The Power of the Mic

Wassup hip hop nation, fellow bloggers and headz from all reigons north, south, east, and west. This is ya fellow bretheren Q Sincere publisher of the hx2coaliton.blogspot.com blog. As I said in my introduction post this is gonna be the spot for all of the hip hop headz, artist and activist alike to discuss all subjects involving the culture politally, socially, artistically, and in the world of business. Responses and open discussion are welcome so all of my people out there in the blogosphere hit me up and let me know what and how you feel.

As indicated by the today's title, I wanna start off my first actual discussion post by touching on a topic that has been at the center of debate and analysis since the explosion of the art in the 80's. What I wanna to talk about (and want you to respond to) is the effect of the corporate influences in hip hop on the art and the culture itself. Let's get into it. I was once watching a panel on BET in that was entitled "State of the Union" (yes, like my first post title). The panel was hosted by BET's own Jeff Johnson(one of the realest dudes out there) host of the black news show "The Truth". Guest on this panel included several distinguished guest from the intellecutal, hip hop, and business worlds. These guest included Dr. Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, Benjamin Chavis, Stanley Crouch, Kim Osrio, David Banner, T.I., M1 of Dead Prez, and a host of others (it was a three part series). At one point during the panel they discussed the topic's of misogyny, drugs, and violence in the lyrics of today's rap artist. As with so many panels on this delicate subject, at one point the debate became heated in which opinions on how to solve the problem went flew back and forth across the stage between the panelist. From the artist perspective the solution was to combat the problems that the music reflects. In many areas of the country (mainly urban) the drug, prostituion, and violence problem existed long before the inception of hip hop and to those artist blaming the culture was just a scapegoat for s0-called leaders to not do their jobs. From what I considered to be the "liberal minded intellecutal" perspective the solution to this problem laid in both the hands of artist, educators, as well as government. The aim to them was not to limit freedom of speech, nor was it to promote outrageoeus music but to have people take awareness in the power of that right to speak for better or for worse. From what I considered to be the "conservative minded intellecutal" perspective, the solution was to go to the heads of record companies and regulate or ban material that included misogyny, or violence in the lyrics. Their version of the solution was to also ban or regulate (but mostly ban) video expression of these topics.

I say all that to say this.....In my opinion, I take a moderate position on this issue. From the standpoint of an aspiring artist and poet I have to say that I find it absolutely crazy to limit what people can say due to the right of free speech. Art is an individuals interpretation on the realities of life( in alot of cases it is also the true facts on life) and everyone has the right to their own
opinion. To ban or try to regulate an artist work, in my opinion, would do nothing in attempting to solve the problem's that confront us a nation (mainly minorities in America). If you look at the history of this country and our people, one could argue that centuries upon centuries of oppresion as well as some of the inequalities economically, politically, and socially were the background for creating this often ugly picture of the drug trade, prostitution, violence, gangs, as well as other vices. It is when we as a people stood up to the systems that created these problems in the past, that progress was made and we saw many accomplishments, and it is my belief that it will be our ability to unite across racial, social, political, and class lines and fight for solutions to these problems that will ultimately change the negative aspects of these urban areas and this nation as a whole. However, as an apiring poet, musician, and writer, I do believe that the written and spoken word is the most powerful weapon on the face of this earth and we who have been blessed with this gift have a responsiblity that comes with the use of that weapon. I state again, by no means am I suggesting that we limit what we say or do as artist, however there is another element which I believe often waters down the artistic genius and may possibly contribute to the overly and unecessary negative monotony of some of today's lyrics. I believe that element is who has the corporate control to our art. Hip Hop has come along way from undergroud sub-culture to lucrative multi-billion dollar enterprise, due to this fact, many of the culture's earlier nay-sayers (usually suburban or upper-class mainstream America) have turned to hip hop as lucrative cash cow first and an art last. As a result of this many well educated (not that there's anything wrong with education!) rich business executives with little to no knowledge of the art (because believe it or not the Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles, L.A. Reids, Sean Combs and Shawn Carters are few and far in between) are in control of what goes and what doesn't in our art! As a result many of today's mainstream artist follow suit and play the game the executives way in order to get rich insted of playing their way (like a Jay-Z , Nas, or Kanye) and getting the same results. It is ultimately this factor that produces watered down, unintellecutal, dense music that passes as modern entertainment. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the entertainment side of music (I know every song can't be like a lecture hall) but there is a thin line between crossing over and selling out. Get your money artist! Get rich! I sure as hell want to get rich too! But we have the most powerful weapon in our arsenal.......the spoken and written word. With this weapon we can change the world and get rich........our way. That's my word, whats yours fellow bloggers?

One Luv
-Q Sincere