BET NEWS Presents HIP HOP vs. AMERICA, a Powerful Special Addressing the Current State of Hip-Hop
Honest, Candid Town Hall Meeting Features Voices Across the Full Spectrum of Opinion Including Nelly, T.I., Chuck D, MC Lyte, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Stanley Crouch, Cornel West, Mike Jones, Master P, Kim Osorio, Dr. Ben Chavis, Judg
Parts I and II to Premiere on Tuesday, September 25 and Wednesday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, With Part III to Air Exclusively on BET ON BLAST
NEW YORK, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Hip-hop culture and controversy have always made for familiar bedfellows. Yet, in the wake of the Imus controversy and in a year when the genre's sales have tumbled, hip-hop finds itself under an exceptional amount of scrutiny and pressure -- and the stakes have never been higher. BET NEWS takes a powerful and compelling look at the state of hip-hop today in a three-part series titled HIP HOP vs. AMERICA. Hosted by BET's own Toure and Jeff Johnson, this special showcases a candid, heated forum that will allow audiences to hear the opinions of prominent leaders in the hip-hop industry, the political realm, academia and the Black church.
As seen on BET, the debate over Hip Hop vs. America Feat. Russell Simmons, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, T.I., Nelly, Master P , and hosted by Cousin Jeff and Toure
For all the criticism they receive, BET deserves credit for taking on this topic and broadcasting it as a special prime time event during the first big week of the new television season. The image of BET in the media and in the black community is often reduced to a caricature that fails to acknowledge the subtlety and nuance of BET's programming.
But having said that, I'm not sure that one television series is quite enough to make amends for years of missed opportunities. I've been very critical of the business model initiated by BET's founder Bob Johnson, which amounted to little more than profit over programming. For years, BET was little more than music videos, syndicated TV shows, and late night infomercials. Now, under new leadership, the network has been trying -- sometimes in questionable ways -- to build original programming.
What troubles me about BET today is the absence of timely news and public affairs programming. It's great that "Meet The Faith" airs on Sundays, but the show is taped so far in advance that it's impossible to be timely in response to new news. Even in the Bob Johnson days of the 90s, BET had a nightly news broadcast and a lively and current evening talk show with host Tavis Smiley. If we still had a daily news and talk show on BET, we wouldn't have to wait almost six months to have this discussion on hip hop and America. While everybody else in America was talking about offensive language back in April, that discussion was nowhere to be found on our own black network.
And I have to say that the discussion we had at the town hall meeting in June was important. Rapper Nelly was clearly the most controversial and outspoken of the performers, repeatedly defending hip hop and his own music, including his controversial video "Tip Drill," which as some observers said, has come to identify his career.
Nevertheless, the movers and shakers at BET, Reginald Hudlin and Debra Lee, were both involved in the town hall meeting, and both attended the event in Los Angeles, held the day after the BET Awards. They heard a lot of discussion about BET and about hip hop that day, and I hope they took the messages to heart in a constructive way.
Hip Hop Is America
The real problem here is not just BET or hip hop. The real problem is broader than any one TV network or one cultural phenomenon.
Hip hop didn't invent sexism, violence, homophobia or materialism. If you listen to the language used by President Bush, you'll realize that all those things are as much a part of America as baseball and apple pie. Who is more sexist, violent, homophobic and materialistic than the President of the United States? He's the guy who wants to take away a woman's right to choose and a gay couple's right to marry. He's the guy who wants to arm the nation with hand guns and started two wars in his first term alone. He's the guy who promotes unchecked capitalism at the expense of worker's rights. And he's the guy with the power to do something about those things.
Still, that shouldn't let hip hop off the hook. Hip hop may not have started any of those things, but it has amplified, and in many cases, glorified the images of violence, materialism, sexism and homophobia. Some people pick on hip hop just because they don't like it. But many of us pick on hip hop because we want it to do better. We remember when the music of hip hop was connected to the streets, powerful and political and entertaining at the same time. And we worry that much of today's hip hop and rap has descended into something meaningless, produced by people of color but largely consumed by young white guys in the suburbs.
And no matter how much we talk about hip hop, the white and black executives in the music industry don't look like they're ready to change its formula anytime soon. Nor for that matter is the consumer changing. Unless and until consumer outrage spurs action, the industry won't be doing much about it.
cont...
video courtesy of BET Networks
verbage courtesy of Keith Boykin
Music video by Chamillionaire performing Hip Hop Police/Evening News: CORRECT VERSION
with H. Seriki, H. Seriki, D. Johnson, J. Rotem, R. Walters
(C) 2007 Universal Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc.
jessica sayde, ginger andrews and susie summerell of halifax nova scotia, rehearsing for CHEEREXPO 2006.. (1st place open dance winners)
WWW.JESSICASAYDE.COM ..Choreographer: Jessica Sayde
this VIDEO IS TO INSPIRE OTHERS, PLEASE DO NOT STEAL CHOREOGRAPHY, ITS THE HARD WORK OF THE CHOREOGRAPHER. IT IS ILLEGAL TO COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION!! SO BASICALLY ........DON'T BE A COPYCAT
Lyrics:
Uh, uh, uh, 1, 2, 1, 2
Uh, uh, 1, 2, 1, 2, uh, uh
All my dogs
Hook
Its bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
Its bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip hop
Uh, one thing bout music, when it hit you feel no pain
White folks say it controls your brain
I know better than that, thats game and we ready for that
Two soldiers head of the pack, matter of fact who got the gat?
And where my army at?
Rather attack and not react
Back the beats, it dont reflect on how many records get sold
On sex, drugs, and rock and roll, whether your projects put on hold
In the real world, these just people with ideas
They just like me and you when the smoke and camera disappear
Again the real world (world), its bigger than all these fake ass records
When poor folks got the millions and my womans disrespected
If you check 1,2, my word of advice to you is just relax
Just do what you got to do, if that dont work then kick the facts
If you a fighter, rider, ? bouter? , flame ignitor, crowd exciter
Or you wanna just get high, then just say it
But then if you a liar-liar, pants on fire, wolf-cry agent with a wire
Im gonna know it when I play it
Hook
Uh, who shot biggie smalls?
If we dont get them, they gonna get us all
Im down for runnin up on them crackers in they city hall
We ride for yall, all my dogs stay real
Nigga dont think these record deals gonna feed your seeds
And pay your bills because they not
Mcs get a little bit of love and think they hot
Talkin bout how much money they got, all yall records sound the same
I sick of that fake thug, r & b, rap scenario all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material, yall dont here me though
These record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line, and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke
You would rather have a lexus, some justice, a dream or some substance?
A beamer, a necklace or freedom?
Still a nigga like me dont playa hate, I just stay awake
This real hip hop, and it dont stop until we get the po-po off the block
They call it....
Hook
Uh, dps got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up
John blazed and shit what
Repeat
Fake, fake, fake records
Paul Dateh on violin with inka one on turntables.
http://pauldateh.com
http://myspace.com/inka_one
mp3 download available at http://myspace.com/pauldateh
http://www.mediaed.org
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. Director Byron Hurt, former star college quarterback, longtime hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. The documentary features revealing interviews about masculinity and sexism with rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, and Busta Rhymes, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and cultural commentators such as Michael Eric Dyson and Beverly Guy-Shetfall. Critically acclaimed for its fearless engagement with issues of race, gender violence, and the corporate exploitation of youth culture.
Peep the new video from KRS-ONE & Marley Marl for "Hip Hop Lives" the title track from their landmark collabo HIP HOP LIVES. Resurrect the REAL Hip Hop, AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE MAY 22ND!
Music video by Chamillionaire performing Hip Hop Police/Evening News with H. Seriki, J. Rotem, R. Walters
(C) 2007 Universal Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Joell breaks down the artform of "Hip-Hop" in this new video off of the debut album THE BRICK: BODEGA CHRONICLES - IN STORES APRIL 24th.. visit myspace.com/joellortiz
All-CAL, University of California dance competion put on by the CSA's or CASA's (Chinese Student Associations). Done annually at one of or near the southern UC schools (SD, LA, or Irvine). Ascension is from UCSD.
I apologize about the horrible camera handling at the beginning, it gets better (it wasn't me who did it, I was dancing.) Here are some of the song titles. I don't remember some of them. sorry.
0:24 Emotion is Dead - The Juliana Theory
1:20 This is how we do it - Montel Jordan
1:25 Ooh Wee - Mark Ronson
1:30 Party to Damascus - Wyclef Jean ft Missy Elliott
1:59
2:07
2:30
3:14 Pop that Booty - Marques Houston
3:34 Crazy in Love - Beyonce ft Jay z
3:39 Pop that Booty - Marques houston
4:03 Get Busy-Sean Paul
4:13 Hey Mamma - Black eyed peas
4:26 On Top - Dmx Feat Big Stan
5:18 ballet
5:42 Im Loving It - Justin Timberlake
6:20 Give It Up - Aaliyah
6:26
7:04
7:12 Take It to the Floor - B2K
7:40 Get Low - Lil Jon and The Eastside Boys
7:45 Put Em Up - N.O.R.E
Ok...the preacher clearly states that this is an underground clip...so he's not lying...but there is a deeper underlying issue with Hip Hop and its culture. The fact that I read these comments and people think its cool for Jay Z to say he's "God Mc" NOOO one is God of anything except the lord Jesus Christ....dont care who u are or how good you are at it.
The preacher has valid points beyond this one.He talks about how Jay Z, lil wayne and alot of other artist are apart of this relgion called the 5 percenters(LOOK IT UP) and therefore they believe that they are God. Thats the reason for the HOV name he calls himself. No one chopped that up, I want someone to make an excuse for that. Yes we are made in his image, and therefore we should act as he did and live that way too. That doesnt mean go around and proclaim that your God. I also want to say that there has been alot of people commenting on this video, and sending me crazy messages and inspiring ones too....its all too much, I saw this video and thought too myself "wow other people should see this" You believe what you want and I'll do the same....this world is so corrupt, I find myself struggling daily. God bless all of you out there and when the time comes for it, we will all know the truth one way or another....BUT stop thinking that Iam this pastor or that I have any power to persuade the masses!!