of rap. Rap is not just gangsta rap, but that is sadly all that's out there and easy to get.

There is some real good hiphop to be found, gangsta rap is DEFINITELY not of that kind, but I stick with my beliefs:

free beer for the punks!!

The whole thing is a great big joke, but sadly the fans and rappers themselves don't see the humor. So they take it all seriously, and end up wallowing in a sea of decadence and filth - until they get blasted in the face with a shotgun in a drive-by shooting, or die on the shitter from an overdose of heroin.

The whole thing is a great big joke, but sadly the fans and rappers themselves don't see the humor. So they take it all seriously, and end up wallowing in a sea of decadence and filth - until they get blasted in the face with a shotgun in a drive-by shooting, or die on the shitter from an overdose of heroin. Exactly. If metal fans took it all seriously, people would be riding around the streets in chariots, brandishing torches and wearing horned helmets. Don't know why rappers do.

American media conveys a racist view of blacks


Ever watch "COPS"?

Ever watch news related to Africa?
Oh, wait, there are non-black native Africans too. NE Africa, Med Sea area.


You'd think it was all jungle and tribal warfare and corrupt dictators or something.

And you'd think the US and European countries had nothing to do with it.
And you'd think poverty and drugs are the fault of black people.

There's as much drugs in a office building in a city
as there is on the street.

Just different types of drugs with more lenient
sentances.

American media conveys a racist view of blacks


Ever watch "COPS"?

Ever watch news related to Africa?
Oh, wait, there are non-black native Africans too. NE Africa, Med Sea area.


You'd think it was all jungle and tribal warfare and corrupt dictators or something.

And you'd think the US and European countries had nothing to do with it.
And you'd think poverty and drugs are the fault of black people.

There's as much drugs in a office building in a city
as there is on the street.

Just different types of drugs with more lenient
sentances.
Thats really besides the point.
What i would like to understand is, if one accepts that gangsta´rap does promote a racist views of black men, why do black rap artists look all to willing to oblige this?